September 14, 2018 Bar Meeting Minutes

Old Business

No Old Business

New Business

Introduction of Guests
New Business
Planning Social in October
October Meeting Date
Update on Website
- Payment of Dues – sending notice and website showing delinquent but working to fix it
- Working on Issues on website
- Picture on Website
Literacy Forsyth Spelling Bee
Facebook Page- Follow us
- Sharing community events,
Announcements from Bench
- Superior Court
  - Court Calendar coming out by October 1, 2018 for 2019
    - Expected to be similar to 2018
    - Presiding Judge will alternate monthly
  - E-filing Updates
    - Be prepared for some setbacks
      - Not having a paper file will be problematic for Court
    - Judge Bagley will not do e-signature
    - January 1, 2019 – Mandatory E-filing
    - There will be an ability to seal documents that are confidential
  - Judge Fowler
    - Updates on Civil Calendar
  - No Updates from Solicitor’s Office
- Announcements from the Bar
  - Bar Association Cards in Clerks Office
    - Get in Contact with an Attorney through the Clerks Office
  - There is a link on Clerk’s Website to the Bar Association Website
- Speakers Bob Hoyte and Chris York
  - Workers Compensation – Presentation Attached to Minutes
  - Timelines that are vital to secure workers compensation claims
    - Refer out when needed to ensure client rights are protected
  - Temporary Total Disability – cannot work at all
    - 2/3 of weekly wage
  - Temporary Partial Disability- can work but not full capacity
  - Permanent Partial Disability- based on you injury not your job
    - This relates to physical impairment as a whole
  - State Board of Workers Compensation
    - In order for attorney to be paid you have to show you gained a benefit- meaning the employer did not start paying voluntarily
    - Lawyers are capped out at 25%
    - These restraints on payouts will create a situation where injured cannot pay their household expenses (car payments, child support, mortgage) because the compensation is not enough
    - Employers often do not want employees back without 100% release
    - Board passed a rule that you cannot borrow money to be paid back out of workers compensation
    - Doctors cannot bill on a lean against future expected workers compensation
  - Problems In Accepted Claim
    - Issue One: Get Panel from Employer to select doctor
      - Does have the right to see a doctor of your choosing – often client does not know that they loose it by letting adjuster change the doctor
      - Often the Employees rights are not explained regarding the panel
      - Often wait for follow up and the call never calls
        
        An unrepresented injured worker cannot make their own appointments
      - This is a way to make workers compensation cases go away
    - Issue Two: Medical Delay Issues
    - Issues Three: Injured Individual not getting the right amount
      - Worker often never sees the forms that show the amount of check, when the check is expected to come
      - When check is late you are entitled to a 15% adjustment on top of the check
    - Business Incorporation need to also address workers compensation in their articles to ensure the business is protected