Pines Federal

Pines Federal Attorneys representing Federal employees, Federal labor unions, and Social Security Law cases. Your well-being comes first. 🌟

We offer clear guidance, support, and strong representation 💼⚖️ to help you through legal challenges and protect your rights. At Pines Federal, our Houston federal employment lawyers are well-versed in the unique practices and procedures of federal employment law. We assist federal employees across the U.S. with matters such as wrongful termination, disability discrimination, MSPB appeals, and rea

sonable accommodations. With decades of combined experience and a proven track record, our attorneys handle a wide range of issues including Adverse Actions, Federal EEOC complaints, Federal Disability (FERS/CSRS/SSDI), Federal Employment Union Counsel, Whistleblower Retaliation, VA Representation, and more. We are dedicated advocates committed to helping federal employees protect their careers and secure fair outcomes. Contact us today for a consultation.

If you're coming up on the end of your 12 weeks of FMLA, here's something worth knowing before you go back to work.Runni...
09/02/2026

If you're coming up on the end of your 12 weeks of FMLA, here's something worth knowing before you go back to work.

Running out of FMLA does not automatically mean running out of protection. Under the Rehabilitation Act, additional leave, including more unpaid leave, can still count as a reasonable accommodation once your FMLA ends.

It only works if it's requested the right way, though. That means in writing, and clearly framed as a reasonable accommodation request, not just asking for a few extra days off.

Federal employees who don't know this often report back before they're ready, simply because no one told them there was another option.

Pines Federal helps employees work through FMLA and the accommodation process together. Knowing your full options can help you avoid losing time you didn't have to lose.

Questions about your FMLA or your rights once it runs out? Call us at (832) 533-3242 or visit: https://www.pinesfederal.com/

08/30/2026

Why Early Legal Guidance Matters in OPM Disability Retirement Cases

Legal Insight Speaker explains that it is never too early to consult an attorney about an OPM disability retirement case. Early discussions can help clarify whether a claim has strong potential before moving forward.

Some firms offer an initial case review at no charge, focusing on key details like medical evidence, job limitations, and supporting documentation before deciding whether to take the case.

The goal is to ensure cases are only pursued when there is a strong chance of success, since disability retirement claims require clear and well-supported evidence from the start.

Click the bio link to listen to the full episode.
https://bio.link/ericpines

08/29/2026

Why a Strong Medical Letter Can Make or Break an OPM Disability Claim

Legal Insight Speaker emphasizes that OPM claims should not overwhelm reviewers with scattered medical records. While full medical documentation is still provided, the strongest applications include a focused letter from a licensed medical professional that directly addresses the employee’s position description and explains their inability to perform useful and efficient service.

This letter should confirm that the provider reviewed the medical records and understands the individual’s condition. Without clear medical language tying the condition to job limitations, filing a claim becomes significantly riskier, especially when paying for professional assistance.

Click the bio link to listen to the full episode.
https://bio.link/ericpines

Mental health disability claims can be harder to prove because the limitations are not always visible. Strong written fi...
08/29/2026

Mental health disability claims can be harder to prove because the limitations are not always visible. Strong written findings from a qualified medical professional can give OPM the evidence it needs to evaluate the claim.

Click the bio link to watch the full episode.
https://bio.link/ericpines

FMLA protection is not automatic.Many federal employees assume that once they tell their supervisor they need leave, FML...
08/28/2026

FMLA protection is not automatic.

Many federal employees assume that once they tell their supervisor they need leave, FMLA protection kicks in on its own. It does not. If you never put in a formal, written FMLA request, your agency is not required to treat your absence as protected leave.

Once your paid leave runs out, an absence that was never formally protected can get you marked AWOL, absent without leave. That single label can put your job at risk.

Questions about your own situation? Call Pines Federal at (832) 533-3242.

Read the full article here: https://www.fedweek.com/fedweek-legal/fmla-and-reasonable-accommodation-stay-on-the-rolls-and-avoid-traps-that-turn-medical-leave-into-awol/

If you're dealing with an EEO complaint, a disability retirement application, and a Social Security disability claim at ...
08/26/2026

If you're dealing with an EEO complaint, a disability retirement application, and a Social Security disability claim at the same time, the deadlines will not line up for you.

An EEO counselor has to be contacted within 45 days. OPM disability retirement has a one year filing window. Social Security protective filing dates run on their own schedule, separate from both.

Someone managing more than one of these processes can miss a deadline without ever realizing it, simply because no one told them the clocks don't match.

This is exactly why Pines Federal tracks all three under one roof. When one firm handles the full picture, deadlines get caught before they become a problem.

Questions about where you stand on any of these timelines? Call us at (832) 533-3242 or visit: https://www.pinesfederal.com/

08/23/2026

Key Mistake in Disability Claims

A major issue in disability retirement cases is the lack of proper medical support from a treating professional.

Strong claims often depend on a licensed medical provider who has direct knowledge of the patient’s condition through records or personal evaluation and can clearly state that the individual is unable to perform useful and efficient service or the essential duties of their role for at least one year.

This written support carries significant weight when determining eligibility and is often the deciding factor in whether a claim moves forward successfully.

Click the bio link to listen to the full episode.
https://bio.link/ericpines

08/22/2026

Doctor Letters In Disability Cases

Medical providers such as doctors, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, or counselors play an important role when they agree to support a disability retirement claim through a written statement.

They are not required to testify or attend hearings, and the standard process does not involve live medical testimony. In most federal disability retirement cases, decisions are based on submitted documentation rather than courtroom appearances, and very few cases ever reach higher levels of appeal where testimony might occur.

Click the bio link to listen to the full episode.
https://bio.link/ericpines

Requesting a reasonable accommodation can become an important part of an OPM disability case. Eric Pines explains why em...
08/22/2026

Requesting a reasonable accommodation can become an important part of an OPM disability case. Eric Pines explains why employees should document whether accommodation was denied or simply could not solve the problem.

Click the bio link to listen to the full episode.
https://bio.link/ericpines

We've got a new addition to the Pines Federal family, and we couldn't be more excited to introduce him.Please join us in...
08/21/2026

We've got a new addition to the Pines Federal family, and we couldn't be more excited to introduce him.

Please join us in welcoming Pete Massaro to the team. Before joining Pines Federal, Pete spent more than seven years as an EEOC Administrative Judge, presiding over hundreds of federal-sector EEO cases. Before that, he served as Assistant Regional Counsel for the Social Security Administration.

Having sat on the other side of the bench, Pete brings a perspective few attorneys have. He's seen these cases as agency counsel, as the judge deciding them, and now as the advocate fighting for federal employees. That's the kind of insight our clients deserve.

Outside the office, Pete's usually found on the tennis court, in the pool, or spending time with his wife and their two kids.

Welcome to the family, Pete.

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10101 Fondren Road Suite 575
Houston, TX
77096

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+18325013502

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