This informative legal briefing will enable you to confidently handle each step in a workers' compensation claim process, from case intake to post-resolution challenges, regardless of whether you represent the employer or the employee. Order today to gain the critical techniques needed to build a solid workers' compensation case!

1. Workers' Compensation Claims Procedures and Legislative Update
2. Initial Case Assessment
3. Build Your Case With Thorough Investigation
4. Determining Compensation and Managing your WC Case
5. Effective Methods for Claim Resolution
6. Ethical Hurdles of Workers' Compensation Practice
7. Post-Resolution Challenges

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

1. WORKERS' COMPENSATION GENERAL CLAIMS PROCEDURES AND LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
   9:00 - 9:30, Joseph A. Montecillo
   1. Employment Laws Governing Workers' Compensation
   2. General Workers' Compensation Claims Procedure Step-by-Step
   3. Case Law Update
   4. The Trend Towards Workers' Compensation Reform – What to Expect
2. INITIAL CASE ASSESSMENT
   9:30 - 10:00, David G. Plufka
   1. Initial Client Interview – “Do We Have a Case?”
   2. The Impact of “Course and Scope of Employment Issues” on a Claim
   3. Determine What Proper Procedural Documentation Exists
   4. What are the Relevant Coverage Issues?
   5. Will The Case Lead to A Third Party Lawsuit?
3. BUILDING YOUR CASE WITH THOROUGH INVESTIGATION
   10:15 - 11:15, T. Brian Tobin
   1. Interviewing All Involved Parties and Witnesses
   2. How to Establish or Disprove the Claimant's Credibility and Why It's So Important
   3. Medical vs. Legal Standards of Causation
   4. Establishing Liability Factors
   5. What Role Does the Insurance Company Play?
4. DETERMINING COMPENSATION AND MANAGING YOUR WC CASE
   11:15 - 12:15, T. Brian Tobin
   1. Uncovering the Nature and Extent of Disability
      1. When and How to Use Independent Medical Examination (IME)
      2. Loss of Vocational Capacity
      3. Re-Injury or Aggravation of Pre-Existing Condition
      4. How to Handle Controversial Injuries and Diseases
   2. Benefits to Be Provided to the Employee
      1. Medical Expenses and Care
      2. Temporary Disability Payments
      3. Lost Wages
      4. Vocational Rehabilitation
   3. Employee Benefits That Are Affected by Workers' Compensation Settlements
   4. Unique Issues Relating to Fatality Claims
   5. Communication and Maintenance of Clients
      1. Ensure Realistic Expectations
      2. Prepare the Client to Testify
      3. Communicate the Progress in a Clear and Timely Manner
   6. Why Timing is Crucial in WC Cases
   7. Working with Medical Experts
      1. Select the Medical Expert Carefully – What to Look and Look Out For
      2. Make Sure the Medical Expert Has Both Sides of the Story
5. EFFECTIVE METHODS FOR CLAIM RESOLUTION
   1:15 - 2:15, Julie L. Petraborg
   1. Settlement Procedure in a Nutshell
   2. Employing the Best Settlement Strategies
   3. Considerations Involved in Employee's Return to Work
   4. Handling Medicare Issues During Settlements
   5. Effective Use of Mediation
   6. Hearings as an Option When Voluntary Settlement Cannot Be Reached
6. OVERCOMING COMMON ETHICAL HURDLES FACED BY WORKERS' COMPENSATION ATTORNEYS
   2:30 - 3:30, Mark R. Bates
   1. Calculating Accurate Attorney's Fees
   2. Knowing If You Have a Conflict of Interest
   3. Proper Contact With Other Parties and Witnesses
   4. Drawing the Line - Communicating to Clients the Ethical Constraints Attorneys Work Under
   5. Handling the Psychological Pressure of Delays Humanely
   6. HIPAA Privacy Issues Regarding Medical Records
7. OVERCOMING POST-RESOLUTION CHALLENGES
   3:30 - 4:30, Brandy L. Johnson
   1. Appeals Procedure and Strategies
   2. When Is Maximum Medical Improvement Reached?
   3. Handling Third Party Claims That Arise Out of Work Injuries
   4. Workers' Compensation Effects on SSI Benefits

MARK R. BATES is a member of the law firm of Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch & Champion, LLC, where he practices in the areas of worker's compensation defense and labor and employment law. Mr. Bates is a frequent lecturer on topics related to worker's compensation defense, employment law, and related business topics such as the ADA, FMLA and human resources issues. He has prepared and presented numerous articles on these topics. Mr. Bates earned his B.S. degree from the University of Missouri and his J.D. degree from St. Louis University. He is a member of The Missouri Bar, the Illinois State Bar Association and the Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers.

BRANDY L. JOHNSON is an attorney in the law firm of Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch & Champion, LLC. Ms. Johnson concentrates her practice in workers' compensation, but has experience in the areas of tort litigation, including premises liability, personal injury, insurance law, and medical malpractice. She has authored appellate briefs in appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, the Missouri Supreme Court, the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Southern District of Missouri, the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District of Missouri, and the Illinois Court of Appeals for the 5th District. Ms. Johnson is admitted to practice law in Missouri and Illinois, and before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. She earned her undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University and her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Southern Illinois University School of Law. Ms. Johnson has published articles in the Journal of Legal Medicine, the Journal of Health Law, the Oncology Hematology Clinics of North America Health Law and Policy, the Encyclopedia of Women's Health, the Encyclopedia of Public Health and Aging, the Missouri Medical Law Report and, most recently, the Encyclopedia of Immigrant Health.

JOSEPH A. MONTECILLO is an attorney with the St. Louis firm of Brown & Crouppen, PC, where his main areas of practice are workers' compensation and third-party civil law. Mr. Montecillo earned his B.A. degree from the University of Missouri, his M.S. degree from St. Louis University and his J.D. degree from Washington University School of Law. He is a member of the Missouri Association of Trial Lawyers.

JULIE L. PETRABORG is owner of The Petraborg Law Firm, L.L.C. She practices workers' compensation defense representing self insured companies and insurance carriers. Ms. Petraborg also has worked for the Missouri Attorney General's Office in the Labor Division, where she worked in the Second Injury Fund department defending the state against workers' compensation claims. Within the Missouri Attorney General's Office she worked in the Department of Mental Health and the Commission on Human Rights. Ms. Petraborg earned her B.A. degrees from the University of Missouri in St. Louis and her J.D. degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law. She is a member of The Missouri Bar and the Missouri Self-Insurers Association. Ms. Petraborg has been a past speaker and moderator for The Missouri Bar, Kids' Chance of Missouri, Missouri Self-Insurers Association, Concentra Health and Missouri Chamber of Commerce.

DAVID G. PLUFKA is an attorney with the St. Louis law firm of Keefe & Griffiths, P.C., where his primary area of practice is workers' compensation. Mr. Plufka earned his A.B. degree from Ripon College and his J.D. degree from Hamline University School of Law. He is admitted to practice in both Missouri and Illinois.

T. BRIAN TOBIN is a member in the St. Louis law firm of Huck, Howe & Tobin, where he practices in the areas of workers' compensation and general litigation. He earned his B.A. degree from Indiana University and his J.D. degree from St. Louis University. Mr. Tobin frequently lectures on workers' compensation issues for National Business Institute. He is a member of The Missouri Bar (Workers' Compensation Committee). Mr. Tobin is licensed in Missouri and Illinois.

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