11:30 am – 12:00 pm

Visit Virtual Exhibits

Participating in our online game for a chance to win one of six VISA gift cards.

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Lunch Break

10:30 am – 10:45 pm

Welcome and Introductions

Hal Willson, Esq., Willson Jones Carter & Baxley, PA, Greenville, SC

Overview of the SC Workers' Compensation Commission

Gene McCaskill, Commissioner, SC Workers’ Compensation Commission, Columbia, SC

10:45 am - 11:30 am

Compensable Injuries

Dewana Looper, Esq., Atkins Law Firm, Columbia, SC

• What qualifies as a compensable injury by accident

• Repetitive trauma claims

• Mental/Mental claims

• Occupational disease claims

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Benefits Provided by the Workers’ Comp System

​Jason Lockhart, Esq., McAngus Goudelock & Courie LLC, Columbia, SC

• Medical benefits

  • What treatment must be provided/choice of physician

  • Medical Care after MMI/Lifetime Care

  • Obtaining medical records and communication with healthcare provider (§ 42-15-95)

• Temporary benefits

  • Determining AWW/CR

  • TTD

  • TPD

• Permanent Disability benefits

  • PPD

  • Wage Loss

  • Permanent & Total

1:45 pm – 2:30 pm

Defenses to Claims

​Ian Gohean, Esq., Willson Jones Carter & Baxley, PA, Greenville, SC

• Statute of limitations

• No notice to employer

• Intoxication/willfulness

• Fraud in the application for employment

• Going and coming rule

• Not a compensable injury (denied case)

2:30 pm – 2:45 pm

Starting and stopping temporary total/partial benefits

​Ian Gohean, Esq., Willson Jones Carter & Baxley, PA, Greenville, SC

• Starting TTD (Form 15)

• Stopping TTD within 150 days from date of notice of injury

• Stopping TTD after 150 days

2:45 pm - 3:15 pm

Networking Break

3:15 pm – 4:00 pm

Closing claims

​Barrett Burley, Esq., Holder Padgett Littlejohn + Prickett, LLC, Columbia, SC

• Informal conference process

  • Form 16A and its effects

  • Process if no agreement reached

• Hearing process

  • Award

  • Appeal process

  • Change of condition rights

• Agreement & Final Release/Clincher Agreements

  • Represented claimants

  • Unrepresented claimants

  • Medical Only Claims

4:00 pm – 4:30 pm

How the Experience Modification Rate is Determined for a Business?

Kirk Adair, Premium Auditor, APA, SC State Accident Fund, Columbia, SC

4:30 pm - 5:00 pm

Wrap Up

• Unanswered questions

• KERMIT

• Evaluations