Jason Perkins recently spoke at a Georgia workers’ compensation seminar held at the State Bar of Georgia. The seminar focused on alternative dispute resolution in Georgia workers’ compensation cases. Jason was selected to speak about ethics in the alternative dispute resolution process. Jason was part of a panel that featured three others attorneys who also specialize in workers compensation.
Mediation and other types of alternative dispute resolution
Several different types of alternative dispute resolution are used in Georgia workers’ compensation cases. The most common method of alternative dispute resolution is mediation. While mediation can be used to resolve any type of dispute between two (or more) parties, the most common type of workers’ compensation mediation is a settlement mediation. In a settlement mediation, a mediator tries to help the two parties see if they can reach an agreeable settlement. If successful, this type of alternative dispute resolution resolves the entire workers’ compensation case. Mediation is also often used to resolve issues about authorization of medical treatment.
Rehab conferences
In catastrophic workers’ compensation cases, rehab conferences are often used as a form of alternative dispute resolution. A rehab conference can be similar to a mediation because there is an employee of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation present. Rehab conferences are sometimes helpful in resolving complicated issues like housing and transportation.
Ethics in alternative dispute resolution
Ethics is of the utmost importance in alternative dispute resolution just like it is in every other part of an attorney’s work. Attorneys are required to act ethically and professionally. They are required to follow the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. If attorneys do not follow these rules, they can lose their license to practice law.
Jason has spoken at many seminars on a number of different sections of Georgia’s workers’ compensation law. He was honored to be invited to speak and share his knowledge on ethical issues in alternative dispute resolution. He looks forward to the opportunity to speak on other important workers’ compensation issues in the future.
