Slip, trip, and fall incidents are one of the top losses in the retail, restaurant and hospitality environments. This session at the 2020 CLM Workers’ Compensation and Retail, Restaurant and Hospitality Conference examined the biomechanics needed to understand and, when necessary, defend against claimed slip, trip and fall injuries. Speakers included: Tamara Cohen, Senior Biomechanist, ARCCA, Inc. Gwyneth K. Murray-Nolan, Partner/Member, Weiner Law Group LLP Cathleen Rebar, Partner, Rebar Kelly Jayne Spies, Claims Manager, Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group Many companies hire a biomechanical expert to assess slip, trip and fall claimed injuries. These experts consider four main factors when conducting
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As risk management evolves with technology, one of the new ways to reduce risk and injury is through drone use. This session at the 2020 CLM Workers’ Compensation and Retail, Restaurant and Hospitality Conference explored how drones are affecting scene investigation, accident reconstruction, surveillance, monitoring disabilities, claims settlements and exposure reduction. Speakers included: Alicia DePalma, Claims Coordinator, Lockton Companies, LLC Cindi Hodges, Claims Manager, Southern States Insurance Exchange Wendy Smith, Attorney, Morgan & Akins, PLLC Joseph Teitelman, Forensic Engineer, ARCCA, Inc. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), otherwise known as drones, have been used to prevent catastrophic injuries, reduce risk of exposure
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The longer an injured employee is off work, the less likely they are to ever return. Light duty work is a great way to give injured employees a purpose and facilitate quicker recovery. There are challenges, but it is important to utilize vocational rehabilitation efficiently. In this session at the 2020 CLM Workers’ Compensation and Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality Conference, panelists discussed the mindset of injured workers in rehabilitation and finding work available within restrictions. Speakers included: Lindsay Beach, Technical Claims Consultant at Amerisure Mutual Insurance Company Beth Burry-Jackson, Vice President Clinical Operations at Sedgwick Kirsten Kaiser Kus, Partner at
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Technology continues to evolve and many parts of our jobs are going digital. This includes solutions for third party administrators and claims managers. In this session at the 2020 CLM Workers’ Compensation and Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality Conference, panelists discussed the need for human contact with the claims professional and their skill for handling claims as well as generational differences in technology needs. Speakers included: Jay Gates, Claims Advocate Senior at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Katie Hensley, Brokerage Claims & Safety Manager at Cottingham & Butler Patrick J. Sodoro, Managing Partner at Sodoro, Mooney, and Lenaghan Melissa Icban, Assistant
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Use of cannabis, for recreational or medical purposes, is having an effect in workers’ compensation, employment and general liability cases. There are many unanswered questions including whether carriers must pay for medical marijuana, who receives the payments and what liability exists in relation to cannabis still being labeled as a prohibited substance under federal law. In this session at the 2020 CLM Workers’ Compensation and Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality Conference, panelists discussed the critical issues regarding lack of standards for testing and levels of impairment, comparative liability and admissibility of evidence. Speakers included: Stephanie Burnstein, Attorney at Segal McCambridge Singer
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The brain is one of the most complex organs in the body, and damage to it can cause a wide range of impairments called disorders of consciousness (DOC). In this session at the 2020 CLM Workers’ Compensation and Retail, Restaurant and Hospitality Conference, a panel discussed the three main disorders of consciousness and, when an injured worker suffers such an injury, how workers’ compensation should respond. Speakers included: Michael Choo, Chief Medical Officer, Paradigm Robert Doherty, Partner, Evans & Dixon, L.L.C. Nancy Schulz, Director – Managed Care, Acuity Insurance Defining and Diagnosing Disorders of Consciousness It is crucial to understand
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The most overlooked part of workers’ compensation claims handling is assembling the best team possible and getting that team to communicate openly. When in complete concert, the members of that team have a much greater efficiency than the sum of their individual parts. This session at the 2020 CLM Workers’ Compensation and Retail, Restaurant and Hospitality Conference focused on how to assemble the best team possible and, in turn, how that team can work collaboratively to combat workers’ compensation claims fraud. Speakers included: Steve Carman, Director of Workers’ Compensation, Celadon Trucking Jennifer Meyer, Partner, Kopka, Pinkus, Dolin Building the Team
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Socioeconomic status like age or housing, personal factors including finances and transportation, physical demands of employment and access to appropriate healthcare are all factors that can affect an injured worker’s recovery and potential return to work. In this session at the 2020 CLM Workers’ Compensation and Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality Conference, panelists discussed the importance of asking the right questions and gathering the relevant information to understand barriers that may exist in the course of an injured worker’s recovery. Speakers included: Marcos Iglesias, VP Chief Medical Director at Travelers Tron Emptage, Chief Clinical Officer WC at Optum David Vittoria, Senior
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From pre-placement physicals, to safety and wellness plans, to employee and management education, strategies for realistic claims management can allow for favorable resolution and even immunity from litigation. In this session at the 2020 CLM Workers’ Compensation and Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality Conference, panelists discussed how employers can survive and thrive in the workers’ compensation claims management arena. Speakers included: Michele Punturi, Attorney at Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin Robin Jones, SVP Risk Management at Sedgwick David Shoaff, Claims Manager at Red Lobster Michelle Leighton, Vice President-Senior Claim Consultant at Connor Strong One of the primary goals of the
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In the age of gun proliferation and related gun violence, there has been an increasing amount of acceptance that commercial landowners should now bear a duty to protect against this risk. In fact, there have been a proliferation of high-dollar legal rulings against businesses held accountable. This session at the 2020 CLM Workers’ Compensation and Retail, Restaurant and Hospitality Conference focused on various aspects of premises liability, from incident prevention responsibilities to legal defense strategies. Speakers included: Sante S. Fratarcangeli, Claims Manager at Conifer Insurance Jeffrey Gill, Department Managing Attorney at Vernis and Bowling Daniel Jahnsen, Founding Partner at Bolan,
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