2018 Winter Convention Schedule

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Choose a date below to see the panels offered.

Continuing Education Credits awarded when attending the entire convention:

Minimum Continuing Legal Education: 16.00 MCLE (including 1.25 Ethics)
Legal Specialization in Workers’ Compensation: 13.50 MCLE
Division of Workers’ Compensation: 1.25 QME

Click on the links below to see an extended description, panelists and continuing education credits for each session.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018
Navigating the Workers' Compensation Obstacle Course:
How to Successfully Access Injured Workers' Benefits in a Skewed Environment

1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Getting MPNs to do Their Job

Obtaining pre-authorizations for medical treatment.
Obtaining court orders to access reasonable treatment.
Sample letters and petitions to use in litigating treatment issues.
Ensuring MPN doctors are paid for review of records, med-legal reports and appropriate treatment.
Recognizing inappropriate UR denials.

Panel: Lawrence Stern, Esq. (Moderator); Honorable David Brotman; Thomas Martin, Esq.; Jill Singer, Esq.; Ed Stone, Esq.
Credit: 1.25 MCLE, 1.25 Legal Specialization

2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Not-so-Special Delivery: Common Defense Tactics That Interfere with the Delivery of Injured Worker Benefits

Withholding authorizations for treatment.
“Adding” cumulative trauma claims.
Failure to comply with the duty to investigate.
Directives given to “industrial clinics” and other MPN medical providers.
Withholding subrosa video and serving it after doctors’ evaluations.

Panel: Dennis Popalardo, Esq. (Moderator); Roxana Soltani, Esq.; Jamey Teitell, Esq.; Mark Vickness, Esq.
Credit: 1.25 MCLE, 1.25 Legal Specialization

4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Brave New World: The QME Quagmire in 2018

The panel QME striking process.
Choosing medical specialties for QME requests.
Objecting to position papers/cover letters (Maxham case).
The Medical Unit’s denial of requests for psyche QMEs.
Obtaining additional QME panels.
Disputes regarding ML-104 billing

Panel: Charles Rondeau, Esq. (Moderator); Jamie Berenson, Esq.; Thu Do, Esq.; Sue Honor, Esq.
Credit: 1.5 MCLE, 1.5 Legal Specialization

6:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
“WELCOME RECEPTION” IN EXHIBIT HALL

Visit vendors, enjoy great music, and enter our drawing for a chance to win. Convention registrants will receive one (1) complimentary drink ticket and hors d’oeuvres. Must be a CAAA Regular Member to win.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018
The Law and Politics of Workers' Compensation

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
The 10 Most Important Things to Know to Successfully Represent Injured Workers

The passionate panel will disclose tools, approaches, arguments, and attitudes when it unveils the list of 10 strategies to successfully represent injured workers.

Panel: Alan Gurvey, Esq. (Moderator); Keith More, Esq.; Tina Odjaghian, Esq.; John Bloom, Esq.
Credit: 1.0 MCLE, 1.0 Legal Specialization

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
The Art and Science of RFA Writing

What doctors should focus on in an RFA.
How to get RFAs for treatment approved.
Properly using medical guides to substantiate requests.
Urgent treatment requests.

Panel: Jack Breslavsky, Esq. (Moderator); Beatriz Trejo, Esq.; Bruce Fishman, M.D.; Brendan Morley, M.D.
Credit: 1.25 MCLE, 1.25 Legal Specialization, 1.25 QME

11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

For Regular Members Only. Name Badge is Required. Box lunch provided.

1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Commissioners' Panel

Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners discuss recent interesting Board Panel Decisions

Panel: Chairperson Katherine Zalewski (invited); Commissioner Frank Brass (invited); Commissioner Deidra Lowe (invited); Commissioner Marguerite Sweeney (invited); Commissioner Jose Razo (invited)
Credit: 1.25 MCLE, 1.25 Legal Specialization

2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Marvin Shapiro Memorial: Most Important Cases

The esteemed panel discusses the cases that are shaping workers’ compensation in California today

Panel: Megan Ruble, Esq. (Moderator); Joe Capurro, Esq.; William Herreras, Esq.; Ron Feenberg, Esq.; Larry Silver, Esq.; Honorable Colleen Casey
Credit: 2.0 MCLE, 2.0 Legal Specialization

4:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
The Winds of Change: The Future is Now; Current Labor Issues Affecting our Practice

Participating in the legislative process and the 2018 election.
What are the important issues?
ICE at the WCAB and undocumented workers.
The alternative work force: The “gig” worker; independent contractor and the future of labor.

Panel: Adam Dombchik, Esq. (Moderator); Marc Marcus, Esq.; Bernardo de la Torre, Esq.; Diane Worley, Esq.; Richie Ross
Credit: 1.25 MCLE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 2018
Truth or Consequences... And, Dealing with the Consequences

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
House Cleaning: The New Rules of Ethics

Changes to the State Bar Rules of Ethics.
A new era of capping and illegal referrals.
Protecting people who need representation.
Are Spanish speaking people being exploited

Panel: Jack Don, Esq. (Moderator); Ellen Pansky, Esq.; Dominic Dugo, Esq.; Teena Barton of ICW Group
Credit: 1.25 MCLE (Ethics)

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
New Considerations Addressing Permanent Disability and Apportionment

Identifying consequential medical conditions after work-related injuries.
Relevant AMA Guide Tables for WPI.
The Hikida case
Pearls of the AMA Guides - Revisited.

Panel: Sherry Grant, Esq. (Moderator); Robert McLaughlin, Esq.; Gil Stein, Esq.; Timothy Reynolds, M.D.; Honorable Clint Feddersen
Credit: 1.25 MCLE (Ethics), 1.25 Legal Specialization

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 2018
Looking into the Proverbial Crystal Ball

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
The Science of Genetics: Legal Apportionment or Politics?

Statutory provisions and issues regarding apportionment to asymptomatic issues.
City of Jackson case.
Practical applications: Identifying issues, discovery requests and strategic tactics.
Is genetic testing reliable? Speculative?

Panel: Julius Young, Esq. (Moderator); Sarah Carr, Esq.; Jake Jacobsmeyer, Esq.; Jacob Rosenberg, M.D.
Credit: 1.25 MCLE, 1.25 Legal Specialization

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Carveouts: Debunking the Myths of Alternatives to the Workers’ Compensation System as We Know It

Are “carveouts” the future of workers’ compensation in California?
The role of the attorney in carveouts.
Timely and effective assistance in obtaining treatment and indemnity benefits.
Discovery, litigation and settlement in the alternative system.

Panel: Mark Edelstein, Esq. (Moderator); Robert Sherwin, Esq.; Steven Siemers, Esq.; Maria Mariotto, Ombudsperson
Credit: 1.5 MCLE, 1.5 Legal Specialization

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