DEFining the Law

Whether it’s a workplace incident or a law firm billboard ad, Workers’ Compensation is something every adult has heard at some point in their careers. But how does Workers' Compensation actually work? Chelsea Ivey, a senior associate at Drew Eckl, goes through key parts of a workers' comp claim that every employer and employee should know. 

 Regardless of age or financial status, everyone can benefit from having a power of attorney. Madalyn Davis, a senior associate of Drew Eckl & Farnham's Estate Planning and Probate practice, understands that more than anybody. Kicking off Season 3 of DEFining the Law, Madalyn explains the details and benefits of having a power of attorney, specifically a Georgia Statutory Power of Attorney. 

Partner Karen Karabinos is joined by J.S. Held forensic accountants David Gannaway, Megan Gilberg, and Michael Schulstad to discuss how to prove financial motive in connection to insurance claims. They cover why these cases happen, the key details they look for, and some interesting cases they've handled in the past.

Congrats on landing your Summer Associate position! You've worked hard to get to this point, but you may be wondering what to expect during your experience this summer (wherever you're headed to)! We're here to help you out.Don't forget to ask us anything using this link to be entered into a raffle for a $50 Amazon gift card! Ask us questions for our next episode, tell us what piece of information you found helpful in this one, or just say hello!

As episode 2 of our ongoing Workers' Compensation Webinar Series, Partner Ryan V. Klee and Senior Associate Ryan Lawson discuss the new landscape of workers' compensation. As working from home has become the norm for many since the beginning of the pandemic, injuries on the clock are more complicated to maneuver and the line between work-related and personal incidents has gotten fuzzier.

Whether it's for insurance companies or employers, managing claims can be an enduring and delicate process. But if done right, it can mitigate the risk of litigation further down the road. Partner Matthew Walker and of Counsel Michelle Whitelaw join DEFining the Law to offer insightful advice on how to manage a claim and make a file as efficient and successful as possible.

Following our February 10th episode that you can find here, attorney Neil Brunetz fills us in on the newly released National Emphasis Program and what it means for employers.  Please reach out to Neil Brunetz with any questions and check out our FAQ sheet here.

During this episode, we’ll cover how employers should handle all COVID-related issues, including returning to work, vaccinations, and other frequently asked questions. 

With leadership changes, there's often a shift of policies and priorities that can impact the day to day of our business. In this episode Neil Brunetz discusses how these changes have effected OSHA and it's guidance to employers related to COVID-19.Please reach out to Neil Brunetz with any questions and check out our FAQ sheet here.

What is the mother board? Five DEF attorneys discuss work-life integration and what made them decide to launch their own podcast, named The Mother Board. Listen to their newest episodes at www.themotherboard.buzzsprout.com.

Contracts are a part of our daily lives. We sign financing documents to purchase cars and leases to rent apartments. We are handed thick stacks of paper to review when deciding to invest in seemingly great business opportunities. But few carefully read any of these documents, and almost no one reads the boilerplate language at the end of these documents. This is a mistake.  All too often the person sitting across from us at the “deal table” is more concerned with closing the deal or meeting a monthly sales quota, or even unloading a business that is losing money, than with telling you the whole truth about the deal. Read more here

Host Christy Walsh discusses the CARES Act with attorney Marsha Ambroise. On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was signed into law as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The CARES Act is an economic relief package that expands unemployment insurance benefits and other relief for individuals and small businesses affected by the economic downturn. One of the particular provisions of the CARES Act is the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (“FPUC”) program. This program provides money to individuals who are unemployed.

"Things that businesses should know and do in a COVID-19 world” with Attorneys Juliana Neelbauer and Camile Hart. Both bring a different viewpoint to managing the ever-changing legal landscape as it relates to COVID-19. As with everything these days, COVID-19 has completely changed how businesses run their day-to-day operations and it seems that there is always something new that businesses should know or that they have to do in order to limit their liability. *Update:  On October 10, 2020 the Supreme Court of Georgia passed its Seventh Order Extending Declaration of Statewide Judicial Emergency. In the Order, the Court ended the suspension of jury trials.  Jury trials will not start until at least a month or longer from the date of the Order, due to the time required to summon potential jurors for service.  In addition, the Chief Judge of each trial court has the discretion to decide when to resume the jury trial process.  The backlog for unindicted and untried cases are substantial and the expectation is that proceedings will not occur at the scale that they occurred before the pandemic.  

In this episode, host Christy Walsh will discuss what to do during and after an arrest with attorney Sara Becker. It is best to be prepared. Listen to this episode to know what your rights are, what you should and should not do, and find out if you can prevent detainment after the process has started.

It’s hard to imagine anything in today’s world that has not been impacted by COVID-19. The legal profession is, of course, no exception. Lawyers must be prepared each day to respond and adjust to the shifting sets of challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic. The goal for each attorney should be to provide excellent legal services while ensuring that everyone involved stays healthy and safe. SO WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT DEPOSITIONS DURING THIS TIME?

Attorney Ryan Hathcock discusses subcontracting in the construction industry with host Christy Walsh. Diving into workers' compensation benefits involving contractors, Ryan explains how to know which party is liable, if amounts paid can be recouped, and who could be sued for an injury. 

Host Christy Walsh discusses how the 2020 summer associate program went with DEF's six summer associates: Alexander Essex, Kevin Kelly, Tatiana Mosbey, Joi Siler, Tyrra Walker, and Christopher Wood. The legal industry struggled with summer programs due to COVID-19, but Drew Eckl & Farnham decided to move forward with a six week, remote program for our summer associates. 

Partner Karen Karabinos and host Christy Walsh discuss the First Party Property cases arising from COVID-19. Karen has been following all of the cases filed in the U.S. by businesses against their insurance companies seeking to recover certain damages or losses as a result of the shelter-in-place orders related to COVID-19 and shares her insights.

In this episode, partner Karen Karabinos interviews Drew Eckl & Farnham's first female partner: Ann Bishop. Ann joined DEF when the firm started in 1983 as one of two female associates. Listen as Karen and Ann dive into being a female in a male-dominated industry. 

Welcome to DEFining the Law, a legal podcast hosted by Drew Eckl & Farnham.