Ethics of Discovery Objections

by James J. Long, Esq.
Long & Holder, LLP

This paper was originally written for and presented at the Atlanta Bar Association’s Advanced Workers’ Compensation seminar on February 18, 2000. The workers’ compensation bar in Georgia is a relatively small one. The discovery nightmares that our brothers and sisters in the general litigation bar regularly endure are generally characterized as obstructionist in the genteel, […]


The Ethics Of Discovery Objections: Surveillance, Attorney-Client Privilege, and Work Product

by Mark S. Gannon - Savell & Williams, L.L.P., and Laurel C. Schmitt - Savell & Williams, L.L.P.

This paper was originally written for and presented at the Atlanta Bar Association’s Advanced Workers’ Compensation seminar on Febuary 18, 2000. Under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-102(d), discovery under the Workers’ Compensation Act is controlled by the Georgia Civil Practice Act. Therefore, discovery should be conducted in a worker’s compensation case the same as in any other civil […]


A Handbook for Mediation

by The Honorable Julie Y. John

Approximately four years ago, the State Board of Workers’ Compensation (the “Board”) determined that a number of issues that were scheduled for litigation could possibly be resolved between the parties if they had the opportunity to sit across from each other and actually discuss the issues. As is the case with all other courts, the […]


How Do Pre-existing Problems Block Recovery?

by Dr. David B. Adams
Clinical Director of Atlanta Medical Psychology

“Any time an injured worker is psychologically examined, there is always something found wrong with them psychologically. This makes me hesitant to order or recommend a psychological examination. I never know how much of this is pre-existing. Can you give me some general principles to understand all of this?” Rather than avoid psychological examination, the […]


Independent Medical Evaluations: Employee’s Rights and Obligations

by Kelly A. Benedict
Clements & Sweet

Generally speaking, when an employee is injured at work, he is supposed to be directed by his employer to a posted panel of physicians. Ideally, he is then supposed to pick a physician from the panel to obtain authorized medical treatment. If he is unhappy with his first panel choice, he is entitled to make […]


Kids’ Chance: Educating the Children of the Injured

by Doug McCoy
McCoy Consulting, Inc.

There are over ten million injuries on the job each year. Over three million of those injuries result in disabilities and five thousand people lose their lives. The cost for injuries exceed $70 billion annually for workers’ compensation benefits alone. The actual cost to American businesses exceeds $500 billion! There is an often forgotten group […]


Legislative Update, July 2001

by William N. Anderson
Hamilton, Westby, Antonowich & Anderson, L.L.C.

This paper highlights substantive legislative changes made to Title 34 of the O.C.G.A. Please note that this is a very brief summary of the changes. O.C.G.A. § 34-9-107 is amended to increase the interest payable on a final award of the board, in the event of an appeal, from 7% to 12%. O.C.G.A. § 34-9-108 is amended to allow […]


Legislative Update, July 2000

by William N. Anderson
Hamilton, Westby, Antonowich & Anderson, L.L.C.

This paper highlights substantive legislative changes made to Title 34 of the O.C.G.A. Please note that this is a very brief summary of the changes. Also, several other changes occurred which corrected some typographical errors in the Act. O.C.G.A. § 34-9-13(b)(1) will be amended by deleting the 90 day time frame for determination as to whether a […]


Legislative Update, July 1998

by William N. Anderson
Hamilton, Westby, Antonowich & Anderson, L.L.C.

This article summarizes the legislative changes to the Workers’ Compensation Act which are effective July 1, 1998. There were no substantial changes this session. Most notably, the TTD and TPD rates did not increase. Please note that this is only a summary and should not be relied on without independent review of the full statute […]


Lowering Your Workers’ Compensation Costs

by Jeannine Bailes
McNeary Insurance Consulting

The jury is still out as to whether workers’ compensation premiums are tightening. Our latest experience indicates that the carriers are talking a big game about “ditching” unprofitable business but the underwriters can still get pretty creative for a piece of business they really want. We have seen some tightening in auto, general liability and […]