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Description

8:55 – 9:00 Welcoming Announcements
David M. Barish, Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, Chicago

9:00 – 9:15 Commission Update
Chairman Michael Brennan, Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, Chicago

9:15 – 10:00 Workers' Compensation Caselaw Update 2024
Learn about recent Illinois Appellate Court cases that significantly impact the practice, with important insights for both Petitioner’s and Respondent’s attorneys.
Arnold G. Rubin, Rubin Law Group, Ltd., Chicago

10:00 – 10:15 Break

10:15 - 11:00 Decoding Benefits: Unraveling the Complexities of TTD, TPD, and Maintenance – Strategies to Prove and Disprove
How do they differ and how do we prove or disprove these benefits
Catherine Krenz Doan, Rubin Law Group, Ltd., Chicago*
Michelle L. LaFayette , Ganan & Shapiro PC, Chicago**

11:00 – 11:45 National Tea Revisited
Are the goals of vocational rehabilitation being met?
Michael A. Rom, Cullen, Haskins, Nicholson & Menchetti, P.C ., Chicago*
Joseph F. D’Amato, Keefe, Campbell, Biery & Associates. LLC , Chicago**

11:45 – 12:30 Lunch Break

12:30 - 1:15 Proving and Defending Cases Under Section 8(d)1 v. “Loss of Occupation” under 8(d)2
Analyzing facts situations that could be pursued under these theories of recovery; what evidence is required to prove and defend these cases; proving suitable employment with a job search.
Philip A. Bareck, Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca , Chicago*
Kisa P. Sthankiya, Rusin & Maciorowski, Chicago**

1:15 – 1:45 The Continuing Problems of Analyzing Medical Bills
If medical bills are protected in the terms along with UR; what is amount due; how to handle UR dispute; how to recover co-payments.
John J. Castaneda, Castaneda Law Office , Chicago*
Paul A. Krauter, Evans & Dixon LLC , Chicago**

1:45 – 2:15 Handling Death Cases
Establishing beneficiaries; what are benefits that are available to beneficiaries; what benefits are payable when workers die of causes unrelated to accident.
Jack Cannon, Shannon Law Group, P.C., Chicago*
Brian Koch, Wiedner & McAuliffe, Chicago**

2:15-2:45 MSA Update and Review
Rafael Gonzalez, Cattie & Gonzalez, PLLC, Charlotte

2:45 – 3:00 Break

3:00 – 3:45 Navigating Transitions: Resolving Cases Where Workers Are Not Returning to Previous Employment, Mastering Medicare Set-Asides, and Ensuring Legal Integrity to Safeguard Worker and Employer Interests
(0.75 professional responsibility)

• Cases with accepted and disputed body parts, periods of lost time, medical bills
• Social Security implications- spread language
• Pension funds, including special cases with the State of Illinois
• Group insurance liens
• Medicare Advantage Plans

James B. Hardy, Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman, LLC , Chicago*
James Clune, Garofalo, Schreiber, Storm & Grant, Chtd., Chicago**
Rafael Gonzalez, Cattie & Gonzalez, PLLC, Charlotte

3:45 – 4:30 AI in Practice: Unraveling the Impact on Commission Proceedings and the Appellate Courts
(0.75 professional responsibility)
How does AI impact the practice before the commission? How does AI impact the practice before the Appellate Court?
Arbitrator Kurt Carlson, Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, Chicago
Arbitrator Stephen Friedman, Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, Chicago
Justice William E. Holdridge, Third District Appellate Court of Illinois, Peoria

4:30 Adjourn