Kelley Kronenberg - In the Know – Workers’ Compensation - January 2022

IN THE

JANUARY 2022

NOW

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION EDITION

IN THIS ISSUE: • • • • •

Medical Necessity One-Time Change Alternate Physician Compensability EMA

EDITOR’S LETTER

WELCOME Joshua T. Higgins, Esq. Editor, and Business Unit Leader/Partner

of claims filed was pretty close to the previous

What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the

related claims had decreased significantly.

With the latest variant out there, I would expect there to still be a tremendous number of COVID claims filed in 2022.

new year.

few years, but the number of non-COVID

As always,

having a consistent approach to handling of

–Vern McLellan

these claims will be important. Fortunately, at this point, it seems as though there has been

Going into a new year is always a bit strange, and after the past two years, it is entirely unclear what 2022 will bring. However, like always, a positive mentality and willingness to try to improve upon the previous year are of paramount importance in terms of trying to have a good, productive year.

As it relates to claims, it will be interesting to see whether there is an increase or decrease in claims in 2022. In 2020 and 2021, the number

less willingness for attorneys to litigate COVID claims, but it is possible that this will change, despite the tremendous legal hurdle that most COVID claims have in terms of meeting the compensability standard.

Hopefully by this

time next year “regular” claims will be more prevalent than COVID claims!

TABLE OF

CONTENTS MEDICAL NECESSITY Vann v. J & M Ranch, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6 OJCC Case No. 16-030531NPP (FL.Off.Judge.Comp.Cl. November 22, 2021)

ONE-TIME CHANGE Carlton v. L & M Endeavors, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8 OJCC Case No. 19-025081RLD (FL.Off.Judge.Comp.Cl. November 16, 2021)

ALTERNATE PHYSICIAN Smith v. Palm Beach County Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10 OJCC Case No. 88-000326TAH (FL.Off.Judge.Comp.Cl. November 10, 2021)

COMPENSABILITY Haselden v. Waffle House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11 OJCC Case No. 19-023454WRH (FL.Off.Judge.Comp.Cl. October 28, 2021)

EMA Williams v. Healthcare Cosmetology Services, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 OJCC Case No. 20-013230RLD (FL.Off.Judge.Comp.Cl. November 17, 2021)

CONTRIBUTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15 HELPING YOU STAY AHEAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17 AWARDS AND ACCOLADES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19 FIRM OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21

4 | IN THE

NOW

Vann v. J & M Ranch, Inc. OJCC Case No. 16-030531NPP (FL.Off.Judge.Comp.Cl. November 22, 2021)

KK TAKEAWAY: The use of an in-home spa is not medically necessary

from

a

pain

management

perspective when aquatic therapy in a public setting would provide the same medical benefit(s).

KK TAKEAWAY: The use of an in-home spa is not medically necessary from a psychiatric perspective in the absence of competent substantial evidence indicating that the use of a spa in a public setting causes a claimant anxiety.

BACKGROUND: On November 22, 2021, JCC Pitts issued a Final Compensation Order on the Claimant’s request for authorization of an in-home swim spa per authorized treating pain management physician, Dr. Miranda. By way of background, the Claimant was involved in a compensable work accident on May 10, 2013 when he was run down by a cow. He sustained significant injuries in the accident and underwent lower back surgery, a total knee replacement, and has been accepted a permanently and totally disabled.

On April 15, 2021, the Claimant followed up with Dr. Miranda’s office, but did not see Dr. Miranda.

Rather, he saw the physician

assistant (PA), who wrote the Claimant a prescription for a swim spa. The Claimant again followed up with Dr. Miranda on June 10, 2021 and they discussed the in-home swim IN THE

NOW | 5

spa. Dr. Miranda agreed to the request, as the

In his decision, JCC Pitts reasoned that the

Claimant had tried a number of other treatment

Claimant did not testify regarding his anxiety

modalities and the Claimant thought a swim

related to going to public facilities to use a

spa would benefit his for overall health and/or

spa, nor did the Claimant testify that he used a

conditioning.

public facility, found it helpful, but did not wish

At his deposition, Dr. Miranda testified that a person with chronic pain, inflammation, and musculoligamentous symptoms would benefit from having a jetting massage or

to continue in a public setting due to anxiety.

He rather testified that he is in constant pain and wants an in-home spa to see if it would help his condition.

warmth for improvement of those symptoms.

JCC Pitts found that the Claimant did not meet

However, Dr. Miranda related the benefits to

his burden of proof to establish that an in-home

aquatic therapy in general and not specifically

spa, as opposed to aquatic therapy in general

an in-home spa. He further testified that the

at a public place, is reasonable and medically

aquatic therapy could be done at a YMCA or at a public facility, and that it was not medically necessary that the recommended aquatic therapy be provided in the form of an in-home spa.

The

parties

each

obtained

psychiatric

Independent Medical Examinations (IME).

While the Claimant IME did testify that the Claimant would benefit from an in-home spa, he deferred the decision of whether aquatic therapy would be provided at home or at a public facility to the pain management physician. Additionally, he testified that an inhome spa is not something he would consider in his specialty.

As for the Employer/Carrier IME, he testified that the Claimant had generalized anxiety disorder and improved depression. However, in his 30-year career, he has never prescribed or reviewed any literature which supports using an in-home spa to treat anxiety disorders. He further testified that the Claimant does not have a psychiatric disorder which warrants the use of an in-home spa versus aquatic therapy at a public facility.

6 | IN THE

NOW

necessary. This finding related to both a pain management and a psychiatric perspective.

From a pain management perspective, JCC Pitts accepted Dr. Miranda’s opinion that while aquatic therapy in general was reasonable and medically necessary, he did not testify that the use of an in-home spa was medically necessary. From a psychiatric perspective, JCC Pitts pointed to a lack of competent substantial evidence that an in-home spa would have been reasonable and medically necessary from a psychiatric treatment consideration, and how the psychiatric IME deferred to the pain management physician as far as the issue of whether the recommended aquatic therapy would be provided at home or at a public facility.

Based upon the foregoing, the Claimant’s request for an in-home spa was denied.

Carlton v. L & M Endeavors, LLC OJCC Case No. 19-025081RLD (FL.Off.Judge.Comp.Cl. November 16, 2021)

KK TAKEAWAY: KK Takeaway: A request for a one-time change in physician is not made during the course of treatment and thus, not permitted, where a

of the employee, the carrier shall give the employee the opportunity for one change of physician during the course of treatment for any one accident. Upon the granting of a change of physician, the originally authorized physician in the same specialty as the changed physician shall become deauthorized upon written notification by the employer or carrier.”

prior Order is issued indicating that the there

On June 29, 2021, JCC Dietz entered a prior

is no additional treatment medical necessary

Final Order denying continued medical care

for a claimant.

for the Claimant due to a lack of evidence of

BACKGROUND:

medical necessity. As a result, he reasoned that the Claimant’s request a one-time

On November 16, 2021, JCC Dietz issued a

change in physician was not made during the

Final Compensation Order on the sole issue of

course of treatment as required by §440.13(2)

Claimant’s request for a one-time change in

(f), as the only medical evidence the Claimant

treating physician via a July 13, 2021 Petition

presented at the hearing were medical

for Benefits.

records from CareSpot Urgent Care from the

According to Florida Statute

§440.13(2)(f), “[u]pon the written request

date of accident.

IN THE

NOW | 7

The Claimant argued that a right to a one-time change vests indefinitely when a Claimant

would be added to the commute.

first visits an authorized physician. However,

BACKGROUND:

the Claimant’s argument did not take into

On November 10, 2021, JCC Hedler issued a

account the statutory language of during

Final Compensation Order on the Claimant’s

the course of treatment, and that this vested

request for “an orthopedic surgeon in the

right had been revoked by the June 29, 2021

Ocala, FL area as the claimant [] moved to said

Order denying additional medical care. The

area and his current authorized doctor is too

Claimant had an opportunity to appeal the

far to travel.”

June 29, 2021 decision, but chose not to, and

By

in the absence of a reversal of an appeal of the prior order, judicial determination precludes a finding that the one-time change had been requested during the course of treatment.

way

of

background,

the

Claimant

sustained a compensable work injury to his right knee on February 5, 1988 while working for Palm Beach County. The Claimant moved to Inverness, Florida in 1996, then to Plant

Based upon the foregoing, JCC Dietz denied

City in 1998 and back to Inverness in 2000.

the Claimant’s request for a one-time change

In January 2021, the claimant moved to

in treating physician.

Ocala, Florida. For over ten (10) years, the Claimant treated with Dr. Jeremiah Hubbard, whose office was in Inverness where the Claimant lived at the time. In June 2020, Dr.

Smith v. Palm Beach County Board OJCC Case No. 88-000326TAH (FL.Off.Judge.Comp.Cl. November 10, 2021)

KK TAKEAWAY: In order to obtain an alternate treating physician under Florida Statute §440.13(3), a Claimant must object to the medical attendance furnished by the employer, but a Claimant need not provide grounds for the

Hubbard retired, and the Claimant’s care was transferred to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Walter Choung, whose office was located in Beverly Hills, Florida. The Claimant treated with Dr. Choung from June 2020 to December 2020 and in January 2021, the Claimant moved to Ocala. He had not returned to see Dr. Choung since, instead requesting an orthopedic surgeon in Ocala, Florida.

The Employer/

Carrier defended the claim by asserting it was

objection.

reasonable for the Claimant to continue care

KK TAKEAWAY:

provide transportation.

with Dr. Choung and that it would be willing to

It is unreasonable to require a Claimant,

Analysis of the issue required a look at Florida

who regularly receives treatment and who

Statutes §440.13(2) and §440.13(3) as they

has moved to different locality, to continue

were both in effect at the time of the accident.

treating with the authorized doctor in the

Florida Statute §440.13(2) provides that the

previous locality, where an additional 30 miles

“the employer shall furnish to the employee

8 | IN THE

NOW

such medically necessary remedial treatment,

the Claimant must merely object to secure

care, and attendance for such period as the

an alternate provider, and that the grounds

nature of the injury or the process of recovery

for objection are not relevant. JCC Hedler

may

§440.13(3),

found that the Claimant properly objected to

states “[i]f an injured employee objects to

the medical care provided by the Employer/

the medical attendance furnished by the

Carrier and although the grounds for the

employer pursuant to subsection (2), it shall

objection was due to a travel requirement, JCC

be the duty of the employer to select another

Hedler found this to be irrelevant. As such,

physician to treat the injured employee unless

the Employer/Carrier must either provide

a deputy commissioner determines that a

alternate treatment or seek a JCC ruling that a

change in medical attendance is not for the

change in medical attendance would not be in

best interest of the injured employee.”

the best interests of the Claimant. The burden

The Employer/Carrier argued that §440.13(3)

is on the Employer/Carrier and in this instance,

require.”

Furthermore,

was not applicable because the Claimant did not express “dissatisfaction” with Dr. Choung.

the Employer/Carrier did not meet such a burden, as it failed to present any evidence of

Dr. Hedler found that the term “dissatisfaction”

an adverse impact on the Claimant.

was not found in the applicable statute and

JCC Hedler then turned his focus to the

that there was no similar term or phrase that

Employer/Carrier’s

would invoke the requirement of such a finding.

medical treatment that falls under the

Rather, the statute and case law provide that

standard of reasonable care under §440.13(2).

obligation

to

IN THE

furnish

NOW | 9

The Claimant argued that it would be unreasonable for him to be required to treat with a provider in another county from his

Haselden v. Waffle House OJCC Case No. 19-023454WRH

residence, while the Employer/Carrier argued

(FL.Off.Judge.Comp.Cl. October 28, 2021)

that Dr. Choung was within a reasonable

KK TAKEAWAY:

distance and continued authorization would be reasonable as transportation was offered to the Claimant. Testimony revealed that the Claimant’s commute to Dr. Choung’s office from his Inverness home was about 20 miles, one-way, while the distance from the Ocala residence was 35 miles, one-way. However, the determination of reasonableness is within the discretion of the JCC and is to be assessed under the purview of the totality of circumstances for final determination.

JCC

Hedler

ultimately

found

that

the

continued authorization of Dr. Choung was not reasonable. He found that the Claimant was active in treating with Dr. Choung and that it would not make sense to require the claimant to drive 70 miles, round trip, to treat regularly or obtain an injection to the knee.

Furthermore, the fact that the Claimant had continued to treat for more than 30 years post-accident reflects the need for active treatment.

Based upon the foregoing, JCC Hedler found that (1) the Claimant was entitled to an alternate provider in Ocala, Florida, (2), that the Employer/Carrier did not establish that alternate care would not be in the claimant’s best interests, and (3) that the Employer/ Carrier’s provision of medical care with Dr. Choung (or an alternate in the same area) was unreasonable upon consideration of the totality of the circumstances.

A worker injured in an attempt to obtain pain relief from a co-worker while “on the clock” is not a substantial deviation from employment or

horseplay

which

would

constitute

actions outside of the course and scope of employment.

BACKGROUND: On October 28, 2021, JCC Holley issued a Final Compensation Order with regard to compensability of a workplace accident, among other benefits requested. By way of background, the Claimant worked as a grill operator for the Insured at a Jacksonville, Florida location. On June 15, 2019, the date of accident, the Claimant was working a seventeen (17) hour double shift without a break and began to feel pain in his lumbar spine. At around 7:00a.m, the store manager “Malick” came into work and the Claimant, while still on the clock, reported the lower back pain to Malick and that it had been caused by standing over the grill for 17 hours without a break. At that time, the supervisor offered to “pop” the Claimant’s back for him to relieve the pain. The Claimant lifted his hands up and put them together behind his head before the supervisor pushed or yanked down on the claimant’s elbows. Although the Claimant testified, he did not feel an actual “pop” due to the supervisor’s actions, he did gradually notice some increasing pain until later than afternoon. When he got up later

10 | IN THE

NOW

that afternoon to get ready for work, he felt significant pain, and indicated that he was unable to stand up straight, walk, or lay down.

JCC Holley cited Florida Statute §440.09(1), which states that an employer is required to pay compensation or furnish benefits as set forth in Chapter 440 “if the employee suffers an accidental compensable injury or death arising out of work performed in the course and scope of employment.” As a general rule, an injury is considered to be in the course and scope of employment when it occurs within a period of employment, at a place where the employee may reasonably be and while the employee is reasonably fulfilling the duties of employment or engaging in something identical to it.

JCC Holley ultimately found that the Claimant was engaged in the course and scope of

employment when he sustained the injury, whether it was due to working a 17-hour shift or due to his supervisor attempting to crack the Claimant’s back. Each mechanism of injury took place while the Claimant was on the work premises during his shift while reasonably fulfilling the duties of employment by either working the grill or receiving pain relief assistance by his supervisor. The attempt to receive pain relief was not found to be a substantial deviation from employment or horseplay which would constitute actions outside of the course and scope of employment.

Having also found that the Claimant had proven through competent substantial evidence that the industrial accident was the Major Contributing Cause (MCC) of the claimant’s low back injuries, JCC Holley granted compensability of same.

IN THE

NOW | 11

for her back injury sustained in the work accident.

Williams v. Healthcare Cosmetology Services, Inc. OJCC Case No. 20-013230RLD (FL.Off.Judge.Comp.Cl. November 17, 2021)

By way of background, the Claimant worked for the Insured as a nail tech who did hair and nails. On the date of accident, the Claimant was working sitting in a chair preparing for her next customer who was scheduled for a manicure and

KK TAKEAWAY:

pedicure. The customer got off of an electric

There can be no basis for appointment of an

scooter to sit down in a chair, but her attendant

Expert Medical Advisor (EMA) where a party

turned the scooter on causing it to jump forward

fails to list witnesses/exhibits it is relying

and strike the Claimant. The scooter was then

upon to create a medical conflict that satisfies

turned off and pulled away from the Claimant,

§440.13(9).

but the attendant again turned it on and it jumped

BACKGROUND:

to the chair.

On November 17, 2021, JCC Dietz issued a

After about one (1) year of treatment, the

Final Compensation Order with regard to the

Employer/Carrier denied the Claimant’s request

Claimant’s request for continued medical care

for continued treatment based upon the Claimant

12 | IN THE

NOW

forward, landing on the Claimant and pinning her

being at Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) and that she no longer required care medically necessary for any condition related to the work accident.

On October 21, 2021, the Employer/Carrier filed a Motion to Appoint Expert Medical Advisor (EMA) based upon disputes in testimony between Dr. Brian Ziegler, the authorized treating physician, and the Employer/Carrier IME Dr. Steven Weber.

The initial evaluation of whether the statutory

prejudice to the Claimant. The Claimant argued that there would be prejudice if a medical dispute were to be found based upon untimely filed evidence, as it would delay a ruling on the Petition for Benefits. Despite the Claimant’s attorney attending the deposition of Dr. Weber, JCC Dietz found prejudice to the Claimant, denied the Employer/Carrier’s motion, and ultimately ruled in the Claimant’s favor allowing her to seek postMMI palliative care.

requirements for appointment of an EMA is based in Florida Statute §440.13(9). This section states that “[i]f there is disagreement in the opinions of the health care providers, if two health care providers disagree on medical evidence supporting the employee’s complaints or the need for additional medical treatment, or if two health care providers disagree that the employee is able to return to work, the department may, and the judge of compensation claims shall, upon his or her own motion or within 15 days after receipt of a written request by either the injured employee, the employer, or the carrier, order the injured employee to be evaluated by an expert medical advisor.”

JCC Dietz found that there was no basis for a disagreement requiring an appointment of an EMA, as Dr. Weber was not listed as a witness and his IME Report was not listed as an exhibit.

Based upon the non-compliance with the Pretrial Stipulation, there was an absence of a disagreement based upon admissible evidence, and as such, there was no basis for appointment of an EMA. The Employer/Carrier made an Ore Tenus Motion to Amend the Pretrial Stipulation at the Final Hearing to add Dr. Weber’s deposition, CV, and medical records claiming that there was no IN THE

NOW | 13

MEET THE

CONTRIBUTORS Associated General Contractors (AGC), for which he was instrumental in having the Fort Lauderdale

Joshua T. Higgins, Esq.

office of Kelley Kronenberg designated as the host

Editor and Business Unit Leader/Partner

for the meetings in South Florida, and he is the legal

Email Joshua T. Higgins

advisor to the Safety Alliance for Excellence (SAFE) since its inception. He assists his clients daily in all aspects of claims handling, both prior to and after litigation has begun, and has handled complex matters through trial on numerous occasions, with

Joshua Higgins is a Business Unit Leader and Partner at Kelley Kronenberg where he focuses his practice on Workers’ Compensation defense.

He has previous experience handling employment law matters, OSHA, Police Professional Litigation, Correctional Healthcare, and Civil Rights claims.

a high percentage of success.

Joshua is a popular and frequent writer and presenter on various workers’ compensation issues, both in Florida and on a national level. For his success and reputation, he has been named a Florida Super Lawyers Rising star for 2020 and 2021 (bestowed

The team that Joshua leads comprises of nine (9)

on less than 2.5% of attorneys in Florida), was

people (attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants),

named a 2020 and 2021 Top Lawyer in workers’

which collectively have over 90 years’ experience

compensation by Fort Lauderdale Illustrated (one

handling workers’ compensation matters in Florida.

of only two defense attorneys on the list), and was

Joshua handles workers’ compensation claims for a

named a 2022 Best Lawyers in America: Ones to

wide array of industries, for a clientele that ranges

Watch by U.S. News & World Report. Joshua is

from multi-billion companies to small employers.

also rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell,

One of the primary industries Joshua handles

based upon peer reviews, which indicates that he

workers’ compensation claims for is the construction

has achieved the highest professional and ethical

industry. He represents general contractors and

standards and is the highest rating a lawyer can

subcontractors of all sizes, and is enmeshed in the

receive.

construction industry of South Florida. He is an

Prior to joining the firm, Joshua worked as an

active member of the Construction Association of

Assistant State Attorney at the State Attorney’s

South Florida (CASF), where he has been on the

Office, 17th Judicial Circuit, in both the felony trial

Young Leaders Committee for several years (and

unit and county court division. While there, Joshua

the firm is the legal advisor to), he is involved in the

tried more than 30 bench trials and 22 jury trials,

14 | IN THE

NOW

with his last trial featured on local Fox news.

Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida doing

During law school at Nova Southeastern University,

foreclosure defense for indigent elderly citizens.

Joshua served for two years as the Chairperson of

Prior to entering law school, Joshua obtained his

Administration for the Moot Court Honor Society,

undergraduate degree magna cum laude from the

a Staff Member for the Inter-American Center for

State University of New York at Buffalo, where he

Human Rights, and the Secretary for the National

was selected for induction into the Phi Beta Kappa

Security and Law Society. He received a perfect

Society, received English Departmental Honors, and

score from the Chief Justice in the first round of the

was listed in Who’s Who Among American College

ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition, and

Students. Additionally, Joshua was chosen as a

placed in the top 8 out of more than 125 students

Renaissance Scholar, an award bestowed on less

in the Feinrider Moot Court Competition. Further,

than 4% of graduates that year (only 82 students

Joshua was one of 40 law students selected

out of a class size of more than 2500), for those

nationwide as a summer fellow for the Florida

exhibiting scholarly excellence in at least two widely

Bar Foundation, which resulted in him working at

disparate areas of study.

Prior to joining the firm, he gained experience in

Brandon T. Haas, Esq. Associate Attorney Email Brandon Haas

Insurance Defense Litigation while working as a Law Clerk for a boutique Fort Lauderdale firm.

Brandon received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Central Florida and went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree, summa cum laude, from Nova Southeastern University Shepard

Brandon Haas is an Attorney at Kelley Kronenberg

Broad College of Law where he regularly made the

where he assists in handling matters related to

Dean’s List and was both a Junior Associate and

Workers’ Compensation.

Executive Editor for Nova Law Review. While in

Brandon Haas is an Attorney in the firm’s Fort

law school, he was a Legal Intern for the Broward

Lauderdale office where he assists in handling

County Environmental and Consumer Protection

matters related to Workers’ Compensation.

Division and served as a Teaching Assistant.

IN THE

NOW | 15

HELPING YOU

STAY AHEAD

BLOGS

Hiring Choices Made Out of Desperation May Lead to Debacles Amy Siegel Oran. It is hard to pinpoint exactly why it is so difficult to find good employees these days; […]

Movies Speak to Me in Legalese By: Amy Siegel Oran. We all have our favorite movies, a top-five list of films you’ve seen so many times you […]

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Business Workplace Health & Safety Checklist: What Should Employers Expect with New Delta Variant Cases Rising?

By: Meg Bentley. As the number of COVID-19 cases declined last spring, Illinois businesses reopened their doors […]

20 Years of Wisdom in 5 Bullets: Tips for Law Graduates By: Amy Siegel Oran. On this day, 20 years ago, I was worrying about law school finals and the upcoming […]

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Mental Health in the Workplace – Post Pandemic Panic By: Amy Siegel Oran Florida workers’ compensation law does not cover purely psychological trauma; the emotional condition must be brought […]

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16 | IN THE

NOW

6 Key Points to Defend, Manage, and Settle Catastrophic Claims

By Amy Siegel Oran I recently had the pleasure of presenting on the topic of defending, managing, […]

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WEBINARS COVID-19 in 2021 Kelley Kronenberg Partners Adam Kemper and Joshua Higgins present COVID-19 in 2021 with Principal Partner/ Chief Financial Officer, Heath Eskalyo as the moderator. The webinar, COVID-19 in 2021, provides updates on the latest applicable workplace guidelines and for practice.

CLICK TO WATCH

PUBLICATIONS Don’t Be A Discovery Dinosaur HR Florida Newswire

Telecommuting Employees and the Potential for Workers’ Compensation Claims

Amy Siegel Oran

HR Florida Newswire

CLICK TO READ MORE

Indira Marin CLICK TO READ MORE

Guest column: Florida’s minimum wage increase raises workers’ compensation cost

What The Telecommuting Trend Could Mean for Florida Workers’ Comp Claims

Tampa Bay Business Journal

Insurance Journal

Amy Siegel Oran

Indira Marin

CLICK TO READ MORE

CLICK TO READ MORE

Yes, employees required to get vaccinated for COVID-19 can file a workers’ compensation claim for vaccine adverse effects

Does Workers’ Comp Cover an Employee’s Reaction to a COVID-19 Vaccine?

Verify

SHRM

Joshua Higgins

Joshua Higgins

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IN THE

NOW | 17

AWARDS AND

ACCOLADES FIRM AWARDS Kelley Kronenberg has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors both firm-wide and for a number of our practices, including individual accolades. Below is a select list of recognition and awards:

2021

Best Midsize Law Firms To Work For

Ranked amongst the “Largest Law Firms”

Ranked amongst the “Largest Law Firms”

Ranked amongst the “Largest Law Firms”

Ranked amongst the “Largest Law Firms”

Ranked amongst the “Largest Law Firms”

Ranked amongst the “Largest Law Firms”

Ranked amongst the “Largest Law Firms”

Ranked amongst the “Largest Law Firms”

Ranked amongst the “Best Law Firms”

Ranked amongst the “Largest Law Firms”

Named as a “Business of the Year” and “Top 100 Private Companies”

Best Multi-Practice Business Law Firm – USA

2021 “Diversity Team” winner

Ranked amongst the “Largest Law Firms”

18 | IN THE

Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America

NOW

WC ATTORNEY AWARDS

Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating

Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch

Karen M. Gilmartin, Raymond L. Grant, Joshua T. Higgins, Steven L. Scharf, Amy Siegel Oran

Joshua T. Higgins Amy Siegel Oran

Florida Super Lawyers “Rising Stars”

South Florida Legal Guide “Top Lawyers”

Joshua T. Higgins

Amy Siegel Oran Karen Gilmartin

Illinois Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” Julianna Walo Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation Women in Leadership Amy Siegel Oran

Fort Lauderdale Illustrated “Top Lawyer” Joshua T. Higgins

WOMEN IN THE LAW Best Lawyers “Women in the Law”

Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, Emerald Award, “Risk Taker” Amy Siegel Oran

Amy Siegel Oran IN THE

NOW | 19

A Firm Built on Relationships KELLEY KRONENBERG IS A MULTI-PRACTICE BUSINESS LAW FIRM.

with over

400

Employees

more than

175 Attorneys

the convenience of

12

Locations

Founded in 1980, the firm is one of the fastest-growing law firms in Florida and amongst the largest in the U.S. The firm serves all types and sizes of public and private companies, including small businesses and individuals nationwide.

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MIAMI

MIAMI LAKES

15100 NW 67th Avenue, Suite 204 Miami Lakes, FL 33014 Phone: (305) 826-7260

NAPLES

1111 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1900 Miami, FL 33131 Phone: (305) 503-0850

NEW ORLEANS

ORLANDO

TALLAHASSEE

150 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 800 Chicago, IL 60601 Phone: (312) 216-8828

20 North Orange Avenue, Suite 1207 Orlando, FL 32801 Phone: (407) 648-9450

1112 Riverside Drive Daytona Beach, FL 32117 Phone: (754) 888-5437

6267 Old Water Road, Suite 202 Tallahassee, FL 32312 Phone: (850) 577-1301

1421 Pine Ridge Road, Unit 120 Naples, FL 34103 Phone: (954) 370-9970

TAMPA

1511 North Westshore Blvd., Suite 400 Tampa, FL 33607 Phone: (813) 223-1697

201 St. Charles Ave, Suite 2500 New Orleans, LA 70170 Phone: (732) 547-7907

WEST PALM BEACH

1475 Centrepark Blvd., Suite 275 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: (561) 684-5956

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY ATLANTA

1100 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Phone: (404) 990-4972

NEW JERSEY

51 John F. Kennedy Parkway First Floor West Short Hills, NJ 07078 Phone: (908) 403-8174

NEW YORK CITY

One Liberty Plaza 165 Broadway 23rd Floor, Suite 2374 New York, NY 10006 Phone: (800) 484-4381

IN THE

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