One Missing IME, Too Many

I recently attended a hearing that was scheduled pursuant to claimant’s RFA-1, requesting reinstatement of awards. You’re probably wondering, why were awards suspended in the first place? Because claimant had missed three scheduled independent medical examinations (IMEs)! She also did not have current medical evidence of a further causally related disability at the last hearing. The prior notice of decision read wonderfully, “suspension is effective until such time that the claimant produces up to date evidence of disability and indicates a willingness to attend the …

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Is Your Valid FCE Really Valid?

It may not be. There is a tendency to accept a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) as an objective measurement of everything a claimant can and cannot do. However, it may pay to delve deeper as not all FCEs are created equal. Understanding what to look for and when to challenge a valid FCE can be the difference between a simple loss of use becoming a job change or even a wage differential award.

FCE Method

There is no standard method of performing an FCE so …

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To Litigate? Or to Split? That is the Question

Some of the most commonly litigated issues in Workers’ Compensation include degree of temporary disability and permanency (classification or schedule loss of use). More often than not, treating doctors and IMEs do not agree on issues concerning degree of disability or schedule loss of use. The question then arises as to whether the parties should litigate the issue through depositions of the doctors, or whether attempts should be made to negotiate a “split” of the disability rate or SLU award.

Defense counsels often genuinely enjoy …

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