Procedures & Forms

• Review of Office of Workers' Compensation Programs procedures and
     forms to be filed by employer, carrier, and claimant

Jurisdiction & Coverage

• Coverage under The Longshore Act
• Tests to determine jurisdiction and exclusions

Notice & Statute of Limitations Requirements

• Obligation to notify employer of injury or illness
• Hazards of extended periods of absence
• Exceptions to statute of limitations
• How failure to file employer's first report tolls the statute

Wages, Average Weekly Wage, and Compensation

• Earnings and benefits making up wages
• Methods for figuring average weekly wage
• Maximum and minimum compensation rates
• When, where, and how compensation is paid and when it can be determined

Controversion

• When a controversion should be filed
• Recent court decisions easing rules for controversions

Injury & Presumptions

• Definition of injury and relationship to presumption of compensability
• Employer's burden to present evidence
• How presumption aids the employee

Medical Treatment

• Employee's right to choice and change of physician
• Hazards of self-procured medical treatment
• Employer's options when claimant refuses medical treatment
• Employer's right to require an examination

Rehabilitation

• Why an employee need not accept, but must cooperate in employment evaluation
• Why an employer may refuse to furnish an employment evaluation
• Value of a labor market survey

Occupational Disease

• Handling occupational disease claims
• Benefits for retirees
• Third party settlement issues peculiar to occupational disease

Disability

• Types of disability
• Differences between scheduled and non-scheduled permanent partial disability
• Problems in obtaining permanent total disability

Third-Party Claims

• How an employer is reimbursed after payment of compensation
• Termination of benefits after an unapproved third-party settlement
• Claimant's attorney consideration before settling third-party claims

Death Claims

• Eligibility of dependents
• Benefits structure and cost of living allowance
• Death benefit when death is unrelated to injury

Litigation

• Structure of court systems having jurisdiction over Longshore claims
• Position of the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs on
     examiners and district director
• Preparing for a hearing before an administrative law judge
• Appeal of decision

Penalties & Interest

• Penalties for late filing, tardy payment of compensation, and failure to pay an award
• Interest on unpaid benefits

Special Fund

• Benefits and hazards of the Special Fund
• Application process for Office of Workers' Compensation Programs

Settlement

• Benefits of settling claims
• Purpose of withdrawal of claim and end of commutations

Attorney Fees

• When attorney fees are paid
• Proper content of fee statement
• How employer can contest fees