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Description

10/13/2023
Chicago & Live Webcast

*Petitioner’s Perspective
**Respondent’s Perspective

8:50 – 9:00 Welcoming Announcements and Introduction
Francis J. Lynch, Wolter, Beeman, Lynch & Londrigan, Springfield, Program Moderator

9:00 – 10:00 The Basics of Evaluating a Case: What Do We Need to Prove and How Do You Prove It?
Get a Petitioner’s and Respondent’s perspective on how to evaluate whether a case is compensable. Review the case law and the basics of all workers’ compensation cases, including jurisdiction, statute of limitations, accident, medical causation, employer/employee relationship, average weekly wage, the benefits a person would be entitled to and more.
Catherine K. Doan, Rubin Law Group, Ltd., Chicago *
Jeffrey T. Rusin, Rusin & Maciorowski, Ltd., Chicago**

10:00 – 10:15 Break

10:15 – 11:15 Benefits
(1.0 Professional Responsibility)
Gain an understanding of work comp benefits available to clients. Learn about client relations, interim benefits, vocational rehab, permanency, and strategies to prove it.
Jill Wagner, Disparti Law Group, Chicago *
Candice E. Drew, Wiedner & McAuliffe, Chicago**

11:15 – 12:15 Preparing the Case for Trial
(1.0 Professional Responsibility)
What do we have to prove, how do we prove it, what are we asking for, and how do we prepare witnesses for trial? Learn best practices for setting the case for trial, pre-trials, and at trial. The discussion will include evidentiary issues, what evidence are you presenting and why such as: surveillance, social media, witnesses, and depositions
John J. Castaneda, Castaneda Law Office, Chicago*
Christine M. Jagodzinski, Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry, P.C., Chicago**
Arbitrator Paul Seal, Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission

12:15 – 1:00 Lunch break

1:00 – 2:00 Settlements and Managing Client Expectations During Negotiations
(1.0 Professional Responsibility)
When is the appropriate time to consider settlement? What are the advantages and disadvantages of settlement and what factors should be considered? How can you offer your client the most protection relative to the settlement contract language? This session will discuss negotiations, settlement contracts, what to include and address in settlement, MSA, liens, and how to explain the process to your client and discuss dispute settlements.
Philip A. Bareck, Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, Chicago*
Michelle L. LaFayette, Ganan & Shapiro PC, Chicago**
Arbitrator Dennis O’Brien, Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, Chicago

2:00 – 2:15 Break

2:15 – 3:15 The Appellate Process in Workers’ Compensation
(1.0 Professional Responsibility)
Learn about reviewing decisions from the Commission through the Appellate Court. Gain a general understanding of procedural considerations including standards of review, deadlines, and the required briefs and filings. We will discuss next steps, how to appeal to the Commission, preparing for oral arguments and briefs, circuit court, appellate court and supreme court and the standard of review as you go up
Zbigniew J. Bednarz, Horwitz Horwitz & Associates, Chicago*
James Clune, Garofalo, Schreiber, Storm & Grant, Chtd, Chicago**

3:15 – 4:15 Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission Arbitrators Panel
(1.0 Professional Responsibility)
Learn from the arbitrators themselves what they think practitioners should know about pre-trials, deposing a witness and proposed Commission decisions.
Arbitrator Stephen Friedman, Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission
Arbitrator Jeffrey Huebsch, Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission
Arbitrator Rachael Sinnen, Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission

4:15 Adjourn