permanent partial disability5/7/14 @ 10:00 am cst: “drugs, sex and guns in the workplace” click...

Permanent Partial

Disability

Rich Lenkov

Michael Milstein

Bryce Downey & Lenkov LLC

4/24/14

© Bryce Downey & Lenkov 2014

Rich Lenkov

Bryce Downey & Lenkov

(312) 327-0032

(312) 371-2039 (Cell)

[email protected]

Michael C. Milstein


(312) 327-0042

(847) 975-9715 (Cell)

[email protected]

2

Speakers


If you would like a recording of this or prior webinars, please email

Rich at [email protected] Employment Law Issues Every Workers' Compensation Professional Needs To Know About

10 Illinois Workers’ Compensation Cases You Need To Know

Ask an Attorney Anything: Your Most Pressing Workers' Compensation Questions ANSWERED

Defending Workers’ Compensation Psychiatric Claims

Defending Wage Differentials and PTD Awards

Turning the Tables

Defending Repetitive Trauma Claims In Illinois Workers’ Compensation

Traveling Employees in Illinois Workers' Compensation

Illinois vs. Indiana: 5 Key Issues & How Each State Deals With Them

AMA Guidelines: A Legal and Medical Perspective

Preferred Provider Programs

Upcoming Webinars

5/7/14 @ 10:00 AM CST: “Drugs, Sex And Guns In The Workplace”

Click Here to Register

5/20/14 @10 AM CST: “Workers' Compensation Negotiation

Strategies” Click Here to Register

April Workers’ Compensation Newsletter

Today’s session

Interactive - Please ask questions

Special surprise giveaway at the end of the presentation

3


mailto:[email protected]

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6251300104612061954




http://bdlfirm.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/00621935.pdf


Pre September, 2011 PPD Based on Commission precedent

Review Q-Dex and Westlaw

4


Pre September, 2011 ILWCA

5

No specific section on how to determine PPD

Section 8(c) Disfigurement: Limited to 162 weeks

Section 8(d)(1) Wage differential- through life expectancy

Section 8(d)(2) Person as a Whole Awards

Section 8(e)- Schedule of injuries


Post September, 2011 ILWCA

6

Section 8(c)- No change

Section 8(d)(1) Limited until age 67 or 5 years, which ever is more

Section 8(d)(2)- No change

Section 8(e)- Carpal tunnel award is capped


New PPD Factors

Section 8.1(b) of the ILWCA

7

In determining the level of permanent partial disability, the Commission shall base its determination on the following factors: 1. The reported level of impairment pursuant

to subsection (a) [this is the section regarding AMA impairment ratings];

2. The occupation of the injured employee; 3. The age of the employee at the time of

the injury; 4. The employee’s future earning capacity

5. Evidence of disability corroborated by the treating medical records

No single enumerated factor shall be the sole determinant of disability….


1st Factor: AMA Rating

Section 8.1b(a)

Licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches

Impairment report should include certain findings

Use the most current edition of AMA’s Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment

Currently 6th Edition

8


2nd Factor: Occupation

Light duty job=lower PPD

Heavier duty job=higher PPD

What is evidence?

Is job analysis necessary?

Is Petitioner’s testimony sufficient?

Judicial Notice?

9


3rd Factor: Age

Respondent Argument

Younger: Better able to recover from injury

Older: less time to live with disability

Petitioner’s Argument (opposite)

Younger: Live longer with disability

Older: More difficult living with disability

Commission’s Decisions

Have used Petitioner’s arguments both ways

Evidence

Is age alone enough?

Need doctor opinion on how healthy Petitioner is?

10


4th Factor: Future Earning Capacity

Permanent restrictions

Loss of vocation

Evidence?

11


5th Factor: Evidence of Disability

Corroborated in Treating

Records

12

2 prongs Evidence of Disability

Corroborated by treating medical records

Evidence of Disability Petitioner’s testimony

Credibility

Corroborated by treating medical records Respondent argument: should look

to final appointment to verify complaints

Arbitrator and Commission decisions: Symptoms consistent with surgery performed


Example

Jeffrey Garwood v. Lake Land College

Job: vocational computer instructor

Injury: Left knee arthroscopy, medical & lateral meniscus Factor 1: 8% impairment of lower extremity

Factor 2: Now instructor in construction occupations

Factor 3: 54 years old

Factor 4: Could be issues with accommodation if he were to lose job

Factor 5: Credible testimony as to pain and stiffness. Corroborated by need for surgery and IME

Arbitrator and Commission agree on award

13


Quiz

How much PPD should Petitioner be

awarded?

A. 5% of the leg

B. 8% of the leg

C. 12% of the leg

D. 20% of the leg

14


Answer

C. 20% of the leg

15


Example

Curtis Oltmann v. Continental Tire

Job- Labor Trainer

Injury: Non-displaced fracture of left wrist

Factor 1: 0% impairment rating

Factor 2: Same employment, full duty release


Factor 4: No change in future earning capacity

Factor 5: Petitioner described some minor residual symptoms in the wrist

Arbitrator and Commission agree on award

16


Quiz


awarded?

A. 0% of the hand

B. 3% of the hand

C. 5% of the hand

D. 8% of the hand

17


Answer

C. 5% of the hand

18


Example

Jeff Wessel v. Village of Millstadt

Job- Laborer

Injury- ACL tear, lateral meniscus tear

Factor 1- 8% impairment of the left lower extremity

Factor 2: Heavy equipment operator


Factor 4: Full duty release

Factor 5: Tenderness, discomfort, popping and weakness

19


Quiz


awarded:

A. 5% of the leg

B. 8% of the leg

C. 15% of the leg

D. 30% of the leg

20


Answer

D. 30% of the leg

21

Example Continued

IWCC did analysis of each factor

Gave additional weight to factors 2, 3, & 5

Discussion

22


AMA Cases Number NAME OF CASE CASE #’s ARBITRATOR INJURY AMA RATER AMA RATING PPD AWARD STATUS

1. Frederick

Williams v.

Flexible Staffing

11WC046390

13IWCC0557

Thompson-Smith

07/24/2012

Operated

ruptured distal

biceps tendon

Dr. Mark

Levin

6%UEI

4% WPI

30% Right

arm; reduced

by

Commission to

25%

Cook County

Circuit review

pending

(Respondent);

Remanded to

IWCC (02/2014)

2. Zachary

Johnson v.

Central

Transport

11WC041328

Thompson-Smith

07/24/2012

Fractured

metacarpal neck

with angulations

Dr. Michael

Vender

7% index

finger 1%

hand

1% UEI

0% WPI

10% Right

hand

Settled for 8.5%

Loss Right hand

3. David Chris

Young v.

Continental Tire

11WC039821

13IWCC1086

Luskin

11/052012

Hemilam &

discectomy L4-5

Dr. David

Lange

11% WPI No award; no

causation

IWCC reverses

& awards

27.5% MAW;

Respondent

Circuit Court

review filed

(01/21/2014)

4. Shawn Dorris v.

Continental Tire

11WC046624 Zanotti

11/27/2012

Operated TFCC

tear

Dr. David

Brown

(treater)

6% UEI 13% Left hand Final

5. Jeffrey

Garwood v.

Lake Land

College

12WC004194

14IWCC0068

Lindsay

01/03/2013

Operated

medial & lateral

menisci

Dr. Joseph

Monaco

(deposed)

8% LEI

3% WPI

20% Left leg Respondent

Review;

Affirmed &

adopted

14IWCC0068

(02/13/2014)

23


Number NAME OF CASE CASE #’s ARBITRATOR INJURY AMA RATER AMA RATING PPD AWARD STATUS 6.

Martha

Mansfield v.

Ball Chatham

CSD

12WC014648 McCarthy

1/07/2013

Medial

menicsectom

y

Dr. Michael

Lewis

(deposed)

1% LEI 17.5% Left

leg

Final

7. Michael

Arscott v.

ConWay

Freight

12WC003876

14IWCC0018

Luskin

01/14/2013

Operated

medial

meniscus

Dr. Sanjay

Patari

20% LEI

8% WPI

20% Left leg Commission increases to

25% leg

14IWCC0018

(01/16/2014)

8. Robert Riley

v.

ConWay

Freight

12WC011083

13IWCC0759

Luskin

01/14/2013

Operated

knee ACL

Dr. McIntosh

(treater)

7% LEI

3% WPI

27.5% Right

leg

Respondent Review;

IWCC Affirmed &

adopted (08/27/2013)

9. Curtis

Oltmann v.

Continental

Tire

12WC011777

13IWCC0744

Luskin

1/14/2013

Fractured

wrist

Dr. David

Brown

(treater)

(deposed)

0% UEI 5% Left hand Respondent Review;

Affirmed & adopted;

Respondent Circuit Court

Review pending

10. Timothy

Brown v.

ConWay

Freight

12WC004657 Luskin

1/14/2013

Rotator cuff

tear;

operated

Dr. David

Fetter

6% UEI

4% WPI

10% whole

person

Final

11. Albert Kasper

v. ConWay

Freight

11WC043891 Thompson-

Smith

2/25/2013

Thoracic &

lumbar strain

Dr. Michael

Kornblatt

0% WPI 3% Whole

Person

Final

24


Number NAME OF CASE CASE #’s ARBITRATOR INJURY AMA RATER AMA RATING PPD AWARD STATUS 12. Robert

Griffin v.

Caterpillar

11WC040321

14IWCC0062

Mathis

3/1/2013

Medial

meniscectom

y

Dr. Rajesh

Ethiraj

(deposed)

2% LEI

1% WPI


review;

Affirmed &

adopted

14IWCC0062

(1/13/2014)

13. Robert Liazuk

v.

Bolingbrook

Police

Department

12WC011804

13IWCC0934

Falcioni

03/28/2013

Multiple disc

protrusions &

stenosis

(injections)

Dr. Klaud

Miller

0% WPI 5% MAW IWCC affirmed

& adopted

(11/04/2013)

14. Jeff Wessel v.

Village of

Millstadt

12WC030259

13IWCC1029

Gallagher

03/29/2013

Left knee ACL

repair &

meniscectom

y

Dr. Richard

Rende

8% LEI 30% L leg 30% affirmed

by IWCC,

rationale of

decision

modified

(12/06/2013)

15. Heath

Gutzler v.

Continental

Tire

11WC046999 Gallagher

4/19/2013

Low back;

disc;

operated

Dr. Bernard

Rerri

(treater;

deposed)

12% WPI 20% MAW Final

16. Rick Fassero

v. UPS

12WC017291

13IWCC0858

Zanotti

05/05/2013

Right

meniscectom

y

Dr. Lawrence

Li

1% LEI

1% WPI

15% R leg IWCC Affirmed

& adopted

(10/07/2013)

17. Steven

Thomas v.

Peoples Gas

12WC018268

13IWCC1001

Flores

05/23/2013

Right

shoulder

surgery

Dr. Mash 5% UEI

3% WPI

7.5% MAW

(14.822%

arm)

IWCC modified

up to 12.65%

MAW (25%

arm); case

settled for IWCC

award

(01/09/2014)

25


Number NAME OF CASE CASE #’s ARBITRATOR INJURY AMA RATER AMA RATING PPD AWARD STATUS 18. Anthony

Rummans v.

City of Peoria

12WC000663 Fratianni

6/05/2013

Left foot

accessory

navicular

syndrome

Dr. Nord

(deposed)

1% WPI 20% Left foot Settled 20%

loss of foot

19. Hosam

Salama v. UPS

12WC019435

13IWCC1058

Thompson-

Smith

6/07/2013

Fracture 5th

metacarpal

right hand

(ORIF)

Dr. Michael

Lewis

0% UEI 17% right

hand

Respondent

Review filed;

IWCC

affirmed &

adopted

(12/11/2013)

20. Michael

Harrison v.

Village of

Forest Park

11WC048412 Kane

6/11/2013

Right Achilles

tendon

rupture

(surgery)

Michael

Harrison v.

Village of

Forest Park

11WC048412 Kane

6/11/2013

Right Achilles

tendon

rupture

(surgery)

21. Cheryl

Sprague v.

Dickey John

12WC030146 McCarthy

6/19/2013

Carpal Tunnel Dr. Robert

Gordon

(deposed)

1% UEI (Left)

4% UEI (Right)

7.5% Left

Hand

15% Right

hand

Final

22. Bill Zettler v.

American

Coal

12WC020486

13IWCC1124

Granada

07/01/2013

Carpal tunnel

operated

Dr. Mitchell

Rotman

5% hand(?) 10% hand IWCC

Affirmed &

adopted

(12/30/2013)

23. Eugenio

Vasquez v.

United

Conveyor

Corp.

11WC047065 Simpson

07/08/2013

Lumbar

strain,

aggravation

of DDD,

injections

Dr. Mark

Levin

2% WPI 2% MAW Final

26


Number NAME OF CASE CASE #’s ARBITRATOR INJURY AMA RATER AMA RATING PPD AWARD STATUS 24. Nancy

Watkins v.

Masterbrand

Cabinets

12WC017286

14IWCC0035

Lindsay

7/11/2013

Bilateral

Carpal Tunnel

Dr. Benson 1% UEI

1% WPI

7.5% each

hand

Petitioner

Review filed;

IWCC

modifies up

12% each

hand

(01/23/2014)

25. Steven Miller

v. ConWay

Freight

12WC041880 Thompson-

Smith

7/17/2013

Right

shoulder

(arthroscopic

repair

partially torn

rotator cuff)

Dr. Craig

Westin

(treater “at

the request

of the

respondent”?

)

7% UEI

4% WPI

12% Whole

person (60

weeks=23.7%

arm)

Respondent

Review filed,

pending oral

26. Scott Buxton

v. Caterpillar

11WC041682 Zanotti

8/7/2013

Left thumb

fracture

Dr. Rajesh

Ethiraj

(deposed)

6% digit

2% hand

2% UEI

25% Left

thumb

Respondent

Review filed;

pending oral

27. Brandon

Saner v.

Caterpillar

12WC004413 Zanotti

8/7/2013

Left shoulder

(surgery)

Dr. Rajesh

Ethiraj

(deposed)

5% UEI 10% whole

person

Final

28. Lena Terry v.

Caterpillar

12WC016355 Zanotti

8/7/2013

Right

shoulder

(surgery)

Dr. Rajesh

Ethiraj

(deposed)

5% UEI 10% whole

person

Final

29. Nicholas

Duncan v.

Federal

Whalen

Moving

12WC034355 Erbacci

9/4/2013

Left knee

arthroscopy

(chodroplasty

left medial

femoral

condyle)

Dr. John

Cherf

1% LEI

1% WPI


Review filed;

RDOR

(12/27/2013)

27


Number NAME OF CASE CASE #’s ARBITRATOR INJURY AMA RATER AMA RATING PPD AWARD STATUS 30. Lino Gonzales

v.

Spring

Meadows

12WC013350 O’Malley

11/04/2013

Bilateral CTS

operated

Dr. Jeffrtey

Coe

2% each UEI 12.5% R hand

10 % L hand

Final

31. Carl Jones v.

Orland Fire

Protection

District

11WC040157 Dearing

12/03/2013

C5-6 disc

bulge/herniati

on one

injection

Dr. Micael

Kornblatt

(deposed)

4% WPI 6% MAW Petitioner

Review filed;

RDOR

03/07/2014

32. Keith

Littlejohn v.

ABF

13WC002732 Dollison

01/27/2014

Rotator Cuff

surgery

Dr. Ram

Aribindi

3% UEI

2% WPI

15% MAW

(29.64% arm)

Arbitration

Decision

rendered;

Respondent

Review filed

(02/20/2014)

33. Stephanie

Wright v.

Aramark

12WC009505 Doherty

02/06/2014

Left shoulder

Impingement

& SLAP tear

Dr. Charles

Carroll

(deposed)

5% UEI

3% WPI

15% MAW

(29.64% arm)

Arbitration

Decision

rendered

28


Rich Lenkov


(312) 327-0032

(312) 371-2039 (Cell)

[email protected]

Michael C. Milstein


(312) 327-0042

(847) 975-9715 (Cell)

[email protected]

29

Q & A


Special (Earth Day) Giveaway

First person to type in the their answer wins:

30


Two-Tier Stainless

Lunch Box

Go forth and save

the planet…


What is the world’s first

national park?


31


Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone became the world’s first national park in 1872. Since then countries around the world have established more than 4000 national parks and preserves


32

Bonus (Earth Day) Giveaway

What year was the first Earth Day celebrated?

March 21, 1970

First celebrated in the U.S. on this date, it has been celebrated each year thereafter at the United Nations, bringing attention to its original purpose: peace, justice and the care of Earth


33

If you would like a recording of this or prior webinars, please email

Rich at [email protected] Employment Law Issues Every Workers' Compensation Professional Needs To Know About

10 Illinois Workers’ Compensation Cases You Need To Know

Ask an Attorney Anything: Your Most Pressing Workers' Compensation Questions ANSWERED

Defending Workers’ Compensation Psychiatric Claims

Defending Wage Differentials and PTD Awards

Turning the Tables

Defending Repetitive Trauma Claims In Illinois Workers’ Compensation

Traveling Employees in Illinois Workers' Compensation

Illinois vs. Indiana: 5 Key Issues & How Each State Deals With Them

AMA Guidelines: A Legal and Medical Perspective

Preferred Provider Programs

Upcoming Webinars

5/7/14 @ 10:00 AM CST: “Drugs, Sex And Guns In The Workplace”

Click Here to Register

5/20/14 @10 AM CST: “Workers' Compensation Negotiation

Strategies” Click Here to Register

April Workers’ Compensation Newsletter

Today’s session

Interactive - Please ask questions

Special surprise giveaway at the end of the presentation

34


mailto:[email protected]







permanent partial disability5/7/14 @ 10:00 am cst: “drugs, sex and guns in the workplace” click...

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