Commentary

Don’t let your claim turn into a pumpkin because you should have called a lawyer

The decision to file a lawsuit can be tricky. Generally, a person may only file a lawsuit within a limited time period, known as the statute of limitations. If you wait until the last minute, your claim might change from a lawsuit into a pumpkin on its way to the…

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Social Security Disability Claimants Face Long Delays Waiting for Hearings

It takes an average of 23 to 25 months until a Social Security Disability claimant has their hearing. Don’t take our word for it, you can read it on Social Security’s website at https://www.ssa.gov/appeals/DataSets/01_NetStat_Report.html. That’s a long time, and one that neither the claimant nor counsel can control. Worse, the…

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Federal Court Rules That Workers’ Compensation Settlements Apply Only to Workers’ Compensation Matters

On September 11, 2017, in Zuber v. Boscov’s, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that an injured employee does not waive claims to FMLA and other benefits by settling his Pennsylvania workers’ compensation claim and signing a Compromise and Release Agreement (C&R). In Zuber, Boscov’s fired the injured worker…

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Pick a leader, not a law firm that plays follow the leader — and takes credit for the leader’s success

We all remember the childhood game of "Follow the Leader." Some lawyers still play the game, and want to take the credit for the leader's work. The recent Court decision in Protz v. WCAB -- in which Attorney Dan Siegel authored the friend of the court brief for the Pennsylvania Association…

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Oral Argument Matters – Here’s Proof

There are some attorneys and judges who say that oral argument doesn't matter. Today I have proof that it does. On May 10, 2017, I argued the case of Erie Insurance v. Bristol before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. When I filed the petition asking the Court to take the case,…

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Attorney Dan Siegel Named Pa. Workers’ Compensation “Super Lawyer” – Will Anyone Know?

For the 10th consecutive year, Havertown Attorney Daniel J. Siegel has been named a "Super Lawyer" in the area of workers' compensation (representing claimants/injured workers and medical providers). Dan, who is also the author of Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Law: The Basics: A Primer for Lawyers, Workers, Medical Professionals & Others,…

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Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules That Workers’ Compensation Impairment Rating Physicians Are Not Bound by the Injury Described in the Notice of Compensation Payable

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a physician performing an Impairment Rating Evaluation under Section 306(a.2)(1) of the Workers’ Compensation Act, 77 P.S. § 511.2(1) should consider all conditions that the physician believes are related to the work injury when performing an IRE. In the case, Duffey v. Workers’…

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Lawyers & Social Media – Adding Flames to Fires

Ah, social media. Facebook, Yelp, you name it, social media is out there, and lawyers are using – and misusing it. Here are some recent examples that highlight the issues confronting us – and why it is best to recognize the problems up front – so you don’t have to…

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