At Ganan & Shapiro, P.C., all
attorneys regularly read and analyze the
decisions rendered by the Illinois Workers’
Compensation Commission as well as those of
the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts.
The firm utilizes this knowledge to
formulate policy in its administration of
files and the defense of claims before the
Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission.
The attorneys share this information with
the firm’s clients and with the team of
professionals involved in the workers’
compensation field such as medical
providers, personnel specialists,
rehabilitation workers, and counselors. By
conducting seminars, delivering lectures,
and publishing a newsletter relating to
workers’ compensation issues, the attorneys
foster a better understanding of the law
aimed at reducing of costs and exposure in
these critical areas.
When decisions are rendered that
significantly impact the practice, the firm
conducts seminars for its clients and
publishes workers’ compensation updates that
address the impact of these decisions.
Keeping the defense team abreast of the
substantive law results in mitigating
exposure and achieving favorable decisions.
The firm, at no cost to its clients, views
it as an obligation to its clients to keep
them informed of these changes in the law
and practice.
Recent seminars have offered presentations
by our attorneys on URAC, case law updates,
effective use of independent medical
evaluations and other "defense" tools, and
have also included presentations by
physicians and Arbitrators.
A practical example of the importance of
ongoing education and knowledge of the
substantive law occurred in 1999 in the two
cases of Jensen vs. Industrial Commission
and Bagcraft vs. Industrial Commission. In
the Jensen case, the employer was
represented by Ganan & Shapiro, P.C., while
in the Bagcraft case, the employer was
represented by a competitor firm. Each case
presented the Illinois Appellate Court with
similar factual situations involving the
recreational use of an all terrain vehicle
by a traveling employee which resulted in
accidents and serious injuries. By
presenting a defense demonstrating a good
understanding of the underlying substantive
law, the employer represented by Ganan &
Shapiro, P.C. was found to be not
responsible for workers’ compensation
benefits, whereas the employer in the
Bagcraft case was held responsible and
benefits were awarded to the injured worker.
This example of successfully representing
its clients has consistently given Ganan &
Shapiro, P.C. its high regard in the
workers’ compensation community. We
encourage you to read these two decisions as
an example of the firms effectiveness.
Jensen vs. Ind. Comm’n (1999) 711 N.E. 2d.
1129; Bagcraft vs. Ind. Comm’n (1998) 705
N.E. 2d. 919.
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