2020 Webinar: Always Be Prepared – Proactive Planning For Catastrophic Claims

The Workers’ Compensation Practice Group hosted a complimentary webinar in ALFA International’s Summer Webinar Serieson June 17, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time titled: Always Be Prepared – Proactive Planning For Catastrophic Claims. CLE credit is available for this webinar. 

Click here to view a recording of the webinar. 

About the Webinar:

No one wants catastrophic work accidents to happen, but the unfortunate reality is they do occur. This panel will address proactive approaches for managing catastrophic injuries, from the initial response following the accident to settlement approaches used to avoid long-term exposure. Discussions will range from high exposure injuries to workplace violence trends and COVID-19 claims.

Panelists:

SHANNON BLAIR is a partner with ALFA International member firm, Haight Brown & Bonesteel LLP, in Los Angeles, California. She is also a member of the firm’s Employment & Labor Practice Group. Shannon is a Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Her practice focuses on California workers’ compensation law, including employer serious and willful misconduct, 132a and defense of independent contractor issues before the WCAB. She routinely represents Fortune 500 companies, self-insured employers, insurance carriers, small businesses and employers who maintain high retention levels requiring strict oversight of their claims. She has served as a Judge ProTem before the WCAB and has successfully assisted multiple clients with the prosecution by the District Attorney of several workers’ compensation cases involving injured worker fraud. Shannon began her career in-house as legal counsel for a third-party administrator litigating workers’ compensation cases for CBS and Paramount Studios. While in college she administered workers’ compensation claims at the Federal Aviation Administration. Shannon frequently speaks at seminars on topics concerning California Workers’ Compensation, Medicare Compliance and Social Media Discovery. Shannon spends her free time working on her handicap with the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles golf league and the LPGA Amateur Golf Association. The organizations support The First Tee and the SCGA Junior Golf Club. Shannon also volunteers with the Downtown Dog Rescue and the Inner City Law Center on Skid Row assisting Los Angeles’ homeless and their pets.

JEFF LAUDENBACH is a partner with ALFA International member firm, German, Gallagher & Murtagh, P.C., in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jeff is a graduate of Lehigh University and Widener School of Law and has over 25 years of experience litigating workers’ compensation and employment related matters. Mr. Laudenbach’s practice involves representing national self-insured employers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and State of New Jersey. He has developed a national client base through client education, communication and goal oriented results. In addition to his litigation experience, he served as vice president to a privately held business where he was responsible for the legal, operational, retail web development and financial management matters. Mr. Laudenbach served as the program chair for the 2014 ALFA Workers’ Compensation Program in Charleston, SC, and former chair for ALFA International’s Workers’ Compensation Practice Group. He currently is a member of the ALFA International Marketing Committee and the ALFA International Board of Directors. He has been recognized in the 2008-2020 editions of Super Lawyers® for the practice area of workers’ compensation defense litigation.

MATTHEW NECCI is a partner with ALFA International member firm, Halloran & Sage, LLP, in Hartford, Connecticut. He is an experienced litigator and problem solver, and also has considerable experience representing clients in appellate matters before the Compensation Review Board of the Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Commission, the Connecticut Appellate Court, and the Supreme Court of Connecticut. Matt also functions as an outside general counsel for business clients, serving as a sounding board and counselor for legal matters that affect the workplace. In that role, Matt collaborates with his clients to resolve or identify potential legal issues, and helps implement strategies that let them engage the world on their terms. His clients range from closely held businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Whether at work or outside the office, Matt thrives when he is acting in the service of others, which he believes is paramount to the success of an engaged and vibrant community. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Connecticut, currently serving as chair of the organization’s Development Committee. He was formerly a member of the Board of Directors for both Leadership Greater Hartford and March of Dimes Connecticut. Matt is a passionate advocate for the State of Connecticut’s capital region, serving on the Board of Corporators for the iQuilt Plan, a culture-based urban design plan for Downtown Hartford that seeks to create a more walkable, sustainable, and welcoming downtown. Matt has been identified by his peers as a leader in both the community and the legal profession. He has been recognized as a “Rising Star” in the 2013 – 2019 editions of Super Lawyers® in the areas of Workers Compensation; State, Local and Municipal Law; and General Litigation. He was also chosen as a member of the 2014 class for the Connecticut Law Tribune’s New Leaders in the Law. In 2016, Matthew was named one of Hartford Business Journal’s “40 Under Forty,” an award that recognizes outstanding young professionals in the Greater Hartford area who are excelling as emerging leaders.