Current Issues in Workers' Compensation Law:
Administrative Settlements

Presenter: Jeffrey Hartranft Esq., Settlement Attorney, Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation

This one-our CLE lunch-n-learn will focus on a “nuts and bolts” approach to the settlement process, with one of the “go-to” people in the business lending his expertise. We will get into the administrative settlement process, and what it now takes to amicably conclude an Ohio Workers’ Compensation claim. We will discuss settlement ranges and assigned authority for each BWC official’s level, the “fast-track” process and changes in settlement policy We will get insight on issues concerning recent legislation, what the BWC looks for in a settlement evaluation, and what the practitioner can do to maximize the client’s interests.

Mr. Hartranft is a settlement attorney at the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. He is one of the assigned attorneys involved with the fast track, and many administrative settlement aspects. He participates in nearly all BWC administrative settlement conferences. With recent legislative changes, and structural reorganization at the BWC, the settlement team has expanded to include administrative more settlements. With this has come a new, more streamlined settlement process that any workers’ comp practitioner must learn. Mr. Hartranft has participated in literally thousands court settlement conferences, and has evaluated even more claims for administrative settlements. He heads the Bureau’s Settlement Department. Don’t miss this crucial opportunity to see how the settlement of a workers’ comp claim has changed!

The presentation will (generally) cover the following topics:

1. The Settlement Process (Administrative)

• The process itself (from identifying a claim that is ripe for settling to evaluating its value, and presenting same to the BWC
• Levels of Authority (from CSS all the way up to the Governor!)

2. What the BWC looks for in a review in settlements

• Medical bills/type of claim issues (additional condition, death, etc.)

3. The New Settlement Process

4. Issues on the Horizon: WHAT’S NEXT

*COME SEE WHAT’S GOING ON AT THE BWC*

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