Mr. O badly lacerated his thigh while building a cement base for a gas pump. The owner who had hired Mr. O denied that an employer/employee relationship existed, and it was later discovered that the owner had no Workers’ Compensation Insurance coverage. Mr. O’s pain was excruciating, and he was unable to work for a period of time. In addition, Mr. O. faced medical bills of approximately $2,600, as well as a collection agency that continually harassed him.
Law Student Brian Bean presented a petition before the Appeals Board to join the Uninsured Employers’ Fund and the landowners’ home insurance carrier as party defendants. After several letters and phone calls, Brian requested that the case be put on the conference calendar of a Workers’ Compensation judge, and he was then able to successfully negotiate a settlement.
Law student Ben Williams took over in January, building on the work performed by his colleague and finalizing the settlement for the optimum sum of $7,000. The judge who presided over the settlement conference was so impressed by the students’ handling of the case that he expressly complemented them on their performance.
Article written and provided by the Law Center