Knoxville attorneys Charles Pierce and Ryan Edens presented “The Defense Attorney’s Perspective on Successful Mediation,” assisted by attorney Garett Franklyn, at this June’s Tennessee workers’ compensation educational conference.

The presentation was well received and covered the best practices for preparing claims for mediation, from the initial reporting of a claim to when a Petition for Benefit Determination is filed. The topics covered ranged from Bureau-mandated filings, the obligations of each stakeholder (insurer, insured, and employee), claims handling for accepted or denied files, and practice tips from attorneys with collectively over 30 years of experience.

Additional slides were included to address recent changes in the statute concerning penalties, and the a recent appellate decision, successfully argued by attorneys from our Knoxville office, that significantly changed the notice defense and strengthened it in favor of employers.