The COVID-19 Ripple Effect: Economic and Medical Impact on the Payment of Temporary Disability Benefits

Monday, April 27th 2020 At 10:00am Central Time

A Complimentary Webinar - ​​​​​​​From the Members of the National Workers' Compensation Defense Network

With COVID-19 causing employers to temporarily or permanently close shop or fire or furlough all or part of their work staff, many have questions regarding when temporary disability benefits are owed. The answers vary from state to state. This panel of attorneys representing different regions of the United States will discuss whether benefits are owed when accommodated duty is not available solely due to economic factors or when accommodated duty is available but the employee refuses either out of fear or self-quarantine. They will also address whether or not TTD is owed when the employee refuses to cooperate with medical care out of fear of contracting the virus or if TTD should be started when an off work slip cannot be obtained because the medical provider refuses to see them due to exposure concerns.

Mike Fish - Fish, Nelson and Holden, LLC​​​​​​​ Mike Fish is a founding member of the Birmingham insurance defense law firm of FISH NELSON & HOLDEN, LLC. He is AV rated which is the highest possible rating under the Martindale-Hubbell attorney certification system. He received his BA degree from The University of Georgia and his J.D. degree from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University where he was one of only eight students selected by the faculty for the academic honor of Order of Barristers.

Ericka Dunn - Hanna, Brophy, MacLean, McAleer & Jensen, LLP ​​​​​​​ Ericka D. Dunn is a partner at Hanna Brophy and has been affiliated with the San Francisco office since 2002, where she has defended various employers as well as insurance carriers in workers’ compensation litigation. She appears regularly at multiple Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board locations, including San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and Salinas. Ericka also has experience in defending alleged violations of Labor Code section 132a.

Parker T. Olson - Cousineau, Waldhauser & Kieselbach ​​​​​​​ Parker is a shareholder at Cousineau, Waldhauser, & Kieselbach, and is presently involved with the defense of workers’ compensation claims, including file management, strategy recommendations, settlements with intervenors, witness depositions, hearings, and motion practice.

Andrea L. Schlafer - Capehart Scatchard Ms. Schlafer focuses her practice in the representation of employers, self-insured companies, and insurance carriers in workers’ compensation defense matters. Prior to joining Capehart Scatchard, Andrea served as a Judicial Clerk to The Honorable Kevin T. Smith, J.S.C.