Richter, Head, Shinall & White, LLP

06/07/2013

Richter, Head, Shinall & White releases their 2013-2014 Georgia Workers' Compensation Quick Reference.

You can download the guide here: http://rhs-law.com/resources/

Information included in this document:

- Indemnity benefits chart
- Permanent partial disability chart
- Timing deadlines
- How to construct a posted panel of physicians
- Defenses to compensability
- A breakdown of important workers’ compensation forms and how to respond when they are filed
- Step by step guide to making a WC-240 light duty job offer
- Step by step guide to converting claimants from TTD to TPD
- When and how to unilaterally suspend benefits

04/09/2013

RHSW appellate win upheld by the Georgia Supreme Court

RHSW appellate win upheld by the Georgia Supreme Court

Recently, the Georgia Supreme Court declined review of the Court of Appeals’ decision in Brown Mechanical Contractors, Inc. v. Maughon, a case brought and won by Rick Shinall and Philip Stein of our firm. This denial effectively upholds the Georgia Court of Appeals decision denying indemnity benefits to a claimant who did not perform a diligent job search following termination.

The decision centers on the analysis of the claimant's job search to determine if it was sufficiently diligent. The specific job search in Maughon saw the claimant apply for over 100 jobs prior to his administrative hearing. A closer examination of this job search, however, revealed that the claimant’s applications were infrequent and insincere, and that he took steps to sabotage his own chances of being hired. The Georgia Court of Appeals agreed with this assessment and effectively raised the bar on what constitutes a diligent job search.

Going forward, we expect Maughon to emerge as an indispensable guide in job search cases.

A full copy of the Award can be found at www.rhs-law.com/maughon