2024 Spring CLE Conference
Friday, April 19 - Saturday, April 20, 2024

REGISTER HERE 

41 Lakefront Hotel Trademark Collection By Wyndham
41 Lakefront Drive, Geneva, New York 14456
and Virtually via Zoom

Registration Deadline: Friday, April 12, 2024

Friday, April 19, 2024

2:30pm - 3:00pm
Registration or Log On 

3:00pm - 3:50pm
An In-Depth Look at Workers’ Compensation Law Section 14
Sean Meritt, Esq., Connors & Ferris, LLP
(1 Skills CLE Credit)
It will be a look at the actual language of the statute, relevant case law, and, hopefully, some practical tips when initially deciding to take a case and then using the AWW to best benefit your client and, of course, yourself.
Sean was born and raised in Rochester, New York and is a Partner at Connors and Ferris, LLP.  Sean graduated from the University of Arizona Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Sean is a graduate of the University Of South Carolina School of Law. While in law school, Sean received the Knox L. Haynsworth, Jr. Scholarship Award for demonstrating excellence in Labor Law. Sean is a member of the New York State Bar Association, The New York State Injured Worker’s Bar Association and the Monroe County Bar Association. Before joining the Connors and Ferris team, Sean spent his entire working career in customer service positions (including beloved Rochester staple Seabreeze Amusement Park). Sean grew up in a blue collar family, as both of his parents worked their way through the ranks of the Rochester printing press industry. 

3:50pm - 4:00pm
Break

4:00pm - 4:50pm
Pending Workers' Compensation Bills at the NYS Legislature
Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson; Lou Dauerer, Esq., Ouimette, Goldstein & Andrews, LLP; Adam Cohen, Esq., Cohen and Siegel PLLC
(1 Areas of Professional Practice Credit)
Panel will review current bills seeking to amend the Workers’ Compensation Law pending before the NYS Legislature and the potential impact they may have on New York’s injured workers.
Harry Bronson was first elected to the New York State Assembly in November 2010. The 138th District includes parts of the City of Rochester and the suburban and rural towns of Henrietta and Chili. Harry’s passion for social justice, equality and fairness has defined his public service, legal and business careers. After earning an undergraduate degree in Public Justice from SUNY Oswego, Harry earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Buffalo. As a partner at the law firm of Blitman and King, he focused on anti-discrimination employment law, labor issues, employee benefits and litigation. As a member of the Assembly Committee on Labor, Harry is a strong advocate for policies that will ensure good pay with benefits and safe workplaces. He helped pass into law a minimum wage increase and paid family leave program which provides 12 weeks of paid leave. As the Chair of the Assembly Standing Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry, Harry oversees economic development and business regulation throughout New York State. Additionally, as the Assembly’s Legislative Liaison to the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council (FLREDC), Harry is directly helping our region’s families obtain good-paying jobs by growing our local economy. As a member of the LGBTQ community, Harry is committed to equality for all people; as a member of the Assembly Committee on Education, Harry will continue to support the success of New York’s students and educators; and as a small-business owner, Harry knows that small businesses are the backbone of our economic engine. Harry is a co-owner of Equal=Grounds, a coffeehouse noted as an inclusive public meeting place and eatery in the South Wedge neighborhood of Rochester.

Louis M. Dauerer began working for Ouimette, Goldstein, & Andrews, LLP in 1990 while still in Law School. His astute legal acumen and diligent work ethic made him a natural fit to remain with the Firm and dedicate his legal his legal career to the advancement of the rights of injured workers. ​Lou is a lifelong Hudson Valley and received his J.D. from St. Johns University School of Law. He sits on the Board of Directors of the New York injured Workers Bar Association (as Past President) and is a founding member and one of the Directors of the New York Workers Compensation Alliance. Lou also serves on the Board of the non-profit Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Memorial, and is an active member of the Knights of Columbus.

Adam S. Cohen is the founder and Managing Partner of Cohen & Siegel. He is a graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where he was a Samuel Belkin Scholar. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the National Organization of Social Security Claimant’s Representatives, the Injured Workers’ Bar Association, the New York Trial Lawyers, and the Westchester Bar Association. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Mount Vernon Boys’ Club and is currently the Vice Chairman of Lawyers for Good Government, a national organization comprised of approximately 125,000 members who focus on human rights, immigration rights, free and fair elections, protecting the environment and gun safety issues. He has been very active helping immigrants seeking asylum in Texas.

Saturday, April 20, 2024

8:00am - 9:00am
Registration and Breakfast

9:00am - 9:50am
The Reports of Genduso’s Death are Greatly Exaggerated!
Dan Bronk, Esq., Bronk & Somers, P.C.
(1 Areas of Professional Practice Credit)
This will be a review of the Genduso decision m, the subsequent appeals in Johnson and Liuni to the NYS Court of Appeals, and the Board’s subsequent application of those decisions.
Dan Bronk is an accomplished attorney with over twenty- six years of trial experience. He has handled thousands of Workers’ Compensation cases since 1992. He has an established record of trial wins in State and Federal courts in New York and Connecticut. He has handled more than eighty trials, including cases involving medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, products liability, fires, construction accidents, car and truck accidents and other negligence claims. He regularly appears at Social Security Hearings on behalf of his clients. Dan enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Stephanie, and their four daughters. He has enjoyed coaching his daughters and their teammates in sports, including hockey and soccer. Dan regularly plays ice hockey and keeps active by participating in mountain biking, home repair, woodworking, boating and water skiing. He also enjoys cooking for his family and friends.

9:50am - 10:00am
Break

10:00am-10:50am
Business Meeting (Members Only)

10:50am - 11:00am
Break

11:00am - 11:50am
Extreme Financial Hardship:  A Review of WCL Section 35 and Practice Tips for Preparing A Successful Application for Your Client
Sanjai Doobay Esq., Grey & Grey, LLP
(1 Skills CLE Credit)
Workers Compensation Law § 35(3) was enacted in 2007 as part of a larger group of statutory reforms. In its opening, The Memorandum in Support of Legislation indicates that such reforms would significantly increase benefits for injured workers who for too long have failed to receive sufficient benefits. This “Safety Net” provision allows for claimants classified permanently partially disabled with a loss of wage earning capacity higher than 75% to receive additional benefits “due to factors reflecting extreme hardship.” But the statute does not define “extreme hardship.” In this presentation, we will review how the Board has defined “extreme hardship” and how that definition has resulted in only a handful of claimants in the state receiving this benefit. We will also review how the Court has treated this Board’s definition. We will review cases where a claimant has received the safety net to identify the common crucial factors that make for a successful C-35 application.
Sanjai Doobay is a graduate of New York University (2008) and Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (2013). He joined the firm in 2013 and practices primarily in the Workers’ Compensation department.

11:50am
Closing

Attendee Information

• This event is being planned as a hybrid event, both in-person in Rochester and virtually on Zoom.
• Registration is the same whether you attend in-person or virtually.
• Agenda subject to change.
• The content of this program is appropriate for experienced attorneys, as well as newly admitted attorneys.
• This continuing legal education program has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the Continuing Legal Education Board.
• Financial aid is available for this program.  Please click here for more information.
• If you register but find yourself unable to attend, you must cancel your registration by no later than noon on Friday, April 12th, or IWBA will be charged and, therefore, must then pass the cost along to you. If you cannot attend, please contact the office to have a substitute individual on your behalf.

Registration Information

Conference Registration Deadline: Friday, April 12, 2024 by noon.

Thank You to our Spring Conference Sponsors!

Click Here to be a FALL 2024 Sponsor!

All registrants are encouraged to register for the Friday Evening WCA Reception with a donation of $100.
Your donations protect the Injured Workers of New York and those that represent them. 

More Information Here