Third Fridays

Christian Sison welcomes LOIS Partner, LOIS Diversity Committee Co-Chair, and NJ Ethics Committee Member Karen Vincent to the podcast. Karen reflects on the recent change permitting in-person hearing appearances across New Jersey. Christian and Karen then discuss a sweeping legislative change to an 8-year-old New Jersey Supreme Court holding. How does it affect employers and carriers? Take a liste...

To obtain an IME or not to obtain an IME? That is the question for host Christian Sison , as he welcomes guest attorney Ian Haberstro to the Third Fridays podcast. Christian and Ian talk about 3 categories where a client may benefit by not obtaining an IME: specificity failure, multiple sources of injury, and the option for a Records Review. What is “Third Fridays”? "Third Fridays" podcast is a li...

In this episode, host Christian Sison looks back at the changes in his defense practice in 2021 as well as a look ahead to the "headline events" in New York workers' compensation for 2022. What is “Third Fridays”? "Third Fridays" podcast is a live, 30-minute legal talk show from Lois Law Firm featuring moderator Christian Sison . It is the original forum in which real attorneys discuss workers' co...

Host Christian Sison welcomes Vandana Saunders back to the Third Fridays podcast. Vandana has another win to share after succeeding on a construction coverage defense. The two attorneys then discuss a brand new Appellate Division case, Hughes v Mid Hudson Psychiatric Center. Christian and Vandana parse through the details of that case, where a claimant had six prior surgeries but still argued that...

Can an attorney prepare an expert medical witness prior to deposition? What tactics can be used by a New York Workers’ Compensation defense attorney when this occurs? In this episode, your host Christian Sison welcomes Attorney Joseph Melchionne back to the podcast to discuss the proper mechanics of litigation preparation and to provide key steps to refute ex parte communication initiated by a cla...

On this month’s episode of the Third Fridays podcast, Christian Sison welcomes Ian Haberstro to discuss an ongoing problem: persuading interested parties that a claimant-employee should return to work. When a treating doctor doesn’t release a claimant to work, what should a carrier do? Christian and Ian have an in-depth conversation about a recent case that presented a return-to-work roadblock. Ho...

Almost a year’s worth of cases have been through the arduous litigation process before the Workers’ Compensation Board. Christian Sison welcomes fellow LOIS Partner Timothy Kane to discuss how Judges and Board Panels are addressing these claims. Is due process even a concept anymore? Christian and Tim contemplate future actions and how to best defend these types of claims in the future. What is “T...

In this episode, Christian Sison welcomes fellow LOIS Partner Declan Gourley to the podcast. The Medical Treatment Guidelines were on track to be in effect for several new body parts and conditions, but what happened? Why is the implementation being delayed? Christian and Declan use the update to take two opposing positions: are the Guidelines more favorable to claimants or employers? Tune in to f...

It’s the last Third Friday podcast of the year, and host Christian Sison welcomes Addison O’Donnell back to the show. Christian and Addison discuss the brand new case from the Appellate Division and its impact on labor market attachment. How can employers and carriers use this defense for claimants that are undocumented or who do not have a Social Security Number? Listen for the attorneys’ analysi...

Christopher Major joins Christian Sison for a new episode of the Third Fridays podcast. The two discuss an often overlooked area of exposure in New York Workers’ Compensation claims: reimbursement via the Health Insurance Matching Program. When a treating doctor bills a private health carrier for medical expenses related to the Workers’ Compensation claim, the Workers’ Compensation carrier has sev...

Christian Sison discusses a new Appellate Division decision that reinforces "Defend From Day 1" principles. In Sanchez v NYC Trans. Auth., the Court reversed the New York Workers' Compensation Board remand a previously disallowed claim. The Decision overturned the disallowance, citing insufficient evidence that Section 28 could time-bar the claimant's claim. How can we use this Decision to positiv...

Third Fridays' Host Christian Sison welcomes Attorney Addison O’Donnell to discuss the legal implications of labor market attachment and the changing landscape for this once-trusty defense. The two discuss the history and legal standards of the labor market attachment defense, the disruptions that rippled through the New York Workers’ Compensation system since March, and the path to restore the de...

In this episode, the annual Mock Trial competition, chaired by podcast host Christian Sison , reaches its final stage. Finalists compete for this year’s crown by answering trivia questions related to the hypothetical case and making an oral argument to a Mock Board Panel. Christian welcomes Christopher Major and Bailey Ott to this episode, as the three discuss the progress made during the competit...

The future is NOW at Lois Law Firm . While COVID-19 has certainly slowed down some businesses, the pandemic has not resulted in fewer great results for our clients. To demonstrate the growth and continued success of the firm, Christian Sison welcomes attorneys Vandana Saunders, Connor Wetherington, Bailey Ott, and Steve McLinden to this month’s episode for a panel discussion. The five attorneys ch...

Christian Sison welcomes Lois Law Firm Partner and Construction Practice Group Leader Tashia Rasul back to the Third Fridays podcast. Together, Christian and Tashia learn about “Back on Track,” a new initiative from Willis Towers Watson. Willis Towers Watson is a leading global advisory, broker, and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. David Barry...

We live in a COVID-19 quarantine world now, so host Christian Sison is taking a “business as usual” approach with the second iteration of the Third Fridays podcast using remote appearances from guests. This month, Jeremy Janis and Adam Lowenstein discuss their recent litigation wins at the Appellate Division level. With practical advice to use in an impractical world, Christian can’t help but call...

Host Christian Sison is joined by Tashia Rasul to discuss practical aspects of handling COVID-19 claims before the New York Workers' Compensation Board. What is “Third Fridays”? "Third Fridays" podcast is a live, 30-minute legal talk show from Lois Law Firm featuring moderator Christian Sison . It is the original forum in which real attorneys discuss workers' compensation issues, share their opini...

Host Christian Sison is joined by Andrea Abudayeh to discuss the impact of coronavirus pandemic on New York workers' compensation claims and the Workers' Compensation board's reponse. What is “Third Fridays”? "Third Fridays" podcast is a live, 30-minute legal talk show from Lois Law Firm featuring moderator Christian Sison . It is the original forum in which real attorneys discuss workers' compens...

Attorney Declan Gourley joins Christian Sison for an in-depth discussion of appellate strategy in New York, by discussing reversals of interest to employers. What is “Third Fridays”? "Third Fridays" podcast is a live, 30-minute legal talk show from Lois Law Firm featuring moderator Christian Sison . It is the original forum in which real attorneys discuss workers' compensation issues, share their...

In this episode, host Christian Sison welcomes attorney Christopher Major to the podcast to take an in-depth look at loss transfer litigation between workers' compensation and motor vehicle carriers. What is “Third Fridays”? "Third Fridays" podcast is a live, 30-minute legal talk show from Lois Law Firm featuring moderator Christian Sison . It is the original forum in which real attorneys discuss...

Christian Sison and Christopher Major discuss the basics of subrogation and reimbursement in New York workers' compensation cases . This audio comes from a live discussion presented to the LOIS firm's clients on December 16, 2019. Happy Holidays everyone! What is “Third Fridays”? "Third Fridays" podcast is a live, 30-minute legal talk show from Lois Law Firm featuring moderator Christian Sison . I...

Christian Sison is joined by Christopher Major to discuss risk transfer opportunities in New York workers' compensation cases . What is “Third Fridays”? "Third Fridays" podcast is a live, 30-minute legal talk show from Lois Law Firm featuring moderator Christian Sison . It is the original forum in which real attorneys discuss workers' compensation issues, share their opinions and engage in colorfu...

On October 4th, the New York Workers’ Compensation Board issued a Subject Number that addressed the age-old decision of how we close cases when schedule and non-schedule body parts are established. Host Christian Sison recaps where we were when the landmark 2018 Appellate Division case of Taher v Yiota Taxi was decided. The ensuing chaos that enveloped even the most experienced practitioners resul...

Christian Sison is joined by his co-chair, Joseph Melchionne , of the 2019 Mock Trial Program at LOIS. The final event of the Program involved the recording of a podcast episode for 3 sets of finalists. The winning podcast involved Attorney Christopher Major and Paralegal Monica Shea. The 4-member panel go through an oral argument on appeal, answer some Mock Trial trivia questions, and give some f...

Host Christian Sison welcomes attorney Declan Gourley back to the podcast to discuss mental stress claims under the New York Workers' Compensation law. The attorneys discuss the standard for causally-related and compensable stress in New York, strategies for defending the cases, and provide practical examples. What is “Third Fridays”? "Third Fridays" podcast is a live, 30-minute legal talk show fr...