Our Seminars Tackle the Leading Issues of the Day

Hamberger & Weiss LLP has presented annual seminars for 40 years to our clients. These well-attended, free events are approved by the New York State Office of Court Administration for Continuing Legal Education credits.

Our seminars are a half-day format, beginning with registration and lunch, followed by a number of speakers from within and outside the firm addressing timely topics in workers’ compensation. Afterwards, attendees are invited to a networking reception.

“I enjoyed Renee's presentation very much; very key issue” - 2016 Buffalo attendee

Attendees leave with a wealth of information and insights to assist them in their day-to-day claims handling.

We hold one seminar in Buffalo and one in Syracuse in the spring of each year.

H&W LLP Webinars

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to cancel our annual spring seminars for 2020 and 2021. In order to continue to provide our clients with up-to-date information on workers’ compensation developments and practical claims handling advice, we have been presenting webinars in association with the National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network and workerscompensation.com. 

Our webinar series has included presentations on: 

• NY Medical Treatment Guidelines for PTSD and Acute Stress Disorder
• The PPD Clawback Revisited - Understanding the 130 Week Retroactive Cap in 15(3)(w)
• The New Medical Treatment Guidelines 
• Vocational and Medical Considerations in Settlement Valuation
• The Prescription Drug Formulary
• At-Home Injuries
• Defending Claims Despite Difficulties Created by the COVID-19 Pandemic
• The Interplay Between Workers’ Compensation, Third-Party Actions and Loss Transfer
• COVID-19 and the Workplace
• The NY Volunteer Firefighters' Benefit Law - If You Can't Stand the Heat, Don't Write the Policy!
• Injuries in the Line of Duty: An Introduction to General Municipal Law 207-c and 207-a

We look forward to resuming our in-person seminars when the pandemic is over and we are able to safely meet in person again.

2019 Seminar: The Anatomy of a Claim:  From Inception to Conclusion

Our program took the client in chronological order from investigation and initial case evaluation through proof to prevail on later arising disputes in established claims, concluding with settlement valuations and MSA strategies.

2018 Seminar:  A View from the Trenches:  Impact of the 2017 Statutory and Regulatory Changes

This seminar presented a detailed analysis of statutory changes on labor market attachment and the hardship safety net.  We also addressed carrier defenses to the Board’s Payor Compliance Program and closed with a rapid fire review of the “New” schedule loss guidelines, the proposed Pharmacy Formulary and the federal/state conflict on medical marijuana as it impacts workers’ compensation.

2017 Seminar: Labor Market Attachment, Permanency and Settlements

This year, our speakers will cover the latest updates in labor market attachment, permanency, and settlements. We will close each seminar with a panel presentation on workers' compensation fraud featuring New York State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott.

2016 Seminar: Discussing the Opioid Epidemic & its Impact on WCL

“Really like hearing about timely topics with a good presentation and supplemental materials.” - 2016 Syracuse attendee

More than 500 people attended the two seminars to learn about several updates to New York State Workers' Compensation Law, particularly in regard to opioid overprescription and addiction. Dan Bowers and Renee Heitger of our firm provided insight into how the epidemic is affecting workers' compensation. In addition to their comments, the audience heard from these outside experts, whom we were honored to host:

• William J. Hochul, Jr., United States Attorney, Western District of New York
• John P. Flickinger, Resident Agent in Charge, United States Drug Enforcement Administration
• Timothy C. Lynch, Esq., Chief, Narcotics & Organized Crime Section, Assistant United States Attorney
• Laurence J. Martin, Diversion Investigator, United States Drug Enforcement Administration

Past Seminar Topics

Past seminars have covered:

• Loss of wage earning capacity
• Loss Transfer Arbitration
• Medicare secondary payer compliance
• Defending General Municipal Law 207-c claims

Interested in Attending or Learning More?

Our seminars are reserved for clients. If you would like information about attending next year's seminar, please email Ariyl Griffith at agriffith@hwcomp.com.