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 - 9:45, Joseph M. Caputo
   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
   9:45 - 10:30, Timothy D. Belt
   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
   10:45 - 11:30, Joseph M. Caputo
   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
   12:30 - 1:30, Robert N. Gawlas Jr.
   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
   1:30 - 2:30, Charles L. Consagra
   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
   2:45 - 3:45, Charles L. Consagra
   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
   3:45 - 4:30, Timothy D. Belt
   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

TIMOTHY D. BELT is an attorney at Fendler & Associates, P.C., where he focuses his practice on workers’ compensation, personal injury and social security disability. He has focused his practice on workers' compensation since 2001, and has successfully litigated workers' compensation claims on behalf of injured workers and employers before workers' compensation judges, the workers' compensation appeal board and the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Mr. Belt's current workers' compensation practice consists exclusively of the representation of injured workers. Before joining Fendler & Associates, P.C., he was employed as an associate in the workers' compensation section of Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman and Goggin, P.C., and as an associate in the workers' compensation section of Laputka, Bayless, Ecker & Cohn, P.C. Mr. Belt earned his B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Ozarks and his J.D. degree from Villanova University School of Law. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, the Workers' Compensation Section of the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, the Wyoming and Sullivan County bar associations, and the Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association.

JOSEPH M. CAPUTO is a partner with the Scranton law firm of Cipriani and Werner, P.C. Since 1990, he has practiced exclusively in workers' compensation defense. He frequently speaks on workers' compensation to employers, trade and professional groups. Mr. Caputo is the author of "Restrictions Due to Non-Work Related Injury No Bar to Termination of Benefits," published in the Worker Compensation Newsletter of the Pennsylvania Self Insured's Association. He is a member of the Workers' Compensation Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Mr. Caputo also is a member of the Pennsylvania Defense Institute and the Northeast Pennsylvania Claims Association. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Scranton and his J.D. degree from Ohio Northern University – Claude W. Pettit College of Law.

CHARLES L. CONSAGRA is a partner of law firm of Needle, Goldenziel and Pascale, P.C., where he specializes in the field of administrative law with primary specialty in the areas of workers' compensation, Social Security and unemployment compensation. He has published several articles in the areas of workers' compensation, Social Security and ethics, as well as presenting seminars for National Business Institute and to the Department of Public Welfare Disability Advocates personnel. Since 1978, Mr. Consagra has been a part-time faculty member at Keystone College as an instructor in the areas of education, behavioral sciences, criminal justice and business law. Mr. Consagra also is an instructor in business for graduate students through Marywood University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Scranton, and his Master of Divinity degree and Master of Science degree from Marywood University.

ROBERT N. GAWLAS JR. is a partner in the law firm of Rosenn, Jenkins & Greenwald LLP, where his areas of practice include construction litigation, civil litigation, commercial litigation, environmental law, workers' compensation and insurance litigation. Mr. Gawlas has spoken to various business and professional groups on construction law, environmental law and workers' compensation issues. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (member, sections on: Civil Litigation; Workers' Compensation; Environmental Law) and the Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association (member, Local Rules and Environmental Law committees). Mr. Gawlas earned his A.B. degree from Dartmouth College and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Dickinson School of Law, Pennsylvania State University.

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Phone: 866-240-1890

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