THE WORKERS` COMPENSATION LAW FIRM.

THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION LAW FIRM.
Quarterly Counsel
WINTER 2015
IN THIS ISSUE
» Sam Pond, Jerry Lehocky
and Dave Stern selected
for The Best Lawyers in
America® 2015 list
»P
ond Lehocky Named a
2015 Best Law Firm by U.S.
News and Best Lawyers® for
Fourth Year
»P
ond Lehocky Stern
Giordano Chosen as a 2014
Best Places to Work Winner
»P
artner Sam Pond Featured
in Drexel Alumni Magazine:
“Prize Fighter”
» Contributions to the
Community
»T
he 5 Biggest Myths about
PA Workers’ Comp
» Know Your Rights:
Motorcycle Mishaps
»T
he Great Tradeoff in PA
Workers’ Compensation
»S
ettlement Highlights
»W
e’ve Moved!
» L ehigh Valley Office Now
Open: Ninth Location for Our
Growing Firm
»W
e’ve Moved our New York
Office
» L eaders in the Legal
Community
POND LEHOCKY STERN GIORDANO, LLP
800.568.7500
www.pondlehocky.com
Sam Pond, Jerry Lehocky and Dave Stern selected
for The Best Lawyers in America® 2015 list
This year, Sam Pond, Jerry Lehocky and Dave
Stern have once again been named to The
Best Lawyers in America® list for workers’
compensation law. This is Sam Pond’s ninth
consecutive year receiving this distinction, Jerry Lehocky’s fourth and Dave Stern’s third.
Inclusion in The Best Lawyers® list is a particularly significant achievement for an attorney because it
is an entirely peer-reviewed process. Tens of thousands of leading lawyers anonymously review their
peers on their professional abilities and ability to deliver quality legal service.
Pond Lehocky Named a 2015 Best Law Firm by
U.S. News and Best Lawyers® for Fourth Year
For the fourth consecutive year, Pond Lehocky Stern Giordano was selected
as one of the 2015 Best Law Firms for Metropolitan Tier 1, Philadelphia
Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants.
The recognition is sponsored by U.S. News and World Report and Best
Lawyers®. Award recipients are determined by an extensive process of client
and lawyer evaluations, peer reviews from leading attorneys in the field and a
review of formal submitted information. The firm must also have at least one
lawyer who is included in The Best Lawyers® list.
Pond Lehocky Stern Giordano Chosen as a 2014
Best Places to Work Winner
Pond Lehocky was selected as an award recipient for the Philadelphia
Business Journal’s 2014 Best Places to Work. The Best Places to Work award
recognizes companies that have outstanding workplace culture determined
by feedback provided by employees.
Best Places to Work recipients are decided by online surveys completed
by employees. Quantum Workplace, the Philadelphia Business Journal’s
research partner, tabulated the results to establish the list of the Best Places to Work. Common themes
among top workplace cultures include strong work-life balance, respect for employees, recognition of
employees’ accomplishments, making employees feel empowered, good teamwork and community
involvement.
Do you have a friend or loved one
that requires legal service?
Pond Lehocky is here to help. We offer legal assistance for a
wide variety of issues. Call us today at 800.568.7500.
Partner Sam Pond in Drexel Alumni Magazine: “Prize Fighter”
Partner Sam Pond was featured in
the latest issue of Drexel University’s
alumni magazine, Market Street. The
article, “Prize Fighter,” chronicles Sam’s
journey from a neighborhood kid who
once aspired to be a union laborer to a
top Philly attorney that specializes in
defending union workers. The article also
highlights Sam’s family roots, his finance
degree from Drexel and the lessons he’s
learned from boxing as guiding forces
for his legal skills while building Pond
Lehocky Stern Giordano.
To read the article in its entirety,
click here.
Contributions to the Community
From left: Employees volunteer for our Turkey Drive; Intake Specialist Liam McGettigan plays the role of Santa for our holiday event with Families
Forward Philadelphia; Jerry Lehocky offers advice to his student mentee from Strawberry Mansion High School.
Serving the Community
We partnered with Gibson Temple Baptist Church for a our third
Turkey Drive. Our attorneys and staff members provided 350
turkeys and baskets filled with all the necessities for a complete
Thanksgiving meal to members of the Gibson Temple Baptist
Church.
Developing the Leaders of Tomorrow
We partnered with Strawberry Mansion High School’s youth court
program for a student mentoring program. Each student is paired
with one of our attorneys to learn more about the profession and
the legal system.
Associate Attorney Kaitlin Files leads the on-going project.
While in law school at Temple University, she helped develop a
model for law firm support for youth courts through her work
with Strawberry Mansion students. She adapted this model to
create the mentorship program. Youth court allows students to
act as the judge and jury determining the correct recourse for
their peers who violate school rules. Youth courts aim to cut
down on the amount of students suspended and expelled by
delivering alternative forms of retribution and promoting a positive
relationship with the law.
amilies Forward Philadelphia and Pond Lehocky
F
Deck the Halls
We partnered with Families Forward Philadelphia, an organization
devoted to providing shelter for homeless and traveling families, to
spread some holiday cheer.
Attorneys and staff members helped residents brighten their living
spaces with holiday décor, joined children in decorating stockings
and brought tasty treats for everyone to enjoy. The night ended
with a surprise visit from the man himself – Santa Claus. The firm
also provided a donation to Families Forward Philadelphia so that
holiday presents could be purchased for residents.
Personal Injury Corner
Know your rights:
Motorcycle
mishaps?
............................................................................................................
Since Pennsylvania state helmet laws were weakened in 2003, injuries are on the rise. Motorcyclist
head injury hospitalizations jumped 78 percent, while deaths from head injuries increased 66
percent. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, out of 3,427 motorcycle
collisions in 2013, 90 percent resulted in injury and 5 percent resulted in death.
Under Pennsylvania law, motorcyclists are owed a duty of reasonable care from other drivers on
the road. When another driver violates this duty, he or she may owe the motorcyclist damages.
Compensation may be available for medical expenses, past and future lost income, emotional
distress, and physical pain and suffering.
You are entitled to pursue compensation within two years following the motorcycle accident. If
you or a loved one have been involved in a motorcycle accident, please contact our experienced
lawyers at 215-568-7500 or at [email protected].
The Great Tradeoff in PA Workers’ Compensation
When the Pennsylvania Workers’
Compensation Act was signed into law in
1915, Americans gave up a constitutional
right to sue their employers for damages
following a work injury. In return, they were
able to receive workers’ compensation to help
supplement their lost wages and pay for their
medical bills. The essence of the Workers’
Compensation Act is a humanitarian one, but
this essence is being lost.
Some judges are forgetting the humanitarian
purpose of the act and not considering it in
their application of the law. Favor should be
given to the treating physician who closely
understands a client’s medical needs, not
the one-time medical examiner hired by the
employer. Judges must take into account the
original intent of the act when rendering
decisions so that injured workers can have a
secure future.
We want our clients and referral sources to
understand this tradeoff and how it’s coming
into play during cases.
Partner Sam Pond and Associate Andrew
Ruder explore this aspect of workers’
compensation in their Great Tradeoff series,
which was featured PA Law Weekly.
Click here to read the full series our
website.
Settlement
Highlights
.........................................
$3,703,689.89
A plasterer fell 13 feet off a scaffold at a
work site and suffered multiple injuries
including skull, face and ear fractures,
lacerations and brain trauma. Stephen
Schukraft, Jr. settled the case for
$3,703,689.89.
..............................................
$365,000
A demolition worker fell 40 feet from
a scaffold and was in a coma for three
days. He sustained serious injuries
to his face, head and hands — all of
which needed plastic surgery. His
hand also required reconstructive
surgery. Chris Fox settled the case for
$365,000.
..............................................
$250,000
A service technician fell into a machine
at work, which caused serious tears
to his leg. After being rushed to the
hospital, the doctors were able to
reattach the technician’s leg, but he
underwent six additional surgeries and
still had lingering pain. Jerry Lehocky
negotiated a $250,000 settlement.
..............................................
$240,000
A service technician fell off a ladder
and onto a concrete floor where
his injured his neck and back. Dave
Stern settled the case for $240,000.
..............................................
We’ve Moved!
Because of the tremendous growth we have seen in the past four years, we moved to a new space
to accommodate our employees, clients and referral partners. Our move allows us to continue
delivering unmistakable service at a new location.
2005 Market Street, 18th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
For your convenience, there is a parking garage where we will validate parking.
$225,000
A retail worker slipped on a pallet
and was thought to have sprained
her ankle. After further diagnosis, it
was revealed that she had arthritis,
nerve damage, a chipped bone, a
ripped tendon and chronic pain.
Frank Ciprero settled the case for
$225,000.
..............................................
$225,000
An employee amputated his left ring
finger and sustained serious damage
to his tendons and nerves, as well as
scarring and psychological issues.
Allison Wheeler settled the case for
$225,000.
Lehigh Valley Office Now Open: Ninth
Location for Our Growing Firm
To ring in the New Year, on January 1, 2015, we opened our ninth
office for the convenience of our clients in Pennsylvania.
The Lehigh Valley office is located at 3477 Corporate Parkway,
Suite 100- #139, Center Valley, Pa. 18034. Our two workers’
compensation attorneys Kevin Harchar and Ryan Scanlon
will head the office, and it is by appointment only. To make an
appointment, please call 800-568-7500.
We’ve Moved our New York Office
For the convenience of our
clients, our New York City
office is now located at: 355
Lexington Avenue, 10th Floor,
New York, NY 10017.
Our Social Security disability
attorneys Brynn Lapszynski
and Jacob Neff head the
New York office. To make an
appointment, please call 800568-7500, or to chat with us
online click here.
The 5 Biggest Myths
about PA Workers’ Compensation
1. Y
ou can be fired for filing a claim. False.
It’s against the law for your employer to fire you because you file a
workers’ compensation claim, though they are not required to hold
your position if you are out on disability for an extended period.
2. It doesn’t matter how long you wait to tell your employer that you’ve
been injured, as long as you tell them. False.
You must report your injury to your employer within 120 days.
After that, you become ineligible to receive benefits. If you inform
your employer of your injury within 21 days, you can be awarded
benefits as of the date of your injury. Beyond 21 days, you can only
be awarded benefits as of the date you report your injury.
3. A pre-existing injury can prevent you from getting workers’
compensation. False.
You can still be eligible for benefits if you can show that your job
duties have aggravated, reactivated or accelerated your condition. So
if you have arthritis and over time it’s gotten worse because of your
job, you may be eligible for benefits.
4. You can never choose your own doctor for treatment. False.
You are free to see any doctor you choose, and only under very
rare circumstances might you be responsible for doctor’s fees. Pond
Lehocky’s in-house medical team, coordinates our clients’ medical
appointments with qualified doctors. Medical bills will be sent to the
insurance company for prompt payments.
5. Workers’ compensation attorneys can begin collecting a fee the day
they meet you. False.
Under the Workers’ Compensation Act, a workers’ compensation
attorney can only charge an attorney fee under certain circumstances.
That fee cannot exceed 20 percent and must be approved by a
workers’ compensation judge.
POND LEHOCKY STERN GIORDANO, LLP
CONVENIENT OFFICE LOCATIONS
MAIN OFFICE:
One Commerce Square
2005 Market Street, 18th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
ADDITIONAL OFFICES:
Northeast Philadelphia, PA
South Philadelphia, PA
Scranton, PA
Malvern, PA
Pennsauken, NJ
New Brunswick, NJ
New York, NY
800.568.7500
www.pondlehocky.com
Leaders in the Legal Community
Samuel H. Pond – Mr. Pond participated in a
career discussion at Drexel’s Biddle Law Society
where he spoke to undergraduate students about
perusing legal careers. He attended a ribbon cutting
ceremony with Mr. Lehocky, which unveiled The
Pond and Lehocky Legal Studies Department Head
Office at Drexel University. Mr. Pond earned his
undergraduate degree from Drexel in 1981. Mr.
Pond presented the Marie Pond Scholarship, an
award which honors his mother’s memory and his
personal connection to the Torresdale Boys Club.
One distinguished high school senior earned a
$2500 scholarship. Mr. Pond spoke to members
of CWA Local union 13301 about their rights to
workers’ compensation at a legal seminar. Also,
along with associate attorney Andrew F. Ruder, Mr.
Pond co-authored three articles for PA Law Weekly.
Jerry M. Lehocky – Mr. Lehocky attended a ribbon
cutting ceremony with Mr. Pond, at Drexel University,
which unveiled The Pond and Lehocky Legal Studies
Department Head Office. Mr. Lehocky was honored
with the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association
(PTLA) President’s Award at the group’s annual
meeting. The accolade is given to a PTLA member
whose unwavering dedication helped the current
president of PTLA achieve the organization’s goals.
David F. Stern – Mr. Stern was a featured speaker
at the Pennsylvania Association for Justice’s (PAJ)
Annual Update for Civil Litigators. He presented
some of the most recent cases and legal updates
within the field of workers’ compensation to other
PAJ members.
Thomas J. Giordano, Jr. – Mr. Giordano has
been working tirelessly to launch our national
Social Security disability practice, which is now
called Disability Justice. This new venture under his
leadership will allow Pond Lehocky to advocate for
disabled workers’ rights on a national level.
Andrew F. Ruder – Mr. Ruder co-authored three
articles with Mr. Pond, “Workers’ Compensation:
The Accuracy of the Average Weekly Wage,”
“Supplementing Workers’ Comp with Social Security
Disability” and “The Great Tradeoff in Workers’
Compensation Benefits,” which were published in a
recent issues of PA Law Weekly.
Alexis C. Handrich – Ms. Handrich participated
in a panel presentation at the 13th Annual
Workers’ Compensation Conference, sponsored
by the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. In the
presentation, “Mock Mediation: Bringing the Cast
to the Table,” she and other experts in the field
provided recommendations about preparing for and
participating in workers’ compensation mediations.
Keld R. Wenge – Mr. Wenge spoke to members
of CWA Local union 13301 about their rights to
workers’ compensation at a legal seminar. He also
spoke to members one-on-one about their claims. He
appeared on the “Today in Philly Labor” radio show,
where he discussed how the odds are stacked against
injured workers and how a qualified attorney can
help their case.