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Sep
24
2010
Almaraz / Guzman, Author, Ogilvie, Workers Compensation Resources

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What has two thumbs and loves to hear itself talk? THIS GUY!!!
What has two thumbs and loves to hear itself talk? THIS GUY!!!

There was a great turn out this morning to the “How to Obtain an Accurate PD Rating with the AMA Guides” put on by the Workers’ Compensation Section of the State Bar.  We covered a lot of ground in just two hours, from the DEU perspective presented by Annalisa Faina and Barry Knight entitled “Anatomy of Rating”, to Mark Gearheart’s “Substantial Medical Evidence to Support a Permanent Disability Rating,” and my own presentation on “Litigating Ogilvie.”  There was a lively discussion on the state of Almaraz/Guzman, Blackledge, and Ogilvie. 12

Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me asking for the cases cited during our presentations.  I’ll be uploading them shortly.

Tonight is the “2010 Steve Jimenez Special Recognition Awards” honoring:

  • Lifetime Achievement: The Honorable Pamela Foust (Ret.)
  • Judge of the Year: The Honorable Jorja FrankHon. Jorja Frank
  • Applicant Attorney of the Year: Marc Marcus
  • Defense Attorney of the Year: Michael Marks

If you’re attending tonight, please stop me and say hello!  (I’ve got a name tag and everything)

  1. Lively as in “barely civil” [↩]
  2. I’m kidding! [↩]
Aug
27
2010
Almaraz / Guzman, Author, PDRater

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Three doctors is probably just plain excessive. And more than a little creepy.
Three doctors is probably just plain excessive. And more than a little creepy.

My prior record for doctor depositions was three in one month.  This was not at all intentional.  It was probably a number of factors.  I tend to take more doctor depositions than most.1 Almaraz/Guzman issues are usually best addressed during a deposition.  And, lastly it just happened to be an extra busy month.

This week I attended three doctor depositions (two set by myself, one set by a co-defendant).  I’d say that pretty well trumps three in a month.  :)

A special shout-out goes to Doctors Z, J, and C.  Thanks for putting up with me guys.  Also, special thanks to Mr. W, my co-Defendant without whom this wouldn’t have been possible.

  1. Photo courtesy of Little Miss no Name.  Photo editing – all me! [↩]
May
26
2010
Author, PDRater, Road Warrior

Favorite deposition question: Doctor who?
Favorite deposition question: Doctor who?

For those of you keeping score at home, I’ve posted my personal records for the most walk throughs at different Boards in one day (3), most bridges crossed in one day (3), most bridge tolls paid in one day ($10), most bridges crossed without paying tolls legally (2), and now… depositions of doctors.1

I probably tend to take more doctor depositions than most.  I’ve normally got about one or two on calendar each month.  However, this month has been a personal record with three depositions of doctors.2

I seriously doubt any other workers’ comp attorneys keep track of this sort of thing.

  1. Photo courtesy of BBC and TVScoop [↩]
  2. Does this count as a professional record? [↩]
Feb
18
2010
Author, Not Workers Compensation, PDRater, Road Warrior

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Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence

Yesterday I was driving back from Modesto and I noticed a CHP officer out of the corner of my eye. 1  My first instinct is always to double check my speed.

However, yesterday afternoon I noticed this officer was on his cell, left elbow propped up on the edge of the window, yakking away, while tailgating a semi in the slow lane.

Not wanting to get pulled over for driving under the influence of irony, I didn’t take a picture with my phone.

BTW, I’ve got to be in San Francisco this afternoon – stop me and say hello!

  1. Photo courtesy of OregonDOT [↩]
Jan
26
2010
Author, Blogging, PDRater, Road Warrior

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Free pass
Free pass

Yesterday I had an appearance in San Jose and then another up in San Rafael.  From San Jose I drove up through San Francisco, northbound over the Golden Gate Bridge, to my appearance, then back over to Contra Costa County via the Richmond Bridge.1

Wait for it…

The Golden Gate is only toll southbound and the Richmond is only toll westbound.  I traveled over two bridges and didn’t pay a single toll!

  1. Photo courtesy of worldsurfer [↩]
Nov
10
2009
Author, Blogging

Nuff said
'Nuff said

This last weekend while attended a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the State Bar of California I referred to myself as a workers’ compensation nerd. 12

Some very kind, but ultimately uninformed, person assured me that I was not a nerd after all. 3 4  Let’s step back for a minute and examine the facts.  At that very moment I was:

  • Taking a few days off work to attend a meeting about workers’ compensation5
  • Inside a conference room with about twenty other workers’ compensation attorneys
  • Awake at 8:30 AM on a Friday morning pontificating about Ogilvie math
  • Sitting in front of my laptop, typing about workers’ compensation
  • Making notes in my blog about workers’ compensation

Clearly, we need to have a heart-to-heart about “substantial evidence.”

Well, last night I received an e-mail stating that they had seen this website and offered this retraction:

“I must actually withdraw my objection to your calling yourself a workers’ comp nerd.”

They must have seen my walk through posts.

  1. Can you believe someone already owns WCExec.com???  What a perfect domain name for the workers’ compensation executive committee! [↩]
  2. I kid because I love! [↩]
  3. Glasses notwithstanding. [↩]
  4. Photo courtesy of this person. [↩]
  5. Without MCLE in sight! [↩]
Nov
2
2009
Author, Road Warrior

Tagged with , ,
bay bridge
Bay Bridge still being repaired...

So, the Bay Bridge will NOT be open this morning.  The Bay Bridge has its own Twitter page so you can check its status (updated every few hours).1

Update @ 5:58am:  “Bay Bridge repairs are undergoing final inspections. The bridge is expected to open later today. Check back for updates and opening time.”

When I had to drive to Palo Alto last Thursday I completely avoided all the bridges because traffic was such a mess.  It took me longer, but at least it took me longer in a predictable fashion.

  1. Photo courtesy of Telstar Logistics [↩]