Thursday, June 25, 2009

1. Strategies for handling Wilkinson/Benson issues now
2. Computing combined disability from multiple injuries post-Benson (including CVC rebuttal)
3. Combining ratings for "old" and "new" schedule cases when some (or none) have been finalized
4. The increasing importance of SIF

Credit: 1.25 MCLE / LS / DWC

David Dugan, Esq.
Alan Snitzer, Esq.
Bob Sherwin, Esq.

1. 4850 pay
2. Industrial disability leave (IDL)
3. "Enhanced" IDL
4. PERS retirement
5. Industrial disability retirement–50% of "what" is tax free
6. Obtaining “the” retirement date
7. "Obscure" public safety benefits and recoveries

Credit: 1.25 MCLE / LS

Sean Gleason, Esq.
TBA

An in depth analysis of the Amaraz/Guzman decision:

1. How and why is an AMA WPI rebuttable (inequitable, disproportionate, not fair and accurate) by the treater, AME, QME?
2. How is an AMA WPI rebutted medically:
   a) by what medical evidence?
   b) by what type of vocational expert evidence on loss of job functions?
   c) by analogy to what other Guides tables?
   d) by "direct ADL conversion" utilizing analysis of loss of "activities of daily work life" (ADWLs)?
   e) rebutting the GAF
   f) what evidence will be "substantial" evidence?
3. How and why do you produce this evidence?

Reception will take place Thursday, June 25, 2009 from 5:45 to 7:00 PM in the Exhibit Hall open to all attendees serving light hors d’oeuvres with no-host bars, drink tickets are available for purchase. Exhibitors will have a wide variety of door prizes, so make sure to bring lots of business cards to enter into the raffles. Must be present to win. Exhibitors let us know if you are interested in donating a prize for the Thursday night.

Make sure to stop by Ringler Associates booth for a chance to win a set of 4 Dodger Tickets, (day game on Saturday w/ parking) v. Astros.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Brett Johnson, Esq.
Andrew Shaffer, Esq.
Bernard Baltaxe, Esq.

1. Strategies, tactics, and tips– the "how and why" of PQME's
2. Selecting the best PQME specialty
3. How and why to get multiple panels in different specialties
4. How to attack a bad QME report by treater rebuttal or cross-ex
5. Discussion of the statutes and new regulations on Panel QME's
6. How and why to be judicially relieved from a non-competent PQME.  How to obtain new QME/AME.

Credit: 1.0 MCLE / LS / DWC

1. How to obtain State Disability more than two years post-injury (and getting paid for it--sample fee agreement)
2. How to obtain Social Security Disability, and be paid for it (sample fee agreement)
3. How to obtain long term disability (and be paid for it--sample fee agreement)
4. Is it possible to obtain TD after two years

Credit: 1.25 MCLE / LS

Bert Arnold, Esq.

Adam Duhan, M.D.
Ira Fishman, M.D.

Credit: 1.0 Required course Substance Abuse / DWC

Most Important Cases

Melissa Brown, Esq.
Joseph Capurro, Esq.
G. Ronald Feenberg, Esq.
William Herreras, Esq.
Honorable Mark Kahn
Lawrence Silver, Esq

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Art Johnson, Esq.

Jamie Berenson, Esq.
Jack Goldfarb, Esq.

Note:  All panelists have received 100% decisions utilizing L.C. 4662 as the basis of the Judge's decision, and with these decisions upheld on Recon.  They will explain the "how and why" of L.C. 4662 (the only Total Disability L.C. section).  They will discuss all recently issued L.C. 4662 decisions and why L.C. 4662 is not "rebuttal" to the Rating Schedule.  It is "sui generis".

Credit: 1.5 MCLE / LS / DWC

Utilizing Medical and Other Expert Evidence at Trial -
Rebuttal to the Guides WPI and/or the Scheduled FEC:

Tom Butts, Esq.

Tom Martin, Esq.
Judge David Lauerman (San Jose WCAB)

Strategic topics:

1. Utilizing Almaraz/Guzman/Ogilvie at Trial.
2. How and why do you decide to rebut the Guides' WPI  at Trial?  The schedule FEC?
3. What to produce at Trial to have the WCJ issue a finding within the range of evidence
4. Marshaling the evidence to convince the Judge as to the "correct" WPI and/or FEC
5. Getting your expert paid under L.C. 5811.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Moderator:

Brad Wixon, Esq.
Frank Rankin, Esq.
Blair McGowan

1. The most current COLA developments (recent decision finding start date is first of January after date of injury). 
2. Why correct COLA calculations can literally result in hundreds of thousands of additional benefits for your client?  These are important issues, including: Can you get a 15% "bump up" on a 100% Award?
3. When does COLA start for a 100% Award or for a life pension (D/I or the later P&S date)?
4. Why the correct date makes a substantial difference over your clients' life expectancy?
5. COLA's for cops
6. What and when is the COLA start date for TD?  Does TD get a COLA increase each January 1st?

Credit: 1.25 MCLE / LS

Barry Hinden, Esq.

Judge Steve Siemers, Mediation and Arbitration Services
Steve Chapman, Structured Settlement Services
John Bloom, Esq.

1. Utilizing a combination of Mediation and structured settlement techniques to obtain prompt and full values for all aspects of your case. 
2. Appropriately dealing with MSA's. 
3. Structuring catastrophic cases for maximum value.
4. How to utilize Almaraz/Guzman/Ogilvie in settlement with assistance from skilled mediator.

Credit: 1.25 MCLE / LS