On-the-job injuries – and their accompanying workers' compensation claims – inevitably cause conflict between employers and employees. No matter what side you represent, this contention rarely brings about the most suitable outcome. That means savvy practitioners need to come up with a better approach to workers' compensation claim solutions. Order today to learn best practices from a panel of experienced attorneys and judges for building your case, negotiating with the other side and getting favorable results. You'll gain practical tips and tactics from both sides – as well as the Bench – and get the knowledge and tools you need to smoothly navigate through the process and best represent your clients.

1. Working With New Clients - Do's and Don'ts for Both Sides
2. Building a Case From the Ground Up
3. Getting Up to Speed With the Case in Progress
4. How to Smooth the Process for Both Sides - Practical Tips and Tactics
5. Controlling Issues That Could Damage or Destroy Your Case
6. What to Do When Your Case is Undermined
7. Ethics
8. The Hearing
9. Hot Topics

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

1. WORKING WITH NEW CLIENTS - DO'S AND DON'TS FOR BOTH SIDES
   9:00 - 9:45, Written by Mark A. Simon. Presented by the Panel.
   1. What to Look for and What to Avoid in a New Client
   2. Obtaining all the Information You Need
   3. Providing Your Client With all the Information They Need
   4. What Does the Client Want and Can You Deliver It?
2. BUILDING A CASE FROM THE GROUND UP
   9:45 - 10:30, Written by Frank M. Cavanaugh. Presented by the Panel.
   1. Issues to Review
   2. Obtaining Medical Documentation
   3. Communication - Keeping Both Sides Informed
   4. Choosing Your Battles Wisely
   5. Wage Calculations - Hidden Gold Mines or Curses?
   6. Light Duty Job Offers - Issues and Tactics
3. GETTING UP TO SPEED WITH THE CASE IN PROGRESS
   10:45 - 11:15, Written by Frank M. Cavanaugh. Presented by the Panel.
   1. Missing Information - What, if Anything, is Missing? Is it Obtainable? Is it Fixable?
   2. Can You Improve Your Client's Current Position?
   3. Cost Containment Techniques
4. HOW TO SMOOTH THE PROCESS FOR BOTH SIDES - PRACTICAL TIPS AND TACTICS
   11:15 - 12:00, Written by Mark A. Simon. Presented by the Panel.
   1. Getting the Worker Back to a Productive Life
   2. Maximizing Success in Motions for Additional Conditions
   3. Keeping Treatment Authorized and Effective
   4. Getting Bills Paid
5. CONTROLLING ISSUES THAT COULD DAMAGE OR DESTROY YOUR CASE
   1:00 - 1:30, Written by Mark A. Simon. Presented by the Panel.
   1. Intervening Events
   2. Career Ending Injuries
   3. Out of Control Medical Providers
6. WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CASE IS UNDERMINED
   1:30 - 2:00, Written by Mark A. Simon. Presented by the Panel.
   1. Fraud - The Kiss of Death
   2. The Unreasonable Client
7. ETHICS
   2:00 - 3:00, Written by Richard A. Bovarnick. Presented by the Panel.
8. THE HEARING
   3:15 - 3:45, Written by Richard A. Bovarnick. Presented by the Panel.
   1. What the Administrative Law Judges Want
   2. Effective Presentation of Evidence
   3. The Key to Building and Winning Your Case
9. HOT TOPICS
   3:45 - 4:30, Written by Frank M. Cavanaugh. Presented by the Panel.
   1. At Fault for Termination
   2. Drug Testing and Effect on Claims
   3. Course of Employment
   4. Subrogation
   5. Wage Loss
   6. Settlements
   7. Medicare Set-Aside Arrangements

CRAIG C. ELEY, prehearing administrative law judge, graduated from Rockford College in Rockford, Illinois in 1970, and attended the University of Denver College of Law, where he received his law degree in 1973. From 1971 to 1981, he was employed at the Denver law firm of Zarlengo, Mott & Zarlengo, where he represented insurance carriers in workers' compensation and personal injury cases. From 1981 to 2005, he was the senior partner in Eley & Eley, LLC, a Denver law firm that specialized in representing the injured in workers' compensation and Social Security disability cases. He is a past president of the Law Club of Denver, and was a founding member and a past president of the Workers' Compensation Education Association, an organization of claimant's attorneys. Judge Eley has written and spoken extensively on workers' compensation issues, has been an adjunct professor at the University of Denver College of Law, and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America. In 2000, the CBA Workers' Compensation Section awarded Judge Eley the Lance Butler Award for exceptional contributions to the field of workers' compensation. He is the editor of the Colorado Workers’ Compensation Journal, and serves on the Colorado Bar Association Board of Governors. Judge Eley is a past president of the Denver Bar Association and is currently a prehearing administrative law judge for the Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation.

BRUCE C. FRIEND, administrative law judge, was appointed to the bench in 1987. He graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in business administration in 1974, and from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1977. Before joining the office, he was employed as a staff attorney for a Colorado workers' compensation insurance company and was a partner in several Greeley law firms. Judge Friend's eight years in private practice included representation of claimants in workers' compensation proceedings. He has lectured on workers' compensation to numerous groups. Judge Friend has heard cases in the areas of workers' compensation, human services, Medicaid and regulatory law.

RICHARD A. BOVARNICK is a shareholder with the Denver firm of Clifton, Mueller & Bovarnick, P.C. He has practiced in the areas of civil litigation, insurance defense and workers' compensation law statewide, including arguing cases before the Colorado Court of Appeals and before the Colorado Supreme Court. Mr. Bovarnick has lectured before employer groups, the Colorado Defense Lawyer's Association, continuing legal education courses and trade organizations on workers' compensation. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Washington and his J.D. degree from the University of Denver. Mr. Bovarnick is a member of the Denver, The Colorado (member, Workers' Compensation Section) and American (member, Tort and Insurance Law Section) bar associations and the Colorado Defense Lawyers Association.

FRANK M. CAVANAUGH is special counsel to the law firm of Hall & Evans, LLC. Mr. Cavanaugh has been representing employers and their carriers in workers' compensation matters for 15 years. He has served as the workers' compensation practice group leader for two of the largest commercial insurer's staff counsel offices. He has handled all aspects of workers' compensation litigation from hearings to appeals before the Colorado Supreme Court. Mr. Cavanaugh has served as a co-chairman of the Colorado Defense Lawyers Association Workers' Compensation Section, has prepared and presented educational materials for continuing legal education seminars and has qualified as an expert in workers' compensation in district court litigation. Mr. Cavanaugh has also handled workers' compensation subrogation matters and workers' compensation disability related employment claims. He has litigated general liability cases, including slip and fall, as well as auto liability cases. Mr. Cavanaugh earned his B.A. and B.S. degrees from Regis University and his J.D. degree from Gonzaga University School of Law. He is a member of the Colorado Bar Association and the Colorado Defense Lawyers Association.

MARK A. SIMON is an active trial attorney in Denver who practices in the areas of personal injury, automobile accidents, workers' compensation and premises liability. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mr. Simon worked as a registered nurse in Texas and still maintains his nursing license. He is licensed to practice law before the Supreme Court of Texas and the Supreme Court of Colorado. Mr. Simon earned his B.A. degree from Rice University and his J.D. degree from University of Houston.

Please refer to Continuing Education Credit FAQ for general information about seeking credit for your participation in one of our continuing education programs.

Additionally, our team of credit specialists are here to answer your specific credit-related questions weekdays 7am - 5pm Central:

Phone: 866-240-1890

Email: credit@nbi-sems.com