Wisconsin Worker's Compensation Series and Exam ( 3.5 hours)

In five modules you get a comprehensive overview of the Wisconsin Workers Compensation Act including the history of the act and current structure of the Worker's Compensation Division, Conditions of Liability under the Act and benefits at issue. The Basic Benefit Structure includes the following : average weekly wage computation, extent of temporary disability, scheduled and unscheduled permanent impairments, death benefits, medical expense, and penalties.. You will also cover the hearing procedure in Wisconsin, and specific issues in handling claims including case valuation.

Module 1 - Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation Insurance System Overview

Learn the ins and outs of how insurance companies operate in Wisconsin. This module covers the technical aspects of insurance in Wisconsin including how insurance underwriters determine the premium employers pay and what factors drive up the cost of a workers’ compensation insurance policy.

 

Module 2 – Wisconsin Legal System Overview and review of the Conditions of Liability under the WCA

This module gives a brief history of Wisconsin's WCA and the structure of the Worker's Compensation Division. We will then review the conditions of liability, including who are covered employers and employees in addition to specific exclusions. The specifics of what constitute an injury, including medical and legal causation will be explained. Issues of "course of employment" and "arising out the employment" will be explained and distinguished. Causation in traumatic injuries and occupation disease will be defined and analyzed.

Module 3 – Basic Benefit Structure of the WCA

Once the conditions of liability are met, the question of what benefits are paid to the injured worker arises. In this module, the benefit structure will be explained. We will begin with an overview of potential benefits and move the calculation of the average weekly wage, from which indemnity benefits are the derived. We will then discuss the benefits of temporary disability, total and partial permanent disability, disfigurement, death benefits and medical expense. In this process, the distinction between schedule and non schedule permanent disability will be explained, in addition to claims for vocational retraining. Various penalties for safety issues and employment terminations will also be addressed.

Module 4 –Practical Issues in Claim Handling

A variety of practical issues in managing the worker's compensation claim are covered in this module. Issues ranging from statements at the beginning of the investigation through settlement of the claim are discussed. These include proper use of statements, the effect of an employment termination, use of independent medical examinations and proper use of video surveillance. In addition, practical issues of pleadings, settlement concerns and the valuation of a case will be covered.

Module 5 –Update on Worker’s Compensation in Wisconsin annual live Webinar (recorded May 2008)

This live or recorded Webinar provides up-to-the-minute information on new Wisconsin court cases, Wisconsin administrative decisions and legislative changes. You can choose to attend the annual live session or view a recorded version at a more convenient date throughout the year to complete your Wisconsin WCS designation or keep it up-to-date.

 Exam

One exam is included in the Wisconsin Worker's Compensation Series. It consists of 50 questions with a 90 minute time period.

You must first take the Wisconsin Worker's Compensation Series training modules before taking this exam. You will have one attempt to pass this exam.

The pass mark is 70%.

Our Attorney Partner-Joe Danas

Your instructor is Joseph Danas, Jr., a Shareholder with the law firm of Borgelt, Powell, Peterson & Frauen, S.C. He has been concentrating in the defense of worker’s compensation cases since 1984. From 1979 through 1983, he was an Administrative Law Judge with Wisconsin’s Worker’s Compensation Division. He is co-author of the Worker’s Compensation Handbook, (State Bar of Wisconsin CLE Books, 2006) and author of the worker’s compensation chapter of Wisconsin Employment Law (State Bar of Wisconsin CLE Books, 2002). Visit www.borgelt.com for more information.