Are you fully prepared to handle workers' compensation claims? Walk through the step-by-step practicalities of handling a workers' compensation case, from initial intake through the hearing process. Whether you represent the claimant or the defendant, you'll gain the knowledge you need to effectively advise and zealously defend your client's position. Order today!

1. Overview of Laws and Concepts
2. Preparing Your Case: Procedures for Claimant and Defendant
3. Determining the Value of the Claim
4. Medical Issues During the Claim
5. Ethical Obligations
6. Settlement Options (Including MSA Considerations)
7. Hearings: Practice and Procedure
8. Recovery From Third Parties

1. OVERVIEW OF LAWS AND CONCEPTS
   9:00 - 9:45, Timothy W. Connor
   1. State and Federal Workers' Compensation Laws
      1. Scope of Employer Liability
      2. Who is Covered? – Employees, Independent Contractors, Subcontractors
      3. Compensability? – Injuries and Occupational Diseases
      4. Affirmative Defenses
      5. Extraterritorial Application of State Laws
      6. Non-Occupational Disability Benefit Laws
   2. Types of Benefits and Claims
   3. Statute and Case Law Update
2. PREPARING YOUR CASE: PROCEDURES FOR CLAIMANT AND DEFENDANT
   9:45 - 10:30, Timothy W. Conner and John P. Dreiser
   1. Claimant's Attorney: Intake, Investigation and Case Preparation
   2. Defendants' Attorney: Receipt of the File, Investigation and Case Preparation
3. DETERMINING THE VALUE OF THE CLAIM
   10:45 - 11:15, Timothy W. Conner
4. MEDICAL ISSUES DURING THE CLAIM
   11:15 - 12:00, John P. Dreiser
   1. Medical Discovery Issues
   2. Choice of Doctor
   3. Second Medical Opinions
   4. Medical Evaluation Issues and IMEs
   5. Vocational Rehabilitation and Functional Capacity Evaluations
5. ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS
   1:00 - 2:00, Timothy W. Conner
   1. Rules of Professional Conduct
   2. Communication with Other Parties
   3. Attorneys' Fees
   4. Lawyer Liability
6. SETTLEMENT OPTIONS (INCLUDING MSA CONSIDERATIONS)
   2:00 - 2:30, Mary Beth Maddox
   1. Mediation Strategy
   2. Liens
   3. Medicare Set Aside (MSA) Considerations and Medicare Secondary Payer Act (MSPA) Requirements
7. HEARINGS: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
   2:45 - 3:45, Mary Beth Maddox
8. RECOVERY FROM THIRD PARTIES
   3:45 - 4:30, John P. Dreiser

TIMOTHY W. CONNER is an attorney in the Knoxville law firm of Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan, PLLC, where his practice is concentrated in the areas of workers' compensation defense, general liability defense, automotive liability defense, property damage defense and toxic exposure claims. Mr. Conner is a Rule 31 listed general civil mediator with the Tennessee Supreme Court. He is a member of the Knoxville and Tennessee bar associations, the State Bar of Georgia (non-resident inactive), the Defense Research Institute and the Mid-South Workers' Compensation Association. Mr. Conner earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Boston University and his J.D. degree from Wake Forest University.

JOHN P. DREISER is an attorney with the Law Offices of Tony Farmer & John Dreiser in Knoxville, where he practices in the areas of personal injury, social security disability, workers' compensation, wrongful death, products liability, toxic torts and medical malpractice. He has successful appellate experience before the Tennessee Court of Appeals, the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel and the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Mr. Dreiser has previously lectured for the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians regarding the AMA Guidelines of the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment to both lawyers and physicians, as well as for National Business Institute and other organizations on social security disability, medical records, and workers' compensation. He is a member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, as well as being a member of the Tennessee, Knoxville and American bar associations as well as the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association. He wrote "Hearing a Good Case" in the Tennessee Trial Lawyer, 1st quarter 2003 issue. Mr. Dreiser earned his B.S. degree from Ball State University and his J.D. degree, with honors, from the University of Tennessee.

MARY BETH MADDOX is a partner with Frantz, McConnell & Seymour, LLP in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she concentrates her practice in the area of general civil litigation including workers' compensation, employment and labor law, insurance defense, personal injury, and product liability. Ms. Maddox earned her B.A. degree from the University of Virginia and her J.D. degree from the University of Tennessee. She has appeared before state and federal courts throughout central and eastern Tennessee, including the Court of Appeals and the Tennessee Supreme Court. Ms. Maddox is active in the legal community, belonging to both the Tennessee Bar Association and the Knoxville Bar Association, where she currently serves on the Board of Governors and co-chairs the work-life balance committee. She was president of the Knoxville Barristers in 2002 and a member of the Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law class of 2007. Ms. Maddox is currently a member of the Defense Research Institute and the Hamilton-Burnett Inns of Court.

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