The California Workers’ Compensation Institute has announced it will conduct a one-day case law seminar in May in both San Francisco and Long Beach. The program will examine how recent trends in decisional law are reshaping California workers’ compensation, and discuss appropriate negotiation and defense strategies for claims personnel, attorneys, hearing reps, case managers, nurses, rehab professionals and others with negotiating authority.

CWCI General Counsel Mike McClain, who has moderated the case law seminars since their inception, notes that this is the 12th consecutive year that the Institute has conducted the program. McClain notes, "These seminars focus on the practical impact of case law for those who work in the system. Our faculty includes attorneys Michael Marks and Saul Allweiss of the Offices of Saul Allweiss, and Richard Jacobsmeyer of Shaw, Jacobsmeyer, Crain, Claffey & Nix – all of whom have both applicant and defense experience. We use a debate-style format to present alternate viewpoints on recent decisions and insights into what it all means for those trying to deliver benefits or defend claims." Issues arising out of the 2002-2004 reforms continue to percolate up through the courts, so the 2010 program will explore a wide range of reform-related topics and cases, including: the Utilization Review process; updates on the Ogilvie & Almaraz/Guzman which have opened the door for PDRS rebuttals; apportionment following the Benson decision; and Medicare Set Aside issues.).

The Institute will present the 2010 Case Law Seminar from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday, May 3 at the Grand Hyatt in San Francisco, and repeat the program on Wednesday, May 5 at the Grand Long Beach Event Center. Tuition is $395, with a $75 discount available to CWCI member company employees. The fee includes a syllabus with summaries of significant decisions and full citations, Continental breakfast and lunch. Continuing education units will be available for attorneys, as CWCI is a State Bar of California approved MCLE provider (5 hours). CWCI also will provide certificates of attendance for Department of Insurance workers’ compensation claims administrator credits, and for submission to the Association of Hearing Reps of California. Preregistration and prepayment are required. For more details or to register online, click the "Seminar" button at www.cwci.org. For additional information or to request accommodation of special needs, call Mel Long at 510-251-9470.