England Ponticello work
Oberjuerge Named Partner
ENGLAND PONTICELLO & ST.CLAIR (EPS) proudly announced that Alex M. Oberjuerge has been named a partner in the firm. Mr. Oberjuerge is in his eighth year with EPS.
In 2018, Mr. Oberjuerge was successful on the California state bar workers’ compensation certified specialist examination. In addition to his workers’ compensation defense activities, Mr. Oberjuerge is also active defending civil litigation matters and those claims brought under the LHWCA. EPS celebrated this announcement with a firm event for family and friends.
HALLOWEEN AT EPS 2018
Halloween 2018 at EPS San Diego.
EPS Supports Rett Strong Charity Event
EPS was proud again to support the 2018 Rett syndrome golf outing. The tequila bar was a success, and funds were again raised for a good cause.
PROBLEM CASE/DIFFICULT ATTORNEYS: EPS Morning Speaker Series
On June 21, 2018 EPS held another of it’s Morning Speaker Series events, this time a lively session centering on the topic of problem cases and difficult attorneys. Applicant counsel Phillip Cohen joined EPS for this event. Mr. Cohen, a noted and longtime San Diego practitioner, advised the assembled why injured workers seek him out, common issues he sees caused by claims administrators, why and when he seeks penalties and sanctions, as well as why some of his matters pend for such a long time. Alex Oberjuerge of EPS provided the defense view, with strategies for combatting these difficult cases and counsel. Barry Ponticello also provided some history and litigation tactics regarding these matters. As with all the Morning Speaker Series events, industry leaders were once again brought together for cutting edge discussion and food for thought.
EPS Morning Speaker Series Scheduled
On June 21, 2018, EPS will conduct another of its Morning Speaker Series. These events bring together leaders in the workers’ compensation, civil and maritime worlds with EPS attorneys to address the hot button issues of the day. Previously, a number of topics, including a view from the bench, AME concerns and litigation trends, AMA Guides ratings and applications, and the use and legality of Tele-Medicine have been explored.
This edition will address those difficult claims that involve allegations of sanctions, penalties, interest or other concerns, how they develop and strategies to combat and defend these scenarios.
EPS Scores LexisNexis Top 25 win
Included amongst LexisNexis’ Top 25 “noteworthy” WCAB panel decisions for the second half of 2017 was the successful EPS matter of Gomez v. Bay Ship and Yacht (2017) 82 Cal. Comp. Cases 1531, 2017 Cal. Wrk. Comp. P.D. LEXIS 411, which was tried by Barry Ponticello at the San Francisco District WCAB, and briefed on Reconsideration by Renee St.Clair and Barry Ponticello.
This case involved multiple concurrent jurisdiction (WCAB and LHWCA)claims that resulted in resolution with the worker, but disputes as to reimbursement, contribution and last responsible employer issues amongst the Defendants. In light of the various dates of injury, liens in certain matters were asserted, with contribution claims under L.C. 5500.5 pending in others that were subject to mandatory arbitration.
The WCAB on reconsideration concurred with the EPS position that procedurally a specific injury can not be subject to mandatory arbitration, such that that any reimbursement claim stemming from a lien shall proceed at the WCAB and is in no way estopped by any ancillary contribution proceedings on other cumulative trauma dates of injury. This case again points out that those defending California concurrent jurisdiction claims must be well versed in BOTH California and LHWCA litigation issues.
Lack of such knowledge and experience presents peril, such as paying a lump sum settlement solely considering one jurisdiction without the possible effects of the other. Exclusive claims focus on one jurisdiction, or proceeding with counsel with the requisite knowledge and experience on only one of the two jurisdictions, may well come with a steep cost in California concurrent jurisdiction claims.
EPS has successfully handled concurrent jurisdiction claims for decades throughout the west coast from the Trial level through the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal and the California Courts of Appeal. For more information about the 2017 Top 25 panel matters:
and www.eps-law.com
2017 EPS Tree Trimming
EPS Halloween 2017
EPS attorneys featured at National Shipbuilding Research Program conference
The National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) brings its educational conference to San Diego. The NSRP’s mission is to manage and focus national shipbuilding and ship repair research and development funding on technologies and processes that will reduce the total ownership cost of ships for the U.S. Navy, other national security customers and the commercial sector and develop and leverage best commercial and naval practices to improve the efficiency of the U.S. shipbuilding and ship repair Industry.
Barry Ponticello and Renee St. Clair were requested as featured speakers on the interplay of the Longshore and Harborworkers Compensation Act (LHWCA) and the Jones Act. Mr. Ponticello and Ms. St.Clair have litigated scores of LHWCA and Jones Act matters from the Trial level through the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal.
ENGLAND PONTICELLO & ST.CLAIR blog 
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