volume 81 u no. 7 u march 13, 2010

ALSO INSIDE• Tax Court’s Drafting Tips for Transfers

of Partnerships or LLC Interests• Charging Order Protection for a

Single Member LLC• Check Scams That Target Lawyers• Solo and Small Firm Conference

Volume 81 u No. 7 u March 13, 2010

2010 OBA SOLO & SMALL FIRM CONFERENCE

& YLD MIDYEAR MEETING

JUNE 24-26

DOWNSTREAM CASINO RESORT, QUAPAW, OK

FAMILY FRIENDS EDUCATION NETWORKING RELAXATION

www.okbar.org/solo

RENEW. RECHARGE. REVITALIZE

OBA/CLESpring

WebcastsMedicaid Planning 101Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - 2 p.m.1.5 hours total MCLE

Discrepancies between prenuptial agreements and wills or trust agreements

Register at www.okbar.org/cle

Thurgood Marshall’s Coming!Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - 11 a.m.3.5 hours total MCLE, 3.5 hours ethicsThurgood Marshall is one of the giant figures in the history of American jurisprudence. As the passionate and embattled civil rights lawyer who acted as the lead attorney for the plaintiffs in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, KS, he helped win the U.S. Supreme Court decision to legally end racial segregation in the public schools in the United States. The movie portrays Marshall as an old man as he ruminates and relives past trials and victories and uses Marshall’s mastery of language, storytelling and imitation to create a powerful presentation.

Estate Planning & Public Benefit Issues for Family LawWednesday, March 24, 2010 - 3 p.m.4 hours total MCLE, .5 hours ethicsFamily law and estate planning overlap in certain cases. Understanding the effects changes to family dynamics as a result of divorce can also impact estate-planning documents and public benefits. Our experienced faculty willprovide basic estate planning and public benefit guidance family lawyers need to know to best serve their clients.

When it could be in the best interests of a protected person for the conservator to agree to a divorce to protect the spouse’s assets

Handling a death mid-proceeding

Ethical issues for both the estate planning and divorce lawyer

Public Benefits 101 – what programs are available and what rules apply

Best Practices for Record RetentionThursday, March 25, 2010 - 12:30 p.m.1 hour total MCLE, .5 hours ethics

Business Development Techniques to Build Your Law PracticeTuesday, April 6, 2010 - 3:30 p.m.3.5 hours total MCLE, .5 hours ethics

What’s different in the New Economy?

Which practices are thriving?

The four primary sources of new business

Stop “making a pitch” and start interviewing prospective clients

Exercise: Your 30-second commercial Which activities are a waste of time and which ones are worth your time


Vol. 81 — No. 7 — 3/13/2010 The Oklahoma Bar Journal 569

1.

2.

570 The Oklahoma Bar Journal Vol. 81 — No. 7 — 3/13/2010

[email protected]

Serving Oklahoma’s Legal and Accounting Professionals since 1955.

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Plus623 Estate Planning, Probate and Trust

Section Note: Price v. commissioner: Tax Court’s Drafting Tips for Transfers of Partnerships or LLC Interests

By Jon H. Trudgeon

625 Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Section Note: Charging Order Protection for A Single Member LLC May Still Be Illusory

By Steven P. Cole

628 Check Scams That Target Lawyers By Robert T. Luttrell III

633 Solo and Small Firm Conference639 Oklahoma Legislative Report642 Photo Highlights: OBA Day

at the Capitol

DePartments572 From the President

644 From the Executive Director

646 Ethics/Professional Responsibility

648 OBA Board of Governors Actions

651 Oklahoma Bar Foundation News

655 Access to Justice

657 Young Lawyers Division

659 Calendar

661 For Your Information

663 Bench and Bar Briefs

667 In Memoriam

643 Editorial Calendar

672 The Back Page

Features 575 Revisiting the Vortex: The Collision

of the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Act, FMLA and ADA

By Madalene A.B. Witterholt andTynan D. Grayson

585 Major Cause – What Does It Mean? By Judge Tom Leonard

589 Mediation and Workers’ Compensation By Michael G. Coker

595 The Evolution of Workers’ Compensation in Indian Country

By Jay Jones

599 The Eight-Week Soft Tissue Injury TTD Limitation

By James M. Wirth

605 Illegal Aliens, Immigration Policy and Workers’ Compensation

By Pamla K. Cornett

613 Medicare Considerations for the Workers’ Compensation Practitioner

By Valerie J. Evans

619 Pain Management for Work-Related Injuries

By Bob Burke

Theme:Workers’ CompensaTion

Editor: Emily Duensing

contentsMarch13,2010•Vol.81•No.7

pg.628Check Scams That Target Lawyers

pg.633Solo and Small Firm

Conference


between high school groupsstudying, debating and deliv-eringpapersandpresentationsontheAmericansystemofgov-ernment — focusing on thethreebranchesofgovernment,theprovisionsof theConstitu-tionrelatingtoeach,theimpor-tance and reach of the Bill ofRights,andhowallofthesenotonly relate to each other, buthave a direct bearing on thefreedoms, privileges and obli-gationsofallofusascitizens.

A review of the topicsrevealedasophisticationwor-thy of graduate level politicalscience seminars. What wastruly heartwarming was theteenage enthusiasm reflectedby the participants when theawards ceremony was con-ducted. It was gratifying toknow that the future of ourstateandsocietywillbeshort-lyinthehandsofsuchintelli-gent,energeticandprecociousyoung citizens. I might sug-gest that all of us (includingperhapsevenmembersofourstateLegislature)reviewsomeof the materials provided atthat program. We all couldbenefitfromarenewedunder-standingofcivics.

DeleGatIOn attenDs aBa meetInG

In February, the OklahomadelegationtotheAmericanBar

We have all heard or experienced the horrorstories.Pollswhich reflect thata largepercentageofourpopulationbelievesthethreebranchesofgovern-ment are composed of Republicans, Democrats andthe military. High school, or even college-age, stu-dents who can’t put the American Civil War in thecorrectcenturyorwhoareunsurewhethertheAmeri-canCivilWarprecededtheAmericanRevolution.Themost recent example was the OBA Annual Meetingspeakera coupleofyearsagowho related theanec-dote of the well-educated college student who notonlywascluelessaboutthealignmentofthewarringpowersinthesecondWorldWar,butendedherinter-viewwithasking,“Whowon?”

Lastmonth Ihad theprivilegeandopportunity torelieve my anxiety about the concerns addressedabove. I was privileged to give brief remarks at theOBALaw-relatedEducation-sponsoredprogram,“We

thePeople.”Thisprogramwas ledbyJaneMcConnell,ourOBALaw-relatedEducationcoordinator,ablyassistedbyDebra Jenkins. This event last monthwas the culmination of competition

It was gratifying to know that

the future of our state and society will be shortly in the hands of such

intelligent, energetic and precocious young citizens.

continued on page 643

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Students DemonstrateKnowledge of American Government

President Smallwood practices in Tulsa.

[email protected] (918) 582-1993

By Allen Smallwood


tHe OKlaHOma Bar JOurnal isapublicationoftheOklahomaBarAssociation.Allrightsreserved.Copyright©2008OklahomaBarAssociation.Thedesignofthescalesandthe“OklahomaBarAssociation”encirclingthescalesaretrademarksoftheOklahomaBarAssociation.LegalarticlescarriedinTHEOKLAHOMABARJOURNALareselectedbytheBoardofEditors.

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL (ISSN 0030-1655) IS PUBLISHED THREE TIMESA MONTH IN JANUARy, FEBRUARy, MARCH, APRIL, MAy, AUgUST, SEPTEM-BER,OCTOBER,NOVEMBERANDDECEMBERANDBIMONTHLyINJUNEANDJULy.ByTHEOKLAHOMABARASSOCIATION,1901N.LINCOLNBOULEVARD,OKLAHOMACITy,OKLAHOMA73105.PERIODICALSPOSTAgEPAIDATOKLA-HOMACITy,OK.POSTMASTER:SENDADDRESSCHANgESTOTHEOKLAHOMABARASSOCIATION,P.O.BOx53036,OKLAHOMACITy,OK73152-3036.SUBSCRIP-TIONSARE$55PERyEARExCEPTFORLAWSTUDENTSREgISTEREDWITHTHEOKLAHOMABARASSOCIATION,WHOMAySUBSCRIBEFOR$25.ACTIVEMEM-BER SUBSCRIPTIONSARE INCLUDEDASA PORTION OFANNUAL DUES.ANyOPINIONExPRESSEDHEREINISTHATOFTHEAUTHORANDNOTNECESSAR-ILy THAT OF THE OKLAHOMA BARASSOCIATION, OR THE OKLAHOMA BARJOURNALBOARDOFEDITORS.

OFFICers & BOarD OF GOVernOrsAllenM.Smallwood,President,TulsaDeborahReheard,President-Elect,EufaulaMackK.Martin,Vice President,OklahomaCityJonK.Parsley,Immediate Past President,guymonJackL.Brown,TulsaMarthaRuppCarter,TulsaCharlesW.Chesnut,MiamiglennA.Devoll,EnidStevenDobbs,OklahomaCityW.MarkHixson,yukonJerryL.McCombs,IdabelLouAnnMoudy,HenryettaDavidA.Poarch,NormanRylandL.Rivas,ChickashaSusanS.Shields,OklahomaCityJamesT.Stuart,ShawneeMollyAspan,Tulsa,Chairperson,OBA/Young Lawyers Division

Bar Center staFFJohnMorrisWilliams,Executive Director;ginaL.Hendryx,General Counsel;DonitaBournsDouglas,Director of Educational Programs;CarolA.Manning,Director of Communications;CraigD.Combs,Director of Administration;TravisPickens,Ethics Counsel; JimCalloway,Director of Management Assistance Program;BeverlyS.Petry,Administrator MCLE Commission;JaneMcConnell,Coordinator Law-related Education;LoraineDillinderFarabow,DebbieMaddox,TedRossier,Assistant General Counsels;KatherineOgden,Staff Attorney,TommyButler,SharonOrth,DorothyWalosandKrystalWillis, Investigators

NinaAnderson,ManniArzola,DebbieBrink,MelissaBrown,BrendaCard,SharonDotson,MorganEstes,JohnnyMarieFloyd,Mattgayle,SusanHall,BrandonHaynie,SuziHendrix,MistyHill,DebraJenkins,JeffKelton,DurrelLattimore,DeboraLowry,HeidiMcComb,ReneeMontgomery,WandaReece-Murray,TracySanders,MarkSchneidewent,RobbinWatson,LauraWillis&Robertayarbrough

eDItOrIal BOarD

EditorinChief,JohnMorrisWilliams,News&LayoutEditor,CarolA.Manning,Editor,MelissaDeLacerda,Stillwater,AssociateEditors:P.ScottBuhlinger,Bartlesville;DietmarK.Caudle,Lawton;SandeeCoogan,Norman;EmilyDuen-sing,Tulsa;ThomasE.Kennedy,Enid;PandeeRamirez,Okmulgee;JamesT.Stuart,Shawnee;LeslieD.Taylor,OklahomaCity;JanuaryWindrix,Poteau

nOtICeofchangeofaddress(whichmustbeinwritingandsignedbytheOBAmember),undeliverablecopies,ordersforsubscriptionsorads,newsstories,articlesandallmailitemsshouldbesenttotheOklahomaBarAssociation,P.O.Box53036,OklahomaCity,OK73152-3036.

OklahomaBarAssociation(405)416-7000TollFree(800)522-8065FAx(405)416-7001ContinuingLegalEducation(405)416-7006EthicsCounsel(405)416-7055generalCounsel(405)416-7007Law-relatedEducation(405)416-7005LawyersHelpingLawyers(800)364-7886Mgmt.AssistanceProgram(405)416-7008MandatoryCLE(405)416-7009OBJ&Communications(405)416-7004BoardofBarExaminers(405)416-7075OklahomaBarFoundation(405)416-7070

eVents CalenDar

For more events go to www.okbar.org/news/calendar.htm

tHe OKlaHOma Bar JOurnal isapublicationoftheOklahomaBarAssociation.Allrightsreserved.Copyright©2010OklahomaBarAssociation.Thedesignofthescalesandthe“OklahomaBarAssociation”encirclingthescalesaretrademarksoftheOklahomaBarAssociation.LegalarticlescarriedinTHEOKLAHOMABARJOURNALareselectedbytheBoardofEditors.

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL (ISSN 0030-1655) IS PUBLISHED THREE TIMESA MONTH IN JANUARy, FEBRUARy, MARCH, APRIL, MAy, AUgUST, SEPTEM-BER,OCTOBER,NOVEMBERANDDECEMBERANDBIMONTHLyINJUNEANDJULy.ByTHEOKLAHOMABARASSOCIATION,1901N.LINCOLNBOULEVARD,OKLAHOMACITy,OKLAHOMA73105.PERIODICALSPOSTAgEPAIDATOKLA-HOMACITy,OK.POSTMASTER:SENDADDRESSCHANgESTOTHEOKLAHOMABARASSOCIATION,P.O.BOx53036,OKLAHOMACITy,OK73152-3036.SUBSCRIP-TIONSARE$55PERyEARExCEPTFORLAWSTUDENTSREgISTEREDWITHTHEOKLAHOMABARASSOCIATION,WHOMAySUBSCRIBEFOR$25.ACTIVEMEM-BER SUBSCRIPTIONSARE INCLUDEDASA PORTION OFANNUAL DUES.ANyOPINIONExPRESSEDHEREINISTHATOFTHEAUTHORANDNOTNECESSAR-ILy THAT OF THE OKLAHOMA BARASSOCIATION, OR THE OKLAHOMA BARJOURNALBOARDOFEDITORS.

TheOklahomaBarAssociation’sofficialWebsite: www.okbar.org

MARCH 201015 OBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section Meeting;4p.m.;

OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:AndreaBraeutigam(405)640-2819

16 OBA Volunteer Night at OETA;5:45p.m.;OETAStudio,OklahomaCity;Contact:JeffKelton(405)416-7018

17 Oklahoma Council of Administrative Hearing Officials;12p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:CarolynGuthrie(405)271-1269Ext.56212

18 OBA Access to Justice Committee Meeting;10a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:KadeA.McClure(580)248-4675

20 OBA Title Examination Standards Committee Meeting; 9:15a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:KraettliEpperson(405)848-9100

24 OBA Professionalism Committee Meeting;4p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:SharisseO’Carroll(918)584-4192

25 OBA Leadership Academy;8:30a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:HeidiMcComb(405)416-7027

OBA Strategic Planning Committee Meeting;3p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandOSUTulsa;Contact:DeborahAnnReheard(918)689-9281

26 OBA Board of Governors Meeting;Weatherford,Oklahoma;Contact:JohnMorrisWilliams(405)416-7000

OBA Leadership Academy;8:30a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:HeidiMcComb(405)416-7027

27 OBA Young Lawyers Division Meeting;10a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:MollyAspan(918)594-0595

1 OBA Legal Intern Committee Meeting;3:30p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCitywithteleconference;Contact:H.TerrellMonks(405)733-8686

APRIL 2010


Noareaintheworldofemploymentlawhasundergonemoreradicalchangethanthatinvolv-ingthetreatmentofinjuredworkers.Theturnofthe 20th century saw employers begin to takeresponsibility foremployeesafetyand injuries.The turnof the21stcenturysees theemployerbeing responsible for employees even if theycannotdothejobtheywerehiredtodo.Thegoalfor employers is to keep their businesses run-ningwhilenotviolatingtheindividualrightsofinjuredemployeesthatareaffordedbystateandfederallaw.

ThecoverageoftheAmericanswithDisabili-tiesAct (ADA), the Family and Medical LeaveAct(FMLA)andtheOklahomaWorkers’Com-pensationActvaries,butoverlapsinwaysthatmay create a hornet’s nest for employers whomust interpret, reconcileandapply themwith-out violating them.A typical on the job injuryresultinginmedicaltreatmentiscoveredbynotonlytheOklahomaWorkers’CompensationAct,

butalsotheFMLAandbytheADAiftheinjuryresultsinacoveredimpairment.

Theoverlapmaybecomemorepronouncedinlight of the recent amendments to the ADAwhich reject the Supreme Court’s holdings inSutton1 and Toyota.2 Under the amended ADA,thescopeofprotectionaffordedbytheADAismore broad.3 Further, mitigating measures areno longer to be considered when determiningwhetheranimpairment“substantiallylimits”amajor life activity.4,5 As such, more employeeswithon-the-job injuriesorother serioushealthconditions will undoubtedly qualify as “dis-abled”withinthemeaningoftheADA.6

Important to understanding the convergenceof these many tentacledActs is understanding1) the concept of an on the job injury being aserioushealthconditionasdefinedbytheFMLA,2) the concept of maximum medical improve-ment (MMI), and 3) when the serious health

Revisiting the VortexThe Collision of the Oklahoma Workers’

Compensation Act, FMLA and ADABy Madalene A.B. Witterholt and Tynan D. Grayson

Workers’ CompensationLAW

Employers beware, and employees beware. While some callthis the “Information Age,” employment law practitionersknowthatitisalsothe“AgeofEmployeeRights.”Neverin

thehistoryofournationhastheemployeebeenentitledtoexpectsomuchfromtheemployer.Whilenoonewantstoseethereturnof theDickensianmaster-servantmodel, the individual rightsoftheemployeemustbebalancedagainsttheemployer’sneedtorunabusiness.Forthegeneralpractitioner,thisareaofthelawrequiresquiteabitofthoughtbeforeadvisingaclientwhoisabouttofallintothevortexofconvergingstateandfederallaws.


condition/on-the-jobinjurymorphsintoadis-abilityprotectedbytheADA.

While an exhaustive interpretation of theseacts is not within the scope of this article, anattemptismadetocoversomespecificareasofconcernthatmaybeencounteredinthevortexthatexistswheretheselawscollide.7

tHe BasICs

TheFMLAcoversemployerswith50ormoreemployees.8TheADAcoversprivate,stateandlocal government employers with 15 or moreemployees.9 In general, for employers withfewer than 15 employees, only Oklahoma’sworkers’compensationlawsapply.10

The FMLA defines a “serious health condi-tion”as“anillness,injury,impairmentorphys-icalormentalconditionthat involves(a) inpa-tient care in a hospital, hospice, or residentialmedicalcarefacility;or(b)continuingtreatmentby a health care provider.”11 It is quite easy tounderstandthatmostpeopleinjuredonthejobwill qualify for protection under the FMLAumbrellasimplybymeetingthecourseoftreat-mentprongofFMLAprotection.

TheADA,on theotherhand,requires thataperson’s health condition be permanent innature in order to be protected.12 Oftentimes,work-relatedinjuriesresultintemporaryimpair-ments, or impairments that do not create sub-stantial limitations on major life activities. Assuch, many injuries triggering workers’ com-pensationbenefitsmaynotequateto“disabili-ties”triggeringADAprotection.13Moreover,anawardforapercentageofdisabilitythroughtheworkers’ compensation system based on animpairmentratingdoesnotequatetoa“disabil-ity” protected by theADA.As such, the merefactthatanemployeehashadapermanentpar-tialdisability(PPD)award,doesnotmeantheyare“disabled”undertheADA.14

Itisthissortofconfusionthatcouldleadtoan employee erroneously being considered“disabled” even though they are not techni-callydisabledundereventherelaxedrequire-ments of the amended ADA. In effect, theemployee who was not previously protectedbytheADAasaresultoftheirworkers’com-pensation injury could become protectedbecausetheyare“regardedas”havinga“dis-ability.”Employersshouldexercisecautiontoavoidautomaticallyconcludingthatthe“D”inpermanentpartialdisabilityisthesameasthe“D”inADA,thusqualifyinganemployeefor

the reasonable accommodations afforded bytheADA.

It is also important to understand that thefact that an employee is at MMI15 does notmeanheorshewillnotalsorequirecontinuingmedical treatment that will result in futureFMLA protection and/or ADA accommoda-tion in the nature of leave. This will be dis-cussedinmoredetailherein.

Pre-emPlOYment PrOCeDures anD tHe tHree aCts

Prior Workers’ Compensation Claims

The practice of inquiring into a job appli-cant’s prior workers’ compensation claims isperilousandgenerallyprohibited.

UndertheOklahoma’sWorkers’Compen-sationAct(OWA):

[e]xceptasotherwiseprovidedbystateorfederallawandsubjecttotheprovisionsofthissection,anemployermayinquireaboutprevious workers’ compensation claimspaid to an employee while the employeewasemployedbyapreviousemployer. Ifthe employee fails to answer truthfullyaboutanypreviouspermanentpartialdis-abilityawardsmadepursuanttoworkers’compensation claims, the employee shallbesubjecttodischargebytheemployer.16

ThissectionoftheOWAhastheunfortunateresultofgivingemployersafalsesenseofsecu-rityastothelegalityofpre-employmentwork-ers’ compensation checks. The OWA is anti-theticaltotheADAunderwhichanemployermay only make pre-employment inquiriesintotheabilityofanapplicanttoperformjob-relatedfunctions.17TheADArestrictstherightof employers to inquire into an applicant’sclaim history by providing that an employer“shall not conduct a medical examination ormakeinquiriesofajobapplicantastowhethersuchapplicantisanindividualwithadisabilityorastothenatureorseverityofsuchdisabili-ty.”18 Moreover, the regulations implementingtheADA further clarify that inquiries into anapplicant’spriorwork-related injuriesarenotacceptable pre-employment inquiries.19 Assuch,anypracticeinthisregardcannotbejus-tified under the ADA as an inquiry into theability of an applicant to perform job-relatedfunctions.Thisisespeciallyso,sincetheinfor-mationobtainedwouldpertaintoall typesofinjuries and disabilities, not just job-relatedfunctions.Further,onceanemployerpossesses


theunnecessaryknowledgeofanapplicantoremployee’s history of workers’ compensationinjury,howwillitproveitsemploymentdeci-sions were not affected by this knowledge?Proving a negative is one of a lawyer’s mostdifficulttasks.

Drug Testing

Drug testing is not considered a “medicalexamination” under theADA.20 Therefore, anemployermayconductdrugtestsofjobappli-cantstodeterminetheillegaluseofdrugsandmaymakeemploymentdecisionsbasedontheresultsofthetestwithoutviolatingtheADA.21

PursuanttoOklahoma’sStandardsforWork-placeDrugandAlcoholTestingAct(DrugAct),an employer may require job applicants toundergodrugandalcoholtestinguponacon-ditional offer of employment as long as thetesting1)isrequiredofallapplicantsforapar-ticularjobclassification,and2)doesnotviolatetheADA.22Anemployermayusea refusal toundergotestingoraconfirmedpositivetestasabasisforrefusingtohireanapplicant.23

Speaking of drug testing, as a result ofamendmenttotheDrugActin2005,post-acci-dentdrugtestingnolongerrequiresanemploy-er to have a reasonable suspicion that anemployeeisusingdrugsoralcohol.24Employ-erscanarrangefortheiremployeestobeauto-maticallydrugtestedfollowinganyon-the-jobinjuries.However,drugtestingstillrequiresawritten workplace drug policy that is in con-formance with the DrugAct as well as otherstrictrulesofcompliance.25

Physical Exams – Post-Offer/Pre-Employment

UndertheADA,anemployer“mayrequireamedical examination (and/or inquiry) after makinganofferofemploymenttoa jobappli-cant and before the applicant begins his or heremploymentduties,andmayconditionanofferofemploymentontheresultsofsuchexamina-tion(and/orinquiry),ifallenteringemployeesin the same job category are subjected to suchexamination(and/orinquiry)regardlessofdis-ability.”26Theinformationobtainedduringsuchpost-offerpre-employmentphysicalexamsmustnotbeusedforanyreasoninconsistentwiththepurposeoftheADA.27

The medical examination need not be job-relatedorconsistentwithbusinessnecessity.28However, if certaincriteriaareused toscreenout an employee with a disability, the exclu-

sionarycriteriamustbejob-relatedandconsis-tentwithbusinessnecessity.29Further, itmustbe thatperformance of theessential job func-tionscannotbeaccomplishedwithreasonableaccommodation.30

UnderOklahomalaw, informationobtainedinapost-offerpre-employmentphysicalexam-inationcanbeusedasa“baseline”indefend-ingagainstworkers’compensationclaimssub-sequentlyfiledbytheemployee.Forexample,theuseofbaselineaudiometricteststodefendagainstclaimsofwork-inducedhearingloss.

sPeCIFIC return tO WOrK Issues

Light Duty

UnderOklahomaworkers’compensationlaw,anemployerisnotrequiredtomakeworkavail-able to an employee with medical restrictions.UndertheADA(ifanemployeeisatMMIanddisabled), if an employer has light duty workavailable,itmustofferitasareasonableaccom-modationunless itwill cause theemployeranunduehardship.AnemployeecandeclinelightdutyandelectFMLAleave(continuousorinter-mittent).However,ifanemployeerefuseslightduty, they may not be a qualified individualwithadisabilityentitledtoprotectionundertheADAbecausetheyrejectedareasonableaccom-modation. Further, in light of several U.S.Department of Labor opinions, care must betaken in the manner in which employees areurgedtoreturntolightduty.31

From a workers’ compensation perspective,light duty first comes into play when anemployee has not achieved MMI. If a form 3(employee’sfirstnoticeofinjury)has notbeenfiled by the employee and the employer haslight duty work available consistent with theemployee’s restrictions, the employer mayinvite the individual to return to work whilepromptlyterminatingthetemporarytotaldis-ability (TTD) payments. If the employee isresistant to return toa lightdutyassignment,

From a workers’ compensation perspective, light duty first comes into play when an employee has

not achieved MMI.


the employer should then offer to place theemployeeonunpaidFMLAleave.

Ontheotherhand,ifaform3hasbeenfiled,theemployermayneed topetition theWork-ers’ Compensation Court for an order termi-natingTTDpayments if theemployeerefusesto return toa lightdutyassignment.32 Shouldthe employee refuse the light duty offer, theemployermayseektorecover temporarydis-abilitybenefits,viaarequestforTTDoverpay-ment. As the burden to prove the offer wasmade and rejected rests on the employer,employers are urged to make offers of rein-statementtolightdutyinwriting.33

Other Issues: the FMLA and the OWA

Oklahoma’sworkers’compensationlawdoesnotrequireanemployertorehireorretainanyemployeewhoisphysicallyunabletoperformtheir assigned duties.34 Contrarily, under theFMLA an employee is generally entitled to bereturnedto thesamepositiontheyheldbeforetakingFMLAleave,ortoanequivalentpositionwithequivalentpay,andothertermsandcondi-tions of employment.35 Nevertheless, if anemployee is unable to perform the essentialfunctions of a job upon return from FMLAleave, the employer has no duty to return theemployeetothesamejob.36Further,anemploy-ermaydenyreinstatementtoa“keyemployee”ifitisnecessarytopreventsubstantialeconomicinjurytotheoperationoftheemployer.37

Inaddition,anemployermayrefusetorein-state an employee if it can show that theemployee would not otherwise have beenemployed at the time reinstatement wasrequested.38Forexample,anemployeewhoislaidoffduetoreductioninforceorsomeotherlegitimate reason during the course of FMLAleave.39 Employers must be careful to ensurethat a discharge (or refusal to reinstate in thecase of a “key employee”) authorized by theFMLAdoesnotinturnviolateTitle85,section5 of the OWA, which prohibits discharginginjured employees in retaliation for the exer-ciseoftheirrightsundertheOWA(seediscus-sionlaterinthisarticle).40

UndertheADA,anemployerisrequiredtoofferareturningemployeetheirsamepositionunless it would impose an undue hardship.Reassignmentmaybeareasonableaccommo-dation, but an employer is not required to“bump” other employees and the employeemustbequalifiedforthejob.41

Return to Work Certifications – Physical Exams of Current Employees

Upon return to work, the ADA and FMLAallowemployerstorequirefitnessfordutycer-tifications. Under the ADA, certification mustbe job related and consistent with businessnecessity,andmayincludeanassessmentofanemployee’sability toperform job-relatedfunc-tions.42,43 Under the FMLA, an employer mayrequireafitness-for-dutycertificationasacon-dition of restoring an employee whose leavewasoccasionedbytheirownserioushealthcon-dition.44Suchpoliciesmustbeuniformlyappliedtoallemployeesreturningfromleave.45

lImIts On leaVe anD BeneFIt termInatIOn

TheOWAhasapparentinternalinconsisten-cies regarding the limits of leave. On the onehanditcontainsveryspecificlanguageregard-ing leave and benefits set out in Section 5 asfollows:

A. No person, firm, partnership, corpora-tion, or other entity may discharge, or,exceptfornonpaymentofpremium,termi-nate any group health insurance of anyemployee because the employee has ingoodfaith:

1.Filedaclaim;

2. Retained a lawyer for representationregardingaclaim;

3. Instituted or caused to be institutedany proceeding under the provisions ofthistitle;

4. Testified or is about to testify in anyproceeding under the provisions of thistitle;or

5.Electedtoparticipateornottopartici-pate in a certified workplace medicalplan as provided in Section 14 of thistitle.

B. No person, firm, partnership, corpora-tion, or other entity may discharge anyemployee during a period of temporarytotaldisabilitysolelyonthebasisofabsencefromwork.

C. After an employee’s period of tempo-rarytotaldisabilityhasended,noperson,firm, partnership, corporation, or otherentity shallbe required to rehireor retainany employee who is determined to bephysically unable to perform assigned


duties.Thefailureofanemployertorehireor retain any such employee shall in nomanner be deemed a violation of thissection.

D. No person, firm, partnership, corpora-tion or other entity may discharge anemployeeforthepurposeofavoidingpay-mentoftemporarytotaldisabilitybenefitstotheinjuredemployee.46

On the other hand, TTD benefits are onlyallowedforupto156weeksafterwhichtheycanonlybeextendedunderthelimitedcircum-stance of some type of new or consequentialinjury.47However, thestatutedoesnotappeartoestablisha limiton thenumberofweeksaperson can be considered TTD for purposesother thancompensation.Inotherwords,aper-sonmaycontinuetobeclassifiedasTTDevenaftertheyarenolongereligibletobecompen-sated.While thissituation israre in itsoccur-rence,a strict interpretationofTitle85wouldleadonetothisconclusionanddisallowtermi-nation based on absenteeism for during aperiodofunpaidTTD.

In addition, Oklahoma law provides thatstate employees who have sustained a work-relatedinjury,mustbeplacedonleavewithoutpay if theemployeerequests it.48Afterastateemployeehasbeenonleavewithoutpayforaperiod of one year, they may be dischargedfromemployment.49Again,thisfliesinthefaceof theOWA.Assuch, it isrecommendedthatnoemployeewhoisstilloffonleaveduetoanon-the-job injury be terminated without justcause.Nothingintheactprohibitsthetermina-tionofanemployeeoffonleaveasaresultofareduction in force layoff, but the reason forterminationcannotbeabsenteeism.Needlesstosay,thisinconsistencyhasresultedinstrongoppositionandlitigation.50

A question which the Oklahoma SupremeCourthasyet toanswer ishowdoesTitle85,Section5’sprohibitionagainstterminationforabsenteeismasaresultofanon-the-jobinjuryapply when the absenteeism is a result of aninjuryforadifferent employer?TheOklahomaCourtofCivilAppealshasheld that the stat-ute’s prohibition against discharge applies tosuccessoremployersandnotjusttheemployeragainstwhomaclaimwasfiled.51Strictlyinter-pretingthestatute,theCourtofCivilAppealsexplainedthatexemptingsubsequentemploy-ers would allow them to defeat the Legisla-ture’sintentandwoulddiscourageemployees

from exercising their rights.52 Thus, the safestassumption regarding this issue is that anyexerciseofworkers’compensationrights trig-gers the protections of Section 5, and anemployee’s position and benefits should beguardedaccordingly.

UndertheADA,leavemayberequiredasareasonableaccommodationsolongasitisnotanunduehardship.53Assuch,leavebeyondthe12 weeks required under the FMLA may berequired.Theissuewouldthereforebethecon-tinuationofhealthinsuranceeligibility.

The FMLA provides for up to 12 weeks ofleaveduringany12-monthperiodbecauseofaserioushealthconditionthatmakestheemploy-eeunabletoperformthefunctionsof the job.54MLAleavecanrunconcurrentlywithworkers’compensation leave if an employer providesnotice to theemployee.55Careshouldbe takenthatallpropernoticefortheFMLAcharacterofthe leave should be given to employees. Thisincludesnoticeoftherequirementforthepay-

ment of insurance premiums, at the same rateemployees were paying them while activelyworking,mustbegiven.56Oncethe12weeksiscompleted, the employer can terminate thehealthinsurancebenefitsofanemployeeoffonworkers’ compensation leave assuming theemployer treats all employees the same, i.e. itdoes not allow employees to extend benefitsover the 12 weeks for any other reason. If anemployeefailstomakehisorherpremiumpay-mentswhileon leave, then thebenefitscanbeterminatedifcertainconditionsaremet.57Again,employersarecautionedtotreatallemployeesthesameinthissituationsoasnottorunafoulofSection5of theOWA.Aconservative inter-

Under the ADA, unpaid medical leave is a reasonable accommodation and must be

provided unless it imposes an undue hardship on the operation of the

employer’s business.


pretationofTitle85,Section5shouldallowfortermination of health insurance benefits if allsimilarly situated employees who are off formorethan12weeksofleave,regardlessofrea-son,havetheirbenefitsterminated.58

IntermIttent Or reDuCeD leaVe

AnemployeemaytakeFMLAleaveintermit-tentlyifitismedicallynecessary.59Theemployeris required to maintain the employee’s healthinsurance at the same level as before the leavewastaken.60Theemployercantemporarilytrans-fertheemployeetoanotherposition,solongasthepayandbenefitsareequivalentandthenewpositionbetteraccommodatesrecurringperiodsof leave.61At the end of intermittent leave, theemployeeisentitledtoreinstatementintoasub-stantiallyequivalentposition.62TTDmayalsobeavailable if the employee is at MMI. Thus, anemployee who has returned to work after amedical leave related to an on-the-job injury,mayneedadditionaltimeoffforadditionalpro-cedures.DependingontheamountofTTDusedandwhethertheircaseisstillopen(orare-openisappropriate inapost-adjudicationsituation),TTDbenefitsmaybereinstated.63

Under theADA, intermittent leave or part-time employment may serve as a reasonableaccommodation.64Anemployermayalsotrans-fer an employee to a new position if it canshow that keeping the employee in their cur-rentpositionduringtheperiodofintermittentleave would impose an undue hardship. TheADAdoesnotrequirethatthepayandbenefitsin the new position be equivalent. So, anemployermaytransferanemployeetoalowerpayingpositionif1)noaccommodationintheemployee’scurrentpositionwithoutanunduehardship,and2)thereisnovacantpositionforwhich the employee qualifies with equal payandbenefits.

Under theADA, unpaid medical leave is areasonable accommodation and must be pro-videdunlessitimposesanunduehardshipontheoperationoftheemployer’sbusiness.65

ultImate return tO WOrK aCCOm-mODatIOns FOr DIsaBleD WOrKers

TheADAdefines“disability”as

•a physical or mental impairment thatsubstantially limits one or more majorlifeactivitiesofsuchindividual;

•arecordofsuchanimpairment;or

•being regarded as having such impair-ment.

The Supreme Court’s decision in Toyota nar-rowedthescopeofprotectionaffordedbytheADAbystrictlyinterpretingtheterm“substan-tially limits” to require a greater degree oflimitation in ability to perform a major lifeactivity.67,68Inaddition,inSuttonSupremeCourtheldthatwhetheranimpairmentsubstantiallylimitsamajorlifeactivityistobedeterminedwith reference to ameliorative effects of miti-gatingmeasuressuchasbloodpressuremedi-cationandeyeglasses.69

TheSuttonandToyotadecisionswerespecifi-callyrejectedbyCongressintheADAAmend-ments Act (ADAAA), which went into effectJan.1,2009.70TheserecentchangestotheADAmakeiteasierforanindividualseekingprotec-tionundertheADAtoestablishthattheyhaveadisabilitywithinthemeaningoftheADA.Assuch,anindividualwithawork-relatedinjuryor serious health condition may be coveredundertheADA,FMLAandOWA.

Reasonable Accommodation of Disabilities

“Disabilities” within the meaning of theADAmustbereasonablyaccommodatedbyanemployer,unless theemployer can show thattheaccommodationwouldimposean“unduehardship”71ontheoperationofitsbusiness.72,73Among the reasonable accommodations thatanemployermayhavetoprovideare:1)mak-ingexistingfacilitiesusedbyemployeesread-ilyaccessible;2)jobrestructuring;3)part-timeor modified work schedules; 4) reassignmenttoavacantposition;5)acquisitionormodifica-tion of equipment or devices; 6) appropriatechanges to exams, training materials or poli-cies; 7) the provision of qualified readers orinterpreters;8)permittingtheuseofleave;and9)othersimilaraccommodations.74

An employer is not required to provide anaccommodation that is primarily for the per-sonal benefit of the disabled individual.75 Assuch,onlyjob-relatedadjustmentsormodifica-tions(specificallythosethathelptheemployeeperform the job in question) are required.76

Thus, an employer is not required to provideitems suchasaprosthetic limb,awheelchair,eyeglasses, hearing aids or similar devices iftheyarealsoneededoffthejob.77Nevertheless,itemsthatmightotherwisebeconsideredper-sonalmayberequiredasareasonableaccom-modation if they are specifically designed orrequired to meet job-related rather than per-


sonalneeds.78Forexample,eyeglassesspecifi-callydesigned tohelpanemployee seeofficecomputermonitors,butnototherwiseneededbytheindividualoutsideoftheoffice.79How-ever, this isnot thecaseundertheOWA.Theobligation of an employer to provide voca-tional retraining, eye glasses, hearing aids,prosthesis,specialvehiclesandthelikeisafactquestion for theworkers’ compensationcourtandisnotanuncommoneventinthelifeofaworkers’compensationcase.80

An employer cannot force an employee toaccept an accommodation.81 However, anemployee’s refusal to accept an accommoda-tionthatresultsintheirinabilitytoperformtheessentialfunctionsofthejob,prohibitsconsid-erationoftheemployeeasaqualifiedindivid-ual with a disability.82 At this point, if anemployeerefusestoacceptanaccommodationandreturntowork,thenterminationwouldbeacceptableundertheADA.Cautioninmakingsuchaterminationdecisionshouldbemadeastoensurethatalloffersofaccommodationarereasonable and supported by independentmedicaladvice.TerminationatthispointmaysubjectanemployertoexposureforretaliatorydischargeunderTitle85,Section5.

reInstate Or termInate: tHe serIOus Harm DeFense

Sometimes employers donot want to return anemployee to work after aserious on-the-job injury.Thisisbecauseofthepoten-tial (real or perceived) offutureinjurytotheemploy-ee.Inmakingthistypeofabolddecision,carefulatten-tion should be paid to theADA and the concept ofserious harm. The EEOCprovides, in its concept ofthe “direct threat,” an ave-nue for evaluating such asituation.83TheEEOCadvis-es that an employee neednotbereturnedtotheirpre-vious job if their continuedemployment would cause a direct threat ofserious harm to their health or the health ofothers.84“Directthreat”meansasignificantriskof substantial harm to the health or safety ofthe individual or others that cannot be elimi-nated or reduced by reasonable accommoda-tion.Determiningwhetheradirectthreatexists

involvesafact-intensive,individualizedinqui-rytakingintoaccountthespecificcircumstanc-es of the employee involved. Regardless ofwhetherornotanemployeeisdisabledunderthe ADA, consideration of this potentialitymust be made because the ADA protects notonly the disabled but those persons who areperceived as disabled or who have a history ofdisability.Ifanemployercanprovethereturnto work of any employee will result in a sig-nificantriskofharmthentheemployeemaybeterminatedifnootheropenpositionexists.85

In determining whether continued employ-ment of a person poses a “direct threat,” theEEOCsuggestsconsiderationofthefollowingfactors:

•thedurationoftherisk

•thenatureandseverityof thepotentialharm:

•the likelihood that the potential harmwilloccur;and

•theimminenceofthepotentialharm.

Whilethesefactorsmayatfirstglanceappearduplicative, they can best be understood byreviewingtheexamplesinthepre-amendmentADAguidance.TheEEOCsuggestsontheonehand,atypistwhobrokeherwristwhilepick-

ingupaboxwhoisreturnedtoworkwithoutrestriction,isprobably not going to beinjured going back to typingbecausethatsortofworkwasnot what caused her injurynor is there any support forthenotionthatabrokenwristis more susceptible to thedreaded carpel tunnel syn-drome.Contrastthiswiththeexample of a maintenanceworkerwhohassuchasevereankle injury that walking onconcrete — as is required byher job — will cause theemployeetohaveimmediate,severe,permanentdamagetoher ankles. In a nutshell, the

second employee meets all of the criteria (i.e.the harm is very likely to occur, it will beimmediate,permanentandsevere).Asaprac-ticalconsideration,andwiththepotentialityoflitigationalwaysafactor,thistypeofanalysisshouldbedoneinconjunctionwithamedicalopinion.Employersshouldnotdecidewhether


an employee is going to suffer irreparableharm.Rather,awell-credentialedandinformedmedicalpractitionershouldbeconsulted.Thiswillnotresultinacompletedefensetoawrongdecision.InanotherinterestingtwistundertheADA,theemployermaystillberesponsibleforawrongdecisioneveniftheemployeringoodfaithbaseditsdecisionnottoreturnanemploy-ee to their previous job based on legitimatemedicaladvice.86

tHe POInt OF It all

Dissecting the animal created by the mar-riage of the ADA, FMLA and Oklahoma’sworkers’ compensation laws can be problem-atic, but it can be done successfully (withoutincurring legal liability) if one proceeds withcaution.Evaluateeachsituationbystartingatthebeginning;lookingattheon-the-jobinjury;understanding the employee’s TTD status;knowing when the employee is at MMI; andlookingat the impactof theFMLA, theOWAandtheADAontheproposedcourseofaction.This timeline examination of a case will notonly help take the crackers out this alphabetsoup,but itwill affordapractitioner thebestchanceofgiving“A”advicewhileminimizingthe chances of an employer’s actions beingawardeda“D”fromareviewingcourt.

1.Sutton v. United Air Lines Inc.,527U.S.471(1999).InSuttontheSupremeCourtdeterminedthatmitigatingmeasuresweretobecon-sidered when determining whether an impairment “substantiallylimits”amajorlifeactivity.

2. Toyota Motor Mfg., Ky. Inc. v. Williams, 534 U.S. 184 (2002). InToyota the Supreme Court determined that the term “substantiallylimits”shouldbestrictlyinterpretedwhichcreatedademandingstan-dardforqualifyingasdisabled.

3. 42U.S.C.§12102;ADAAmendmentsActof2008,Pub.L. 110-325,§2.

4.Nevertheless,theameliorativeeffectsofthemitigatingmeasuresof ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses shall continue to be consid-ered.42U.S.C.§12102(4)(E)(ii).

5.42U.S.C.§12102(4)(E);ADAAmendmentsActof2008,Pub.L.110-325,§2.

6.See42U.S.C.§12101.7.Forpurposesof thisarticle the reader shouldassume that the

injuredworker’sclaimhasbeenacceptedbytheemployerandthattheinjuryrequires,ataminimum,acourseofroutinemedicaltreatmentasdefinedbytheFMLA.

8.29U.S.C.§2611(4).9.42U.S.C.§12111(5)(A).10. Oklahoma’s Worker’s Compensation Act exempts certain

employersandspecificallyexcludescertainemployees.Theseexemp-tionsandexclusionsarefoundinsections2.1and2.6ofTitle40.Okla.Stat.tit.40,§§2.1,2.6.

11.29U.S.C.2611(11).12.EEOC’sNoticeofProposedRulemakingtoImplementtheADA

AmendmentsActof2008,74Fed.Reg.48,431,48,448(Sept.23,2009)(tobecodifiedat29C.F.R.pt.1630.2(j)).However,impairmentsthatareepisodic or in remission are disabilities if they would substantiallylimit a major life activity when active. 42 U.S.C. §12102(4)(D). Forexample,epilepsy,multiplesclerosis,bipolardisorder.EEOC’sNoticeofProposedRulemakingtoImplementtheADAAmendmentsActof2008,74Fed.Reg.48,431,48,447(Sept.23,2009)(tobecodifiedat29C.F.R.pt.1630.2(j)).

13.EEOC’sNoticeofProposedRulemakingtoImplementtheADAAmendmentsActof2008,74Fed.Reg.48,431,48,448(Sept.23,2009)(tobecodifiedat29C.F.R.pt.1630.2(j)).

14.See Baffoe v. W.H. Stewart Co.,211F.3d1277,*4(10thCir.2000).15. MMI means “that no further material improvement would

reasonably be expected from medical treatment or the passage oftime.”Okla.Stat.tit.85,§3.

16.Okla.Stat.tit.85,§110.17.42U.S.C.§12112(d)(2).18.42U.S.C.§12112(d)(2).19.29C.F.R.§1630.13–1630.14.20.29C.F.R.§1630.16(b).21.29C.F.R.§1630.16(b).22.Okla.Stat.tit.40,§§553-554.23.Okla.Stat.tit.40,§554.24.Okla.Stat.tit.40,§554(3).25.Okla.Stat.tit.40,§555.26.29C.F.R.§1630.14(emphasisadded).27.29C.F.R.1630.14(b)(2).28.29C.F.R.§1630.14(b)(3).29.Id.30.Id.31.U.S.Dept.ofLabor,FMLAOpinionLetter,No.FMLA-75,1995

WL1036746(Nov.14,1995);U.S.Dept.ofLabor,FMLAOpinionLetter,No. FMLA-35, 1994 WL 1016743 (Apr. 19, 1994); U.S. Dept. of labor,FMLAOpinionLetter,No.FMLA-17,1993WL939406(Nov.15,1993).

32.Okla.Stat.tit.85,Appx.Rule15.33.Wal-Mart Stores Inc. v. Berg,99P.3d.1205(Okla.Civ.App.2004);

see also Cummings v. Armin Plastics,5P.3d1099(Okla.Civ.App.2000)34.Okla.Stat.tit.85,§5(C).35.29C.F.R.§825.214.36.29C.F.R.§825.116(c).37.29C.F.R.§§825.216(b),825.217(c);29U.S.C.§2614(b).38.29C.F.R.§825.216(a).39.29C.F.R.§825.216(a).40.SeeOkla.Stat.tit.85,§5.41.See42U.S.C.§12111(8).42. An employer may also conduct voluntary medical examina-

tionsandactivities, includingvoluntarymedicalhistories,whicharepartofanemployeehealthprogramthatisavailabletoanemployee.29C.F.R.§1630.14(d).

43.29C.F.R.§1630.14(c).44.29C.F.R.§825.312(a).45.29C.F.R.§825.312(a).46.Okla.Stat.tit.85,§5.47.Okla.Stat.tit.85,§22.Interestingly,prisonerslosetheirrightsto

TTD benefits in most circumstances. Okla. Stat. tit. 85, §22(13) (“Anyemployeeconvictedofamisdemeanororfelonyandsentencedtoatermofincarcerationofatleastninety(90)daysinthisstateorinanyotherjurisdictionshallhaveallbenefitsfortemporarytotaldisabilityawardedbytheWorkers’CompensationCourtforfeitedbyorderoftheCourtonmotionoftheemployerortheemployer’sinsurerafterconfirmationoftheemployee’sincarceration.TheCourtalsomayordertheforfeitureofsuchbenefitsonitsownmotionuponreceiptofnoticefromtheDirectoroftheDepartmentofCorrectionsthatthepersonawardedthebenefitsisincarceratedasaninmateinafacilityoperatedbyorundercontractwith the Department. The provisions of this subparagraph shall notapply to any benefits awarded to an inmate for compensable injuriessustained by the inmate while in the employ of a private for-profitemployerorwhileemployed inprivateprison industries, involvingafor-profit employer, which deal in interstate commerce or which sellproductsorservicestothefederalgovernment.”)

48.Okla.Stat.tit.74,§840-2.21(A).49.Okla.Stat.tit.74,§840-2.21(D);Glasco v. State ex rel. Okla. Dept.

Corrections,188P.3d177(Okla.2008).50.Glasco,188P.3d177.¶51.Taylor v. Cache Creek Nursing Ctrs.,891P.2d607,610(Okla.Civ.

App.1994).52.Id.53.29C.F.R.AppendixtoPart1630(commentaryon§1630.9).54.29U.S.C.§2312(a)(1)(E).55.29C.F.R.§825.702(d)(2).56.29C.F.R.§825.300.57.29C.F.R.§825.212.58.Theauthorsareunabletolocateanycaselawstrictlyonpoint,

butthelessonslearnedfromthoseavailablecasesinconjunctionwiththeFMLA,makethisareasonableconclusion.

59.29U.S.C.§§2611(9),2612(b)(1).60.29U.S.C.§2614(c).61.29U.S.C.§2612(b)(2).62.29U.S.C.§2614(a).


63.Okla.Stat.tit.85,§28.64.42U.S.C.§12111(9).65.29C.F.R.AppendixtoPart1630(commentaryon§1630.9).66.42U.S.C.§12102(1).67.Toyota,534U.S.184.68.ADAAmendmentsActof2008,Pub.L.110-325,§269.Sutton,527U.S.471.70.ADAAmendmentsActof2008,Pub.L.110-325.71.An “undue hardship” is an action requiring significant diffi-

cultyorexpense,whenconsideredinlightofcertainfactorsincludingthenatureandcostoftheaccommodation,andthefinancialresourcesoftheemployer.42U.S.C.§12111(10).

72.An employer is not required to provide a reasonable accom-modation for an individual who is only “regarded as” disabled. 42U.S.C.§12201(h).

73.42U.S.C.§12112(b)(5)(A).74.42U.S.C.§12111(9);29C.F.R.AppendixtoPart1630(commen-

taryon§1630.2(o)).75.29C.F.R.AppendixtoPart1630(commentaryon§1630.9).76. Id. (“if an adjustment or modification assists the individual

throughout his or her daily activities, on and off the job, it will beconsidered a personal item that the employer is not required toprovide”).

77.Id.78.Id.79.Id.80.Forexample,seeOkla.Stat.tit.85,§§15-16.81.42U.S.C.§12201(d);29C.F.R.§825.702(d)(1).82.29C.F.R.§1630.9(d);29C.F.R.§825.702(d)(1).83. EEOC guidance on Workers’ Compensation and the ADA,

EEOCNoticeNo.915.002(July6,2000).84. Id.85. Id. (The ADA guidance suggests that if the return of the

employeetotheirpositionwillcauseirreparableharm,theemployermust look for another position to transfer the employee into. A jobneednotbecreated,butallreasonableeffortsshouldbemadetokeeptheemployeeemployed.Thispushestheemployerbeyondtheusualboundsofaccommodation.)

86. Id.

Madalene A.B. Witterholt serves as a director for Crowe & Dunlevy. This distinguished TU alum (B.A. 1980; J.D. 1983) serves in the corporation’s Tulsa offices, practicing in labor and employment, litigation and trial, and worker’s compensation law. Before working for Crowe & Dunlevy, she worked as a law

clerk to Judge James O. Ellison, judge of the U.S. District Court, Northern District.

Tynan Grayson is an attorney with Crowe & Dunlevy. Her practice focuses on labor and employment litigation. She graduated magna cum laude from OCU School of Law in 2005, and was voted most likely to suc-ceed by OCU faculty. Prior to joining Crowe & Dunlevy, she served as law clerk to Judge Vicki

Miles-LaGrange, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma.

AbOuT THE AuTHORS

Print or Electronic?You now have a choice.Continue receiving your printed Oklahoma Bar Journal court issues (two per month) in the mail – or receive an e-mail with a link to the electronic version instead. Mailed copies stop. There’s no dues reduction, but you save some trees. If you want the electronic version of the court issues and didn’t indicate that on your dues statement go online to http://my.okbar.org/Login and sign in. Click on “Roster Info” to switch to electronic. Be sure your e-mail address is current.

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Volume 78 u No. 35 u Dec. 22, 2007

Court Material


Oklahomalawhasalwayslimitedworkplaceinjuriestothosearisingoutofandinthecourseofemployment.However,the2005amendmentsto the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Actchangedthedefinitionof“injury”to“compen-sableinjury”andlimitedrecoveryofbenefitstothoseemploymentsthatarethe“majorcause”oftheinjuryorillness.2Hastheamendmentcreat-ed a new element of proof that substantiallychangestheevaluationofcompensability,orisitthesameelement innewclothing? It isanele-ment of medical causation, but what does itmean?

According to the act, “major cause” is the“predominate cause” of the resulting injury orillness.Thisdescription isnothelpful.Aquickcheckofthethesaurusrevealsthatmajormeanspredominantandpredominantisasynonymfor

major.3Thedefinition could just as easilyhavestated“themajorcauseisthemajorcause.”Try-ingtocraftaworkabledefinitionbythis tradi-tionalmeansisfruitless,sowemustturntoset-tled workers’ compensation law to look foranalogoustheories.

The Oklahoma Legislature’s decision to usethe term“majorcause”suggests it intended tomake a comparison between a worker’s work-related trauma or exposure and the worker’sotherphysicalconditionsoractivitiesthatmayhave contributed to his or her current injury.Many times, this issueariseswhen theworkerhasapre-existingcondition that isdormantoractive,suchasdegenerative jointdisease.Doesthe injury and the resulting need for medicaltreatmentarisefromthepre-existingdiseaseorfromtheworkplacetrauma?

Major Cause – What Does It Mean?

By Judge Tom Leonard

“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less.”

LewisCarroll, Through the Looking Glass

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.”Jean-BaptisteAlphonseKarr


Fiveyearsafterenactmentofthe2005reforms,westilldon’tknow what the Legislature meant by the term “majorcause.”TheOklahomaSupremeCourthasnotaddressed

theissue,andtheonlypublishedcasefromtheCourtofCivilAppealsdoesnotaddresstheterm’sunderlyingmeaning.1Oneapproachtoanalyzingmajorcauseiscomparingthenewtermto the existing concepts that set causation boundaries for thecompensabilityofaninjury.


Theactprovides thatwork-erswithpreviousdisabilityorimpairmentarenotprecludedfromreceivingbenefits.Aggra-vationinjurieshavelongbeenheld compensable. With onlyminor changes the statuteallowing compensability hasremained in effect since theact’sinceptionin1915.4

Consequential injuries ariseafter the initial injury-dealingtrauma.Theyarecompensableonly if there isacausalnexusbetween an event that occursafterawork-relatedinjuryanda subsequent injury or deathwithoutbreaking thechainofcausation.5

Sinceaggravationinjuriesandconsequentialinjuries are both linked to the medical causa-tionissue,reviewoftheevaluationmethodforthesetwotypesofinjurymayleadustowork-ablecriteriaformajorcause.

aGGraVatIOn InJurIes

In Oklahoma, a worker’s disability is com-pensablewhenapre-existing,dormantphysi-calconditionorpredispositionisaggravatedoracceleratedbyinjury.6Benefitsarenot limitedto perfectly healthy workers even when evi-denceindicatestheworkermaybedisabledbydisease in the future even though accidentalinjuryhadnotoccurred.7

Stiles v. Oklahoma Tax Commission8involvedaclaimthatstressandtensioncausedtheclaim-ant’s rheumatoid arthritis to flare up. TheSupremeCourt reversed a three-judgepanel’sorderdenyingcompensationforaggravationofthepre-existingarthritisandheld:“Itisagen-eral rule in Workers’ Compensation Law thatanemployertakesanemployeeashefindshim.Thatis,ifanemployeehasapredispositiontobesensitivetostressfulsituations,theemployercannotavoidliabilitywhenthestressesimposedbytheemploymentsituationresultindisabilityonthepartoftheemployee.”

Aclaimforheartdiseasewasfoundcompen-sableinRefrigerated Transport Inc. v. Creek.9Theclaimant had a prior history of heart disease,andemployerarguedthatundertheSupremeCourt’spriorrulingintheHaynes v. Pryor High School10claimanthadtoproveachangeinheartpathology. The Supreme Court held that the

claimwascompensableasanaggravation injury becausethe change in heart patho-logy mandated by Haynes“antedate[d] the accidentwhichconsistsofatraumaticaggravation.”11

In his concurring opinion,JusticeOpalapointedoutthedistinction between caseswithanewinjury(changeofpathology) and aggravationinjuries. When there is nounderlying pathology, theremustbeproofofsomeinter-nal failure or harm precipi-tated by work-trauma orexposure.Wheretheaccidentconsists “of pre-existing and

known pathology being accelerated oradvanced,” it is sufficient that the medicalproof“attributesan‘extension’orenlargementof theold,knownanddescribedcondition totheprovedeffortsofon-the-joblabor.”

InDempsey v. Ballard Nursing Center12 claim-antassertedthatshewasinjuredwhileliftingpatients.Atthetimeofherinjuryclaimanthada pre-existing spondylolisthesis in her back.Denialofherclaimbythetrialcourtwasbasedon employer’s medical evidence stating thathersurgerywasduetopre-existingspondylo-listhesisandnottheincidentsoccurringontheinjury date. Judge John F. Reif (now JusticeReif) summarized the extant law of aggrava-tioninjuriesandthenfoundthefollowing:

“Theproblemwiththisopinion[fromemploy-er’smedicalreport] isthatitessentiallysaysclaimant needs surgery for the effects of thespondylolisthesis, and the injury of July 12,2002,didnotcausethespondylolisthesis.ThequestionwhichthedoctordidnotaddressiswhethertheinjuryofJuly12,2002,aggravat-ed the spondylolisthesis so that it requiressurgerynow,asopposedtosurgerybeingthegeneral medical treatment that would haveeventuallybeenneededtocorrectthiscondi-tion.”(Emphasisinoriginal.)

COnseQuentIal InJurIes

Consequential injuriesoccurafter the initialcompensable accident. Therefore the two-prongedtestofarisingoutofandinthecourseofhasbeensatisfied,andadifferentstandardisapplied todeterminecompensabilityof thepost-accidentinjury.AseriesofthreeSupreme

In Oklahoma, a worker’s disability iscompensable when

a pre-existing, dormant physical condition or

predisposition is aggravated or

accelerated by injury.


Courtcasesdelineatetheruleforassessingthecompensabilityoftheseinjuries.

Matter of the Death of Stroer13involvedawork-erwhobecamedespondentafteranunsuccess-ful surgery to his shoulder. His subsequentsuicidewas foundcompensableandaffirmedonappeal.TheSupremeCourtheld“[t]heactofsuicideisnotaninterveningcauseofdeathand the chain of causation is not broken incases where the incontrovertible evidencereflects that, but for the injury, there wouldhavebeennosuicide.”

InBostick Tank Truck Service v. Nix,14thework-ersufferedacompensableheartattack.Elevenyearslaterwhileundergoingimplantationofatemporarypacemaker,hisheartbegantofibril-late and he died. The widow’s death benefitsawardwasupheld,because“themedicalproofshows that, but for theprioron-the-jobheartattack, fibrillation would not have occurred.”Further,thecourtfoundtheemployerisliablefor“all legitimateconsequencesofacompen-sableinjury.”

Matter of the Death of Gray15involvedaworkerwhoherniatedadiscinhislumbarspine.Pre-surgical testing of his 20-year-old pacemakerresulted in a recommendation to modify itbeforethebacksurgery.graydiedwhileunder-going the pacemaker surgery. After the trialcourtdeniedthewidow’sdeathbenefitsclaim,the Supreme Court reversed and held: “theemployee had never suffered any significantproblems with his pacemaker; the need tocheckthepacemakerandremoveandreplaceitappearedonlyafterthedisablingbackinjuryandbecauseofthebackinjury;andthereplace-mentofthepacemakerwasanecessaryprecur-sor to the operation for the back injury andwouldnothaveoccurredbut fortheinjury.”

COnClusIOn

Major cause requires claimants to prove amedical connection between the trauma andtheclaimedinjury.While theLegislaturemayhave intended it to be something new, it is acodification of old, well-established conceptsfor evaluating medical causation.A workabletest for determining whether employment isthemajorcauseoftheinjuryistheoneusedinpre-2005reformcasestoevaluateaggravationof a pre-existing condition. The major causequestion is another way of asking “has there

beenanaggravationofapre-existingconditionthatnecessitatesmedicaltreatmentnow?”

1.InthecaseofIrisndt Inc. v. Brock,2008OKCIVAPP5,176P.3d370,Brockhadapre-existinginjurytohisrightkneeresultingintwosurgeriesanddegenerativearthritiswithbone-to-bonecontact.WhenBrockthentwistedhisbadkneeatwork,thepartiesagreedtoafinal,unappealed order of compensability. Six months later the treatingphysician recommended a total knee replacement. Employer arguedthattheBrock’semploymentwasnotthemajorcauseofhisneedformedicaltreatment(TKR).Thetrialjudgeauthorizedthesurgery,andtheemployerappealed.TheCOCAaffirmedholdingthatmajorcauseisanelementofcompensability,butnot“oftheneedforaparticularcourseoftreatmentforacompensableinjury.”

2.85O.S.Supp.2003§3,Definitions,provided:12. a. “Injury” or “personal injury” means only accidentalinjuriesarisingoutofandinthecourseofemploymentandsuch disease or infection as may naturally result therefromandoccupationaldiseasearisingoutofandin thecourseofemploymentashereindefined.Onlyinjurieshavingastheirsourcearisknotpurelypersonalbutonethatiscausallycon-nectedwiththeconditionsofemploymentshallbedeemedtoariseoutoftheemployment.

85O.S.Supp.2005§3provides,inpertinentpart:13.a.“Compensableinjury”meansanyinjuryoroccupationalillness, causing internal or external harm to the body, whicharisesoutofandinthecourseofemploymentifsuchemploy-mentwasthemajorcauseofthespecificinjuryorillness.***16.“Majorcause”meansthepredominatecauseoftheresult-inginjuryorillness.

3. Thesaurus.com. Inexplicably the drafters of the legislation used“predominate,”theoutdatedversionof“predominant.”Themodernversionwillbeusedthroughouttherestofthisarticle.

4.85O.S.§22(7);“Whereanaccidentalpersonalinjury,arisingoutof and in the course of employment and within the terms of theWorkmen’sCompensationAct,aggravatesandlightsupapre-existingphysical condition, the injured employee is, nevertheless, entitled tocompensation therefor.”Patrick & Tillman Drilling Co. v. Gentry, 1932OK241,9P.2d921.

5.Matter of the Death of Stroer,1983OK94,672P.2d1158;Matter of the Death of Gray,2004OK63,100P.3d691;Bostick Tank Truck Service v. Nix,1988OK128,764P.2d1344.

6.Refrigerated Transport Inc. v. Creek,1979OK11,590P.2d197.7.Halliburton Services v. Alexander,1976OK16,547P.2d958.8.1987OK85,752P.2d800.9.1979OK11,590P.2d197.10.1977OK1,[email protected],84P.3d1071.13.1983OK94,672P.2d1158.14.1988OK128,764P.2d1344.15.2004OK63,100P.3d691.

Judge Tom Leonard graduated from OSU and the OU College of Law. Since 2004 he has served as one of 10 judges at the Okla-homa Workers’ Compensation Court. He is author of the Web site “Oklahoma Workers’ Com-pensation” at www.workerscom pensationok.com. LexisNexis selected his blog, “Judge Tom

Talks,” at www.judgetom.blogspot.com, as one of the Top 25 in 2009 for workers’ compensation.

AbOuT THE AuTHOR


HIstOrICal COnteXt

Traditionally mediation has seen little use intheworkers’compensationarena.Aslateasthe1970s, the State Industrial Commission offeredrapidremediestotheinjuredemployeethroughquick,simplehearings.Disabilitybenefitswerelow.Permanentandtotaldisabilitywascappedat $25,000. Medical costs were limited. x-raysweretheprimarydiagnostictooloftheday,andsurgeries were rare. Awards were predictable.Mostnonsurgical caseswent tohearingoveradisabilityrangeof0–20percentandsettledat10 percent ($2,500). Surgeries gained about 25percent.Legalissueswerelimited.Iftheemploy-er had coverage, the commission had jurisdic-tion. Only “hazardous employments” wererequired tohavecoverage.Cumulative traumawasnotyetrecognized.Ratesofcompensationwere so lowalmosteveryworkerqualified forthe maximum. Occupational disease was notwell defined. In short, there existed no realincentivetomediate.

Thelandscapebeganchangingwhencoveragebecame extended beyond hazardous employ-ment. Immediately, most of the state’s workforcecameunderthejurisdictionofwhatwastobecome the State Industrial Court, then theWorkers’CompensationCourt,acourtofrecordwith rules of evidence. The reform also set in

motion a benefit system which tied the maxi-mumcompensationrate toapercentageof thestate’s average weekly wage. The number ofcases exploded, and the benefit exposure esca-lated.AtthesametimethemedicalcommunitydiscoveredtheMRIandavarietyofnewsurgi-caltechniques.

Fast forward to the new millennium. By theyear 2000, workers’ compensation had becomebigbusiness inOklahoma,an industry in itselfwith medical, legal and administrative costsunrivaledinpreviousdecades.Atthis juncturethestatelegislaturechosetopromotemediationasanalternativedisputeresolutioninworkers’compensation.Coincidentally,Title85O.S.§172wasalsoreformed.Theseunrelatedchanges totheexistinglawsparkedamajorincreaseintheuseofmediation.

Prior to 2000, mediation was available byagreement of the parties but there existed nomechanism or program of court involvement.Consequently, mediation was seldom used.Moreimportantly,priortothe2000reformsinworkers’ compensation, the vast majority ofpermanentlyandtotallydisabledworkerswerepaidbenefitsbytheMultipleInjuryTrustFundunder Title 85 O.S. §172. Statutory changesremovedthatburdenfromtheTrustFundandreturnedittotheemployerandinsurancecar-

Mediation and Workers’ Compensation

By Michael G. Coker


Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution processavailable in the Oklahoma Workers’ CompensationCourt at the request of either party or by unilateral

orderofthetrialjudge.Themediationprocessisanalternativeonlyanddoesnotinfringeupontheultimaterightofthepartiesforatrialonthemerits.


rier.Theamendmentsalsoincreasedthestatu-tory benefits to a minimum of 15 years, al-lowed the benefits to be compromised by alumpsumpayment,butprohibitedthecourtfrom compromising the benefits by its ownorder.Thesechangesaddedanewsix-figureexposuretovirtuallyeverycaseinwhichtheinjuredemployeedidnot return towork.Atthesametimetheabilityofthecourttoissueanytypeofcompromiseorderwaseliminated.Thesecasescriedout formediation.By2005the legislature addressed both issues again.Thecourtwasgiventhepowertoordermedi-ationswithouttheagreementofallthepartiesin an amended version of 85 O.S. §3.10. Theliability for permanent and total disabilityunder 85 O.S. §172 was shifted back to theMultipleInjuryTrustFund.

givingthecourttheabilitytoinitiatemedia-tionon itsownhas resulted inan increase inthenumberofmediations.Thismaybeoffsetin the future by the return of the Trust Fundwhich is exempt from mediation under thepresentstatute.

statutOrY autHOrItY

Thestatutoryauthorizationformediationatthe Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation CourtisTitle85O.S.§3.10.Pursuant to thatstatute,the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation CourthasadoptedRule52.Mediation.Lastly,media-tion is the subject of Workers’ CompensationCourtAdministrator Rule 4 (as last amendedeffectiveFeb.22,2008).

InItIatIOn OF tHe PrOCess

Theprocessof initiatingamediation isvar-ied. The parties can simply agree to select amediatorandattempttoresolvetheirdisputewithoutanynotificationtothecourt.Iftheydoselectamediatorwhoisonthecourtapprovedlist, that mediator will report the outcome ofthemediationtothecourtmaintainingproperconfidentiality.

Eitherpartymayinitiatethemediationpro-cessbyfilingamotionformediationwiththeWorkers’ Compensation Court on a Form 13.Once again the parties can select their ownmediatoratthispoint,orproceedtoapre-hear-ing conference before an assigned judge. Atthatconference,amediatormayormaynotbeselectedon thespot. If thepartiesrequest,anorder will be issued referring the case formediationwithamediatorselectedbythepar-

tiesoranordermightbe issuedappointingaspecificmediator.

Thecourtmayonitsowninitiativeorderthereferralformediation.Theselectionofamedi-atorundercourtordermaybelefttothedeter-minationofthepartiesormaybedeterminedbythejudge.

COurt aPPearanCe

Presently,mostmediationsareheldatcourtafter the trialdocket–however, the timeandplaceofthemediationisleftuptothepartiesandisscheduledbythepartiesandmediator,not thecourt.Theusualandcustomaryfee is$800.Bystatute,thepaymentofthefeeistheresponsibility of the respondent — however,thecostisoftensharedbetweenthepartiesbyagreement. Some mediators may require pre-paymentdepositsand/orcancellationfees.

Cancellationbyeitherpartyorbythemedia-torisnotuncommon,however,asacourtesytoall involved,noticeof thecancellationshouldbegivenassoonaspossible.

Thecourtcontemplatesattendanceofallpar-ties at the mediation. If there is some reasonthatyourclientcannotattendpersonally,thentheyshouldbeavailablebytelephonetospeakwithboththeirattorneyandthemediator.Thefailureofapartytoattendorbeavailabledur-ing themediationhasasignificantlynegativeimpactontheoutcomeofthemediation.

Attheconclusionofthemediation,themedi-atorisrequiredtofileamediationreportwiththe court administrators office. This office iscompilingstatisticsonmediationresults.

etHICal COnsIDeratIOns

Thecourtrequiresthatthepartiesengageinamediationingoodfaith.Whilegoodfaithis

The parties can simply agree to select a mediator

and attempt to resolve their dispute without any

notification to the court.


notclearlydefinedbythecourt,ithasbecomeclearthatthecourtexpectsthepartiestogiveresolutionof thedisputea chance.Bothsidesare expected to participate. Both sides areexpectedtoattend.Bothsidesareexpectedtolisten. If a respondent comes to a mediationand makes absolutely no offer of settlementunder any circumstances, then that partyshouldbepreparedtoexplainthatpositiontothe court. The time for explanation shouldhavebeenpriortothemediation.

Themediation isexpected tobeameansofdispute resolution. It is not expected to be adiscoverytoolforeitherparty.Itisnotexpect-edtobeadelayingtacticforeitherparty.

The mediation is not a pretrial nor is it amini-trial.Itisnottheroleoftheattorneytotryhiscasetothemediator.Themediationitselfisnot necessarily an adversarial procedure. Theattorneysarenottheretoaddstressorconflict.Theattorneyistheretohelphisclientmakeaninformeddecision.

Theremaywellbeabuilt-inconflictbetweenthemonetaryinterestoftheattorneysandtheclients.Settlementofacaseatmediationmayveryoftenproducelessattorneyfeesthantrialofthecase.Theattorneymustbemindfulofhisresponsibilitytohisclientinthatregard.

Themediatorisnotmeanttobeanevaluatororjudgeoftheissuesathand.Themediatoristo be a facilitator of an agreement, whichresolvesthedisputeathand.Thoughanattor-ney,hedoesnotrepresenteitherparty.Norishis role necessarily to represent the court. Inmostcases,themediatorhasmorelatitudeandcanputtogethermoreremediesbyagreementthan thecourtcanput togetherbyorder.Themediatorcansuggestmethodsandamountsofsettlement,butultimatelytheattorneysoftheparties are responsible for concluding andimplementingtheresultofanynegotiations.

PrIme Issues FOr meDIatIOn

Somecasesaremoreconducivetomediationthan others. Obviously, the usual nature andextent,permanentpartialdisabilitycasecanbetried to thecourtquickerandwithmoreeffi-ciency than it canbemediated.Morecompli-cated cases are the more usual subjects ofmediation.

The“allornothing”workers’compensationclaim is a prime candidate. These are deathclaimsor3Eclaims.Thelawdoesnotallowthecourttocompromisetheseclaimsthroughtrial.

Theonlywaytheycanbecompromisedisbyagreement. Once the court finds the case iscompensable, then thebenefitsareautomatic.Oncethecourtfindsthecaseisnotcompensa-ble,thentherearenobenefitsatall.

The“a lotornothing”case issimilar to the“all or nothing.” Into this category fall mostdenials. The marginal difference between thiscaseandthe“allornothing”is that thecourtcanfindthesecasescompensableandyetstilldecide how much disability is going to beawarded. Apportionment cases fall into thiscategory as do heart and lung cases, whichmay have causation questions. Occupationaldiseasecases,HepatitisCandAIDScasesmayalsobeconsideredformediationbecausethereissomequestionregardingthecompensabilityandtheremaybehighexposurebothinmedi-cal benefits, disability benefits and possibledeathbenefitsinthefuture.

Casesinvolvingthird-partytortfeasorsmayalsoberipeformediation.Settlementofthesecasesmayresultinasavingstotherespondentin payment of medical bills. Settlement mayalso result in a savings to the claimant withregard to reimbursement of benefits throughsubrogation.

Mediationsofteninvolvequestionsoflawaswell as questions of fact. If the parties don’twant to submit to a long appeal process ordon’twanttoriskanappealsdecisionthatwillsignificantly impact the existing law, theymediate.

InCentIVes

Asnotedabove,aprimaryincentivetomedi-ate is the ability to come to a conclusion byagreement that is unavailable to the court byorder. In a death case, it is a compromise ofbenefits.Ina3Ecaseorotherpermanenttotaldisability case, it may be payment of a lumpsum.IftheclaimantisonSocialSecurity,thenthe lump sum may be a beneficial option,which can be amortized over the claimant’slifetimetoreducetheSocialSecuritysetoffandmaximizetheamountofmoneywhichactuallymakesittotheclaimant’spocket.

Inhighexposurecases,therespondentobvi-ouslyhasanincentivetosettleiftheclaimantis willing to discount that exposure in returnforaguaranteedresultoraquickpayment.

Unless there issomeperceivedincentivebybothparties,thereislittlechanceofasuccess-fulresolutionthroughmediation.


PreParatIOn

Preparationiskeytoasuccessfulmediation.Eachpartyshouldidentifytheincentiveithastoengage inmediation.Eachattorneyshouldpreparehisclient for theotherside’spointofview. Each side should not only be ready tostateavaluethatitplacesonthecase,butalsobeawarethattheothersidehasdifferentcon-siderations and different ways of computingthatvalue.

Both sides should have their case preparedfor trial. If the case is not ready for trial, it isprobably not ready for mediation either. IfMedicare and Social Security are involved,thenthepartiesneedtoknowtheimpactofacourtorderonthosebenefits.Thepartiesneedtobepreparedtodiscussthemethodofsettle-ment. Is it more beneficial for the case to bejoint petitioned, dismissed or denied? Is astructured settlement appropriate? If thesequestionsareunansweredpriortothemedia-tion, it is unlikely that a conclusion will bereached at mediation. Even so, the mediationmay have some value in identifying thosequestions to be answered by the parties at alaterdatepriortofinalizingasettlement.

COnClusIOn

Mediationisnotforeverybodyandisnotforevery case. Nothing is accomplished withoutgive and take. Most successful mediations

involve gains and losses for both sides. Themediation process is similar to the settlementdiscussionsthatgoondailyinthehallsoftheWorkers’ Compensation Court. It is a moreformalizedprocess.Itgivesthepartiesadayincourt,whichdoesnotnecessarilybindthemtoan outcome. It also explores remedies, whichcan only be achieved through compromiseratherthanlitigation.Itisnotaprocessthatismeanttoreplaceorinfringeupontheultimaterightofthepartiestoatrialbeforethejudge–however,itdoespresentanalternativetoexer-cisingthatrighttotrial.

Michael G. Coker is a sole practitioner of workers’ compen-sation law in Oklahoma City. A 1975 graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Law, he was a long-term member of the firm Oldfield and Coker special-izing in workers’ compensation defense. He has also served sev-eral terms as a director of the

Workers’ Compensation Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association. In addition to his defense practice, he serves regularly as a mediator of workers’ compen-sation cases.

AbOuT THE AuTHOR

www.okbar.org Your source for OBA news.

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The above rules of law set forth the premiseforanydiscussionoftribalsovereignimmunity.Thediscussionofsovereignimmunity,however,isneverclear,nevereasyandalwayssubjecttovigorous debate. Things have changed. Tribeshavereachedapositionofgreatcommercialsuc-cess and are hiring more employees than ever,including non-tribal members, who are suffer-ing work-related injuries. Workers’ compensa-tionpractitionersarenowchallengedtoproceedthroughthetribalcourtsystemsinrepresentingtheir clients, or file a claim in the OklahomaWorkers’CompensationCourtandfightatribe’ssovereign immunity challenge to jurisdiction.Eitheroptionwillpresentauniquesetofissuestobeaddressed.

The assertion of sovereign immunity in theOklahoma Workers’ Compensation Court hasundergone a tremendous evolution in the lastdozen years. The Oklahoma Supreme Courtinjected Oklahoma’s estoppel act into the dis-cussion in1997, found inTitle 85Sections65.2and65.3.Inthatyear,thecourtissuedfouropin-ionson the topic:Dominic v. Creek Nation, 1997OK 41, 936 P.2d 935; Muscogee Nation v. Smith,1997OK66,940P.2d498;Wahpepah v. Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma,1997OK63,939P.2d1151;andLittle v. Muscogee Creek Nation,1997OK57,938P.2d 739. The estoppel act prevents a carrierfromdenyingcoverageifthreeelementscanbe

proven.Thethreeelementsneededtoinvoketheestoppelactrequirethatpremiumsbecollectedbythecarrierforthatemployee,theinjurymustoccurduringthepolicyperiod,andtheemploy-eemustsufferawork-relatedinjury.InDominic,thecourtcommentedthatthepurposeofestop-pel “is to prevent both an employer’s and anemployee’sensnarement in the falsebelief thatcompensation has been provided, only later todiscovertheprotectionunavailable.”4Thecourtinallfourcasesusedtheestoppelactasatooltohold the tribal carriers in Oklahoma courts,although there was no evidence the carrierswerewrongfullydenying the tribalemployers’insurance coverage. It is important to note theOklahoma Supreme Court did not addresswhether the tribe retained its sovereignty butinstead focused upon the employee’s rightsagainstthetribe’sinsurancecarrier.5

In 2005, the Oklahoma Court of Appealsissued an important opinion on this topic inSquirrel v. Bordertown Bingo.6 The Squirrel courtrecognized that before the estoppel act can beassertedbyaclaimantagainstacarrier,thecar-riermustfirsthaveissuedapolicytocoverinju-ries under the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensa-tion Act.7 This is based upon the language ofTitle85§65.3whichstates inpart,“Everycon-tractofinsuranceissuedbyaninsurancecarrierforthepurposeofinsuringanemployeragainst

The Evolution of Workers’ Compensation in Indian Country

By Jay Jones


AnIndiantribeisadistinctsovereignnation,andnostatehas jurisdictionoverthetribewithouttheassentof thetribeorbyactof theU.S.Congress.1An Indian tribe is

subjecttosuitonlywhereCongresshasauthorizedsuitorthetribehasexpresslywaiveditsimmunity.2Thatimmunityextendstoatribe’scommercialactivity.3


liability under the Workers’ Compensation Act shallbeconclusivelypresumedtobeacontractforthebenefitofeachandeverypersonuponwhom insurance premiums are paid…”(emphasisadded)

ThecourtinSquirrel ruledthepolicyinthatcasewasambiguousinthatregardandfounddual jurisdiction in both the tribal and Okla-homacourts.Squirrelisveryimportantbecausethe Oklahoma Court of Appeals recognizedthat the Oklahoma Workers’ CompensationCourtwouldhavehadnojurisdictionoverthecarrier,or the tribe, if thepolicyhadnotpro-videdforthepaymentofbenefitspursuanttotheOklahomaWorkers’CompensationAct.

In 2007, the Oklahoma Court of Appealsfound Oklahoma’s estoppel act inapplicableand denied jurisdiction for the first time. InHall v. Cherokee Nation,8 the court recognizedthethresholdrequirementset forth inSquirrel and analyzed the policy in that context. Thecourtnotedthelanguageofthepolicyatissuemadeno reference to theOklahomaWorkers’Compensation Act but rather made clear thepolicy was issued solely for benefits payablepursuanttotribalworkers’compensationordi-nances, thereby precluding application ofOklahoma’s estoppel act.9 This analysis wasagain followed todeny jurisdiction inPales v. Cherokee Nation Enterprises,10 Quinton v. Cherokee Nation Enterprises11 andHamby v. Cherokee Nation Casinos.12

No distinction has been drawn betweentribalmemberandnon-tribalmemberemploy-eesintheareaoftribalworkers’compensationlaw. This is because the U.S. Supreme Courthas permitted tribal regulation of non-tribalmembers who enter consensual relationshipswiththetribe.13

Several tribes in Oklahoma have enactedtheirownworkers’ compensationordinances,including the Cherokee Nation, Muscogee(Creek) Nation, Citizen Potawatomi Nation,ComancheNation,QuapawTribe,KawNation,KickapooTribeandWyandotteNation.Thosetribes have workers’ compensation insurancewritten specifically for their tribal ordinancesand provide a dispute resolution mechanismforcontestedclaims.

Thevarioustribalordinancesgenerallycon-tainsimilarfeaturesregardingclaimsmanage-ment.Theydesignateanadministrator,whoisoften the insurance carrier’s claims adjuster.That administrator makes determinations

regarding all issues including compensabilityandtheneedformedicaltreatment.Aclaimantwho disagrees with the administrator is typi-callyprovidedanopportunitytochallengetheadministrator’s determination within a statu-torilydefinedperiodoftime.If thatreconsid-erationdoesnotresolvethedispute,appellatereliefisprovidedtoeitheranappealscommit-teeortobindingarbitration.Sometribalordi-nancespermitfurtherappealwithinthetribalcourt system, often requiring membership inthetribalcourt’sbarassociation.

The tribal ordinances do not provide formssimilartothoseusedintheOklahomaWorkers’CompensationCourttotriggerlitigation.Thus,it is importantforanypractitionertoimmedi-ately contact thedesignated tribal administra-tor to provide notice of representation and tocontest an administrator’s decision. Often theclaimant will have been in contact with theadministratorandwillhavereceiveddocumen-tation from the administrator, which will pro-vide the practitioner with contact informationto initiate a challenge to the administrator’sdetermination. If the administrators contactinformationisnotavailable,itissuggestedthatclaimant’scounselcontactthetribalemployer’shumanresourcesdepartmentinwritingbycer-tified mail. This correspondence will triggeraction by the employer to notify the tribalworkers’compensationadministrator.

Theadequacyofthetribaldisputeresolutionmechanismisoftenquestioned.Isitproperfortheadministratortobetheone“guardingthehen house”? How can a dispute be fairlyresolvedbyacommitteeorinarbitration?Howisitfairfortheinjuredemployeewhenthereisnospecifictribal“court”toresolvetheclaim?Theansweragainrelatestothefirstparagraphofthisarticle.TheU.S.SupremeCourthasrec-ognized the right of Indian tribes to regulatetheirinternalandsocialrelations,tomaketheirownsubstantivelawininternalmatters,andtoenforcethatlawintheirownforums.14Nofed-eral statute mandates either the necessity ormannerofestablishingtribalcourts.Nordoesthe establishment of tribal courts necessarilysupplanttheexistenceorvitalityoftraditionalmethodsofdisputeresolution.15

Notalltribeshaveenactedworkers’compen-sationlegislation,butthatdoesnotpermitthestateofOklahomatostepinandassumejuris-diction.Oklahomarelinquishedallcontrolovertribal land inArticle I, §3 of its Constitution.Oklahomadidnotchoosetoassertsovereignty


(withtribalconsent)overworkers’compensa-tion matters pursuant to “Public Law 280,”found at 25 U.S.C. §1322, when that processwas permitted by federal legislation in the1950s.Thus,theOklahomaWorkers’Compen-sationCourthasnobasistoassertjurisdictionsimplybecauseatribehasnotenacteditsownworkers’ compensation legislation. To do sowould violate the well-founded principles ofsovereign immunity. Oklahoma has no morelegal authority to assert jurisdiction over atribal claim than it does over a claim of anyotherforeignnation.

Many tribes that do not have their ownworkers’ compensation ordinances have cho-sen to obtain workers’ compensation insur-ance. It iscommonfor thecarriers toprovidetheir own “fall back” ordinances to be fol-lowed.The“fallback”ordinancesareusefulinproviding a framework within which claimscanbeanalyzedandprocessed.The“fallback”ordinances are usually not formally adoptedby the tribes, which calls into question theirlegitimacy, especially by counsel representingan injured tribal employee. The authority forthe“fallback”ordinancesisderivedfromthepurchaseoftheinsurancecontract.Itmustberemembered, however, that there is no legalbasis for the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensa-tionCourttoassertjurisdictionoveranIndiantribe,whetherthattribeuses“fallback”ordi-nances,orhasnoordinanceatall.

If the tribe has not adopted these fall backordinances by tribal resolution, how can aclaimantbeboundbythem?Theanswertakesus back to the premise of this debate men-tioned the first paragraph. The state of Okla-homa has no basis or authority to enforce itsownstate lawsbydefaultsimplybecause thetribehasnotenacteditsownlegislation.

Workers’ compensation is a creature of stat-ute,aresultof“thegreatcompromise”inwhichno fault liability is established with cappeddamages.Atribehasitsowninherentsovereignrighttoprovideworkers’compensationbenefitsinanymanneritsochooses,expressorimplied.The tribe also has the right to refuse workers’compensation benefits or insurance for itsemployees,justasthestateofOklahomacoulddoatanytime.Thisseems“appalling”tosomebecause we have enjoyed workers’ compensa-tion legislation in Oklahoma for almost 100

years.However,thepremiseofthisarticlemustbekeptinmind;unlessatribeexpresslywaivesits sovereign immunity or the U.S. Congressexpressly waives the tribe’s immunity, there issimplynomeans for the stateofOklahoma toforceitsjurisdictionuponatribe.Thetribehasaninherentsovereignright toprovidebenefitsifitsochooses,andithasaninherentsovereignrighttochoosethemeansbywhichthebenefitswillbeprovided.

COnClusIOn

This is an interesting time to practice tribalworkers’ compensation law. The Oklahomacourtsarerecognizingtribalsovereignty,andthenumber of Indian tribes enacting their ownworkers’ compensation legislation is growing.Over time, the tribal systems will be furtherdeveloped, and practice in those systems willbecome more commonplace. As the tribal sys-temsaredeveloped,thepractitionerwillneedtostayabreastofthebenefitdeliverysystemsofthevarioustribesandbewillingtoproceedthroughtheirvariousdisputeresolutionsystems.

1.Worchester v. Georgia,31U.S.515,6Pet.515,8L.Ed.483(1832).2. Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma v. Manufacturing Technologies Inc., 523

U.S.751,118S.Ct.1700,140L.Ed.2d.981(1998).3.Id.at760.4.Id.at¶15.5.Id.at¶8.6.Squirrel v. Bordertown Bingo,2005OKCIVAPP95,125P.3d680.7.Id.at¶10.8.Hall v. Cherokee Nation,2007OKCIVAPP49,162P.3d979.9.Id.at¶19.10.Pales v. Cherokee Nation Enterprises,2009OKCIVAPP65,___

P.3d___.11.Quinton v. Cherokee Nation Enterprises,2010OKCIVAPP16,

___P.3d___.12.Hamby v. Cherokee Nation Casinos,2010OKCIVAPP21,___

P.3d___.13.Montana v. United States,450U.S.544,101S.Ct.1245,1258,67

L.Ed.2d493(1981).14.Santa Clara Pueblo v. Martinez,436U.S.49,98S.Ct.1670,1675,

56L.Ed.2d106.15.F.Cohen,Handbook of Federal Indian Law,§4.04[3][c][iv][B](2005).

Jay Jones is an attorney with Walls Walker Harris & Wolfe in Oklahoma City. He practices pri-marily in the area of workers’ compensation defense. Mr. Jones is a 1993 graduate of the OU Col-lege of Law and is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association, the Cherokee Nation Bar Asso-ciation and the Muscogee (Creek)

Nation Bar Association.

AbOuT THE AuTHOR


Belowis1)areviewofthestatuteinquestion;2)anidentificationoftheambiguities;3)anout-lineoftheappellatedecisions;4)argumentsonunresolved concerns; and 5) a conclusion indi-catingthecurrentstateofthelaw.

reVIeW OF tHe statute

The limitation on Temporary Total Disability(TTD)benefitsforsoftissueinjurieswascreatedin 2005 by statute during an emergency speciallegislativesessiontooverhaulOklahoma’sWork-ers’CompensationAct.1AlthoughEnrolledSen-ateBillNo.1x,(SB1x),becameeffectiveonJuly1, 2005, arguments interpreting the soft tissuelimitationonTTDbenefitshavecontinued.Thisis due to patent ambiguities in the law’s lan-guage,whicharelikelyduetotherushinwhichthe bill was passed. Even so, the statute was

againamendedin2009,butthisamendmentdidnotattempttoresolvetheseconcerns.2

SB1xamended§22oftheWorkers’Compen-sationActtocreateanewsubsectionat§22(3)(d),whichbeginsasfollows:

WithrespecttoinjuriesoccurringonorafterJanuary1,2003,incaseofdisability,partialincharacterbutpermanentinquality,thecom-pensation shall be seventy percent (70%) ofthe employee’s average weekly wages, andshallbepaidtotheemployeefortheperiodprescribedbythefollowingschedule:3

Thesubsectionthenenumeratesvariousbodypartsandthepermanent partial disabilityben-efitsforeach.4Thusfar,itisessentiallythesameas previous versions of the statute, but coversinjuries occurring after Jan. 1, 2003. However,

The Eight-Week Soft Tissue Injury TTD Limitation

Eight Published Appellate Decisions Later By James M. Wirth


WhentheOklahomaLegislaturehastilypassedworkers’compensationreformina2005specialsession,itsetoffthe beginning of what would become a firestorm of

litigation regarding the interpretation and constitutionality ofitsoverhaul.Withmorethanfouryearsnowpassed,somepro-visions have been struck down and others affirmed or inter-preted,butnootherissuehasbeenasprolificallycontentiousasthe eight-week temporary total disability limitation placed onsoft tissue injures. With eight published opinions specificallyaddressingit,includinganOklahomaSupremeCourtdecisionthatself-proclaimstobeabindingauthorityresolution,doesthedebatecontinue?


between the enumerated body parts of “Her-nia”and“OtherCases,”the2005amendmentadded a “Soft Tissue Injury” subjection to§22(3)(d),whichprovidesinrelevantpart:

SoftTissue Injury: Incaseofanonsurgicalsoft tissueinjury,temporary total compen-sation shall not exceed eight (8) weeks. Aclaimantwhohasbeenrecommendedbyatreatingphysicianforsurgeryforasofttis-sue injury may petition the Court for oneextensionoftemporary total compensationandthecourtmayordersuchanextension,nottoexceedsixteen(16)additionalweeks,ifthetreatingphysicianindicatesthatsuchanextensionisappropriateorasagreedtobyallparties.Intheeventthesurgeryisnotperformed, the benefits for the extensionperiodshallbeterminated.5

The“SoftTissueInjury”subsectiongoesontostate:

Inallcasesofsofttissueinjury,theemploy-eeshallonlybeentitledtoappropriateandnecessary medical care and temporary total disability as set out in paragraph 2 of this section,unlessthereisobjectivemedi-cal evidence of a permanent anatomicalabnormality.6

The“paragraph2ofthissection”i.e.§22(2)(c),providesinrelevantpart:

With respect to injuries occurring on orafterNovember1,1997,totalpaymentsofcompensationfortemporarytotaldisabili-tymaynotexceedamaximumofonehun-dredfifty-six(156)weeksintheaggregateexcept for good cause shown, as deter-minedbytheCourt.7

Thelattersubsectionwasnotamendedinthe2005workers’compensationreform.

The“SoftTissueInjury”sectionadditionallyexcludes certain types of injuries including:“Injurytoordiseaseofthespine,spinaldisks,spinalnervesorspinalcord,wherecorrectivesurgeryisperformed.”8

IDentIFICatIOn OF tHe amBIGuItY

Ambiguity is immediately apparent from aplainreadingoftheabovequotedstatutes.

First, the eight-week rule by its initial lan-guage purports to limit temporary total com-pensation,butitisfoundin§22(3),whichbyitstitle and content specifically concerns perma-nentpartialdisability.9Moreover,the“SoftTis-

sueInjury”subsectionisfoundinanenumer-ated schedule of permanent partial disabilitybenefitrules.10

Second, although the “Soft Tissue Injury”subsection by its language limits “temporarytotal compensation” to eight weeks (with thepossibilityofanadditional16weeksifsurgeryisrecommended),itthenprovidesthattempo-rarytotaldisabilitybenefitsshallbepursuantto“paragraph2,”whichallows forup to156weeks.11

Finally,thelanguagethat“theemployeeshallonly be entitled to appropriate and necessarymedicalcareandtemporarytotaldisability .…unless there is objective medical evidence of apermanent anatomical abnormality,” seems toimplythattheruleismeanttobealimitationonpermanentpartialdisabilityandnotontempo-rarytotaldisability.12

aPPellate COurt DeCIsIOns

TheambiguitiesregardingOkla.Stat.tit.85,§22(3)(d) (2009), have been acknowledged byeachdivisionof theOklahomaCourtofCivilAppeals (COCA) as well as the OklahomaSupremeCourt:

COCa Division I

•Gee v. All 4 Kids Inc., 2006OKCIVAPP155,149P.3d1106(Okla.App.2006).

•CMI/Terex Corp. v. Stevens,2008OKCIVAPP102.

COCa Division II

•Public Supply Co. v. Steenbock, 2008 OKCIV APP 53, 186 P.3d 263 (Okla. App.2008).

COCa Division III

•Curling v. City Chevrolet, 2007 OK CIVAPP63,164P.3d1141(Okla.App.2007).

COCa Division IV

•Sysco Food Services of Oklahoma LLC v. Cunningham, 2007 OK CIV APP 52, 162P.3d973(Okla.App.2007).

•Urrutia v. Wendy’s Old Fashioned Ham-burgers,2007OKCIVAPP104,171P.3d915(Okla.App.2007).

Oklahoma supreme Court

•Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. v. Bonat,2008OK47,186P.3d952(Okla.2008).


Although the Soft Tissue Injury subsectionhas been extensively reviewed and each timethestatedgoalwastoascertainthelegislativeintent through statutory construction, theresultingholdingshavevariedwidely.Asdem-onstrated below, Oklahoma appellate courtshaveheld that the legislative intentwas foraTTDlimitation,aPPDlimitationornolimita-tionatall.

TheGee courtheld that the reference to the156-week limitation13 in §22(2)(c) was last inposition and therefore controlling, renderingthe eight-week limitation meaningless.14 TheSysco court held that where surgery is per-formedit iseffectivelynotasoft tissueinjuryand therefore the 156-week limitation in§22(2)(c)iscontrollinginallsurgerycases.15Thisinterpretation renders meaningless the specificexclusionofspinalinjuriesthatresultinsurgeryfrombeingsofttissueinjuries.ThecourtinCurl-ing adopted the holding in Gee.16 The UrrutiacourtheldthattheLegislatureintendedtomakesoft tissuesa“specific injury” likeherniasandlimitedtemporarytotaldisabilitiestotheeightweeks as articulated in Soft Tissue Injury sub-section of §22(3)(d), rendering the reference tothe156-weekTTDlimitationin§22(2)(c)mean-ingless.17InthePublic Supplycase,thecourtheldthat the Legislature intended to make soft tis-suesa“specificinjury”andthattheeight-weeklimitationappliestopermanent partial disabil-itybenefitsandthatthe156-weeklimitationin§22(2)(c) applies to temporary total disabilitybenefits,renderingthephrase“temporarytotalcompensation,”foundintheSoftTissueInjurysubsection of §22(3)(d), meaningless.18 In Bed Bath, the Oklahoma Supreme Court furtheredthe decision in Sysco by holding that not onlyarethelimitationsintheSoftTissueInjurysub-sectionof§22(3)(d)inapplicableinsurgerycasesbut that surgery recommendations should betreatedthesameandhavethe156-weeklimita-tion in §22(2)(c).19 This holding rendered the16-week extension language in the Soft TissueInjurysubsectionof§22(3)(d)meaningless.Thecourtprovidedthatitsinterpretationwasnec-essary to prevent an employer’s refusal toapproveasurgery fromaltering thecharacterof the allowable benefits.20 Lastly, the CMI court followed dicta in Bed Bath and limitedtemporary total disability benefits to eightweeksinacasewheresurgerywasneitherrec-ommendednorperformed.21

TheBed Bathcaseinvolvedonlyonespecificsetoffacts(TTDbenefitswhensurgeryisrec-

ommended but not yet performed) and thecourtrefusedtolimitTTDpursuanttotheSoftTissueInjurysubsectionof§22(3)(d)underthatspecific circumstance.22 However, the court indictafoundthat:

It is clear that theLegislature intended tolimittheperiodofTTDforcertainsofttis-sueinjuries.Section22(3)(d)limitsbenefitstoeightweeks fornon-surgicalsoft tissueinjuries.23

TheBed Bathcourtfurtherprovidedthat,“thisCourtprovidesthisanalysisasbindingauthor-ityforresolutionofthe[§22(3)(d)]ambiguity.”24Therefore, although it is technically dicta, theOklahomaSupremeCourtmadeitclearthatitintends its opinion in Bed Bath to be bindingauthorityforaneight-weeklimitationofTTDin nonsurgery cases. However, besides beingdicta, the court did not address many of theconcernsraisedabout§22(3)(d).

arGuments On unresOlVeD COnCerns

Despitethesevenseparatepublishedappel-late court opinions addressing Okla. Stat. tit.85,§22(3)(d)discussedintheprevioussection,thereremainunresolvedconcernsthatthestat-ute is 1) irreconcilable and unconstitutionallyvague; 2) violative of equal protection rightsfor dividing claimants into classes; and 3) animproperdelegationofauthority.

Is §22(3)(d) Unconstitutionally Ambiguous and Vague?

The Oklahoma Supreme Court in Bed Bath providedthat,“Astatutemustbereadtoren-dereverypartoperativeandtoavoidrender-ing parts thereof superfluous or useless.”25However,asdiscussedintheprevioussection,eachoftheeightopinionsinterpreting§22(3)(d),rendervariouspartsofthestatuteuseless.Thedirect contradictions in the statute make con-struction an impossibility and the degree ofambiguityisevidencedbythevarianceoftheopinions of Oklahoma’s various appellatecourts.Ifthereisnointerpretationthatwouldrendereverypartoperative,mustnotthestat-utebeunconstitutionallyvague?AccordingtoDivision II of the Oklahoma Court of CivilAppeals in the very recent decision of Arrow Trucking v. Jimenez, no. In that case, withoutspecificanalysis,thecourtheldthat,“Sections22(2)(c)and22(3)(d)arenotunconstitutionallyambiguous or vague,” based on Bed Bath and Beyond Inc.precedent.26


Does §22(3)(d) Violate Equal Protection?

Okla. Stat. tit. 85, §22(3)(d) (2005), dividesclaimants, for the purpose of temporary totaldisabilitybenefits,intoclassesbasedonwheth-er an injury is to soft tissue or to bones andjoints. Soft tissue injuries arelimitedtoeightweeksoftem-porarytotaldisabilitywiththepossibility of an extension ofanadditional16weeksforsur-gical candidates.27 The Okla-homa Supreme Court in Bed Bath,reconstructedthestatute,modifying the classes intoclaimants with non-surgicalsofttissueinjuriesandallotherclaimants. given the purposeofTTD,doeseitherofthemod-els for class division have arational basis, as requiredunder an equal protectionclaim?

Thepurposeof temporary totaldisability istoreplacethelossofwagesduringthetempo-raryhealingperiod.28Thehealingprocesscon-tinuesuntiltheclaimantisreleasedfrommed-icaltreatmentatmaximummedicalimprove-ment.Itiswellestablishedinmedicalpracticethat conservative treatments should beexhausted prior to recommending any sur-gery, as surgical intervention is inherentlycostlyandrisky.Furthermore,itisnotuncom-mon for conservative treatments, such asphysical therapy, to require eight weeks ormore of treatment prior to considering sur-gery.Therefore,evenwhensurgeryisrecom-mended, therecommendationmaynotcomewithin the initial eight weeks subsequent totheinjury.Inthiscircumstance,applicationoftheeight-weekTTDlimitationwouldresultina lapse of benefits even for cases that laterbecomesurgicalcases.

Temporary total disability benefits are onlyapplicable when a claimant is still treating,therefore,anyreducedstatutorylimitationforbenefitsonlyaffectsclaimantswhoareunableto work, still in the healing process and stillreceiving medical treatment. The only resultthenoflimitingtemporarytotaldisabilityben-efitstoeightweekswouldbetorequireclaim-antstochoosebetweengoingwithoutincomeortoreturningtotheworkthattheclaimant’sphysiciandeterminedheorsheshouldnotbedoing. This does not appear to advance the

purpose of TTD to replace the loss of wagesduringthetemporaryhealingperiod.

However, the Oklahoma Court of CivilAppeals,DivisionII,hasrecentlyissuedapub-lished opinion finding a rational basis does

exist.29Thecourtinthisopinionfoundthat“thecriticalquestion[for an equal protection argu-ment]iswhethertheclassifica-tion rest upon a differencewhich bears a reasonable rela-tionship toany of the goals of the Workers’ Compensation Act.”30The courtheld that thistestismetasitisreasonabletoconceive that a worker thatdoes not have surgery per-formed: 1) would be less inneed of extended compensa-tion;2)sufferedaninjuryoflessseverity; and 3) would need

less time to recover compared with a workerundergoing surgery.31 The court additionallynoted that the classifications increase the cer-tainty and predictability of an employer’sliability.32 The court acknowledged that§22(3)(d) may favor employers and result insome inequality among claimants but foundthe classification is reasonably related to alegitimate government goal contained in theWorkers’CompensationAct.33

Is §22(3)(d) an Unconstitutional Delegation of Judicial Power?

The Oklahoma Constitution provides thatthe state government is divided into legisla-tive,executiveandjudicialbranchesand“nei-thershallexercisethepowersproperlybelong-ing to either of the others.”34 “Whether evi-dencesupportsanawardof[temporary]com-pensation presents an issue of fact,” for thetrialcourt(thejudicialbranch).35Furthermore,“[t]he trial tribunal is the sole judge of thecredibilityofwitnessesandoftheweightandvalue to be accorded to the testimonyadduced.”36ItcouldbearguedthattheLegis-laturethrough§22(3)(d)improperlydelegatedtheauthoritytodetermineTTDbeyondeightweeksfromthetrialcourt(judicialbranch)tothetreatingphysicianbyarbitrarilyallowingthe physician’s determination on surgicalprospectstodetermineTTDstatus.

AveryrecentopinionoftheOklahomaCourtofCivilAppeals,DivisionII,inArrow Trucking Co. Inc. v. Jimenez, has addressed this issue.37

It is clear that the Legislature intended to limit the period of TTD for certain soft tissue

injuries.


Thecourtinthisopinionheldthatitisnotanunconstitutionaldelegationof judicialauthor-itybecauseit“doesnotpredetermineadjudica-tivefacts,butratherlimitsanavailableaward,based on the facts determined by the fact-finder.”38 The court further describes it as“post-fact-finding,legislativelimitations.”39

COnClusIOn

More than four years after the Legislatureamended the Workers’ Compensation Act andcreated an eight-week limitation on the TTDbenefitsavailableforsofttissueinjuries,partiescontinuetoarguetheinterpretationandconsti-tutionalityoftherule.Evenwitheightpublishedappellateopinionsaddressingthestatutorysec-tionindebate,therearestillargumentsthathavenot been addressed. However, the OklahomaSupreme Court in Bed Bath, albeit in dicta, didprovide an interpretation and specifically stateinitsopiniontheintentthatitbebindingauthor-itytoresolvetheissue.

Insummary,Okla.Stat.tit.85,§22(3)(d)lim-itsTTDinnonsurgery,softinjurycasestoeightweeks.Ifsurgeryisperformedor recommend-ed, there isnospecial limitationand theTTDduration is governed by §22(2)(c). Section22(3)(d)inpracticedoesnotprovideafurtherlimitationonpermanentpartialdisabilityben-efits.Itislikelythat§22(3)(d)doesnotviolateequalprotection.Itislikelythat§22(3)(d)isnotan unconstitutional delegation of judicialauthority.

Thereisstillaquestionofwhetherthedirectcontradictions contained in §22(3)(d) make itunconstitutionallyambiguous.But,giventhateachofOklahoma’sCourtofCivilAppealsandtheOklahomaSupremeCourthavepublishedopinions interpreting §22(3)(d), and Bed Bath expressedtheintentthatitsopinionbebindingauthority for resolutionof theambiguity, it islikely that any appellate court analysis willfind§22(3)(d)constitutional.

1.2005O.S.L479.2. 2009 O.S.L. 172 (changed the calculation of the state’s average

weeklywagefromoccurringeverythree(3)yearstooccurringannually).

3.Okla.Stat.tit.85,§22(3)(d)(2009).4.Id.5.Id.(emphasisadded).6.Id.(emphasisadded).7.Okla.Stat.tit.85,§22(2)(c)(2009).8.Okla.Stat.tit.85,§22(3)(d)(2009).9.Okla.Stat.tit.85,§22(3)(2009).10.Okla.Stat.tit.85,§22(3)(d)(2009).11.Okla.Stat. tit. 85,§22(3)(d) (2009);Okla.Stat. tit. 85,§22(2)(c)

(2009).12.Okla.Stat.tit.85,§22(3)(d)(2009).13.The156-weekTTDlimitationcanbeextendedtoamaximumof

300 weeks with good cause shown, pursuant to Okla. Stat. tit. 85,§22(2)(C)(2009).

14.Gee v. All 4 Kids Inc.,149P.3d1106,¶13(Okla.App.2006).15. Sysco Food Services of Oklahoma LLC. v. Cunningham, 162 P.3d

973,¶13(Okla.App.2007).16.Curling v. City Chevrolet,164P.3d1141,¶9(Okla.App.2007).17.Urrutia v. Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers, 171P.3d915,¶5

(Okla.App.2007).18.Public Supply Co. v. Steenbock,186P.3d263,¶31(Okla.App.2008).19.Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. v. Bonat,186P.3d952,¶15(Okla.2008).20.Id.at¶16.21.CMI/Terex Corp. v. Stevens,2008Okla.Civ.App.102,¶10.22.Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. v. Bonat,186P.3d952,¶15(Okla.2008).23.Id.at¶12.24.Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. v. Bonat,186P.3d952,¶10(Okla.2008).25.Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. v. Bonat,186P.3d952,¶11(Okla.2008).26.Arrow Trucking Co. v. Jimenez,2010Okla.Civ.App.9,¶9.27.Okla.Stat.tit.85,§22(3)(d)(2009).28.Emery v. Central Oklahoma Health Care,158P.3d1052,¶17(Okla.

2007)(citingGray v. Natkin Contracting,44P.3d547,¶13(Okla.2001)).29.Arrow Trucking Co. v. Jimenez,2010Okla.Civ.App.9.30.Id.at¶11(citingRivas v. Parkland Manor,12P.3d452,457(Okla.

2000)(emphasisadded).31.Arrow Trucking Co. v. Jimenez,2010Okla.Civ.App.9,¶12.32.Id.at¶13.33.Id.at¶14.34.Okla.Const.art.IV,§1.35.Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. v. Bonat,186P.3d952,¶6(Okla.2008).36.Yocum v. Greenbriar Nursing Home,130P.3d213,¶18(Okla.2005).37.Arrow Trucking Co. v. Jimenez,2010Okla.Civ.App.9.38.Id.at¶16.39.Id.

James M. Wirth started a solo practice on Jan. 1, 2010, after practicing five years in the areas of workers’ compen-sation, personal injury, family law and criminal defense. He received his J.D. from TU in 2004. He founded and orga-nizes EsquireEmpire.com, a collaboratively authored Web site on Oklahoma law, featur-

ing a toolbar for Oklahoma attorneys, a child support calculator and legal directories, et cetera.

AbOuT THE AuTHOR


Mr.Estradais,infact,inthecountryillegallyand obtained work initially through a tempo-raryagencyandheprovidedtheagencywithafalseSocialSecuritynumber.Afterworkingontemporaryjobsforanumberofyears,heeven-tuallybeganworkingathiscurrentemploymentandhasworkedtheresteadilyforthebetterpartofadecade.

A claim is filed and Mr. Estrada is awardedbackbenefitsandmedicaltreatmentbytheWork-ers’CompensationCourt.Theinsurancecompa-nyappeals thedecisionof the trialcourton thegrounds that Mr. Estrada is in the country ille-gallyandtopayhimbenefitswouldviolatefed-eralimmigrationlaws.TheOklahomaAppellateCourtdecidesthecasesimilarlytothemajorityofcourtsfacedwiththisissue.Inthediscussionof

the issues, the courts have discussed federalimmigrationlawsandtheinterrelationshipwithstatelawsprotectingitsworkers.

FeDeral ImmIGratIOn COnCerns

Federal immigration lawprohibits thehiringoremploymentofillegalorunauthorizedaliens.Supreme Court interpretation of that lawreversedanawardofpaymentofbackwagestoan illegal alien who was illegally terminatedfromhis jobbutwhohadprovided fraudulentdocumentation to secure theemployment. It isagainstthisbackdropthatthisarticleexaminesOklahoma’sWorkers’CompensationAct1asitisapplied to claims by illegal aliens for workers’compensation benefits due to injuries arisingoutofandinthecourseoftheiremployment.

Illegal Aliens, Immigration Policy and Workers’ Compensation

By Pamla K. Cornett


JoseEstradaisyourfinalappointmentfortheday.Mr.Estradahas brought his son Victor to interpret as you discuss Mr.Estrada’soptionsfollowinganinjuryonthejob.Mr.Estrada

suffered a crushing injury to his leg on the job where he hasworkedforthelast10years.Hisemployertookhimtotheemer-gencyroom,andMr.Estradaunderwentsurgerytotreattheleg.Hewastakenoffworkandadvisedtofollowupwiththeortho-pedicdoctorwhoperformedthesurgery.Theworkers’compen-sationinsurancecarrierinitiallyprovidedmedicalbenefitsandtemporary total disability benefits. However, the insurancecompanynowbelievesMr.Estradatobeinthecountryillegallyandhasrefusedtopayanymorebenefitsassertingthattopaybenefitswouldviolatethelaw.Mr.Estradaisnotabletoworkandisunabletoaffordmedicaltreatment.


In1986,theU.S.CongresspassedtheImmi-gration Reform and Control Act2 declaring it“unlawfulforapersonorotherentitytohire,ortorecruit,orreferforafee,foremploymentintheUnitedStatesanalienknowingthealienis an unauthorized alien with respect to suchemployment.”3 The law was intended toremovetheincentiveforillegalimmigrationbyeliminating the jobs that attract illegal aliens.Tothatend,thelegislationcreatedanemploy-mentverificationsystemdesignedtodetertheemployment of aliens who are unlawfully intheUnitedStatesand thosewhoare lawfullypresentbutnotauthorizedtowork.4

Under the employment verification system,alienswhoareintheUnitedStateslegallyandapprovedtoworkareissuedformaldocumen-tation of their eligibility status by the federalimmigrationauthorities.5Beforehiringanindi-vidual,theemployerisrequiredtoverifythatperson’s identity and eligibility to work byexaminingthedocumentsissuedbytheauthor-ities.Ifthedocumentationisnotprovided,theapplicant cannot be hired.6 If the employerhirestheprospectiveworkerwithoutcomply-ing with the verification process or if theemployer unknowingly hires an illegal alienbutsubsequentlylearnsthattheworkerisnotauthorizedtoworkanddoesnotimmediatelyterminate the employment relationship, theemployerissubjecttocivilorcriminalprosecu-tion and penalties.7 Congress expressly pro-videdthatIRCAwould“preemptanyStateorlocal law imposing civil or criminal sanction(otherthanthroughlicensingandsimilarlaws)uponthosewhoemploy,orrecruitorreferforafeeforemployment,unauthorizedaliens.”8

Itisunlawfulforanalientoprovideanyfalsedocument in order to obtain employment.9However,thereisnopenaltyifthealienattainsemployment without having proper workauthorization.

TheU.S.SupremeCourtwasaskedtoapplytheprovisionsofIRCAinHoffman Plastic Com-pounds Inc. v. NLRB.10 In Hoffman, Castro, anillegalalien,wasterminatedfromhisemploy-ment with Hoffman. Three years later, theNLRBconcludedthatHoffmanhadunlawfullyselectedfouremployees,includingCastro,forlayoff,dueto involvement inunionactivities.Hoffman was ordered by the NLRB to offerreinstatementandbackpaytothefiredemploy-ees. At a later compliance meeting before anadministrative law judge, it was determinedthat Castro had fraudulently obtained docu-

ments tosupporthisemploymentapplicationandthathehadneverbeenauthorizedtoworkin the United States. His Social Security cardand driver’s license were also fraudulentlyobtained.TheALJdetermined that theNLRBwasprecludedfromawardingCastrobackpayor offering reinstatement because such reliefwasinconflictwiththeIRCA.Later,theNLRBreversedthespecificissueofbackpay.

On appeal, the issue before the SupremeCourtwaswhetheranillegalalienwhoinvio-lationofIRCAgainedemploymentbypresent-ingfalseworkauthorizationdocumentscouldbe awarded back pay by the NLRB after theworker was impermissibly terminated forengaging in union-organizing activities. Thecourtheldthatanawardofbackpaywaspro-hibitedbecauseitwouldconflictwiththepur-pose of IRCA. Under the IRCA regime, if anundocumented alien obtains employment intheUnitedStates,somepartyhasdirectlycon-travenedexplicitcongressionalpolicies.“Eitherthe undocumented alien tenders fraudulentidentification… or the employer knowinglyhirestheundocumentedalienindirectcontra-diction of its IRCA obligations.”11 The courtconcluded:

[A]llowingtheBoardtoawardbackpaytoillegal aliens would unduly trench uponexplicit statutory prohibitions critical tofederalimmigrationpolicy,asexpressedinIRCA. It would encourage the successfulevasion of apprehension by immigrationauthorities,condonepriorviolationsoftheimmigration laws, and encourage futureviolations.HoweverbroadtheBoard’sdis-cretion to fashion remedies when dealingonlywiththeNLRA,itisnotsounbound-edastoauthorizethissortofanaward.12

IrCa, WOrKers’ COmPensatIOn anD Pre-emPtIOn

Awardsofworkers’compensationbenefitstoillegalalienshavebeenchallengedascontraryto the purpose of IRCA and the teachings ofHoffman.Thosechallengesprimarilyassertthatthe employment contract is illegal and unen-forceablebecauseIRCAmakesemploymentofunauthorizedaliensillegal.Awardsofbenefitsareopposedasallowingpaymentofwagesinviolation of Hoffman. Intertwined with theseargumentsistheassertionthatIRCApre-emptsstate law. However, courts have for the mostpartheld thatworkers’ compensationawards


arenotanobstacletotheaccomplishmentandexecutionofthepolicyandpurposesofIRCA.

The federal government exercises supremepowerinthefieldofforeignaffairs,includingimmigration,naturalizationanddeportation.13But the court has never held that every stateenactmentwhichinanywaydealswithaliensisaregulationofimmigrationandthuspersepre-empted by the constitutional power,whetherlatentorexercised.14

In Todd v. Frank’s Tong Service Inc.,15 theSupremeCourtstatedthatgenerally,pre-emp-tion is a matter of congressional intent thatoccursunderfourinstances:

1)expressstatutorylanguage;2)apervasiveregulatory scheme that infers by its pres-ence that Congress felt the federal regula-tion did not need supplemental state lawprovisions; 3) an actual conflict betweenstateandfederallawsmakingitphysicallyimpossibletocomplywithboth;or4)wheretheobjectivesandpurposeofCongressarethwartedbystatelaw.

IRCAcontainsanexpresspre-emptionclausestating that “[t]he provisions of this sectionpre-emptanystateorlocallawimposingcivilor criminal sanctions (other than throughlicensing and similar laws) upon those whoemploy,orrecruitorreferforafeeforemploy-ment, unauthorized aliens.”16 The plain lan-guage appears directed at laws that imposefines for hiring undocumented aliens. “ThelegislativehistoryofIRCAconfirmsthisinter-pretation,asthepre-emptionlanguageinsec-tion1324a[h][2]wasintendedtoapplyonlytocivil fines and criminal sanctions imposed bystateor local laws”.17 IRCAissilent,however,astoitspre-emptiveeffectonanyotherstateorlocallaws,includingworkers’compensation.

TheOklahomaWorkers’CompensationAct,requiringemployerstopayworkersinjuredasaresultoftheiremployment,isnotalocallawimposing civil or criminal sanctions. Rather,fromitsinception,thepurposeoftheWorkers’CompensationActhasbeentwo-fold:1)topro-vide support to workers during periods ofactual disability, and 2) to provide for theirdependentsintheeventofanoccupationally-relateddeath,ortocoverhospital,medicalandfuneralexpenses.18

Thus,itcannotbesaidthatCongressexplic-itlypre-emptedOklahoma’sworkers’compen-sationlaw.

ItalsodoesnotappearthatCongressintend-ed to pre-empt state law in this area. Suchintent may be implied where Congress hasdesigned a pervasive regulatory scheme thatinfers by its presence that Congress felt thefederal regulation did not need supplementalstatelawprovisions.19Immigrationisclearlyafield where the federal interest is dominant.However, the immigration law, set forth inIRCA,isdifferentthanworkers’compensationlawandeachoccupiesentirelydifferentfields.TheWorkers’CompensationActisconsidereda law of general applicability and is not onewhose object is to regulate immigration. Itapplies to all Oklahomans, not just illegalaliens.Acongressionalintenttodeprivestatesoftheirpowertoenforcesuchgenerallawsismore difficult to infer than an intent to pre-empt laws that are directed specifically atimmigration concerns.20 States possess broadauthorityundertheirpolicepowerstoregulatetheemploymentrelationship toprotectwork-ers within the state. Child labor laws, mini-mum and other wage laws, laws affectingoccupationalhealthandsafety,andworkmen’scompensationlawsareonlyafewexamples.21

The final instances in which pre-emptionmayoccurarewhenanactualconflictbetweenstate and federal laws makes it physicallyimpossibletocomplywithboth,orwheretheobjectivesandpurposeofCongressarethwart-edbystatelaw.

OKlaHOma DeCIsIOns

TheOklahomaCourtofCivilAppealsdeter-mined thatanawardofcertainbenefits toanillegalaliendidnotconflictwithorthwartthepurpose of IRCA in Cherokee Industries Inc. v. Alvarez.22 There, the employer appealed thetrialcourt’sawardoftemporarytotaldisabilitybenefitsontwogrounds:1)TheclaimantwasdeprivedofbenefitsundertheWorkers’Com-pensationAct because he was an illegal alienwhoprovidedfalsedocuments toprocurehisemploymentinviolationofIRCArenderinghis

The Workers’ Compensation Act is considered a law of general applicability and is not one whose

object is to regulate immigration.


contract of employment void ab initio; and 2)TheclaimantwasnotentitledtobenefitsundertheSupremeCourt’sinterpretationofIRCAinHoffman, supra.

Alvarezsufferedseveralback injurieswhileworkingforCherokeeIndustries,thelastdatebeing March 20, 2002. He sought and wasawarded medical treatment and temporarytotaldisabilitybenefits.Themedicalevidenceindicatedthathewasunabletoworkandsur-gerywasrecommendedinMarchof2003.Theemployerarguedthetemporarytotaldisability(TTD) shouldnothaveextendedbeyond July3,2002, thedateAlvarezgavenoticeofhisofhis unauthorized status, resulting in his “forcause” termination from employment. Theemployerappealed.

Concluding that the contract was not void,the court’s analysis included a discussion ofLang v. Landeros23 a case decided before Hoff-man.InLang,theemployerappealedanawardofbenefitstoLanderosallegingthattheclaim-ant’s employment was illegal because heentered the country illegally under federalimmigration laws, thereby precluding theWorkers’CompensationCourtfrommakinganaward.ThecourtupheldthefindingofthetrialcourtthatOklahomalawdoesnotexcludetheclaimantfromreceivinganaward.

InreachingthatdecisionLangreasonedthatworkers’ compensation did not exist undercommonlawandtherefore,whetheranawardcould be made or denied is purely statutory.Thedefinitionof employeeandemployerarebroadlydefinedundertheactandthecitizen-ship status of employees is not addressed inthestatutes.Thecourtstated:

ThisCourtmaynotlegislateexceptionsorexclusions.Thisisamattertobeaddressedby the Legislature. Any employment iscovered by the Workers’ CompensationActunlessspecificallyexcluded.24

Adopting the Lang approach, the court inCherokee Industriesfurtherexplainedthatwhilethe act has exceptions, i.e. some sole propri-etors,itdoesnotexceptillegalaliensorundoc-umented workers. The court examined opin-ions from other jurisdictions as well thatacknowledged that the“merestatusof illegalalien does not deprive an employee of allworkers’compensationbenefits.”25

Ourlawprovidesthatanemployeeisanypersonengagedintheemploymentofany

personunderanagreementforwork.BeingunauthorizeddoesnotchangethefactthatAlvarezwasanemployeeatthetimeofhisinjuries.26

The court acknowledged that the remedyprovided under the Workers’ CompensationActmightbecircumscribedbyIRCAandthatcertain benefits may not be available becauseof the claimant’s illegal status. However, thecourt did not agree that allowing treatmentandcompensationwouldignoreandtrivializeIRCAorcondoneandencouragefurthercrimi-nalconductbyallowingtheclaimanttoremaininthestateandreceivetreatmentandmoney.

OtHer JurIsDICtIOns

Thisviewisalmostuniformlyheld inotherjurisdictions. And compilation of exemplarcaseswiththeirrationaleisfoundinMadeira v. Affordable Housing,27 a case inwhich the courtwasasked todeterminewhetheraNewyorklaw allowing compensatory damages to anillegalalienwaspre-emptedbyIRCA.Indeter-mining that the law was not pre-empted, thecourtalsoaddressedthenatureofstatework-ers’compensationlawsvis-à-visIRCA:

As the Connecticut Supreme Court hasobservedwithrespecttofederalimmigra-tion law, “excluding [undocumented]workersfromthepoolofeligibleemploy-eeswouldrelieveemployersfromtheobli-gationofobtainingworkers’compensationcoverage for such employees and therebycontravenethepurposeoftheImmigrationReform Act by creating a financial incen-tive for unscrupulous employers to hireundocumented workers.” Dowling v. Slot-nik,712A.2dat404,244Conn.at796.Otherstatecourtshaveechoedthispoint.See, e.g., Farmer Brothers Coffee v. Workers’ Comp. Appeals Bd.,35Cal.Rptr.3d23,28,2005Cal.App. LExIS 1618, at *10 (noting that ifemployers were permitted to deny work-ers’compensationbenefitstoundocument-ed workers, “unscrupulous employerswouldbeencouragedtohirealiensunau-thorized to work in the United States, bytakingthechancethatthefederalauthori-tieswouldaccepttheirclaimsofgoodfaithreliance upon immigration and workauthorizationdocumentsthatappeartobegenuine”); Reinforced Earth Co. v. Workers’ Comp. Appeal Bd.,749A.2d1036,1039(Pa.Commw.Ct.2000),2000Pa.Commw.LExIS200,at *8 (noting that thedenialofwork-


ers’compensationbenefitstoinjuredundoc-umentedemployeeswouldprovideemploy-ers with an incentive to violate federalimmigrationlawby“activelyseek[ing]outillegal aliens rather than citizens or legalresidentsbecausetheywillnotbeforcedtoinsureagainstorabsorbthecostsofwork-related injuries”). At the same time, statecourtsexpressunderstandableconcernthatthedenialofworkers’ compensationbene-fits would seriously undermine the state’ssignificantinterestinpromotingworkplacesafety and protecting the public fisc byleadingemployersofundocumentedaliensto think that they can “engage in unsafepracticeswithnofearofretribution,secureintheknowledgethatsocietywouldhavetobearthecostofcaringfortheseinjuredworkers.”Design Kitchen & Baths v. Lagos,882A.2d817,826,388Md.718,733.Thesetwinconcernshardlysuggestthatawork-ers’compensationawardstandsasadirectand positive obstacle to federal immigra-tionpolicy.28

mOnetarY BeneFIts unDer tHe aCt

Whether an award of benefits under Okla-homalawpresentsastumblingblocktofederalimmigrationpolicyrequiressomeunderstand-ingofthenatureoftemporarydisabilitybene-fitsandotherbenefitsingeneral.TheWorkers’Compensation Act provides that “[e]veryemployersubjecttotheprovisionsoftheWork-ers’CompensationActshallpay,orprovideasrequired by the Workers’ Compensation Act,compensationaccordingtotheschedulesoftheWorkers’ CompensationAct for the disabilityordeathofanemployeeresultingfromanacci-dentalpersonalinjurysustainedbytheemploy-eearisingoutofandinthecourseofemploy-ment,withoutregardtofaultasacauseofsuchinjury.”29Monetarybenefitsprovidedaninjuredworkerundertheactincludebenefitsfortem-porarytotaldisability(TTD),temporarypartialdisability (TPD), permanent partial disability(PPD)andpermanenttotaldisability(PTD).

Temporary Total Disability Benefits

“Temporary total disability for which com-pensation may be allowed is defined as thehealingperiodor that timefollowinganacci-dentalinjurywhenanemployeeistotallyinca-pacitated from work due to illness resultingfrominjury.”30ThepurposeofTTDbenefits isto replace wages lost during an employee’shealingperiod.31

Thecompensation to replace thewages isablend of two elements. The first element isincapacityorlossoffunctioninthephysicalormedical sense that is established by medicalevidence. The second element of temporarytotal disability is the inability to earn wagesthat isnormallydemonstratedbynonmedicalevidence touching upon claimant’s employ-mentsituation.32

In Alvarez, the employer argued that theundocumentedworkerwasnotentitledtoTTDasserting IRCA prohibitions. However, oncethe court determined the worker was an“employee”undertheact,andthathisphysi-cal inability to work was substantiated bymedical evidence, the award of benefits wasproperly affirmed. The employer next arguedthat TTD should not be payable beyond thedatetheemployeewasnolongerlegallyeligi-bleforwork,i.e.,thedatehegavenoticehewasundocumentedandhisemploymentterminat-ed“forcause.”Thecourtdeterminedtherewasmedicalevidencetosubstantiatethatclaimantwas unable to work and under the facts pre-sented, the fact that theemploymentwas ter-minateddoesnotimpacttheorder.

The TTD benefits awarded are unlike thebackpayprohibitedbytheSupremeCourt inHoffman.Theawardofbackpaywasreversedbecauseitwastobepaidforwagesthatcouldnothavebeen lawfullyearnedbecauseof theillegalstatusoftheworker.Ontheotherhand,theeffectaninjuryhasonaworkerhasnoth-ing to do with his citizenship or immigrationstatus.“Ifhiscapacitytoworkhasbeendimin-ished,thatdisabilitywillcontinuewhetherhisfuture employment is in this country or else-where.”33Therightstobenefitsarenotderivedfromhisimmigrationstatusbutareincidenttohisemploymentduringthecourseofwhichhesufferedaninjury.

TheAlvarezcourtnotedthatvocationalreha-bilitation and medical treatment by a specificphysician may not be available to a claimantwho cannot remain in the country. However,therearebenefitsimpactedbyIRCAwhenthesecondelementofTTD—thatelementtouch-inguponclaimant’snon-medical,employmentsituation—comesintoplay.

Light Duty Employment

Aninjuredworkerwhoismedicallyreleasedtolightdutyworkisnotentitledtocontinuedtemporary benefits unless the employer doesnothave lightdutyavailable.34 If the inability


toreturntotheemploymentisduetocircum-stances under the employer’s control, e.g. nolight duty available or no longer available,35

and the employer didn’t advise of the avail-abilityofwork,36whethertheworkerisundoc-umentedshouldnotbeafactorinthecontinu-anceofTTDbenefits.However,iflightdutyisavailable, the employer is prohibited underIRCAfromemployinganillegalalien,orcon-tinuingtoemploytheworkerafterhisundocu-mented status becomes known.An employermight successfully argue it is relieved frompayingbenefitsundertheholdingsinAkers v. Seaboard Farms37andWal-Mart Stores v. Berg.38

InAkers, theemployee injuredhisankleandwasreturnedtolightdutywork.Afterworkingonlightduty,hispost-accidentdrugtestresultscame back positive. The employer fired theclaimantformisconduct.Theemployeerequest-edTTDfortheperiodhewasunderlightdutyrestrictionsongroundsthatlightdutywasnotavailabletohim.Thecourtheldthatanemploy-er isnotrequiredtocontinuepayingTTDtoaclaimant who has been fired for misconductexplainingthereisnothinginthelawrequiringanemployertocontinuetoofferlightdutyafterviolatedemployer’spolicies.

Similarly, inBerg, theclaimantwasreleasedto light duty and was offered light duty. Theclaimantwasnotabletoacceptthelightdutybecause she did not have child care availableduringtheshiftinwhichlightdutywasoffered.TheCourtofAppealsheldthatanemployerisnotrequiredtocontinueTTDifthelightdutyisrefusedforreasonsunrelatedtotheinjuryordisability.

Court-ordered payment of TTD for reasonsunrelatedtotheinjuryordisabilityalsoappearsviolativeofIRCAandtheteachingsofHoffman.

Temporary Partial Disability

In limited circumstances, an employer mayberelievedfrompayingTPD.TPDpertainstothat timeduring thehealingperiodwhentheinjured worker has some capacity to work.TPDcompensationispaidattherateof70per-cent of the difference between the employee’saverage weekly wages and the employee’swage-earning capacity thereafter in the same employment or otherwise39subjecttosomelimita-tions.40 TPD is typically paid to an employeewho returns to some duty, while still underdoctor’scare,butearninglessthanpre-injurywages.41 There does not appear to be therequirementthattheworkeractuallyreturnto

employmenttoreceivethisbenefit.Thestatutespeaks in terms of “capacity,” an elementcapableofbeingprovedbymeansother thanactualemploymentwithhispre-injuryemploy-er.42Whilereturningtohispre-injuryemployer,ifhisstatusasanalienwereknown,wouldbeprohibited by IRCA, he could find employ-mentinotheremployment.Otheremploymentis specifically permitted under the act, andIRCAdoesnotmakeitapenaltyforanalientoworkwithoutproperdocumentation.

Permanent Disability

IRCA purposes are not thwarted by theawardofeitherpermanentpartialdisabilityorpermanenttotaldisabilitybenefits.PPDissyn-onymous with permanent partial impairmentunder the act. PPD or PPI is defined as “anyanatomical or functional abnormality or lossafter reasonable medical treatment has beenachieved,whichabnormalityorlossthephysi-cianconsiderstobecapableforbeingevaluat-ed…”43 In short, permanent partial disability,as distinguished from other payout classes,contemplatesrecompenseforlostphysicalfit-ness,thoughtheamountpaidtheworkermustbemeasuredbyapercentageofwageshe (orshe) would have earned but for the coveredinjury.44InthecaseofPPD,“theworkermaybeable to work, but the award recognizes adiminishmentofbodilyfunctionandattendanteffectonwage-earningcapacity.”45

PTDundertheactmeans“incapacitybecauseofaccidentalinjuryoroccupationaldiseasetoearnanywagesinanyemploymentforwhichthe employee may become physically suitedandreasonablefittedbyeducation,trainingorexperience,includingvocationalrehabilitation;lossofbothhands,orbothfeet,orbothlegs,orboth eyes.46 The analysis for PTD benefits issimilartothatforTTD.Whiletheemployeeistotally unable to work, either in the U.S. orelsewhere,anawardofbenefitswouldnotvio-latethepolicyoffederalimmigrationlaws.

COnClusIOn

Mostmonetarybenefitsavailableunder theOklahoma Workers’ Compensation Act pro-mote the intendedpurposeof theactbypro-viding support for workers during their dis-ability—withoutregardtocitizenshipstatus.Notonlyisthepurposeaccomplishedwithoutviolating the federal government’s goal toeliminate illegalemployment, it is instrumen-talinthefightaswell.


1.OklahomaWorkers’CompensationActlocatedat85O.S.1,et seq.2.8U.S.C.§1324aet seq.3.8U.S.C.§1324a[1][a]. Under 8 U.S.C. §1324a[h][3] “unauthorized alien” means, with

respecttotheemploymentofanalienataparticulartime,thatthealienisnotatthattimeeither(A)analienlawfullyadmittedforpermanentresidence,or(B)authorizedtobesoemployedbythischapterorbytheattorneygeneral.

4.8U.S.C.§1324a[b].5.8U.S.C.§1324a[b][1][B],[C].6.8U.S.C.§1324a[a][1].7.8U.S.C.§1324a[a][1],[2];[f][1].8.8U.S.C.§1324a[h][2].9.8U.S.C.§1324(c).10.Hoffman Plastic Compounds Inc. v. NLRB,535U.S.137,122S.Ct.

1275,152L.Ed.2d271(2002).11.Id.,535U.S.at148.12.Id.,535.U.S.at151-152.13.Hines v. Davidowitz,312U.S.52,61S.Ct.399,85L.Ed.581(1941).14.DeCanas v. Bica,242U.S.351,96S.Ct.933,47L.Ed2d43(1976).15.1989OK121,¶5,784P.247.16.8U.S.C.§1342a(h)(2).17.Balbuena v. IDR Realty LLC,6N.y.3d338,812N.y.S.2.d416,

845N.E.1246,1256(2006)(citationsomitted).18.Crocker v. Crocker,1991OK130,824P.2d1117.19.See,Todd, supra,1989OK121,784P.2d47.20.See,Peabody Gallion v. A.V. Dollar,666F.2d1309(10thCir.1981).21.DeCanas, supra,at356.22.Cherokee Industries Inc. v. Alvarez,2004OKCIVAPP15,84P.3d798.23.Lang v. Landeros,1996OCIVAPP4,918P.2d404.24.Id.,¶5(citationsomitted).25.Cherokee Industries, supra,¶4.26.Id.,¶8.27.Madeira v. Affordable Housing,469F.3d219(2ndCir.2006).28.Id.,245-246.29.85O.S.§11(A).30.Yeatman v. Northern Oklahoma resource Center of Enid,2004OK

24,¶20,89P.3d1095.31.B.E.&K Construction v. Abbot,2002OK75,59P.3d38.32.See, Gray v. Natkin Contracting,2001OK73,44P.2d547;Ameri-

can Airlines v. Hervey,2001OK74,33P.3d47.33. Majlinger v. Cassino Contr. Corp., 2005 Ny Slip Op 06785 (Ny

9/19/2005),2005NySlipOp6785(Ny,2005).34.Hinton v. Labor Source,1998OKCIVAPP2,953P.2d358,B.E.&

K. Construction v. Abbot,2002OK75,59P.3d38.35.B.E.&K Construction, supra.36.Hinton, supra.

37.Akers v. Seaboard Farms,1998OKCIVAPP169,972P.2d885.ThecourtinAlvarez indicatedinitsnotestotheiropinionthattheywerenotaddressingwhetheranemployeeonlightdutycouldbeterminat-edbecauseitwasdiscoveredhewasanunauthorizedalien.n.6.

38.Wal-Mart Stores v. Berg,2004OKCIVAPP89,99P.3d1205.39.85O.S.§22(4)b.40.85O.S.§22(6)providesthatthecompensationreceived,aspro-

vided for temporary partial disability, shall not, when added to thewages received by such employee after such injury, amount to agreatersumthaneightypercent(80%)oftheaverageweeklywagesoftheemployeereceivedpriortosaidinjury.

41. For example: An employee earns $400.00 a week before hisinjuryand$100.00aweekafterhisinjury.Hisbenefitwouldbe70%ofthe difference of pre- and post-injury earnings or $210.00. However,thatbenefitwhenadded topost-injurywages cannot exceed80%ofpre-injury earnings. Under these facts, the TPD benefit ($210.000 +post-injury wages ($100.00) cannot exceed 80% of injury earnings($320.00).$210+$100=$310.00

42.See, Champion Auto Body v. Industrial Claim Appeals Office of State of Colo. 950 P.2d 671 (Colo. App. 1997) The claimant entered into acontractofemploymentsubsequenttobeingterminatedfrompreviousemployment and relied on those earnings to prove TPD. The courtnotedthatsinceIRCAdoesnotprohibitanillegalalienfromenteringintoanemploymentcontract,theclaimantisnotunderalegaldisabil-ityfromfindingemployment.

43.85O.S.3(19).44.Farm Fresh Inc v. Bucek,1995OK44,895P.2d719.45.Roberts v. Matrix Services Inc.,1993OK148,863P.2d1242.46.85O.S.3(20)Todd v. Frank’s Tong Service Inc.,1989OK121¶5,

784P.2d47.

Pam Cornett is a sole prac-titioner in Tulsa practicing pri-marily in the area of workers’ compensation. She graduated with a bachelor of arts from Oklahoma State University and earned her J.D. at the Univer-sity of Oklahoma in 1981.

AbOuT THE AuTHOR


SincethepassageoftheMedicareSecondaryPayerAct of 1980 (MSPA), the workers’ com-pensationpractitionershouldbewellawareofthe federal government’s intent to ensure theSocialSecuritySystemdoesnotpayformedicalcarethatshouldbepaidthroughtheworkers’compensation system.1 The act was created topreventMedicarefrompayingmedicalexpens-es that private insurers should pay. Throughvarious amendments, the federal governmenthas enacted provisions designed to effectuatethatpurpose.

Under the MSPA and its amendments, it isclearthatMedicareisalwaysasecondarypayerwhenever a primary insurance plan (includingself-insurance)isavailable.2Withtheenactmentof the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improve-ment and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA),

thefederalgovernmentessentiallymadeagentsofattorneystocarryoutitsintenttoensurepri-mary plans including self insurance are avail-able. This act empowered Medicare to seekreimbursement from virtually any party whoreceived a primary payment, including Medi-care beneficiaries, attorneys, physicians andmedical providers, state agencies or privateinsurers,andanyprimaryinsuranceplan(evenif the primary plan already paid the Medicarebeneficiaryorotherparty).3

Under the MMA, claimant attorneys arecharged with counseling their clients on theimpact Medicare has on a client-beneficiary’ssettlement. Failure to properly consider anyfuturemedicalexpensesaclaimantincursoncea claim has been settled puts the attorney in apositionofhavingMedicarenotonlygoingafter

Medicare Considerations for the Workers’ Compensation Practitioner

By Valerie J. Evans


Theworkers’ compensationcarrier jointpetitionedCarl I.Amhurt’sworker’scompensationcasefor$35,000.CarlI.Amhurtis70yearsoldandaMedicarebeneficiary,butthe

carrierfailedtoreporthisclaimtoseeifMedicarepaidanyofthemedicalexpenses.Sixmonthslater,MedicarerealizesithaspaidformedicaltreatmenttoCarlI.Amhurtrelatedtohiswork-ers’compensationclaim.Who’sintrouble?Thecarrierwillbefined$1,000perdayandMr.I.Amhurtandhiscounselmaybeliable to reimburse Medicare for all past expenses and futuremedicalcareuptotheamountofthesettlement.Allpartiestoaworkers’compensationclaimwillsuffernegativeramificationsand such is why practitioners, both respondent and claimant,mustbeacutelyawareoftheconsequencesofhavingMedicareinthemixofasettlement.


the client for reimbursement, but after theattorney as well. Moreover, if Medicare mustinitiatelegalactionduetoaclaimantandorhisattorney’sfailuretoconsiderthefuturebenefitspaidbyMedicareastheresultofinjuriessus-tained from a settled workers’ compensationclaim, Medicare is entitled to recover doubledamagesplusinterest.4ThepractitioneravoidsthethreatofpenaltybyadequatelyconsideringMedicare’sinterests.5

PriortothepassageoftheMedicare,Medic-aidandSCHIPExtensionActof2007(MMSEA),Medicare considerations were primarily aclaimantattorney’sconcern.Withthepassageof the MMSEA, respondent attorneys have adutytoensuretheirclients,workers’compen-sationinsurersandown-riskemployersknowwhat is required under the MMSEA. Section111oftheactidentifiesworkers’compensationcarriers and own-risk employers as “Respon-sibleReportingEntities”orRREs.6

Now,theclaimshandlermustreportdetailedinformationregardingaclaimdirectlytoMedi-careeach timea settlement, judgment, awardor other payment ismade toaclaimantwho isentitledtoreceiveMedicarebenefits.Thecon-sequencesoffailingtoreportthisinformationwillresultinacivilpenaltyof$1,000perclaim,perday.7

AtonetimeitappearedasiftheCentersforMedicaidandMedicareServices(CMS)wouldrequireRREstobepreparedtoreportinexcessof 100 data field identifiers. But at present, itappearsthattheonlyinformationtobereport-ed is the identity of a Medicare beneficiarywhoseillness, injury,incidentoraccidentwasat issue — as well as such other informationspecifiedbythesecretaryofHealthandHumanServices to enable an appropriate determina-tionconcerningcoordinationofbenefitsinclud-ing any applicable recovery claim and dataelementswhichthesecretaryalsodetermines.

Hopefully,allinsurersandown-riskemploy-ers should be aware of this requirement bynow.Thereportingsystemispaperlessandallinformationwillbehandledelectronically.AsofMay1,2009,throughSept.30,2009,allRREswere to have registered with the CoordinatorofBenefitsSecureWebsite.EachRREwillbeassigned a designated representative to assistthemthroughtheimplementationprocess.Thetesting of the electronic data exchange wasscheduled to commence Jan. 1, 2010. InitiallyRREsweretohavebegunactualreportingon

Oct.1,2009,butthatdeadlinewaspushedbacktoJuly1,2010.8

An advantage to the mandatory reportingrequirementsofSection111maybethataclaimrequiring a Medicare Set-Aside Agreement(MSA)uponsettlementwillbeidentifiedearly.The desirable outcome is the delay that oftenarisesfromhavingtowaitforCMSreviewwillbeminimized.

Respondentattorneyscanhelpwiththepro-cess of identifying Medicare beneficiariesthroughthelitigationprocess.It isprudenttoasktheclaimantduringthediscoveryprocesswhethertheclaimantisaMedicarebeneficiaryor if the claimant intends to apply for SocialSecuritybenefits.Thisisespeciallyimportantiftheclaimisevaluatedatornear$25,000beforefinaladjudicationorsettlement.

Thedutytodeterminewhetheraclaimantisentitled toMedicarebenefits rests solelywiththeRRE.WhetheraclaimshouldbereportedtoCMSisnotdependentonwhethertheclaim-antisanactualMedicarebeneficiary.Ifrespon-dentattorneysidentifyactualbeneficiariesandthose who likely will become beneficiaries, itwould help the RRE determine whether aclaim should be reported to CMS. If the RREfailstoidentifyaMedicarebeneficiary,theRREwill be subject to a $1,000 per day, per claimpenalty.

To identify which claimants are Medicarebeneficiaries or potential beneficiaries, the re-spondent attorney should ask the appropriatequestions during the deposition that will iden-tify or rule out which claimant is more likelythannottobeeligibleforbenefits.Writteninter-rogatoriesoraportionoftheclaimant’sdeposi-tionshouldbedevotedtoascertainingwhetheranyofthecriteriaforeligibilityforSocialSecu-ritybenefitsapplytotheclaimant.

Becausetheobligationtoreportisacontinu-ing one, and a claimant’s status can change

Of course, prior to settlement, both parties will

want to know what conditional payments have been made.


duringthecourseoflitigation,itiswisefortherespondentattorneytoinquireastotheclaim-ant’s eligibility to receive benefits every timeclaimantisontherecord;i.e.deposition,courtproceedingsandjointpetitionrecords.

OncetheRREreportstheclaimtoCMS,theMSPRecoveryContractor(MSPRC)will issuea Medicare Secondary Payer Rights andResponsibilities letter. Before Oct. 1, 2009, theCoordinator of Benefits Contractor (COBC)issueda right to recovery letter.Uponreceiptoftherightsandresponsibilityletter,claimant’scounselwillneedtosendproofofrepresenta-tiontotheMSPRCbymailorfax.

Of course, prior to settlement, both partieswillwanttoknowwhatconditionalpaymentshave been made. Conditional payments arethosepaymentsmadebyMedicareforservicesforwhichanotherpayerisresponsible.9gener-allythesepaymentsaremadeduringtheperi-odoftimetherespondentdeniestheclaimandtheWorkers’CompensationCourthaveyettodeterminewhethertheclaimiscompensable.

AWorkers’CompensationSet-AsideArrange-ment(WCMSA)istherecommendedmethodtoprotect Medicare’s interests.10 A WCMSA is anallocation of funds from a workers’ compensa-tion-relatedsettlement,judgmentorawardthatisusedtopayforanindividual’sfuturemedicaland/or future prescription drug treatmentexpenses related to a workers’ compensationinjury,illnessordiseasethatwouldotherwisebereimbursablebyMedicare.

The amount set aside is determined on acase-by-casebasisandshouldbereviewedbyCMSwhenappropriate.Once theCMSdeter-minesset-asideamountisexhaustedandaccu-rately accounted for, CMS will agree to payprimaryforfutureMedicarecoveredexpensesrelatedtotheworkers’compensationinjury.11

Although it should go without saying, theclaimantattorneycannottakeaproposedMSAat face value. The claimant attorney mustensure that the MSA proposal accuratelyreflects:

1)claimant’slifeexpectancy2)claimant’sfuturemedicalneeds3)anticipatedprescriptioncosts

TheMMSEAisanothermechanismbywhichthe federal government seeks to ensure itsrights are protected. It is a reminder to theworkers’compensationpractitionersthattheirduty is to adequately consider Medicare’sinterests by proactively advising clients ofMedicare’s impactontheirclaimandprotect-ingtheclientfromtheharmthatwouldresultiftheyfailtodoso.

1.42U.S.C.§1395y.2.42C.F.R.§411.20.3.42U.S.C.§1395y(b)(2)(b)(iii).4.42U.S.C.§411.24.5.42U.S.C.1395y(b).6.SeeCMSJuly31,2009,Alert for Liability (Including Self-Insurance),

No Fault-Insurance and Workers’ Compensation, Draft Language for Public Comment.

7.42U.S.C.§1395y(b)(8)(E).8.CMSMay12,2009,Revised Implementation Timeline.9.42C.F.R.§411.21.10. www.cms.hhs.gov/WorkersCompAgencyServices/04_wcset

aside.asp#TopOfPage.11.Id.

Valerie Evans’ practice focuses primarily in the area of workers’ compensation. She is currently of counsel with Solomon Simmons Sharrock & Associates PLLC and with the Whitten Law Firm. She is a member of the Workers’ Compensation Sections of both the Oklahoma Bar Association and the Tulsa County Bar Asso-

ciation in addition to the Northeast Black Lawyers Association.

AbOuT THE AuTHOR


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Employersarerequiredbystatutetoprovidemedical care for injured workers. 85 O.S.14(A)(1)provides:

The employer shall promptly provide foraninjuredemployeesuchmedical,surgicalor other attendance or treatment, nurseand hospital service, medicine, crutches,and apparatus as may be necessary aftertheinjury.1

After an award for permanent disability, therighttoreceivefurthermedicalcare,commonlycalledcontinuingmaintenancemedical(CMM),is limited tomedical treatmentwhichdoesnotchangeorimprovetheclaimant’sphysicalcon-ditionbutmerely constitutesday-to-daymain-tenanceoftheworker’spermanentcondition.2

Theemployerhasacontinuingdutytofurnishmedicaltreatmentforaslongasitisneeded,ifthe judge includesaprovisionforCMMinthepermanent partial disability order.3 CMM con-tinues until the Workers’ Compensation Courtfindsitisnolongerneeded.4

The Oklahoma Workers’ CompensationSchedule of Hospital and Medical Fees (feeschedule) and guidelines promulgated by thePhysician Advisory Committee have helped

control the cost of medical care in the earlystagesofaworkers’compensationclaimwhilean injured worker is receiving active medicaltreatment,includingsurgery.

PaIn manaGement InCreases

Before2000, itwas rare tohaveCMMin theform of pain management awarded in work-related injuries beyond six months followingsurgery.Inasimplebacksurgerycase,theclaim-antwasoftenprescribedonlyapainkillerandmuscle relaxer for six months. CMM beyondthat time period was reserved for the mostsevere cases such as failed surgeries, amputa-tionsanddebilitatingoccupationaldiseases.

Now, CMM is awarded in the majority ofcases, including nonsurgical cases. In a recentcasethatwasorderedtomediationbytheWork-ers’CompensationCourt,thejudgehadaward-ed$12,000forpermanentpartialdisabilityandCMMforaninjuredworkerwithabackinjurynot deemed serious enough for surgery. Theinsurancecompanythenpaid$300,000forpainmanagementduringthenextsixyears—$50,000annually for group therapy sessions, doctor’svisitsandninedailymedications,includingnar-cotics.Notonlyhadtheintensivepainmanage-ment cost the insurance company 25 times the

Pain Management for Work-Related Injuries

The Crisis in Continuing Maintenance MedicalBy Bob Burke


Continuing medical care for injured workers in Oklahomalongaftertheworkers’compensationcaseisadjudicatedhasdramaticallyincreasedinthelastdecade—causingaspike

incostsforemployersandinsurancecarriersandacrisisforpainmanagementdoctorsandinjuredworkers—whichhasinturnledthisissuetotheforefrontofworkers’compensationreform.


permanentdisabilityaward,itisatragedyforthe lady who was injured. On the day of themediation, she hardly knew what day of theweek it was. In her 40s, she is now on SocialSecuritydisability,largelyduetotheaddictivenarcoticsshetakes.

CMMisnowcostingemployersorinsurancecompaniesmore than thecourtaward forper-manent disability in a surprising number ofcases. It isneverending. Justa fewyearsago,onewouldexpectpainmanagementtotaperoffquicklyafterapermanentdisabilitytrial.Nowtherearecasesinwhichnarcoticsarebeingpre-scribedthreeorfouryearsaftersuccessfulsur-geries.Itisnotuncommontoseecasesinwhichaclaimantistakingfiveorsixdifferenttypesofprescription medicine daily several years afterreaching maximum medical improvement andbeingreleasedbyasurgeon.

a PrOBlem FOr settlement

ThecommonawardingofCMMishinderingsettlementsofworkers’compensationcasesintwoways.IfCMMhasbeenawarded,thecostofajointpetitionsettlementrisestoalevelthatmany insurance companies are unwilling topay. It is a common occurrence that half thesettlementvalueofaclaim isbasedupon thecarrier’sexposureforlongtimeCMM.

The second hurdle that CMM places in theroad to settlement concerns Medicare SetAsides (MSA). If a judgehasawardedCMM,orifthecarrierhasbeenpayingforCMMformonthsaftersurgeryandtheclaimantiseligi-bleforMedicare,thefederalgovernmentmustapproveanyfinalsettlementmorethan$25,000,andinallinstances,mustconsiderifthesettle-mentwillshifttheburdenofmedicalcareontotheMedicaresystem.Thelengthydelayinget-tinganMSAapprovedandtheoftenhighcostof the MSA are strong deterrents to settle-ment.

a sOCIetal PHenOmenOn

Injured workers are not the only Oklaho-mansaffectedbytherecentincreaseintheuseof prescription pain medication. Drug manu-facturersreportthatshipmentsofprescriptionpain medicines to Oklahoma pharmacies andhospitalsmore thandoubledovera four-yearperiodendingin2006—enoughinoneyeartogiveeverystateresidentabout60painpills.5

AreportreleasedbytheU.S.DrugEnforce-ment Administration shows both Tulsa andOklahomacountiesrankedinthetop15areas

of highest prescription pain pill misuse. Thereport, citied by The Oklahoman in a featurearticle, reveals Oklahoma is the only state inthe nation with two counties in the top 15.From 2002 to 2006, the National Survey onDrugUseandHealth saidmoreOklahomansusedpainkillersfornonmedicalpurposesthannearlyanyotherstate.OnlyareasinWestVir-giniaandUtahrankedhigher.6

The Oklahoman further reported that Okla-homa’s Prescription Monitoring Programshows nearly a 40 percent increase in pre-scribeddosesofhydrocodone,commonlysoldunder the brand names Lortab and Vicodin,from the years 2007 to 2009. Officials cannotexplainthedramaticincrease.7

COurt mOVes tO restraIn

The Oklahoma workers’ compensation sys-temisattemptingtolimitCMMasitrelatestopainmanagement.Judgesarereviewingcasesmorecloselytodetermineifsurgeonsorothertreatingdoctors recommendCMM,especiallynarcoticpainmedicine.Judgesalsohavebeguninserting special language in permanent dis-ability orders that allows quicker and morefrequentreviewsoftheneedforpainmanage-ment. It is anticipated that judges will bequicker to appoint an independent medicalexaminer (IME) when there is a dispute overtheneedforCMMorthere isperceivedover-prescribingofnarcotics.

OneofthetoolsavailabletoWorkers’Com-pensation Court judges is the guidelines forPrescription of Opioid Medications forAcuteand Chronic Pain (Pain Management guide-lines)developedandadoptedbythePhysicianAdvisory Committee (PAC) and the adminis-tratoroftheWorkers’CompensationCourt.8

ThePACiscomposedofninephysicians—threeappointedbythegovernor,threeappoint-

…the federal government… must consider if the settlement will

shift the burden of medical care onto the Medicare system.


ed by the president pro tempore of the stateSenate,andthreeappointedbythespeakeroftheOklahomaHouseofRepresentatives.

ThePainManagementguidelinesacknowl-edgetheproblemthatoftenarises:

The long-term use of prescription opioidmedicationsforchronicpainmaybeafac-tor in the development of long-term dis-ability and therefore must be monitoredcarefullytoavoidthisproblem.Thiscondi-tionmaybepreventable ifat-riskpatientsandpracticesareproactivelyidentifiedandmanagedappropriately.9

a COmPleX PrOBlem

Recognizing that CMM in the form of painmanagementisacomplexarea,thePainMan-agement guidelines attempt to distinguishbetween acute and chronic pain in recom-mendingreasonableandnecessarytreatment.

Theguidelineslimittreatmentofacutepainfor traumatic injuries to three weeks and theprescribing of schedule III and IV drugs toeight weeks.10 Pain-management doctors areencouraged to know their patients well inordertospotalcoholorsubstanceabuse,moodorpsychoticdisordersthatmightbecontrain-dicativetoprescribingnarcotics.

There isspecialcaregivenintheguidelinesto the use of opioid medications for chronicpain.Thegoalofopioidmedicationsinchronicpainshouldfocusonimprovementoffunctionandactivitylevel.11Beyondtwotofourmonthsofopioiduse,aspecialin-depthassessmentisrequired.Includedareinstructionstothephy-siciantoobtainrelevantlaboratorystudiesandurinedrugscreens,apsychosocialevaluation,and assess the likelihood the patient can beweaned from opioids in the event there is noimprovementinpainandfunction.12

Strict limitationshavebeenplacedonpain-management physicians. Doctors and theirpatientsmustsignatreatmentagreementthatoutlines the risks and benefits of opioid use,the conditions under which opioids will beprescribed and patient responsibilities. Therecan be only a single prescribing physician, asinglepharmacymustbeused to fill thepre-scriptions whenever possible, the lowest pos-sible effective dose must be used, and theappearance of misuse or nonuse of medica-tionsmustbeactivelylookedfor.13

Forthefirsttime,theguidelinessetspecificparameters for prescribing opioids beyondsixmonths.Doctorsshoulddiscontinueopi-oids if there has been no overall improve-mentinfunction.14

reFOrm OPtIOns

Because of the increases in cost of medicaltreatment in workers’ compensation cases inOklahoma, several possible solutions likelywillbediscussedinthenext fewyears.SomewillsuggestlimitingCMMtooneyear.Otherswillrecommendusinganindependentmedicalexaminer ineverycasetodeterminetheneedfor CMM. Another proposal is to allow theWorkers’CompensationCourttohireamedi-cal director to administratively control CMMand take that decision away from judges andlawyers.

There is a real crisis in CMM in Oklahomaandhowtocontrolitwillbeattheforefrontoffuture discussions of workers’ compensationreforminOklahoma.

1.85O.S.14(A)(1).2.Bill Hodges Truck Co. v. Gillum,1989OK86,774P.2d1063.3.Pitchford v. Jim Powell Dozer Inc.,2000OK12,996P.2d935.4. Baxter v. Montgomery Exterminating, 1998 OK CIVAPP 75, 962

P.2d666.5. The Oklahoman, Sept. 20, 2009; 2009Annual Report, U.S. Drug

EnforcementAdministration.6.Ibid.7.Ibid.8. “guidelines for Prescription of Opioid Medications for Acute

and Chronic Pain,” adopted by the administrator of the OklahomaWorkers’CompensationCourt,effectiveApril1,2007,revisedeffectiveNov.1,2007.

9.Ibid.,p.1,Introduction.10.Ibid.,III(A).11.Ibid.,IV,Introduction.12.Ibid.,IV(A).13.Ibid.,IV(C).14.Ibid.,IV(g).

Bob Burke has represented injured workers before the Okla-homa Workers’ Compensation Court since 1980. With a jour-nalism degree from the Univer-sity of Oklahoma and a law degree from Oklahoma City University, he has served on the Advisory Council on Workers’ Compensation and the Fallin Commission on Workers’ Com-

pensation Reform. Since he was Oklahoma secretary of commerce in 1977, he has frequently helped rewrite workers’ compensation laws and has served as mediator in more than 1,500 work-related cases.

AbOuT THE AuTHOR


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The University of Tulsa College of Law seeks an Assis-tant Director of Professional Development, who will be responsible for supporting the Assistant Dean in all endeavors of the Professional Development Office, including: marketing law students and graduates in a broad spectrum of professional opportunities; planning and implementing educational programs; planning, promoting and assisting students with career and networking strategies; assisting in the on-campus and off-campus interviewing programs; assisting with compilation of statistical data as requested; community outreach; and providing excellent customer service to TU Law students and alumni. The Assistant Director also supervises all coordination of Public Interest opportunities for students. For more information regarding this position, please visit our website at www.utulsa.edu/personnel/jobs.

Please submit a cover letter, resume and the names, addresses and phone numbers of three references to: The University of Tulsa, Office of Human Resources, 800 S. Tucker Drive, Tulsa, OK 74104 or email to [email protected] or fax to (918) 631-3543. The review of applications will commence immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

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COLLEGE OF LAW


In recent years, a popular device used byestateplannersandbusinessplannershasbeentheestablishmentofLimitedPartnerships(LP)orLimitedLiabilityCompanies(LLC)toholdinterests inbusinessand/orinvestmentprop-erties.Thisdeviceisoftencoupledwithinter-generationalgiftsofownershipinterestsintheLPorLLC.Suchtransfersaretoutedasattrac-tiveplanningtoolsbecauseoftheeaseoftrans-ferring fractional interests, the centralizedmanagementandcontrolthatcanbebuiltintotheLPorLLCentity,availabilityofsubstantialdiscounts in the valuation of the transferredand retained interests due to lack of market-abilityandminorityinterests,andmore.

We have also seen a significant number ofchallengestoclaimedbenefitsfromthesetrans-actions,includingreducedtransfertaxes,bothgifttaxesandestatetaxes.Thetaxpayershavecertainlywonor,atleast,beenpleasedwiththeresultsofmanyofthesechallengesindecisionsof the tax court, federal district court andappellatecourts–sometimeseventhoughthefactspresentedwerenotideal.But,theIRShasalsorecordedsomewinsandmadeitspoints.

Somecasesdealwithpureissuesofthevalu-ationofassets–someaddressmore technicalissues asserting retained interests by a donor,continuedcontrolsandenjoymentoftheprop-erty after a purported gift. Some have raisedthe issue of whether the transfer was a com-pletedgift.Afewhaveraisedthequestionastowhetherthegiftoftheinterestqualifiedfortheannualgifttaxexclusion.

TherecenttaxcourtdecisioninPrice v. C., T.C. Memo. 2010-2, (Jan. 2, 2010) is in this latter

category.Inthisdecision,thetaxcourtremindsusthatthegovernanceprovisionsofoperatingagreements and transfer restrictions can haveunintended effects on how a transaction fitsinto the transfer tax regime. In drafting theseagreements,plannersmustconsiderthewishesof their clients regarding control of the prop-ertyandhowthoseprovisionswillbeseenasdemonstrating a retained interest under IRCSection2036oragiftofsomethingotherthanapresent interest so that the gift incurs unin-tendedgifttaxes.Theplannerandhistaxpayerclient may have to make hard choices as towhat tax benefit is most important and whatpotential benefit can be left on the table. Theplanner must face these questions on provi-sionsthroughoutthegoverningdocumentsoftheentitywhoseownershipinterestsarebeingtransferred.

In Price, Mr. and Mrs. Price made gifts offractionalinterestsinthepartnershipeachyearafter itwasformeduntil theyhadgiventheirchildrenallofthelimitedpartnershipinterests.Theirgifttaxreturnsreportednotaxdueasaresult of the Prices’ annual gift tax exclusionandavailablelifetimegifttaxexemptamount.The IRS accepted the taxpayer’s valuation ofthe transferred interests, even though theappraisal claimed substantial discounts. TheIRSissueditsdeficiencyontheportionofthatvaluewhichthetaxpayersclaimedwasexemptfromgifttaxbecauseofthedonor’sannualgifttaxexclusion.

Thetaxcourtfoundthatthegiftstothethreechildren did not constitute present interestgiftsthatwouldqualifyfortheannualgifttaxexclusion.Thecourtpointedoutthatthedonees

Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Section

Price v. CommissionerTax Court’s Drafting Tips for Transfers of Partnerships or LLC InterestsBy Jon H. Trudgeon

SECTION NOTE


hadnoabilitytowithdrawtheircapitalaccountsanddrewattentiontoSection11.1oftheagree-ment that says, “no partner shall sell, assign,transfer,encumberorotherwisedisposeofanyinterestinthepartnershipwithoutthewrittenconsentofthepartners;….”Section11.2oftheagreement says, “Any assignment made toanyone,notalreadyapartner,shallbeeffectiveonlytogivetheassigneetherighttoreceivetheshare of profits to which his assignor wouldotherwisebeentitled,…andshallnotgivetheassigneetherighttobecomeasubstitutedlim-itedpartner.”Thecourt found thisanalogoustothecircumstances inHackl v. C.,118T.C.at297,wheretransferssubjecttothecontingencyofapproval“cannotsupportapresentinterestcharacterization,and…canhardlybeseenasasufficientsourceofsubstantialeconomicbene-fit.”Thecourtpointedoutthatwhentheinitialgift was made, the Price children were notmembers of the partnership and, therefore,neverbecamesubstitutepartners.

The court also cited several other provisionsofthepartnershipareement,similarintermandeffect to provisions common to many partner-shipandLLCoperatingagreements–providingotherpartnersapurchaseoptionregardingthegifted interests and making distributions sub-jecttothediscretionofthegeneralpartnerandsecondarytothepartnership’snon-taxbusinesspurposeof“achievingareasonable,compound-edrateofreturn,onalongtermbasis.”Althoughthedonees,infact,receivedsubstantialdistribu-tions from the partnership, the partnershipagreement provided no obligation to makethose distributions and no opportunity for thedonees to enforce their interest in receivingannualdistributions.The IRSassertedand thecourt found that the donees did not have therightofpossessionandenjoymentoftheprop-ertytransferredortheincomefromthepropertynecessary to qualify for the annual gift taxexclusion.

InPrice,thetaxcourtanalyzedawholeseriesofprovisionsinthepartnershipagreementthatwerecommonandfrequentlyusedprovisions(someevenincludedtoaddressotherpotentialchallenges from the IRS) and found that theysupportedthecourt’sfindingthatthegiftsdidnot constitute a present interest and did notqualifyfortheannualgifttaxexclusion.

Planners should make themselves familiarwith the facts, reasoning and holdings of thetaxcourtinPrice.Thentheyshouldreviewtheprovisionsofpartnershipandoperatingagree-ments to be sure that they address the issuesandpreservetheintendedtaxresultsuponthecreationoftheentityanduponthetransferofinterestsbygiftoruponthedeathoftheowner.This may lead to different drafting decisionsforsomeprovisions.Clientsshouldbeadvisedofthepotentialadverseeffectofprovisionsintheagreementaswellastheeffectofhelpingtopreserve other, more significant, rights andbenefits. Where possible, draftsmen shouldfind the course that does not result in losingonebenefittopreserveanother.

Thereareavailabletoplannersanumberofother, more detailed, commentaries on Price, Hacklandothercasescitedthereinoraddress-ing other issues mentioned herein – both incommercial research sources and the publicdomain.Thepubliclyavailablesourcesincludewww.ACTEC.org, the site sponsored by theAmericanCollegeofTrustandEstateCounsel.Commentaries on the public portion of theACTECsitewillleadpersonsinterestedinthetopicstootheravailableresources.

Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Section mem-bers are encouraged to submit short articles for publication consideration. Guidelines can be found at www.okbar.org/obj/notes.htm.

Jon Trudgeon is a member of Hartzog Conger Cason & Nev-ille Law Firm. He has served on the Oklahoma Bar Association Board of Governors; as Okla-homa Bar Foundation president; Oklahoma Fellows of the Ameri-can Bar Foundation, state chair; Oklahoma County Bar Founda-tion Trustee; Oklahoma County

Bar Association treasurer and vice president; and president of the Oklahoma City Estate Planning Council. As a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Council, he currently serves on the Charitable Planning Committee and as the state chair for Oklahoma.

AbOuT THE AuTHOR


OnNov.30,2009,inArrington v. Kruger,1theOklahoma Court of Civil Appeals issued anopinionwhich,onitsface,vigorouslysupportstheuseofsinglememberlimitedliabilitycom-panies(LLCs)forassetprotectionduetoOkla-homa’srestrictivechargingorderstatute.2TheArringtonopinionissoclearanddebtorfriend-ly,itwillbeexceedinglytemptingtotakeandapplythecourt’sanalysisoutofcontext.Estateplanningcounselshouldexercisecaution,how-ever,beforeembracingArringtonastheanswertoassetprotection.3

TheArringtoncasearoseoutofastatereceiv-ershipproceeding.4KentArrington,as trusteeofthePacecoFinancialServicesInc.Trust,hadobtainedatrialcourtjudgmentagainstPaulA.Krugerfor$2.2million.Inhispursuittocollectthe judgment against Kruger, ArringtonobtainedachargingorderagainstKruger’s100percent interest in four Oklahoma LLCs. ThechargingorderagainsttheLLCsdidnotyieldarecovery,soArringtonsoughttheimpositionofareceivershipovertheLLCs,askingto“stepintoKruger’sshoes”andtaketitletotheLLCs.The trial court granted Arrington’s request,appointingareceivertotakecontrolandoper-atetheLLCs.Krugerappealed,resultinginthedebtorfriendlyopinion.

The Arrington court, relying on well-estab-lished rules of statutory construction, foundthatOklahoma’schargingorderstatute,18O.S.Supp. 2008 §2034, was absolute and clear.Accordingtothecourt,Section2034limitsthe“soleandexclusive”remedyofanLLCmem-

ber’s judgment creditor to a charging order;therefore,thetrialcourterredinappointingareceiveroverthefoursinglememberLLCs.

In reaching its decision, the court distin-guishedIn re Albright5inwhichafederalbank-ruptcycourtheld thatadebtor’sentiremem-bershipinterestinawhollyownedLLCpassedtothebankruptcyestate,causingthetrusteetobecomea“substitutedmember,”andallowingthe trustee to take over management of theLLC.AccordingtotheArringtoncourt,Albright relied on a Colorado charging order statute6whichdidnotspecifythatachargingorderwasthe“soleandexclusive”remedyofamember’sjudgmentcreditor.BecauseOklahoma’scharg-ing order statute, Section 2034, differed fromColorado’s, the court in Arrington reasonedthatAlbrightdidnotapply.

While thecourt’sanalysisofAlbrightmaybecorrect inthecontextofanOklahomareceiver-ship proceeding, any implication that AlbrightwouldhavebeendecideddifferentlyhadOkla-homa law applied instead of Colorado law isquestionable at best. The difference between astatereceivershipproceedingandafederalbank-ruptcyproceedingismaterial,posinganuncom-fortablerealityforestateplanningcounsel.

In the federal bankruptcy case of Movitz v. Fiesta Investments LLC,7 referred to as “In re Ehmann,” the bankruptcy trustee claimed hehad acquired the status of a substitute LLCmemberbyvirtueof thedebtor’sbankruptcyfiling.DespiteanArizonachargingorderstat-

Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Section

Charging Order Protection for a Single Member LLC May Still be IllusoryBy Steven P. Cole

SECTION NOTE


utewhichspecificallylimitedacreditor’srem-edytoachargingorder,theEhmanncourtheldthatthetrusteehadalloftherightsandpowersregarding theLLCthat thedebtorheldat thecommencement of the case.Accordingtothecourt,theLLCoperating agreement was notexecutory within the meaningof Bankruptcy Code Section365(e)(2),8 therefore the LLCmemberhadnobindingunful-filled obligation to the LLC,Bankruptcy Code Section541(c)(1)9 controlled, and thetrusteesteppedintotheshoesofthedebtorLLCmember.

The Ehmann case was citedapprovingly in In re Baldwin,10an unpublished decision of theUnited States BankruptcyAppellate Panel of the 10th Circuit.11 In Bald-win,parentscreatedalimitedpartnershipwiththeir daughter owning a 99 percent limitedpartnershipinterest.UponthefilingofaChap-ter7bankruptcypetition,thebankruptcycourtdeclared the daughter’s limited partnershipinteresttobepropertyofthebankruptcyestate.According to the 10th Circuit, although statelawdeterminesthenatureofthedebtor’spart-nership interest, federal law determines theextent to which that partnership interestbecomesapartoftheestate.Consequently,thetrusteeinBaldwinsuccessfullysteppedintotheshoesofthedebtorwithrespecttothepartner-shipinterest.

Arrington may be correctly decided in thecontextofanOklahomareceivershipproceed-ing.TodistinguishArrington fromAlbrightonthebasisofstatelaw,however,ishalfthestory.Arrington is an Oklahoma receivership case,while Albright is a federal bankruptcy case.There are other cases, including Ehmann andBaldwinwhichsuggest thata trustee inbank-ruptcy would not be limited to a chargingorder over a debtor’s membership interest inanOklahomasinglememberLLC.Onthecon-trary, it isverypossible, ifnot likely,that inafederalbankruptcysettingabankruptcytrust-eewouldstepintothedebtor’sshoes.Inotherwords, the trusteewouldowntheLLCmem-bershipinterestandthechargingorderprotec-tionwouldbeillusory.12

1.No.106,223,2009OKCIVAPP___,___P.3d___.Theopinionofthe Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals was issued in Arrington as“ReleasedforPublication”onNov.30,2009.APetitionforCertiorari

was filedwith theOklahomaSupremeCourt in thecaseonDec.10,2009,andispresentlypending.

2.Achargingorderstatutelimitsa judgmentcreditor’sremediesagainst theLLCmemberbyprohibiting the creditor fromseizingorselling the LLC member’s membership interest and from seizing orselling the LLC’s assets. Historically, charging order statutes were

intendedtoallowcreditorstoprotecttheirrightsinthedistributionsfromapartnershipwhileatthesametimeprotectingthepartnershipagainstunwanted partners. The holder of a chargingorder would be treated on an assignee of thepartnershipinterestbutnotsucceedtoarightofmanagement of the partnership. See generally,ThomasE.RutledgeandThomasEarlgeu,TheAlbright Decision, Why an SMLLC is not anAppropriate Asset Protection Vehicle, BusinessEntities, September/October 2003 at 16; Eliza-beth M. Schurig and Amy P. Jetel, A ShockingRevelation!FactorFiction?AChargingOrderIsthe Exclusive Remedy Against a PartnershipInterest,Probate&Property,November/Decem-ber 2003 at 57; Daniel S. Kleinberger, Carter g.Bishop,andThomasEarlgeu,ChargingOrdersandtheNewUniformLimitedPartnershipAct,DispellingRumorsofDisaster,Probate&Prop-erty, July/August 2004 at 30; William S. Fors-berg,AssetProtectionandtheLimitedLiabilityCompany, Not the Panacea of Creditor Protec-tionThatyouMightThink!,Probate&Property,

November/December2009at39;andAlanS.gassmanandSabrinaM.Moravecky, Charging Orders: The Remedy for Creditors of DebtorPartners, Estate Planning, December 2009 at 21. Oklahoma’s LLCchargingorderstatuteisfoundat18O.S.Supp2009§2034(hereinaftersometimesreferredtoas“Section2034”)andprovidesasfollows:

Onapplicationtoacourtofcompetentjurisdictionbyanyjudg-mentcreditorofamember, thecourtmaycharge themember-ship interest of the member with payment of the unsatisfiedamountofthejudgmentwithinterest.Totheextentsocharged,the judgmentcreditorhasonly therightsofanassigneeof themembershipinterest.Achargingorderenteredbyacourtpursu-anttothissectionshallinnoeventbeconvertibleintoamember-ship interest through foreclosure or other action. This act doesnotdepriveanymemberof thebenefitof anyexemption lawsapplicabletohisorhermembershipinterest.Thissectionshallbethe sole and exclusive remedy of a judgment creditor withrespecttothejudgmentdebtor’smembershipinterest.

3.LLCsarecommonlyutilizedinassetprotectionplanningtotakeadvantageoftheliabilityshieldaffordedbytheLLCformofbusinessentity, protecting a member against the liabilities of the LLC. Thisarticle addresses the use of a single member LLC to protect assetsplacedintotheLLCagainsttheclaimofamember’sjudgmentcreditor.WhilethefocusofthearticleisuponsinglememberLLCs,thesameanalysiswouldgenerallyapplytomultiplememberLLCs.

4.Oklahoma’sgeneralreceivershipstatutesappearat12O.S.2001§1551 through 1559, serving as a means to carry a judgment intoeffect.

5.291B.R.538(Bank.D.Colo.2003).6.Colo.Rev.Stat.§7-80-703.7.319B.R.200(Bankr.D.Ariz.2005);theopinioninEhmannwas

laterwithdrawnbyorderdatedJanuary25,2006afterthepartiesset-tled.Accordingly,thewithdrawnopinionisnotprecedentialauthority.SeeIn re Ehmann,337B.R.228(Bankr.D.Ariz.2006).

8.11U.S.C.A.§365(e)(2),which,ifapplicable,permitstheenforce-ment of executory contract restrictions on the bankruptcy trustee’spowers.Inan“executory”contractdutiesmustbeperformedinordertoreceivebenefitswhileinanon-executorycontractthebenefitswillbereceivedevenifnothingfurtherisdone.SeeSteveLeimberg’sAssetProtectionPlanningNewsletter#59 (February8, 2005)atwww.leim-bergservices.com; and Steve Leimberg’s Asset Protection PlanningNewsletter #81 (April 24, 2006) at www.leimbergservices.com; Fors-berg,supranote2;andgassmanandMoravecky,supranote2.InordertomakeanLLCoperatingagreementexecutory,considerationmightbegiven toaddingongoingobligationsof themembers, includingacontribution obligation, the requirement that a member serve on anoversightboardandaddingnoncompetitionprovisionsformembers.

9.11U.S.C.A.§541(c)(1),whichexpresslyprovidesthataninterestofthedebtorbecomesthepropertyoftheestatenotwithstandinganyagreementorapplicablelawthatwouldotherwiserestrictorconditionatransferofsuchinterestbythedebtor.

To distinguish Arrington from

Albright on the basis of state law, however, is half the story.


10.NO.ADV.NO.04-7126,BANKR.04-72919,BAP.NO.EO-05-114,2006WL2034217(10thCir.BAP,Okla.,July11,2006)affd.,593F.3d1155(10thCir.2010).

11.LikeEhmann,theBaldwinopinionisnon-precedential.SeeSteveLeimberg’sAssetProtectionPlanningNewsletter#89(August8,2006)at www.leimbergservices.com. On Jan. 26, 2010 the United StatesCourtofAppeals for the10thCircuitaffirmedportionsof theBank-ruptcy Appellate Panel (“BAP”) decision in Baldwin; however, theBAP’saffirmationthatthebankruptcyestateownedthelimitedpart-nership interestwasnotraisedonappeal.Accordingly, the10thCir-cuit’s Opinion presupposes ownership of the limited partnershipinterestinthebankruptcyestate.In re Baldwin,593F.3d1155(10thCir.2010).

12.11U.S.C.A.§303.BankruptcyCodeSection303governsthefil-ingofinvoluntaryproceedingsinbankruptcy.generally,aninvolun-tary case may be commenced under Chapter 7 or 11 if there existsaggregatenoncontingentclaimsagainstthedebtorexceeding$13,475andtherequisitenumberofclaimants.Accordingly,thethresholdforforcingadebtorintoinvoluntarybankruptcyisrelativelylow.Inmanyinstances, a determined creditor will easily sidestep Arrington andinvoketheBankruptcyCode,Ehmann,andBaldwinwiththefilingofapetitionforinvoluntaryproceedingsinbankruptcy.

Steve Cole is a shareholder with McAfee & Taft in Okla-homa City. His practice concen-trates on helping families and individuals achieve their finan-cial and personal goals. He is a frequent author and presenter on tax-related topics. He earned his J.D. from OU in 1985 and his LL.M. (taxation) from NYU in

1988. His writing credits include “Fixing Oklahoma’s Insurable Interest Laws,” 78 OBJ 1271 (2007).

AbOuT THE AuTHOR

Nicole GarnettProfessor of LawUniversity of Notre Dame Law School

“Restoring Lost Connections: Land Use, Policing, and Urban Vitality”

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 20105 p.m. Public LectureHomsey Family Moot CourtroomSarkeys Law CenterN.W. 23rd and Kentucky, Okla. City, OK. 73106Free and open to the public.

For more information call:(405) 208-5335 | http://law.okcu.edu/

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW


Check Scams That Target LawyersHow Check Scams Work and How to Avoid a Loss

By Robert T. Luttrell III

SCHOLARLY ARTICLE

Numbers of lawyers, and the general public, are beingtargeted with a scam that goes something like this: Amessage, usually e-mail, arrives requesting services or

wantingtobuygoods.ThesenderusuallychecksoutinanInter-netsearch.(Websitesaren’tthathardtosetup.)Atsomepointacheckarrivesinwhatappearstobealegitimatebusinesstrans-action.Thecheckmaybeinresponsetoademandletterfromalawyer in the payment of a claim or as a retainer to pay forservicesinadvanceorforthepurchasepriceofacar.yougetthepicture.Thechecklooksandfeelslikearealcheck,maybeevenacashier’scheck.Usually,itpurportstobeissuedby(ordrawnon)abankataremotelocationwithnolocalbranches.

Almost immediately after the check arrives,there is a request to send part of the funds bywire transfer.Theclientmaywant theamountcollectedlessfees.Theclientmayhaveoverpaidthe retainer and want a refund. The car buyermayhavepaidforshipmentandnowsaystheyhave taken care of this expense directly andwouldlikearefund.Thereareaninfinitenum-berofvariationson thebasic theme:1) appar-ently legitimate transaction,2)arrivalof checkand3)requesttowireoutfunds.

Once the funds are wired, they are almostimpossibletorecover.UCC§4A-211.Thewireis usually to an account in another country.And,inanyevent,thefundsaretypicallyagainwired to another institution out of reach assoon as they hit the designated bank. So, thevictimislefttohopethatthecheckis“good.”Itneveris.

Thesescamsworkbecauseofabasicmisun-derstanding of how checks are collected andwhen the funds represented by those checks

are “good,” i.e. they cannot be reclaimed.Because of complaints that deposits were notavailableforuseinatimelymanner,CongressadoptedtheExpeditedFundsAvailabilityAct(12 USC §4001-4010). The Federal ReserveBoardadoptedRegulationCC(12CFR§229.1et seq.) to implement it.Amongother things,they mandate the latest time when funds ofvarious types of deposits must be “madeavailable” to the depositors. Funds from

There are an infinite number of variations on the basic theme:

1) apparently legitimate transaction, 2) arrival of check and 3) request

to wire out funds.


cashier’s checks must be “made avail-able” within two business days. Manybankshaveadoptedshorter“availabilityschedules.”Theseschedulesdonotbearanyrelationshiptohowlongitmaytaketo discover that a check will not bepaid.

Checks that are “sent through clear-ing” (all deposited checks) do not havepositive confirmation of payment. Thefundsbecome“available”forwithdraw-albasedonthebank’savailabilitysched-ule (with the maximum limit governedby FRB Reg CC). “Available” funds donotequalcollectedfunds.Acheckcanbereturnedafterthefundshavebeen“madeavailable.”Havingthefunds“available”isnotthesameasknowingthatthecheckhaspaid.Ifacheckissentthroughclear-ing,yougetanegativeconfirmationthatthecheckisnotpaidwhenitisreturned.This will generally take three to fourdaysatbest.Thecheck ishandledelec-tronically.Scammersgainadditionaltimebyusingafakebankroutingnumber.Then,thecounterfeitcheckbouncesaroundintheclear-ing system until it kicks out to get humanattention. In thosecases, thecheckcan takeaweek or more to find its way back to youraccount.

Numeroustimeframesarethrownoutaboutwhen it is safe to “assume” that a check is“good:” “midnight deadline,” 11 days or aweek.Therereally isnotimeafterwhich it issafetoassumethatthecheckhaspaid.(Obvi-ouslythelongerthetime,themorelikelyithaspaid.Butthatisaruleofprobability,notaruleoflaw.)

Thebestpractice tobesafe is togo toyourbankandasktosendthecheckfor“collection.”Ninety percent of the tellers may not knowwhatyoumean.Thisisdoneallthetimewithoilandgasleasedrafts.UCC4-501.Whenyoufinallyfindsomeonewhodoes,thecheckwillgooutof thebankundera“collectionletter,”not “through clearing” under a “cash letter.”Then you will receive positive confirmationsomedays later that thecheckhasbeenpaid.Asyouwouldexpect,thereisafeeforthisspe-cialhandling.

Some people want to talk to the bank andrelyonwhat thebank “said.” What the bank“says”maynotbewhatthecustomer“hears.”Whentalkingtothebank,eitherthedepositary

orthepayor,thecustomermustlistencarefullyto the “bank speak.”All the payor bank willgenerally say is that “a check in that amountwill clearat this time,”not that“wewillpayyour check when presented.” Or the deposi-tarybankwillsaythatthe“fundswillbeavail-ableon,”notthat“thesefundsaregood.”Anycommitmentthataparticularcheckrepresents“good”fundsandwillbepaidaccordingtoitstermsshouldbeinwriting.Thatwillclearupthe ambiguity. I have never seen a bank givesuchanassurance.

To recap, the standardcheckcollectionpro-cesscontainsnopositivefeedbackthatacheckis“good.”Ifadepositorwantstoknowthatacheckhaspaid,thecheckshouldbesentbythebank “for collection.” Then the collection isoutside the normal system and a positiveresponse“upordown,”astheysayingovern-ment,isreceived.Therearelotsofwaysforthebad guys to trick the regular check collectionsystemsothatacheckmaybouncearoundfordays or weeks before it finds its way back. Ifthemoneyisgone,thedepositorisliable.SeeUCC §3-415 and the bank’s deposit accountagreement.

As a further aside and to keep you up atnight,thewaysomeofthesescamsworkistoalteralegitimatecheck.Insuchacase,aclaimagainst the depositor for breach of warrantycan exist for as long as three years. UCC

The best practice to be safe is to go to your bank and ask to send the check

for ‘collection.’


§§4-111&4-207(a)(3).Altered checksareusu-ally, but not always, caught within about 60days.Butthatiswelloutsidethetimethatlaw-yerswouldberequiredtoforwardclientfunds.MRPC Rule 1.15(d). This warranty liabilitycannot be disclaimed by a non-recourseindorsement.UCC§4-207(b). Itmaybepossi-ble todisclaim thiswarranty in thecollectionletterbysendingthecheck“withoutrecourseanddisclaiminganywarrantiescreatedbythecontract of indorsement,” but that is an openquestion.

Inthedaysofaflatworlditmaybeincreas-inglydifficult,butthewayforlawyerstokeepoutoftroubleistoknowtheirclient.

Robert T. Luttrell III is an attor-ney with McAfee & Taft. He has more than 35 years experience representing banks, savings asso-ciations and other financial insti-tutions and lenders in all areas of banking, including commercial lending, real estate and consumer finance, regulatory compliance and deposit-taking activities.

AbOuT THE AuTHOR

1/2 pag horizontalOklahoma Bar Journal

AttorneyMagellan Midstream Partners GP, LLC is seeking an Attorney. The successful candidate will provide legal services to our refined products,crude oil and ammonia pipelines and terminals and to the related business groups including the M&A group. The Attorney will also providelegal counsel and guidance on all commercial contract matters, including right-of-way and asset purchase and sale activities.Requirements:Juris Doctor degree and licensed to practice in Oklahoma with 2-5 years experience as a practicing attorney in the areas of contracts,real estate, business development and business operations. Experience in the energy industry or related field is preferred.

This position will be filled at a level commensurate with the candidate's education and experience.Serves as legal counsel for commercial services. Providing overall legal service and counsel to executives and employees relating tocommercial matters, including FERC.

Negotiating and drafting commercial arrangements, including acquisitions, dispute resolution, and project matters (including T&Dagreements, capacity leases, etc.).

Handling real estate matters, including negotiating encroachment agreements, pipeline right-of-way disputes and requests for delineationof blanket easements, review and preparation of correction instruments, general advice on title and easement matters.

Other projects and assignments as directed.

Additional requirements:The ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing in English with co-workers, supervisors, internal and external customers; theability to work in stressful conditions; the ability to adapt and respond in changing circumstances; the ability to use a personal computerwith theWindows® operating system to complete time sheets, send and receive email, and access information posted on the Company’sintranet; availability as needed to work on both a scheduled and call-out basis; and the ability to work at the assigned job site.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job.They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, or working conditions.

Interested candidates should apply online at: http://www.magellanlp.com/careers.asp

Magellan Midstream Holdings, GP, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer


Don’t forget to call in your pledge on Tuesday, March 16 from 7 – 10 p.m.

To keep the OBA at the “Underwriting Pro-

ducers” donor level, we need to raise $5,000 from OBA members.

For 31 years, OETA has provided television time as a public service for

the OBA’s Law Day “Ask A Lawyer” program. By

assisting OETA, we show our appreciation.

Attention OETA

Donors

OETA FestivalVolunteers Needed

OBAmembersareaskedagainthisyeartohelptakepledgecallsduringtheOETAFestival to raise funds for continuedqualitypublictelevision.

nTuesday,March16n5:45-10p.m.nOETAstudioatWilshire&

N.Kelley,OklahomaCitydinner&trainingsession

nrecruitotherOBAmemberstoworkwithyou

For 31 years OETA has providedtelevision time as a public service forthe OBA’s Law Day “Ask A Lawyer”program. By assisting OETA, we showourappreciation.Itisalsoahighlyvisiblevolunteerserviceproject.nContactJeffKeltontosignup.

Phone:(405)416-7018E-mail:[email protected]:(405)416-7089

Name:______________________________

Address:____________________________

City/Zip:___________________________

Phone:______________________________

CellPhone:_________________________

E-mail:_____________________________

mail to OBa, P.O. Box 53036 Oklahoma City, OK 73152


Anewlocation,newideastoimproveyourpracticeandanewWebsitearejustsomeofthewaysthatthe2010OBASolo&SmallFirmConferencewillhelpyourenew,rechargeandrevitalizeyourpractice.June24-26,2010,isthedatefortheconferencetobeheldforthefirsttimeeverattheDownstreamCasinoResortnearQuapaw,Okla.

Visitwww.okbar.org/solotogetmoreinformationabouttheconference,includ-ingalloftheCLEsessiondescriptions,andtoregisterfortheconference.youcanreserveyourroomattheconferencediscountratebycalling1-888-DWNSTRM(396-7876).youcanalsolearnmoreaboutoursparklingnewconferencelocationbyvisitingitsWebsiteatwww.downstreamcasino.com.

renew—Renewyourcir-cleofotherprofessionalcol-leaguesandyourknowledgeofcutting-edgelawoffice

toolsthatsmallfirmscanactuallyuse.

recharge—Rechargeyourspiritbytakingsometimetolearnandtorelaxinthisbeautifulruralresortsetting.

revitalize —Revitalizeyourcommitmenttobetterservingyourclientsandtoimproveyourbusinessprac-tices.ManyOklahomalaw-yerswilltellyouthatthere’snothinglikethisconferencetoputaspringbackintoyourstepasyoureturntotheofficewithnewinformationandanswerstosomeofyourrecentquestions.Maybeyouwillevendecidetoexpandintoanewareaofpracticeafterlisteningtosomeofourinformativesessions.

Speakingofnewpracticeareas,weallknowthatques-tionsaboutIndianlawareofgrowingsignificanceinourstate.SoloandsmallfirmpractitionersencountermoreIndianlawissuesintheireverydaypractice.Thatisone

reasonwehavescheduledaspecialplenarysession:everything You Wanted to Know about Indian law, But Were afraid to ask.Thisses-sionwillcoversomebasicandadvancedconceptsincludingrepresentingyourclientintribalcourt,contract-ingissueswithIndiantribes,handlingtortandprizeclaimdisputesanddevelopinganIndianlawpractice.

ThisyearmarksthereturnofCatherineSandersReachtotheOBASoloandSmallFirmconference.CatherineisthedirectoroftheABALegalTechnologyResourceCenterandwasverywellreceivedinherpreviousvisittothecon-ference.ShewilldoseveralprogramsforusincludingPowerful Client Communica-tions toolsandadvanced training in PDF Files.SheandIwillcollaboratefor50 Hot tips in 50 minutesandWhat’s Hot & What’s not in running Your law Practice.

Solo and Small Firm Conference 2010: Renew, Recharge, RevitalizeBy Jim Calloway, Director, OBA Management Assistance Program

ObA EVENT

OBA SOLO and SMALL FIRM CONFERENCEJUNE 24-26, 2010 • DOWNSTREAM RESORT • QUAPAW, OK

www.okbar.org/solo


Cloudcomputingmightseemlikeanunlikelytopicforthisconference,butmanybusiness-esarealreadykeepingtheirdata“inthecloud.”Beingfamiliarwiththisconceptwillhelpyouadviseyourbusinessclients.OursessionCloud Computing for lawyerswillfocusonthetoolslawyersmightusebeginswithJackNewton.Jackispresidentandco-founderofThemisSolutionsInc.ofVancouver,BritishColumbia.Thecompany’sflag-shipproductisClio,apracticemanagementsolutionforlawyers.Jackwilldiscussthebenefitsofthecloudcomput-ingapproachforlawyersandlawfirms.

OBAEthicsCounselTravisPickenswillfollowuponthatdiscussionandaddresssomeofthelegal,ethicalandsecurityconcernsoflawyerskeepingcli-entdatainthecloud.

OurOBApresidentandvicepresident,AllenSmallwoodandMackMartin,haveestab-lishedreputationsasseasonedcriminaldefenselawyers.Theyhaveagreedtodoajointpresentation:learning from legends: Oklahoma Criminal law Practice.

NormanattorneyDonPopewillgiveushistakeonWhy Practicing law is Killing Your law Practice.Hesaysitispossibletoincreaseyourlevelofclientcarewhilealsoincreasingyourincomeandreducingstress.

I’malsogoingtodoarepeatofmypresentationforABATECHSHOW™2010,the trav-eling lawyer.Thiswillcovereverythingfromremoteaccesstotheofficenetworktowhatatravelinglawyershouldcarryinhisbagoftricks.

Therewillbemanyexcellentprogramsthisyear,fromHow to Deal With Difficult Clients

Great Hotel Rates for Solo & Small Firm

Conference

Call the Downstream Resort at 1-888-DWNSTRM (396-7876) and use the phrase OKBAR to get the discount hotel rate. The nightly room rate is

$95 per night plus a 10% occupancy charge for Thursday and Friday nights.

Because this is such a fun location, we anticipate that many will want to stay over Saturday night and

have negotiated a rate of $119 plus occupancy charge for Saturday night. However, there is no reserved room block Saturday night, so make an

early decision if you want to stay Saturday.

DOWNSTREAMCASINO RESORT

BAXTER SPRINGSExit 1

JOPLIN

60E44W

71N

TULSA


Co-ProducerOklahoma Attorneys

Mutual Insurance Company

GoldLegal Directories

Publishing Company Inc.

SilverBeale Professional Services

OBA Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Section

OBA Family Law Section

OBA Indian Law Section

West, a Thomson Reuters business

BronzeABA Retirement Funds

Clio

CoreVault

Law Firm Merchant Account

LexisNexis

Software@Law

Tab3™/Practice Master

2010 SPONSORS

torecent Developments in Family law;fromCurrent Issues in estate PlanningtoFair Debt Collection Practic-es act — the Good, the Bad, and the ugly.youcanfindacompletelistofpresentationsinthescheduleaccompany-ingthisarticle.

But,asalways,theOBASoloandSmallFirmConfer-encefeaturesfamilyfunandnetworkingopportunitiesaswellaseducationalprograms.

Fridaynightpoolsideentertainmentwillbeprovid-edbyCruizeControl.Theirmusicisablendoftropicalrockandclassicrock,featur-inglotsofJimmyBuffetcovers.youcangetapreviewattheband’sWebsite:www.cruizecontrolband.com.

Thisyearwillbringawholenewsetofexcitingchildren’sactivities,focusingonNativeAmericanculture,befittingournewlocationwherewewillbeguestsoftheQuapawtribe.Attendeeswillbeabletoenrolltheirchildreninsupervisedactivitieswhiletheyattendtheeducationalsessions.

Parents—Asaspecialinducementtoencourageyoutobringyourchildren,therewillbenochargeforthechil-dren’sactivitiesthisyear!Therangeofactivitiesdependsonthenumberandagesofchil-drenwehavepreregistered.Theymightlearntomakedreamcatchers,dobeadwork,learnhowtomakeahanddrumanddrumstick,orbuildateepeeorawickiup,

orenjoydemonstrationsofpow-wowdancingandstompdancing.Perhapssomelocaltribememberswillteachthemhowtomakefrybread(aswellaseatit).Knowingthekidsarehavingsafe,supervisedfunwhileyoulearnisagreatcombination.

Speakingoffunactivities,theDownstreamCasinoandResortnotonlyfeaturesadultgamingdiversions,butthepoolissimplyincrediblewithcabanas,refreshmentsandoutdoorfirepits.Makecer-tainyoupackforfuninandaroundthepool.Thereisagym,anearbygolfcourseandJoplinisjustafewmilesaway.

ForthosewhowanttoarriveearlyonThursday,agolftournamentisbeingplannedandadministeredbyOBADirectorofAdministra-tionCraigCombs.Otherwise,justmakesureyouarethereearlyenoughtocheckintoyourroomandunpackbeforetheactivitiesstartThursdayeveningat6:30p.m.

youcanmakeyourreserva-tionsatDownstreambycalling1-888-DWNSTRM(396-7876)andusingthephraseOKBARtogetthediscounthotelrate.

Theremaybeanewloca-tionthisyear,butwewillhavethesametraditionalmixoffunandgreatprogramstargetedforthesoloandsmallfirmlawyersalongwithlotsofproductsandservicesfromourvendorsponsors.


OBA SOLO and SMALL FIRM CONFERENCEJUNE 24-26 2010 • DOWNSTREAM RESORT • QUAPAW, OK

DAY 1 • Friday June 25

8:25 a.m. WelcomeAllen Smallwood OBA President

8:30 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.

50 Hot Tips in 50 MinutesCatherine Sanders Reach

Jim Calloway

9:20 a.m.

9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.

Cloud Computing for LawyersJack Newton

Travis Pickens

10:20 a.m.

10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Why Practicing Law is Killing

Your Law PracticeDon Pope

Learning from Legends:

Oklahoma Criminal Law

PracticeAllen Smallwood

Mack Martin

Powerful Client Communications

ToolsCatherine Sanders Reach

Fair Debt Collection Prac-tices Act - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

(Part 1)Joseph B. Miner

12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

2 p.m. - 3 p.m.

1:45 p.m.

Come

& Enjoy

the Fun!

The Oklahoma Supreme Court: Current Issues and Other Stuff

Chief Justice James E. Edmondson

11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Favorite Law Office Tech ToolsCatherine Sanders Reach

Jim Calloway

LUNCH BUFFET (Included in Seminar Registration Fee)

Black Hawk Sacred Elk Victor Griffin Saracen

Break

Break

BreakHow to Deal With Difficult Clients

Debbie Maddox

Recent Develop-ments in

Family Law Kimberly HaysLori Pirraglia

The Traveling Lawyer

Jim Calloway

Fair Debt Collection Prac-tices Act - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

(Part 2)Joseph B. Miner

12 Hours CLE Credit –

Including Ethics


Come

& Enjoy

the Fun!

DAY 2 • Saturday June 26

8:25 a.m.

8:30 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.

Can I Take This Case? A Primer on Conflicts - ETHICS

Gina Hendryx OBA General Counsel

9:20 a.m..

9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Indian Law, But

Were Afraid to AskO. Joseph Williams

Jeff Keel

10:20 a.m.

10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Advanced Training in PDF Files

Catherine Sanders Reach

Current Issues in Estate Planning

Gale Allison Lee Ann Drummond

Indian Child Wel-fare Act Transfers to Tribal Courts

and Sex Offender Registration in Indian Country

Steve Hager Chrissi Ross Nimmo

Why Practicing Law is Killing

Your Law PracticeDon Pope

12:30 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.

1:30 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

Keys to Managing a Twenty-First Century Law Office

Jim Calloway

11:30 a.m. LUNCH (Included in Seminar Registration Fee)

Black Hawk Sacred Elk Victor Griffin Saracen

Break

Break

BreakCriminal Defense Motions Practice

Debbie Maddox

Domestic Violence and the Court

SystemDeb Stanaland

Unclaimed Property in Oklahoma

Kathy Janes

Starting a Law Practice Q & A

Jim Calloway

WelcomeJohn Morris Williams

OBA Executive Director

Break2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

2:20 p.m.

What’s Hot & What’s Not in Running Your Law Practice

Catherine Sanders Reach Jim Calloway

DOWNSTREAM RESORT – QUAPAW


Register online at www.okbar.org/solo or return this form.

Full Name: OBA#:

Address: City/State/Zip:

Phone: Fax: E-mail:

List name and city as it should appear on badge if different from above:Registration Fees: Registration fee includes 12 hours CLE credit, including one hour ethics. Includes all meals: Thursday evening, poolside buffet, breakfast buffet Friday & Saturday, buffet lunch Friday & Saturday, Friday evening buffet.

Early-Bird Attorney Registration (on or before June 10, 2010) $175

Circle One

Late Attorney Registration (June 11, 2010 or after) $225

Early-Bird Attorney & Spouse/Guest Registration (on or before June 10, 2010) $275

Late Attorney & Spouse/Guest Registration (June 11, 2010 or after) $325

Spouse/Guest Attendee Name:

Early-Bird Family Registration (on or before June 10, 2010) $325

Late Family Registration (June 11, 2010 or after) $375

Spouse/Guest/Family Attendee Names: Please list ages of children.

Spouse/Guest: Family: Age:

Family: Age: Family: Age:

Total $:Thursday, June 24 - 18 Hole Golf Total $:( of entries @ $50 each)

Make check payable to the Oklahoma Bar Association. Mail Meeting Registration Form to:CLE REGlSTRAR, P.O. Box 53036, OkIahoma City, OK 73152. FAX Meeting Registration Form to (405) 416-7092

For payment using VISA Mastercard Discover AmEx

CC:

Expiration Date: Authorized Signature:

No discounts. Cancellations will be accepted at anytime on or before June 10, 2010 for a full refund; a $50 fee will be charged for cancellations made on or after June, 11 2009. No refunds after June 16, 2010. Call 1-(888) 396-7876 for hotel reservations. Ask for the special OBA rate.

RENEW. RECHARGE. REVITALIZE

2010OBA SOLO & SMALL FIRM CONFERENCE

& YLD MIDYEAR MEETING

JUNE 24-26, 2010DOWNSTREAM CASINO RESORT, QUAPAW, OK


We lawyers have our special language,oftenreferredtoas“legal-ese.”Mostprofes-sions and occupations also have their own“language,”wordsthathavespecialmeaningto people involved in the activities of thatprofessionoroccupation.(Howmanyofyouhave totally adjusted to the fact that to turnoff your computer you click on the STARTprompt?)

Well, the same is true in the legislativeworld. For three years now the bar associa-tion has been encouraging members of ourprofession tobecomemoreawareof legisla-tivemeasuresandtobeactiveinhelpingtheLegislaturecreatebetterqualitylawsintermsoflanguage,constitutionality—andinlimit-ingunintendedconsequences.

However,evenafterwegainentrancetotheLegislature’s Internet home page, thanks toJohn Morris Williams’ good information inthisissue,howdowefindoutwhatstageoftheprocessisthemeasureinandwhatexact-lyishappening?Inotherwords,whatdoallthosespecialwordsandtermsmeaninunder-standingthelegislativeprocess?

The Legislature has created an exhaustiveglossary of legislative terms that can beviewed on its Web page at www.lsb.state.ok.us.Hereareofsomeofthemoreimportantcommonlyusedordinarywordsandphraseswithsomewhatuniquemeaningswhenusedinthelegislativeprocess:

act —Thebillorresolutionwhichhasbeenadopted according to constitutional require-mentsandhasthereforebecomelaw.Oftenitisusedasagenerictermappliedtoanymea-

sureworkingitswaythroughthe legislativeprocess.

agenda —The listofmeasureswhicharescheduled to be considered either in a com-mitteeorbythefullbodyofeitherhouse.

advancement —A procedure by which ameasureonthefloorismovedtothirdread-ingandisnolongersubjecttoamendmentinthe house in which it is being considered.[from the Glossary of Legislative Terms]

Bill —Thedocument introduced ineitherhouse of the Legislature to change existinglaworaddanewlaw.Sometimesthewords“Act”and“Bill”areusedinterchangeably.

Calendar —Theprintedlistbyeachhouseof the measures that are scheduled to beheard.Beingonthecalendardoesnotguaran-teethemeasurewillbeheard.

Committee of the Whole —Thefullbodyof either house acting as a committee. Thefinalactionofacommitteeofthewholeisnotfinalactiononameasure.

Committee substitute — When there areenoughamendmentstoameasurebeforethecommitteetocreatepossiblemisunderstand-ing or errors, a committee substitute can bepresentedtoacommitteeoracommitteecandirect a committee substitute be preparedreflectingtheiractionsonthemeasure.Thisisalso the method of inserting language in afiled“shellbill.”

Crippling or striking the title —Strikingthetitleassurestheopportunityforasecondlook by the house in which the title wasstruck.

Language Guide to Navigating the Legislative ProcessBy Duchess Bartmess

bAR NEWS


effective Date — The specific date onwhichameasurebecomeslaw.Ifnoeffectivedate is specified in the bill, and there is noemergencyclauseattached,pursuanttocon-stitutionaldirective,theactbecomeseffective90daysafterfinaladjournmentofthesessioninwhichtheactwaspassed.

emergency —AfindingbytheLegislaturethat there isanemergency,asdefinedintheConstitution.Theprovisionwhichisattachedto an act passed, requires a separate two-thirds approval by both houses making theadopted measure effective immediately.[Art.5,Section58]

engrossed —Thedesignationofthebillorresolutiondocumentsignedbythepresidingofficer of the house of passage, required bythe Constitution, which is then sent to theotherhouse forconsideration.Anengrossedmeasureisnotthefinalversion.[Art.5,Sec-tion35]

enrolled — The designation of the bill orresolutionwhich is the finalversion,passedbybothhouses,signedbythepresidingoffi-cerofeachhousewhichissenttothegover-norforaction.Thisistheversionthatisfiledwiththesecretaryofstateaftergubernatorialaction. The secretary of state is the officialrepositoryforallenrolleddocuments.

General Order —Theorderofbusinessofthefullmembershipofmeasuresreportedoutof committee that is subject to debate oramendment from the floor. Sometimesreferredtoas“beingonthecalendar.”Amea-sureongeneralorderisstill“alive,”asdistin-guishedfromameasurewhichfailstomakeitoutofcommittee.

legislative Day —Anydayonwhich thelegislature meets. No limits on number ofdaysorlengthofdays.However,eachregularsession is required by the Constitution toadjournby5p.m.onthelastFridayinMay.[Art.5,Section26]

measure —AbillorresolutionintroducedineitherorbothhousesoftheLegislature.

motion to reconsider —Motionfromthefloorafteractionhasbeentakenonameasureto again consider the measure, regardless ofwhetheritpassedorfailed.Thereisathree-daytimelimittomakeamotion.

Printed Bill —Theversionofthemeasurethat is provided to the members for floor

action. It is a printing of the measure as itpassedoutofcommittee.

readings —TheConstitutionrequiresthreereadingsonthreedifferentdaysineachhouseofmeasuresintendedtobecomelaw,andonthedayofconsiderationandfinalpassagethemeasuremustbereadatlength.[Art.5,Sec-tion34].

Bills on OBA Legislative AgendaOnly matters that have been approved by at

least 60 percent of the members voting at the House of Delegates can be placed on the OBA Legislative Program. The matters set forth below were approved by the House of Dele-gates at the 2009 Annual Meeting and have been introduced in the Oklahoma Legislature. Both bills have passed out of the Sen-ate Judiciary Committee and await consideration by the House Judiciary Committee.

SB 2039: Clarifies procedure for state-wide and single or multiple county licensing of process servers. Amends discovery and disclosure statutes to provide greater detail and explanation for electronic discovery, closely following the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Provides for mandatory disclo-sure of certain information and protection of confidential or other protected documents. Requires electronic data to be included in response to a request for business records. Addresses the form in which electronic data is to be provided. Allows for “clawback” agreements. Provides for courts to limit or expand the number of written depositions, requests for the production written or elec-tronic data, requests. Includes provisions for partial production of information when the whole category may not be discoverable. Recognizes good faith destruction of docu-ments in the normal course of business and exempts such good faith destruction from being subject to sanctions.

SB 2040: Requires that the fee for a civil jury trial must be paid at the time of pretrial by the party requesting a jury trial.

On the OBA Web site at www.okbar.org/members/committees/legislative you will find more detailed information about both bills.


recall —Themethodbywhichameasurecan be retrieved from the governor prior tohisactionforcorrectionoferrors.

resolution —Therearethreetypesofreso-lutionsthateitherorbothhousescanadopt.Onlyajointresolutionhastheforceandeffectoflawbecauseitfollowsthesameproceduralrequirementsforabilltobeadopted.Asim-ple resolution reflects the will of only onehouse. Usually used to commend or to spe-cificallyrecognizeindividuals,groupsorenti-ties. A concurrent resolution is used whenbothhouseshavethesameintentonanissueor commendation. Simple and concurrentresolutionsdonothavetheforceandeffectoflawandarenotcodifiedinthestatutes.Jointresolutionsare themeasuresutilized topro-posereferendums.

rules Committee —TheRulesCommitteesare for practical purposes controlled by theleadership. Assignment of a measure to theRulesCommitteefrequentlymeansitwillnotbe reported out of committee, unless it is ameasurethatleadershipwishestoproceed.

shell Bill — A measure which usuallyamendsasectionofexistinglawthatcontainsno substantive change. Often a “shell bill”willhaveveryfewamendmentswhichreflectachangesuchas“hishisorhers.”Thesebillsareusuallyusedlaterinthesessiontoaddressissues that have just become of interest orconcerntotheauthor,orforusewhenthereisacontroversialorcomplicatedissue.

title —TheConstitutionrequires“[e]veryact of the Legislature shall embrace but one

subject,whichshallbeclearlyexpressedinitstitle” [Art 5, Section 57], and all measureshave tobepassedbybothhouses inexactlythesameform.Allmeasureshavetitleswhentheyareintroduced.

At thebeginningof eachLegislature, eachhouseestablishes,by rule, certain importantdeadlines. These deadlines control when abillmustbefiled,whenabillhastobereport-ed out of committee for action by the fullhousewhichapplytothebillsinthehouseoforigin, as well as bills from the oppositehouse.Althoughthesedeadlinesarecontrol-ling,exceptionscanbemadepursuanttotherulesoftheparticularhouse—byunanimousconsentorbyacertaindatetobeconsidered.

generally,iftheauthorofabillisunabletomeet these deadlines, the bill is considereddormant. However, this is not an absolutecertainty,anditispossibleforabilltoberes-urrectedatthelastminute.Thisdoesnothap-pen often, but it is a possibility that anyoneparticularlyinterestedshouldbeawareof.

This limited list is intended to provide aquick reference to some of the more oftenused“wordsandtermsofart”andaglimpseof legislative procedure.As lawyers, we aremore familiar with many legislative termsthat the general public may not know orunderstand. For a complete list of thosewordsandtermstheLegislaturedeemswor-thyofdefining,youareencouragedtolookatthefullglossary.

Ms. Bartmess practices in Oklahoma City and is chairperson of the Legislative Monitoring Committee.

Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson A Professional Corporation

Tulsa, OK Oklahoma City, OK Northwest Arkansas Washington, D.C.

We have the knowledge and experience to effectively and efficiently handle difficult and intricate immigration cases.

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For more information contact Amir M. Farzaneh at 405.528.2222.


PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS

ObA Day at the CapitolMarch 2, 2010 • Oklahoma City

OBA President Allen Smallwood visits the Oklahoma Senate.

Neil Lynn, Kimberly Hays and Noel Tucker get ready to meet with legislators.

OBA Vice President Mack Martin, President Allen Smallwood, President-Elect Deb Reheard and Rep.Terry Harrison visit at the evening reception at the bar center.

Sen. Sean Burrage, Rep. Cory Williams and Cathy Christensen

Rep. Wade Rousselot, Jeff Noble, Rep. John Wright and Randy Grau


Association attended its mid-year meeting in Orlando, Fla.Beforeyoubecomejealous,letmeassureyouthattheweath-er,at least for centralFlorida,wasdownrightcold.Whatwasvery warm, however, was thefellowship we all had withothermembersthroughoutthecountry.Particularlysatisfyingwerethediscussionshadwiththe delegates from the South-ern Conference of Bar Presi-dents,whichcomprisesdelega-tions from what amounts tothe southeast section of thecountry.Learningthatthedel-egations from Florida to Vir-giniaandgeorgiatoTexasarefacingthesamechallengeswefacewasnotonlysoberingbutto some extent comfortingknowing that we’re all in thesameboat.

Budget crunches, includingreducedfundingfor the judi-ciary and legal services toindigents,wasagreatconcernof all. It made me proud toknowthatourbarassociationisselffundingandinexcellentfinancial condition, particu-larly compared to those statebar associations that are notintegrated and therefore atleast to some extent depen-dent upon the state Legisla-ture for a portion of theirfunding. This re-emphasizedmy desire to continue ourefforts to maintain our inde-pendent judiciary as well asthe independence of our barassociation.

continued from page 572FROM THE PRESIDENT

Oklahoma bar Journal Editorial Calendar

2010 nApril:

law DayEditor:CarolManning

nMay:Commercial lawEditor:[email protected]:Jan.1,2010

nAugust:Oklahoma legal HistoryEditor:[email protected]:May1,2010

nSeptember:Bar ConventionEditor:CarolManning

nOctober:ProbateEditor:[email protected]:May1,2010

nNovember:technology & law PracticemanagementEditor:[email protected]:Aug.1,2010

nDecember:ethics & Professional responsibilityEditor:[email protected]:Aug.1,2010

2011

nJanuary:meet Your OBaEditor:CarolManning

nFebruary:tort/Civil litigationEditor:[email protected]:Oct.1,2010

nMarch:Criminal lawEditor:[email protected]:Jan.1,2011

nApril:law DayEditor:CarolManning

nMay:real estate and title lawEditor:[email protected]:Jan.1,2011

nAugust:Children and the lawEditor:[email protected]:May1,2011

nSeptember:Bar ConventionEditor:CarolManning

nOctober:labor and employment lawEditor:[email protected]:May1,2011

nNovember:environmental lawEditor:[email protected]:Aug.1,2011

nDecember:ethics & Professional responsibilityEditor:[email protected]:Aug.1,2011

If you would like to write

an article on these

topics, contact the editor.


Oneofthesignificantchangesbroughtaboutbytechnologyistheabilitytotracklegislationinalmostrealtime.Whilethereareacoupleofverygoodcommer-cialservicesthatchargeasubscriptionfee,theOkla-homaLegislaturesiteisverygoodformostpurposes,anditisfree.Thesitecanbefoundatwww.lsb.state.ok.us.Thelegislativestaffevenofferstrainingonhowtousethesitepriortothebegin-ningofthesession.Iknowmanyofourmembersareveteranusersofthesite,andIapologizeforbeingoverlysimplistichere.

TheOBALegislativeMon-itoringCommitteewillgiveinformationonselectedbillsinthebarjournalandonourWebsite.However,thevol-umeandconstantmove-mentofbills,aswellaspub-licationdeadlines,makesitalmostimpossibletokeeptheinformationcurrentonadailybasis.

OneofthebestresourcesistheOklahomaLegislatureWebsite.Onceyougotothesite,youcanfindawealthofinformationandcanper-formmanytasks.TheHouseandtheSenatebothmain-taintheirowninformationwithinthesite.youcanfindcontactinformationforlegis-lators,seetextofbills,check

billstatusandevengetcommitteemeetinginformation.Thesiteisupdatedoftenandisgenerallycurrentwithin24hoursorlessoflegislativeaction.

Whenyougotothehomepage,therearethreecolumns.Themiddlecolumniswhereyoucanfindinformationonpend-ingbills.Ifyouclickonthe“StatusofMea-sures”line,itwilltakeyoutoanewpagethatcanhelpyoufindwhatyouarelookingforquickly.Hereyoucanfindabillifyouknowitsauthororsearchforbillsbysubjectmatter.Oneofthebestfea-turesisthe“PersonalBillTracking”function.youwillfindthisandtheotherfunc-tionsontheleftsideofthescreen.Simplyclickonthe“PersonalBillTracking”line,anditwilltakeyoutoapagewhereyoucanputinthebillnumberonceandsaveit.

Thereafter,everytimeyouwanttocheckthestatusofthebillyoucangobacktothetrackingfunction,anditwilltellyouwherethebillisinthelegislativeprocess.Whenyoutypeinthebill,putinthehouseoforigindesignationandthebill

number.Forexample,SenateBill1001wouldbeputinsb1001andHouseBill1001onewouldbeputinashb1001.Multiplebillscanbeaddedsimplybyaddingacommaandaspacebetweenthebills.Doremembertohitthe“save”functioneachtimeyouaddabilltothelist.Onceyouhavelocatedthebillandputitonyourlist,youcancheckthebillstatusthroughouttheses-sion.Thesitehasagoodglossaryoftermsonthehomepage,andthe“help”functionhasfurtherinfor-mationonbill“flags.”Itisimportanttounderstandthetermswhenlookingupacurrentstatusofabill.Forinstance,“CS,”orcommitteesubstitute,meansthatthebillhasbeenchangedsince

FROM THE EXECuTIVE DIRECTOR

Tracking Legislation in theDigital AgeBy John Morris Williams


beingintroduced,andtheversionthatisgoingtobeheardbytheassignedcom-mitteehaslanguageaddedordeletedfromtheoriginalversion.Theassignedcom-mitteeonhearingthebillcanfurtheramendthebill,andthebillcanbeamendedonthefloorofeitherchamber.

Anamendmentofthebillbytheoppositechamberfromwherethebilloriginat-edwillnecessitateaconfer-encecommittee,andtheresultisa“CCR,”oracon-ferencecommitteereport.Ithinkitissufficetosaythatthelegislativeprocesshasitsownvocabulary,andeachofthechambershasitsownsetofproceduralrules.Thesitedoesagoodjobofexplainingthetermsandtheprocess.TheLegislatureshouldbeapplaudedforaddingthistransparencytostategovern-mentandmakingitavailablefreetoallourcitizens.Eachyeartherearemorethan3,000billsinplayatthebeginningofthesession.Withoutthiscomputerized

systemoftracking,thetaskisdaunting.Evenwiththistechnologyitisdifficulttoascertainthecontentofallthebillsfromtheirsummary.Thesitealsohasasearchfunctionforspecificterms.Onthehomepageyoucanlookforbillswithcertainterms.Forinstance,ifyouareinterestedinlandlordandtenantissues,youcansearchbythoseterms.Iputintheterm“landlord”andfound29bills.youcansearchbyindividualhouseorboth.Toseethefulltextofmea-sures,simplygotothehomepageandclickon“FullTextofMeasures,”andyouwillgetalistingofallthebillnumbers.Then,clickonthenumber,andthetextwillcomeup.

Asthesessionprogresses,makesureyouknowthesta-tusofthebillandlookforitscurrentversion.Whenyougotothe“TextofMeasures”pageyouwillselectthehouseoforigin,thecurrentsession(2010regularsession)andthecurrentstatus.Thestatuscol-

umnhasseveralselections,andyouneedtoknowthecurrentstatustogetthecur-rentversionofthebill.

Itishardinthespaceper-mittedtogiveafullexplana-tionofthesiteandallitsfunctions.However,IhopeIhaveatleastgivenyouenoughinformationforyoutoatleasttryit.Ihavebeenpleasantlysurprisedbythenumberofourmemberswhoarefrequentusersofthesite.WhileItrymybesttokeepupwithmattersintheses-sion,Iverymuchappreciateourmemberswhogivemeaheadsuponbillstheyarewatching.Ifyougetaminutetotrythesite,Ithinkyouwillfinditfairlyeasytouseandwillgiveyouinforma-tionquicklyonbillsthatrelatetoyourpractice.Ifyoufindsomethingreallyinter-estingandwishtoshareitwithme,Iwouldlovetohearfromyou.

To contact Executive Director Williams, e-mail him at [email protected].


The2009AnnualReportoftheProfessionalResponsibili-tyCommission(PRC)andtheProfessionalResponsibili-tyTribunal(PRT)wasfiledwiththeOklahomaSupremeCourtbytheOfficeofthegeneralCounselonFeb.5,2010.Theannualreportreflectsgrievancesandcom-plaintslodgedagainstattor-neysthatwerereceivedandprocessedin2009bythegen-eralcounsel.

ThePRCconsidersandinvestigatesanyallegedgroundsfordisciplineorincapacityofalawyercalledtoitsattentionoruponitsownmotionandtakessuchactionasdeemedappropri-ateincludingtheissuanceofaprivatereprimandorrefer-ralforthefilingofformalcharges.Underthesupervi-sionofthePRC,theOfficeofthegeneralCounselinvesti-gatestheseattorneygriev-ancemattersandreportsitsfindingsdirectlytothecom-missioners.ThePRCconsistsoffivelawyersandtwonon-lawyermembers.

ShouldaformalgrievancebereferredforthefilingofformalchargeswiththeSupremeCourt,athree-memberpanelofthePRTpresidesatthehearingandpreparesareportthat

includesfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawwitharecommendationtothecourtastodisciplineifsuchisindicated.ThePRTiscom-posedof14lawyersandsevennonlawyermembers.

Areviewofthestatisticsfor2009indicatesthatatotalof1,500informalandformalgrievancesinvolving1,076attorneyswerereceivedandprocessedbytheOfficeofthegeneralCounsel.Toputthisinperspective,thetotalnum-berofOklahomalicensedattorneysasofDec.31,2009was16,438.Consideringthetotalmembership,thereceiptof1,500grievancesinvolving

1,076attorneysconstitutesapproximately9percentoftheattorneyslicensedtopracticelawinOklahoma.Therefore,91percentoftheattorneyslicensedtopracticelawinOklahomadidnotreceiveagrievancein2009.

Ofthosegrievancesreferredforinvestigation,morethan50percentwerecomplaintsofneglect.Thisstatisticsholdstrueyearinandyearout.Theover-whelmingcomplaintreceivedagainstattorneysisthatthelawyerisbeinginat-tentivetoeitherthelegalmatterortheclient.Thenextmostoften-receivedcom-plaintisthatofmisrepresen-

ETHICS & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIbILITY

Domestic Relations and Criminal Law Continue to Receive Most GrievancesBy Gina Hendryx, OBA General Counsel

Good News:Ninety-one percent of the attorneys licensed to

practice law in Oklahoma did not receive a grievance in 2009.

Bad News:The overwhelming complaint received against

attorneys is that the lawyer is being inattentive to either the legal matter or the client.


tation(10%)followedcloselybypersonalbehavior(9%).

In2009,theareasofprac-ticereceivingthemostgriev-ancesweredomesticrela-tions(25%)andcriminallaw(22%).Again,thesetwoprac-ticeareashistoricallyreceivethemostcomplaints.

LastyearthePRCissuedprivatereprimandsto15attorneysinvolving17griev-ances.Inaddition,22griev-ancesweredismissedwithaletterofadmonitioncaution-ingthattheconductoftheattorneywasdangerouslyclosetoaviolationofadisci-plinaryrule.ThePRCdis-missed140grievancesafterafullinvestigationfoundthe

matterswerewithoutmerit.Thecommissionvotedthefilingofformalchargesagainstsevenlawyersinvolving24grievances.

In2009,18disciplinarycaseswereacteduponbytheOklahomaSupremeCourt.Ofthose18,twolawyersweredisbarred,fivelawyerresignationspendingdisci-plinaryactionwereapproved,threelawyersweresuspended,onelawyerreceivedapubliccensureandfourmattersweredis-missedwithoutdiscipline.

Inadditiontothepublicdiscipline,thecourtalsoissuedtwoprivaterepri-

mandsandthreeconfidentialinterimsuspensions.

Statistically,2009wassimi-lartopreviousyears.Thenumberofgrievancesreceivedwasslightlylowerthat2008,butthenumberofattorneysreceivingthosegrievancesincreased.Neglectcontinuestobethemostcommoncomplaintandthepracticeareasofdomes-ticrelationsandcriminallawroutinelygarnerthemostdissatisfactionwithlawyerperformance.

youmayviewthecompleteannualreportatwww.okbar.org/members/reports/2009/prc-prt.pdf.


rePOrt OF tHe PresIDent

PresidentSmallwoodreportedheattendedtheABAMidyearMeetinginOrlando,Fla.andgavebriefremarksattheWethePeoplemeetingattheOklahomaHistoryCenter.Healsoreportedthathereviewedthelatestlegislativeproposalsrelatingtoourassociation.

rePOrt OF tHe PresIDent-eleCt

President-ElectReheardreportedsheattendedtheJanuaryswearing-inceremony,JanuaryBoardofgovernorsmeeting,president’sluncheonhostedbyPresidentSmallwood,2010hasbeensdinner,ABAwintermeetinginOrlandoincludingtheHouseofDelegates,SouthernConferenceofBarPresidentsandNationalConferenceofBarPresidentsmeetingsheldduringtheABAmeeting.ShealsomonitoredlegislationrelevanttotheOBA.

rePOrt OF tHe eXeCutIVe DIreCtOr

ExecutiveDirectorWilliamsreportedheattendedtheSCBP,NABEandNCBPprogramsatABAMidyearMeeting,OBAAccesstoJusticeCommittee

meeting,AuditCommitteemeeting,directorsmeeting,monthlystaffcelebrationandNWOklahomaAlliancereception.HealsospokeattheyLDorientation,metwiththeLegislativeMonitoringCommitteechairperson,metwiththeMemberSurveyTaskForceco-chairpersons,hadconferenceswithvariousmembersoftheLegislatureandattendedcommitteemeetings.

rePOrt OF tHe Past PresIDent

PastPresidentParsleyreportedheattendedtheswearing-inceremony,JanuaryBoardofgovernorsmeeting,ABAMidyearMeetingandHouseofDelegatesattheABAmeeting.

BOarD memBer rePOrts

Governor Brown reportedheattendedthenewofficerandgovernorswearing-inceremony,BoardofgovernorsJanuarymeeting,OBABenchandBarCommitteemeeting,ABAMidyearMeetingandchairedtheABAJudicialDivisionCouncilmeeting.Governor Carter reportedsheattendedtheJanuaryswearing-inceremony,JanuaryBoardofgovernors

meetingandjudgedamocktrialproceedingforthequarterfinals.Governor Chesnut reportedheattendedtheJanuaryswearing-inceremony,JanuaryBoardofgovernorsmeeting,monthlymeetingoftheOttawaCountyBarAssociation,president’sluncheonhostedbyPresidentSmallwoodandthe2010hasbeensdinner.HealsopreparedfortheInvestmentCommitteemeeting.Governor Devoll reportedheattendedtheJanuaryBoardofgovernorsmeeting,swearing-inceremonyforthenewofficersandgovernorsandthegarfieldCountyBarAssociationFebruarymeeting.Governor Dobbsreportedheattendedtheswearing-inceremony,hasbeensdinnerandJanuaryboardmeeting.Governor HixsonreportedheattendedtheBoardofgovernorsswearing-inceremony,Januaryboardmeeting,president’sluncheonhostedbyPresidentSmallwood,2010hasbeensdinnerandtheCanadianCountyBarAssociationmonthlyluncheonandCLEpresentation.Governor mcCombs reportedheattendedtheswearing-inceremonyforthenewofficersandboardmembers,

February Meeting SummaryThe Oklahoma Bar Association Board of Governors met at the Oklahoma Bar Center in Oklahoma City on Friday, Feb. 19, 2010.

bOARD OF GOVERNORS ACTIONS


ThursdaynightdinneratBellini’s,Fridayboardmeeting,FridaynighthasbeensdinnerandtheMcCurtainCountyBarAssociationluncheon.Governor moudy reportedsheattendedtheJanuaryboardmeetingandthehasbeensdinner.Governor Poarch reportedheattendedtheJanuaryswearing-inceremony,Januaryboardmeeting,president’sluncheonhostedbyPresidentSmallwood,2010hasbeensdinner,ClevelandCountyBarAssociationluncheon,BohanonInnAICmeeting,regionalnationaltrialcompetitionforlawstudentssponsoredbytheAmericanCollegeofTrialLawyersandtheOBABenchandBarCommitteemeeting.Governor rivas reportedheattendedtheJanuaryswearing-inceremony,JanuaryBoardofgovernorsmeeting,president’sluncheonandhasbeensdinner.HealsoreviewedtheboardmaterialtopreparefortheupcomingFebruarymeeting.Governor shields reportedsheattendedtheJanuaryswearing-inceremony,JanuaryBoardofgovernorsmeeting,president’sluncheonhostedbyPresidentSmallwood,2010hasbeensdinner,OBFTrusteemeetingandorientationfornewtrustees.ShealsoconferredwithTomRiesen,chairofLawyersHelpingLawyersAssistanceProgram,concerning501(c)(3)issuesregardingthatcommittee.Governor stuart reportedheattendedtheJanuaryswearing-inceremony,JanuaryBoardofgovernorsmeeting,president’sluncheon,2010hasbeensdinner,Oklahoma

Bar JournalBoardofEditorsmeetingandworkedonrecruitingarticlesfortheMayissue.HealsoworkedonAuditCommitteeproposals.

rePOrt OF tHe suPreme COurt lIaIsOn

ChiefJusticeEdmondsonexpressedappreciationfortheThursdayeveninghospitalityattheboard’sdinner.

COmmIttee lIaIsOn rePOrt

governorStuartreportedtheboard’sAuditCommitteewillmeetthisafternoontoreviewauditproposalsandwillmakearecommendationtotheboardatitsMarchmeeting.

rePOrt OF tHe General COunsel

generalCounselHendryxreportedthatoneoftwocasespendingagainsttheOBAhasbeendismissed.Sheannouncedthatthehearingroomisnowfullyfurnished.AwrittenstatusreportoftheProfessionalResponsibilityCommissionandOBAdisciplinarymattersforJanuary2010wassubmittedfortheboard’sreview.ShesaidthePRCisshortonnonlawyermembers,andtheyarewaitingonthegovernor’sappointments.ShealsoreportedsheattendedtheJanuaryPRCmeetingandthemidyearmeetingoftheNationalOrganizationofBarCounsel.ShereportedthatshepreparedandfiledtheAnnualReportofthePRC,PRTandgeneralCounselfor2009withtheOklahomaSupremeCourtandpresentedanethicsCLEfor

theOklahomaCountyBarAssociation.Theboardapprovedthereports.

rePOrt OF tHe YOunG laWYers DIVIsIOn

yLDChairAspanthankedboardmemberswhoparticipatedintheyLDorientation,andshereviewedtheeventsheld.ShetoldboardmembersthedivisionisorganizingastatewidecommunityservicedayonMay1toperformprojectsatlibrariesacrossthestate.ShesaidyLDmemberswillbeputtingtogetherbarexamsurvivalkitsandhandingthemoutattheFebruarybarexamination.

neW memBer BeneFIt PrOPOseD

MemberServicesCommitteeChairKeriWilliamsFosterreportedthecommitteeisrecommendinganagreementwithMeridianOneCorp.,whichisanindependentfreightbrokerandmarketingservicescontractorofFedExandisauthorizedtomarketdiscountedrates.Ms.FostersaidtheagreementwouldallowtheOBAtooffermembersdiscountsrangingfrom4-70percentonavarietyofFedExserviceswitha1percentroyaltytotheassociation.Firmswithexistingaccountswouldstillbeeligibleforthememberdiscounts.Theboardapprovedthenonexclusive,two-yearagreement.

PrOPOseD InDIan laW seCtIOn BYlaWs amenDments

IndianLawSectionChairDebrageereviewedthechangesrequestedbythesectionthatweretoadd


associatemembers,toeliminatetheBudgetCommittee,toallowfaxorelectronicvotingandtocreateanautomaticsuccessionofofficers.TheboardapprovedtheamendmentsexcepttheeliminationoftheBudgetCommitteeandwordingreferencingtheBudgetCommittee.

BOarD OF meDICOleGal InVestIGatIOns aPPOIntment

PresidentSmallwoodreportedtheOBA’spreviousappointmenttotheboardhasresigned,andhehasappointedWesleyE.Johnson,Tulsa,tofilltheposition.

memBer surVeY tasK FOrCe uPDate

ExecutiveDirectorWilliamsreportedhehasmetwithtaskforceleadersBrianHermansonandJoeCrosthwait.Taskforcememberswillberecruited.Hesharedpreliminary

thoughtsthatbarmembersmightbeaskedadditionalquestionsrelatedtostrategicplanningthathavenotbeenaskedinthepast.

mOrtGaGe FOreClOsure semInar uPDate

ExecutiveDirectorWilliamsreportedtheseminarthatisfreetomemberswhodonate20hoursofprobonoservicetoLegalAidServicesofOklahomahasdrawnagoodresponsewith175lawyersregistered.

OBa FaCeBOOK

MAPDirectorCallowayreviewedthebasicsofFacebookwithboardmembers.Discussedweretheprosandconsofutilizingthissocialmediaandtheconsequencesofallowinganopenforumofcomments.ExamplesofFacebookpagesofotherbarassociationswereviewed.

aBa rePOrt

PresidentSmallwoodreportedseveralboardmembersattendedtheABAMidyearMeetinginOrlando,whichincludedameetingoftheSouthernConferenceofBarPresidents.HesaiddiscussionamongthebarassociationswithinthatregionmadehimawarethatallthestatesareexperiencingthesamechallengesasOklahoma.President-ElectReheardsaidsheattendedcourtfundingcrisissessions.

leGIslatIVe uPDate

ExecutiveDirectorWilliamsreviewedtheagendaofeventsforOBADayattheCapitolonMarch2andannouncedtherewasonespeakerchange.Also,hereportedbothOBAbillscameoutofcommitteelastweek.

neXt meetInG

TheBoardofgovernorswillmeetinWeatherfordonFriday,March26,2010.


Afewyearsago,around2000-2001,Oklahomalawyersweredealingwiththepossi-bilityofmultidisciplinarypractices.Imagineaccoun-tantsofficingwithlawyersandworkingonthesamesubjectmatter.Further,imagineinsurancecompaniesandbankinginstitutions,law-yers,accountantsandrealestatespecialistsperformingthesamedutiesoutofthesameoffices.

ItwasmyprivilegetobeinChicagowhentheAmeri-canBarAssociationwasaddressingtheseissues.TheNewyorkbaraswellastheCaliforniabarhadcomplet-edtheirpresentationsandstatedtheirpositionsregard-ingmultidisciplinaryprac-tice.Only10minuteswereleftbetweenthelastpresen-tationandthebreakforlunchwhenitwasOkla-homa’sturntomakeitspre-sentation.ThechairmanofthemeetingagreedtorecessatthattimeandcomebacklaterfortheOklahomapre-sentation.TheOklahomarep-resentative,guyClark,andtheBoardofgovernorshadspentalotoftimeandeffortaddressingtheseissuesaswellastheconcernswehadregardingmultidisciplinary

practice.guy,thespokesmanfortheOklahomaBarAssoci-ation,advisedthechairmanthathecouldmaketheOkla-homapresentationinfewerthan10minutes.Infewerthan10minutes,theOkla-homaplanwaspresentedbyguyanditsadoptionwasmovedbyboththeCaliforniabarandtheNewyorkbar.

Ataboutthatsametime,OklahomalawyerswerefacedwiththepropositionofmandatoryCLEbetweengraduatingfromlawschoolandpassingthebarandbeginninginprivatepractice.ThismatterwasconsideredanddebatedbeforetheOBABoardofgovernors.Themajoritysawlittleneedforan

attorneywhohadjustpassedthebartoberequiredtotakeaCLEclassbeforehecouldbeginpractice.TheyoungLawyersDivisionrepresenta-tivewiththeBoardofgover-nors,PatCipola,madeanoutstandingpresentationopposingadoptionoftheCLErequirement.HisremarkswerefollowedbySupremeCourtJusticeJosephWattwhoatthetimewastheSupremeCourtliaisontotheBoardofgovernors.

JusticeWattbeganbysay-inghistimewaslimitedduetosomeurgentcourtmattersbutmattersaffectingtheprac-ticeoflawbyOklahomalaw-yers,newandold,wereequallyimportant.ThepropositionofsuchaCLErequirementwasdefeated.

Thisstruckmeasanexam-pleofhowOklahomalaw-yersatbothendsofthepro-fession,newlawyersandolderlawyersalike,includ-ingaSupremeCourtjustice,couldreasontogethersoeffectivelyforthebettermentofourprofession.

TheOklahomaBarFounda-tion,althoughthethirdoldestinAmerica,wasoneofthelasttoobtainmandatoryIOLTA.Thisaccomplishment

bAR FOuNDATION NEWS

Oklahoma Lawyers — We’re Number OneBy Phil Frazier

In all endeavors, if we do not strive to become better at what we do and

more dedicated to our cause, we simply slip

backward.


wasthroughtheunyieldinganduntiringeffortbyseverallawyersfromacrossthestatethatareactivewiththeOBF.CertainlysomeOklahomalawyershaveopposedtheIOLTAprogram;however,noonehasdeniedthemanyben-efitsithasenabledthefoun-dationtoprovideforOkla-homacitizenslessfortunateandinneedoflegalservices.

NeithercanoneoverlooktheenthusiasmofOklahomalawyerswhohaveenjoyedworkingwithandbeingapartofthefoundationanditsmanygrantsandawards.

Throughpublicawarenessofthegoodthingslawyersdothroughthebarfoundation,ourmostvaluableasset,ourreputation,isenhancedintheeyesofthoseweserveandwhobecomeawareofthefoundation’sservices.

Atthe2010ABA’sNationalConferenceofBarPresidentsandNationalConferenceoftheBarFoundationsheldduringthefirstweekofFeb-ruary,Oklahomawaswellrepresented.OBAExecutiveDirectorJohnWilliamsandOBFExecutiveDirectorNancyNorsworthywerejoinedbyOBAPresidentAllenSmallwoodandOBAPresident-ElectDeborahReheard.OBAPastPresidentJonK.Parsleywasalsoin

attendanceaswasCarolManning,OBAdirectorofcommunications.

PastOBFPresidentReneeDeMossservesontheNation-alCouncilBarFoundationBoardasdoesSandraCous-ins,executivedirectoroftheTulsaCountyBarAssociationandTulsaCountyBarFoun-dation.Bothwerepresentforthenationalconference.

TheOklahomalawyersinattendancewerenotlimitedtojustfoundationofficersandassociationofficersrepresent-ingthestate.JackBrown,amemberoftheOBFandanactivememberwiththeABA,waspresentaswasTCBAPresidentDeirdreDexter,andOBAPastPresidentM.JoeCrosthwaitJr.,immediatepastpresidentoftheNationalConferenceofBarPresidents.Also,TCBFPresidentLeon-ardPatakiwaspresentandactivelyinvolvedinallofthemeetingevents.OtherOkla-homalawyersinattendanceweretoonumeroustolist.

Aswesatthroughtwo-and-a-halfdaysofmeetings(andmoreforsome),wereceivedinformationaboutthebarassociationsandbarfounda-tionsrepresentingstatesfromallacrossthecountry.WealsolearnedanditwasconfirmedbythepresentationsthatthelawyersofOklahomaaresec-

ondtonone.Itwouldbefool-hardytoeverthinkthatwecannotlearnfromothers;nev-ertheless,themoreIhavehadthepleasureofassociatingwithlawyersfromallacrosstheUnitedStates,theprouderIamofbeinganOklahomalawyerandaFellowwiththeOklahomaBarFoundation.

Duringthecourseofintro-ductions,aprogrammodera-tornoted,andsaiditbest,“Wehavetwolawyersfromtwostatesknownasfootballpowerhousesandespeciallystrongbarassociationsandbarfoundations,OklahomaandAlabama.”

Wemustcontinuethistra-ditionandreputation.Inallendeavors,ifwedonotstrivetobecomebetteratwhatwedoandmorededi-catedtoourcause,wesim-plyslipbackward.

AsamemberoftheOkla-homaBarAssociation,weurgeyoutoconsiderbecom-ingaFellowandbecomeactivewiththeOklahomaBarFoundation.OurcontinuingprogressandperformanceatthehighestleveldependsonthecontinuingactivityofallOklahomalawyers.

Phil Frazier is president of the Oklahoma Bar Founda-tion. He can be reached at [email protected].


mAttorneymNon-Attorney

Name:___________________________________________________________________________ (name, as it should appear on your OBF Fellow Plaque) County

Firmorotheraffiliation:___________________________________________________________

Mailing&DeliveryAddress:_______________________________________________________

City/State/Zip:__________________________________________________________________

Phone:____________________Fax:___________________E-MailAddress:_________________

__IwanttobeanOBFFellownow–BillMeLater!

__Totalamountenclosed,$1,000

__$100enclosed&billannually

__New Lawyer 1st Year,$25enclosed&billasstated

__New Lawyer within 3 Years,$50enclosed&billasstated

__IwanttoberecognizedasaSustaining Fellow&willcontinuemyannualgiftofat least $100–(initial pledge should be complete)

__IwanttoberecognizedattheleadershiplevelofBenefactor Fellow&willannuallycontributeat least $300– (initial pledge should be complete)

signature & Date:______________________________________OBa Bar #:________________

Makecheckspayableto:OklahomaBarFoundation•POBox53036•OklahomaCityOK73152-3036•(405)416-7070

OBF sPOnsOr:____________________________________________________________________

m I/we wish to arrange a time to discuss possible cy pres distribution to the Oklahoma Bar Foundation and my contact information is listed above.

Many thanks for your support & generosity!

Lawyers Transforming Lives through educa-tion, citizenship and justice for all. Join the OBF Fellows today!

Fellow enrollment Form


“Neverdonothingfornobodyfornothing,Jimmy!”ThosewordsofexasperatedadvicewerespatoutbyEmilRossi,alawyerIworkedforwhileIwasinlawschool.Emilwasdoingapieceof“probono”workforsome-oneinaquiet,unsungwayandwasfrustratedbythelackofappreciationandcooperationtheprobonocli-entwasexhibiting.Funnything,Emildidn’treallymeanwhathesaid.Alldur-ingthetimeIworkedwithhimhecontinuedtodootherquiet,unsungprobonoworkforpeople.Mostofthemwerenotasfrustratingastheonewhopromptedhisadvice.

IthinkaboutEmil’sadvicefromtimetotime,especiallywhenI’mdoingsomeprobonoworkforsomeonewhoseemsunderappreciative.Ihavedoneprobonoworkinavarietyofsettings.Someoftheworkhasbeendonethroughorganizednonprofitagencies,andsomeworkhasbeendonefornonprofitagenciesthemselves.ButI’vealsodonesomeprobonoworkforpeoplewhojustcametomewitharequestforrepresentationinthenormalcourseofmyprac-tice.Icallthis“probonoasyougo.”

Weoftenthinkofprobonoaslegalworkforwhichyou

arenotpaidanythingandperformthroughsomelegalnonprofitentity.Butprobonoworkcanalsoinvolveworkyoudoforfreeoratadeepdiscountbecauseoftheclient’sfinancialsituation.LikeEmil’sprobonowork,it’sdonequietlyandwithoutfanfare.Probonoworkcanbeveryrewarding—innon-financialways.Moreaboutthatlater.

WHY DO PrO BOnO WOrK?

Therearemanyreasonsnottoengageinprobonowork.Tonamejustafew:

•youdon’tmakeanymoney.

•Ittakesyourattentionawayfromregularclientswhodependonyouravailability.

•Itmaytakeyououtofyourcomfortzone.


•Theusualfareofcasesaremessy—sometimeslegally,sometimesemotionally.

•Ifyoutalkaboutyourprobonocases,peoplethinkyou’rebragging.


Sowhyshouldlawyersdoprobonowork?First,asyour

momalwaystoldyou,“becauseyououghtto.”

TheABAModelRulesofProfessionalConductaddressesthe“oughtto”ofprobono:

Every lawyer has a profes-sional responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay. A lawyer should aspire to render at least (50) hours of pro bono publico legal services per year. In fulfilling this responsi-bility, the lawyer should: pro-vide a substantial majority of the (50) hours of legal services without fee or expectation of fee to: (1) persons of limited means or (2) charitable, religious, civic, community, governmental and educational organizations in matters that are designed pri-marily to address the needs of persons of limited means . . .

you’reprobablynot“inspired”bythiskindofthumbintheback,butthereitis.Wehaveaprofessionalresponsibilitytoprovidelegalservicestothosewhocannotpay.Butfeelingobligedisnotagreatmotiva-tor.Abettermotivatorisknowingthatyouhavehelpedsomeoneinneed.

AsImentioned,probonoworkcaninvolve“probonoasyougo”workthatyoudoatadeepdiscountbecauseoftheclient’sfinancialsitua-tion.ThatwasthesituationwithJim,aclientreferredto

Pro bono As You GoBy Jim Priest

ACCESS TO JuSTICE


mebyShawneeattorneyPaulMcKinneymanyyearsago.Jimhadjustbeenfiredfromhisjobandwasbeingsuedbythreeformerco-employees.Hehadnowheretoturnandwasinareallegalandfinancialjam.Inourinitialinterview,ItoldJimIdidn’tknowifIcouldhelphim.Ifiguredhecouldnotaffordalawyer.ButIwasimpressedbybothhissincer-ityandhisplight,andItookhiscaseatadeeplydiscount-edhourlyrateinordertohelphim.

AfterprotracteddiscoveryandatrialinPottCounty,wefinallyprevailed,notonlyagainsttheco-workersbutalsoinawrongfuldischargelawsuitagainstJim’sformeremployer.Aftertheverdictwasreturned,averyhappyandrelievedJimturnedtoshakemyhandandsaid,“you’vegotafriendforlife!”IgetaChristmascardeveryyearfromJimandhiswifethatissigned“yourfriendsforlife.”Ididn’tgetanyfinancialrewardonJim’s“probonoasyougo”case,butIgainedalifetimefriend.

Sowhetheryouvolunteerforprobonoworkthroughalegalservicesassociation,oryoudoit“asyougo,”therewardisnotfoundinthemoneyorinknowingyou’vefulfilledyour“professionalresponsibility.”Therewardisinusingyourlegalskillstohelpsomeoneinneedand,intheprocess,makingafriendforlife.

Mr. Priest practices with the Oklahoma City law firm of Whitten Burrage in the field of employment and civil rights matters.


IwouldliketobeginmyletterthismonthbyfirstthankingeveryonewhohascontactedmeinthepastfewmonthswantingtobecomeinvolvedintheyLD.WhenIwrotemyfirstletterfortheJanuarybarjournalurgingmoreactiveparticipation,IneverimaginedthatIwouldreceivesomanyresponses.Ihavespokenwithmanyofyouandhopetocontinuetodoso.Itisnottoolatetogetinvolved.Infact,therearemanyopportunitiescomingupinthenextfewmonthsforanyonewhowouldliketoparticipate.

neW attOrneY reCePtIOn anD HaPPY HOurs

TheyLDisonceagainhostingareceptionandtwohappyhourswelcomingnewmemberstoourprofession.Theswearing-inceremonywillbeheldApril22,andtheyLDwillbeinvolvedbyhost-ingacookieandpunchrecep-tionfornewadmitteesandtheirfamiliesfollowingtheceremony.

Then,onapril 27 at 5:30 p.m.,theyLDwouldliketoinviteallmemberstoattendahappyhourwelcomingthenewadmitteesintotheyLDandtheOBA.ThehappyhourreceptionswillbeheldinOklahomaCityatmickey

mantle’s steakhouseinBricktownandinTulsaatleon’s restless ribboninBrookside.Wehopethatmanyofourmembersusethisopportunitytomeetthenewadmittees,aswellastomeetothermembersandlearnmoreabouttheyLD.

stateWIDe COmmunItY serVICe PrOJeCt DaY

TheyLDisorganizingastatewideCommunityServiceProjecttobeheldonsatur-day, may 1inconjunctionwithLawDay.OnMay1,theyLDishostingthiseventtoprovideanavenueforlaw-yersacrossthestatetogivebacktotheircommunities,specificallytopubliclibrariesintheircommunities.

TheyLDBoardofDirectorsandCommunityServiceCommitteehavecoordinatedwiththeOklahomaDepart-mentofLibrariesandidenti-fied12publiclibrariesacrossthestateforprojectsthisyear.These12publiclibrariesarespreadthroughoutthestatesothatalllawyerscanbeinvolvedhelpingouttheirlocalcommunitieswithotherattorneysintheirarea.TheyLDwillbehostingcommu-nityserviceprojectsatthePonca City library, mcales-ter Public library, library of enid and Garfield County, norman Public library,

muskogee Public library, shawnee Public library, lawton Public library,andPerry Carnegie Public library,aswellastwoproj-ectsinboththeOklahoma City metropolitan library systemandthetulsa City-County library system.Timesanddetailsofeachprojectwillbeincludedinnextmonth’sOklahoma Bar Journal,aswellaspostedontheOBA/yLDWebsiteatwww.okbar.org/yld.

Ifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutthisprojectorareinter-estedinhostingaprojectatapubliclibrarynotyetidenti-fied,[email protected](918)594-0595ortheyLDCommunityServiceCommit-teeChairJenniferKirkpatrickatjhkirkpatrick@eliasbooks.comor(405)232-3722.

YlD mIDYear meetInG

TheOBA/yLDMidyearMeetingwillbeheldincon-junctionwiththeannualSoloandSmallFirmConferenceonJune24-26attheDown-streamResortinQuapaw,Okla.(nearJoplin).Thiscon-ferenceofferssocialeventsandnetworkingopportunitiesforyLDmembers,aswellasoutstandingCLE—muchofwhichisgearedtowardyoungerattorneys.Someoftheprogrammingincludes

YOuNG LAWYERS DIVISION

Events to Offer Members Chancefor Networking and ServiceBy Molly Aspan, YLD Chairperson


LearningfromLegends:OklahomaCriminalLawPractice,WhyPracticingLawisKillingyourLawPractice,HowtoDealwithDifficultClients,KeystoManaginga21stCenturyLawOffice,andanEthicsprogramonCon-flicts.EarlybirdregistrationfortheSoloandSmallFirmConferenceisJune10.

Bar eXam surVIVal KIts DIstrIButeD

TheyLDBoardofDirectorsandtheyLDNewAttorneyCommitteeassembledbarexamsurvivalkitsatitsFebruaryBoardofDirectorsmeeting.WayneEdgar,Jenni-ferKirkpatrick,LaneNealandKarolinaRobertspassedoutthekitsatthebarexaminOklahomaCity,andKimberlyMoore-WaitehandedoutthekitsinTulsa.Thoughfewwereactuallyexcitedtotaketheexam,manyweregratefulfortheessentialsprovidedbytheyLD.

aBa mIDYear meetInG In OrlanDO

yLDDirectorsJenniferKir-patrick,HannahCable,Briana

RossandIattendedandpar-ticipatedastheOklahomadelegatesattheABA/yLDAssemblyattheABAMid-yearMeetinginFebruary.Ialsoattendedandparticipat-edintheABAHouseofDele-gates.TheABA/yLDMid-yearMeetingprovidedexten-sivenetworkingopportunitiesforyounglawyers,aforumforCLEandprofessionaldevelopmentprogramming,andassemblybusiness

includingpresentationsbyABAofficersandsections,electionsofnewofficers,introductionofthe“Touch10,000”program,recognitionofNationalOutstandingyoungLawyerAwardrecipi-ents,anddebateandvoteonfourresolutions.IfyouareinterestedinbecominginvolvedintheABA/yLD,thedeadlineforthescholar-shipprogramisApril15.Applicationscanbefoundonlineatwww.abanet.org/yld/scholarships.

mOCK trIal FInals

TheyLDMockTrialCom-mitteehelditsstatefinalsonMarch2withChristianHeri-tageAcademyedgingoutAdaHighSchoolforthetophonors.ThankyoutoallmembersoftheMockTrialCommittee,CommitteeChairErinMoore,OBAMockTrialCoordinatorJudySpencerandalltheindividualswhovolunteeredtohelpwiththecompetition.WewillbecheeringonChristianHeri-tageAcademyastheyrepresentOklahomaattheNationalMockTrialCompeti-tioninMayinPhiladelphia.

YLD members make sure to include plenty of goodies in the bar exam survival kits.

(Back Row) Molly Aspan, Jennifer Kirkpatrick and Doris Gruntmeir; (Front Row) Briana Ross and Hannah Cable at the ABA Midyear Meeting in Orlando


15 OBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section Meeting;4p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:AndreaBraeutigam(405)640-2819

16 OBA Volunteer Night at OETA;5:45p.m.;OETAStudio,OklahomaCity;Contact:JeffKelton(405)416-7018


18 OBA Access to Justice Committee Meeting; 10a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:KadeA.McClure(580)248-4675

20 OBA Title Examination Standards Committee Meeting;9:15a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:KraettliEpperson(405)848-9100


25 OBA Leadership Academy;8:30a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:HeidiMcComb(405)416-7027

OBA Strategic Planning Committee Meeting;3p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandOSUTulsa;Contact:DeborahAnnReheard(918)689-9281

26 OBA Board of Governors Meeting;Weatherford,Oklahoma;Contact:JohnMorrisWilliams(405)416-7000

OBA Leadership Academy;8:30a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:HeidiMcComb(405)416-7027

27 OBA Young Lawyers Division Meeting;10a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:MollyAspan(918)594-0595

1 OBA Legal Intern Committee Meeting;3:30p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCitywithteleconference;Contact:H.TerrellMonks(405)733-8686

2 Oklahoma Bar Foundation Meeting;12:30p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:NancyNorsworthy(405)416-7070

6 OBA Law-related Education Committee Meeting;4p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:JackG.Clark(405)232-4271

7 OBA Women in Law Committee Meeting;12p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:ReneeDeMoss(918)595-4800

9 OBA Diversity Committee Meeting;11a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:MarvinLizama(918)742-2021

OBA Communications Committee Meeting;1:30p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:DouglasDodd(918)591-5316

OBA Family Law Section Meeting;3:30p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandOSUTulsa;Contact:KimberlyK.Hays(918)592-2800

14 OBA Government and Administrative Law Practice Section Meeting;3:30p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:JamiFenner(405)844-9900

CalendarMarch April


15 OBA Access to Justice Committee Meeting; 10a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:KadeA.McClure(580)248-4675

OBA Bench & Bar Committee Meeting;12p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:JackBrown(918)581-8211

17 OBA Title Examination Standards Committee Meeting;StroudCommunityCenter,Stroud;Contact:KraettliEpperson(405)848-9100

19 OBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section Meeting;4p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:AndreaBraeutigam(405)640-2819

20 OBA Civil Procedure Committee Meeting;3:30p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandOSUTulsa;Contact:JamesMilton(918)591-5229


22 New Admittee Swearing In Ceremony;SupremeCourtCourtroom;Contact:BoardofBarExaminers(405)416-7075

OBA Leadership Academy;11a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:HeidiMcComb(405)416-7027

23 OBA Board of Governors Meeting;McAlester,Oklahoma;Contact:JohnMorrisWilliams(405)416-7000

Association of Black Lawyers Meeting;12p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:DonnaBacy(405)424-5510

24 OBA Young Lawyers Division Board of Directors Meeting;10a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:MollyAspan(918)594-0595

27 OBA New Lawyer Experience;8a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCity;Contact:JimCalloway(405)416-7051


29 OBA Ask A Lawyer;OETAStudios,OklahomaCity;Contact:TinaIzadi(405)521-4274

5 OBA Women in Law Committee Meeting;12p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:ReneeDeMoss(918)595-4800

7 OBA Diversity Committee Meeting;11a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:MarvinLizama(918)742-2021

11 OBA Law-related Education Committee Meeting;4p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:JackG.Clark(405)232-4271

13 OBA Bench & Bar Committee Meeting;12p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:JackBrown(918)581-8211

14 OBA Family Law Section Meeting;3:30p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandOSUTulsa;Contact:KimberlyK.Hays(918)592-2800

15 OBA Title Examination Standards Committee Meeting;TulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:KraettliEpperson(405)848-9100

18 OBA Civil Procedure Committee Meeting;3:30p.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandOSUTulsa;Contact:JamesMilton(918)591-5229


20 OBA Access to Justice Committee Meeting;10a.m.;OklahomaBarCenter,OklahomaCityandTulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:KadeA.McClure(580)248-4675

21 OBA Board of Governors Meeting;TulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:JohnMorrisWilliams(405)416-7000

22 OBA Young Lawyers Division Board of Directors Meeting;TulsaCountyBarCenter,Tulsa;Contact:MollyAspan(918)594-0595


31 OBA Closed–MemorialDayObserved

May


FOR YOuR INFORMATION

Miller Selected as District Judgegov.BradHenryrecentlyappointedgaryE.MillerasdistrictjudgeforCanadianCounty.HereplacesJudgeEdwardCunningham,whoretired.

JudgeMillerwasformallysworninMarch12.Heearnedhisbache-lor’sdegreefromUCOandhisJ.D.fromOCUSchoolofLaw.HewasmostrecentlythedirectorofChildrenandFamilyServicesfortheOklahomaDepartmentofHumanServices.Priortothat,heservedasanassociatedistrictjudgeinCanadianCountyfrom1993to2008.Heworkedinprivatepracticefrom1978to1993.

Whileajudge,hewashonoredwithawardssuchastheCASAJudgeoftheyearin2000;andtheOklahomaDepartmentofHumanServicesAdultProtectionAwardin1995.Hewasnamedyukon’sCitizenoftheyearin2001.

Bar Exam Embraces TechnologyTheFebruarybarexammarkedthefirsttimetest-takerswereallowedtousetheirlaptopsontheessayportionoftheexam.Abouthalfofthe95peopletakingtheexamtookadvan-tageofthisnewoption.TheexamwasadministeredwithExamSoft,aprogramthatdisablesanyothercomputerprogramswhileinuseandwirelesslydownloadstestanswers.Lastmonth’sbarexamwasalsothefirsttimeitwascompletelyheldattheOklahomaBarCenterandtheTulsaCountyBarCenter.

Mock Trial Champion NamedDelCity’sChristianHeritageAcademydefeatedAdaHighSchoolinthefinalroundofcom-petitiontoclaimtheOklahomaHighSchoolMockTrialChampionship.ChristianHeritageAcademywillrepresentOklahomainthenationalcompetition,tobeheldinPhiladelphiain

May.ThecompetitionwasheldMarch2intheBellCourtroomattheOULawCenterinNorman.Thisyear’scasefocusedoncyberstalking.Onestudentaccusedanotherstudent’schatroompostingsandInternetthreatsofcausingemotionaldistressthataffectedacademicperformance,resultinginthelossofascholarship.TheannualcompetitionissponsoredbytheOBAyoungLawyersDivisionandtheOklahomaBarFounda-tion.Teamsarepairedwithvolunteerattorneycoaches.ChristianHeritageAcademy’sattorneycoachisJenniferMiller,andtheattorneycoachforAdaHighSchoolisFrankStout.

Christian Heritage Academy celebrates its first-place finish in the state mock trial championship.


DavidMichaelAdamsOBANo.21565414NicolletMall,5thFl.Minneapolis,MN55401-1993

SlatonJayAnthonyOBANo.165614183rdStreetS.W.MountVernon,IA52314

RichardA.AultOBANo.378809TimberdaleDr.Edmond,OK73034-4258

MiguelA.ComanchoOBANo.12235P.O.Box223834ChristianstedVISt.Croix,U.S.AE00822-3834

DonovanDuaneDobbsOBANo.14118P.O.Box1236Ozark,MO65721-1236

MikilinMoanaEspositoOBANo.227896037MeridianDr.,No.411Lincoln,NE68506

glenAllenglassOBANo.12183Room14U1010N.St.Mary’sSt.SanAntonio,Tx78215WilliamHarveyHinkleOBANo.42291730W.VirginSt.Tulsa,OK74127-2510FrancesSearsLowenfieldOBANo.185856761170thAve.Bloomer,WI54724JosephVinceThomasLyonOBANo.2127410021VanderbiltCir.,No.4Rockville,MD20850SuttonAleksandraSmithMurrayOBANo.189965708S.LouisvilleAve.Tulsa,OK74135RichardDanRussellOBANo.7842OakBluffEstates72TwinRidgeParkwayRoundRock,Tx78664

JaredArthurSaundersOBANo.184604930StonebackPl.Lawrence,KS66047

OBA Member ResignationsThefollowingOBAmembershaveresignedasmembersoftheassociationandnoticeisherebygivenofsuchresignations:

Oklahoma Supreme Court Recognizes Teacher and School of the YearChief Justice James Edmondson (left) and Justice Joseph Watt (right) con-

gratulate teacher Sandra Warren and Principal Tom Padalino of Tulsa’s

Thoreau Demonstration Academy, which received the annual School of the Year Award Feb. 25. The school

received a $1,000 stipend and plaque recognizing the school and students

for their achievement.

Diane Walker of Muskogee’s Ben Franklin Science Academy receives a trophy from OBA Law-related Education Committee Chair Chip Clark. Ms. Walker was recognized as Teacher of the Year. She received a $1,000 stipend and trophy for her excellence in teaching citizenship skills.

OBA Member ReinstatementsThefollowingmembersoftheOBAsuspendedfornonpay-mentofdueshavecompliedwiththerequirementsforrein-statement,andnoticeisherebygivenofsuchreinstatement:

SherriToxshanaFlemingOBANo.204832305SummerwalkParkwayTucker,gA30084

ObieLuschinMooreOBANo.6348DPHoldingSARueduStand60-62geneva,Switzerland,FO1204

DebraStumpOBANo.205471607MasonHillDr.Alexandria,VA22307


gov.BradHenryappoint-edDennis shookas

WagonerCountyassociatedistrictjudge.JudgeShookhasbeeninprivatepracticeinWagonerCountysince1983.Beforethat,hewasanassistantdistrictattorneyinWagonerCountyfortwoyears.HehasalsoservedasmunicipaljudgeforWagonerandCowetaandastownattorneyinPorter.JudgeShookreceivedhisJ.D.fromTUin1980.

Martha Oakeswasrecentlysworninas

specialjudgeofOklahomaCounty.JudgeOakeswaspreviouslywiththeOkla-homaTaxCommission.Priortothat,shewasagradyCountyassistantdistrictattorney.ShegraduatedfromtheOUCollegeofLawin1990andservedontheOBA/yLDboardinpastyears.

James J. Proszekpublishedanarticleintheinaugural

issueofDamage Prevention Professional,the2010winteredition.Thearticle,titled“UnfoldingTheStory:DevelopingEffectiveInter-viewingTechniques,”ispartoneoftwoarticleswrittenforthepublicationanddis-cussesstrategiesforprepar-ingandoptimizingwitnessinterviewspriortodamagesettlementlitigation.

Robert s. lafferrandrehasbeenhonoredwiththe

DistinguishedServiceAwardof“OutstandingDefense

Lawyerfor2009”bytheOklahomaAssociationofDefenseCounsel.

TheEdmondfirmofPow-ersatLawLLCwas

selectedastheBankofOkla-homa/EdmondChamber2009SmallBusinessoftheyear.Don PowersandDr. G. Kay Powersarethemem-bers/managersofthefirm.

Leah FarishpublishedanarticleinCreightonUni-

versity’sJournal of Religion and Societyonthecloserela-tionshipbetweentheWest-minsterConfessionofFaithandtheFirstAmendment.Itcanbefoundonlineathttp://moses.creighton.edu/jrs/2010/2010-2.html.

Johnny Beechwasnamedprogramplannerandfacil-

itatorforSouthwesternOkla-homaStateUniversity’sSportsManagementConfer-ence,whichfeaturedathleticdirectorsspeakingonvari-ouscollegesportmanage-menttopicsofinteresttoDivisionII-sizedprograms.

TheBoardofDirectorsofLegalAidServicesof

OklahomahaselectedPat-rick laydenofMcAlestertoserveastheorganization’spresidentfor2010.Mr.Layden,whorepresentsthePittsburgCountyBarAssoci-ationonLegalAid’sboard,hasbeenamembersince2002and,priortothat,servedontheboardofLegalServicesofEasternOkla-homa.eleanor thompsonofOklahomaCitywaselectedvicepresidentandlucille loganofOklahomaCitywaselectedsecretary-trea-surer.

Forthethirdconsecutiveyear,Conner&Winters

participatedintheAmerican

RedCrossStockingStufferProgram.Theteamdedicat-edapproximately150non-workhourstotheeventandraisedmorethan$1,000.Theystuffed275stockingsforunderprivilegedchildrenandchildrenaffectedbytragedy.

Stephen l. DeGiustiisthenewgeneralcounselfor

QuestResourceCorp.,asannouncedlastmonth.Thee-mailaddresspublishedwasincorrect.Hecanbereachedatsdegiusti@qrcp.net.

MulinixOgdenHallAndrews&Ludlam

PLLCofOklahomaCityannouncessally Ketchum edwards, Joseph K. Goerke, armando J. rosell, Jeffrey e. tateandtravis W. Wat-kinsasmembersofthefirm.Ms.EdwardsreceivedaB.A.,summacumlaude,fromUCOin1975andaJ.D.fromOUin1979.Herpracticeisfocusedintheareasoffeder-alandstatetaxation,estateandgifttaxation,estateplan-ning,probate,trustsandestatelitigation.Mr.goerkereceivedaB.S.fromOSUin1986andaJ.D.fromOUin1989.Hispracticeprimarilyinvolvescivillitigation,includingareasofinsurancedefense,insurancecoverageissues,insurancesubroga-tion,personalinjury,prod-uctsliability,premiseliabili-ty,banking,commercialdis-putesandtrustdisputes.Mr.RosellreceivedaB.A.from

bENCH & bAR bRIEFS


SouthernMethodistUniversi-tyin1995andaJ.D.fromOCUin2000.Hispracticeisprimarilyfocusedinbusinesslitigation,bankruptcy,realestatelawandtransactions,bankinglaw,entityforma-tion,creditor’srights,andsportsandentertainmentlaw.Mr.Tateisa1996graduateoftheOUCollegeofLaw.Heconcentrateshispracticeintheareasofbankruptcyandreorganization,commerciallitigation,realestatelitigationandcreditor’srights.Mr.WatkinsreceivedhisJ.D.fromOCUin1999.Hisprac-ticeisprimarilyconcentratedintriallitigation,includingpersonalinjuryandemploy-mentmatters.

AndrewsDavisofOkla-homaCityannounces

thatDarin C. savagehasjoinedthefirm.Mr.Savageisanassociatewithmorethansixyearsofexperienceintheareasofoilandgas,energy,commercialrealestate,realpropertyandbusiness.Mr.Savagereceivedhisundergraduatedegree,master’sdegreeandlawdegreefromOU.

PierceCouchHendricksonBaysinger&greenLLP

ofOklahomaCityannounceselizabeth r. sharrock, Dan-iel J. HoehnerandJerrod s. Geigeraspartnersinthefirm.Ms.SharrockearnedherJ.D.fromOUin1997andpracticesintheareasofmed-icalmalpractice,civilrightsandinsurancedefense.Mr.HoehnerearnedhisJ.D.fromOUin1984andpractic-esintheareasofgaminglaw,insurancecoverageandinsurancedefense.Mr.gei-ger’sareaofpracticeisworkers’compensationandinsurancedefense.

Conner&WintersofTulsahasnamedKathryn Kin-

dellasitsnewestpartner

andtheadditionofJohn l. WilliamstoitsNativeAmer-ican/AmericanIndianprac-ticeteam.Ms.Kindellgradu-atedwithhonorsfromtheTUCollegeofLawandnowpracticesinthecorporategroupfocusingoncorporateandsecuritieslawandmerg-ersandacquisitions.PriortojoiningConner&Winters,Ms.Kindellpracticedinthelegaldepartmentofatele-communicationscorporation.Mr.WilliamsconcentrateshispracticeinIndianCoun-trybusinesstransactions,energydevelopment,triballaw,tribalcorporatestruc-ture,regulatorylaw,FERCcomplianceandothernatu-ralresourceslaw.HeearnedbothhisB.S.inchemicalengineering,graduatingcumlaude,andhisJ.D.fromTU.

McAfee&TaftofOkla-homaCityandTulsa

hasnamedattorneysstepha-nie Chapman, todd Court, stephen m. Hetrick, mark W. malone, Beau m. Patter-son, natalie K. ramsey, Paul a. rossandronald t. shinn Jr.asshareholders,andJennifer Callahanhasbeenelectedtoitsboardofdirectors.Ms.Chapmanisataxandfamilywealthlawyerwhosepracticeisfocusedintheareasoftaxationofbusi-nesstransactionsandwealthtransferplanning.Mr.Courtisatriallawyerwhorepre-sentsemployersinavarietyoflaborandemploymentmattersaswellasassistingclientswithgenerallitigationinvolvingdisputesinrealestateandcommercialcon-tracts.Mr.Hetrickisacorpo-ratelawyerwhosepracticeencompassesabroadrangeofcomplexbusinesstransac-tions,includingtheorgani-zation,financing,acquisition,reorganizationanddivesti-tureofalltypesofentities,

includingtheacquisition,development,leasing,man-agementandfinancingofrealestateandstateandlocaltaxationmatters.Mr.Maloneisataxandfamilywealthlawyerwhoassistsclientsinestateplanning,administra-tionofestates,settlementofcomplexestatemattersandsettlementandlitigationofdisputesregardingwillsandtrusts.Mr.Pattersonisacor-poratelawyerwhosepracticeinvolvesabroadrangeofbusinesstransactionsandgeneralrepresentationofbusinessentitiesintheareasofcreditor’srights,healthcare,oilandgastransactions,regulatorycomplianceandrealestatematters.Ms.Ramseyisatriallawyerwhosepracticeinvolvestherepresentationofemployersandmanagementexclusivelyinallphasesoflitigationbeforefederalandstatecourts,regulatoryandadministrativeagenciesandarbitrationpanels.Mr.Rossisatriallawyerwhosepri-marypracticefieldsincludegeneralcommerciallitiga-tion,NativeAmericanlaw,andtherepresentationofemployersinlaborandemploymentdisputes.Mr.Shinnisatriallawyerwhoseexperienceincludescasesinvolvingfranchiseandlicenseagreements,health-carelitigation,businesstorts,shareholderandcorporatedisputes,andwhitecollarcriminaldefense.Ms.Callah-anisanemployeebenefitsandtaxlawyerwhoseprac-ticeisfocusedonexecutivecompensationandbenefitsplanningprivateandpubliccompaniesofallsizesacrossabroadrangeofindustries.SheearnedherJ.D.fromOCUandherbachelor’sdegreefromCaliforniaPoly-technicStateUniversity.


Robinett&MurphyofTulsaannouncesthatfor-

merJudgerobert Peruginoandsarah W. PostonhavebecomeofcounseltothefirmandalsoannouncesChristian D. BarnardandCheryl a. Jacksonasnewassociates.Mr.Peruginowillfocusonfamilylawmattersandwillcontinuehismedia-tionservicesinfamilylawdisputes.Hewillalsohandleprobateandguardianshipmatters.Hecanbereachedbye-mailatrperugino@robinettmurphy.com.Ms.PostonjoinsthefirmafterpracticingwithprivatefirmsinOhioandcompletingfed-eralclerkshipsinbothMichi-ganandConnecticut.Shewillfocusprimarilyonthefirm’scivillitigationmatters.Here-mailaddressissposton@robinettmurphy.com.BothMs.BarnardandMs.Jacksonare2009gradu-atesoftheTUCollegeofLawandwillfocusonthefirm’scivillitigationpractice.Theycanbecontactedbye-mailatcbarnard@[email protected].

PhillipsMurrahPCofOklahomaCityannounc-

esDawn rahmeasshare-holderanddirector.Herpracticeisconcentratedintheareasoftax,taxcontro-versyandlitigation,familywealthtransferplanningandcorporatelaw.Ms.Rahmereceivedabachelor’sdegreeandJ.D.fromTU,thenwentontocompleteNewyorkUniversitySchoolofLaw’sgraduatetaxprogram.

TheshareholdersoftheTulsalawfirmsJohnson

JonesDornblaserCoffman&ShorbandtheDavisLawFirmofOklahomaannouncethattheirfirmshavecom-binedtobecomeJohnson&JonesPC.John Johnson,

KenDornblaser, randy shorb, andy JohnsonandChris Davisaretheshare-holdersofJohnson&JonesPC.Jon Cartledge, luke Bomer, ryan Fuldaandtrevor Hughesaretheasso-ciateattorneys.Paul King-solverisofcounseltothefirm.Thefirm’sofficeislocatedat2200BankofAmerica,15W.6thStreet,Tulsa,74119;(918)584-6644;Fax:(888)789-0940.

Bryan l. Kingeryandroger B. Haleannounce

theformationofWyatt,Kingery,Hale&Associates.Don l. Wyattwillbeofcounseltothenewfirm.michael l. HarrisandHeather l. Hammondareassociatesinthefirm.Mr.Kingerywillfocushisprac-ticeintheareaofOklahomaworkers’compensationclaimant’scases,whileMr.HalewillfocusontheareasofSocialSecuritydisability,veteran’sadministrationdis-abilityandcatastrophicper-sonalinjury/medicalmal-practiceplaintiffcases.Mr.HarriswilllimithispracticetoSocialSecuritydisabilityandveteran’sadministrationdisabilityclaims.Ms.Ham-mondwilllimitherpracticetoSocialSecuritydisabilityclaims.Thenationwidetoll-freephonenumberremains1(800)522-4595.

FormerPayneCountyAssociateDistrictJudge

robert murphyhasmovedtoSpokane,Wash.JudgeMurphyacceptedapositionwiththestateofWashing-ton’sOfficeofAdministra-tiveHearingsasanadminis-trativelawjudge.Hisofficeislocatedat221N.WallStreet,Spokane,Wash.,99223.JudgeMurphycanbereachedbyphoneat(509)[email protected].

Best&SharpInc.ofTulsaannouncesshannon e.

Bickhamasanassociateofthefirm.Ms.Bickhamgrad-uatedfromtheOCUSchoolofLawin2007.Sincethattime,shehasbeenaTulsaCountyassistantdistrictattorney.AtBest&Sharp,herpracticeareaswillincludemedicalmalpracticedefense,generalinsurancedefenselitigationandothertortlitigation.

Leanne mcGillandFaye rodgersannouncethe

openingoftheirnewfirm,Mcgill&RodgersPLLC.Thefirmwillfocusprimarilyonthepracticeareasoffamilylaw,estateplanningandgen-eralcivillitigation.Mcgill&Rodgersislocatedat1600E.19thSt.,Suite402,Edmond,73013;(405)285-8048.

Jon m. Willifordannouncestheopeningofhisnew

firm,JonM.WillifordPLLC,inOklahomaCity.Hemaybereachedat(405)239-2454orbye-mailatjon@jonwillifordlaw.com.Mr.Willifordhasworkedinallareasofpersonalinjuryandmedicalmalpracticelitiga-tionandplansoncontinuingthatworkathisnewfirm.

T.D.WilliamsonInc.announcesBill Fisheras

generalcounsel,corporatesecretaryandchiefcompli-anceofficer.Assupervisorofthecompany’slegalstaffintheU.S.,NorwayandBel-gium,heoverseesalllegalmattersthroughouttheTDWglobalorganization.HeisresponsibleforensuringcompliancewithlawsandregulationsworldwideandforfacilitatinginteractionwiththeBoardofDirectorsincorporategovernancematters.Mr.FisherreceivedaB.A.fromTUandaJ.D.fromtheOUCollegeofLaw.


glassWilkinPCofTulsaannouncesthatPhilip

D. HixonhasjoinedthefirmandDavid W. lawsonhasbeennamedanassociate.Mr.HixonisamemberoftheAmericanBarAssociation,TulsaCountyBarAssocia-tionandDefenseResearchInstitute.Heearnedhisbachelor’sofbusinessadministration,summacumlaude,fromUCOandhismaster’sofbusinessadmin-istrationfromOCU.HeearnedhisJ.D.,summacumlaude,fromOCU.Mr.Hix-on’spracticeisconcentratedintheareasofconstructionlaw,environmentallaw,civilandgenerallitigation,toxictortsandinsurancedefense.Mr.LawsonisamemberoftheTulsaCountyBarAssoci-ationandtheAmericanInsti-tuteofArchitects.Mr.Law-sonearnedhisbachelor’sdegreeinarchitecturefromOSUandhisJ.D.fromtheOUCollegeofLaw.Hispracticeisconcentratedintheareasofbusinesstransactions,businessandcivillitigation,constructionlaw,professionalliabilityandrealestate.

Shelley ClemenshasbeennamedtoleadtheU.S.

Attorney’sOfficeinTucson,Ariz.Ms.Clemenshasbeenadeputychiefinthecrimi-

naldivisionsinceJanuary2008withresponsibilitiesforviolentcrimesoccurringwithintheTohonoO’odhamNationandthePascuayaquiTribeandassaultsonfederallawenforcementofficers.Aschiefassistant,shewillrunandmanagetheTucsonoffice,whichhas71attor-neysplussupportstaff.

MembersofPhillipsMur-rah’scommercialand

consumerfinancialservicesdepartmentspokerecentlyattheannualCommercialLawUpdate,acontinuinglegaleducationseminarheldinOklahomaCity.Attorneyseric l. Johnson, James a. mcCaffreyandFred millerbriefedattendeesonthelat-estdevelopmentsincom-mercialandconsumerlawandtheirimpactonOkla-homabusinesses.

Wallace W. Kunzman Jr.addressedattendeesof

the2009NASAACorporateFinanceTrainingSeminarheldinTampa,Fla.Mr.Kun-zmanpresentedinformation

onregulatoryandpolicyissuesinvolvingnon-tradedrealestateinvestmenttrusts,directparticipationprogramsandSEC/FINRAdisclosuredevelopments.Mr.Kunzmanalsospokeatthe2007NASAACorporateFinanceTrainingSeminar.

Compiled by Chelsea KlinglesmithHowtoplaceanannounce-ment:IfyouareanOBAmemberandyou’vemoved,becomeapartner,hiredanassociate,takenonapart-ner,receivedapromotionoranawardorgivenatalkorspeechwithstatewideornationalstature,we’dliketohearfromyou.Informationselectedforpublicationisprintedatnocost,subjecttoeditingandprintedasspacepermits.Submitnewsitems(e-mail strongly preferred)inwritingto:

MelissaBrownCommunicationsDept.OklahomaBarAssociationP.O.Box53036OklahomaCity,OK73152(405)416-7017Fax:(405)416-7089orE-mail:[email protected]

articles for the may 15 issue must be received by april 19.


IN MEMORIAM

Eugene (Gene) Guy Boern-er IIIofTulsadiedJan.10.

HewasbornDec.26,1971,inBatonRouge,La.Mr.BoernergrewupandspentmostofhislifeinTulsa.Hewasvale-dictorianofMetroChristianAcademy,classof1990.HeattendedOSUandcompletedhisbachelor’sdegreeatTU.HecontinuedhiseducationattheOUCollegeofLaw.HeearnedhisJ.D.andwonanAmericanJurisprudenceAwardinspiteofbreakingbotharmsduringhisfirstyearoflawschool.HisworkasaninternfortheTulsalawfirmofPezold,Barker&Woltzearnedhimapositionthereasanassociatewherehepracticedintheareaofoil&gas.Thoughtechnicallyamemberofgenerationx,hedisplayedaworkethicmorecommontothegenerationprior.Mr.Boernerwasa

giftedmusicianwhoenjoyedplayingandlisteningtomusic.

Charles edward (Chuck) CheekofHoustondied

April17,2009.HewasbornOct.7,1950.AgraduateoftheUniversityofTennesseeCol-legeofLaw,hereceivedhisdegreeandwaslicensedin1975.Followinglawschool,hemovedtoTulsawhereheworkedinthelegaldepart-mentofgulfOilCo.In1985hemovedtoHoustontojoinEnronandwaschieflitigationcounselforthecompanyuntil2005whenheretired.Hewasamemberofthestatebarasso-ciationsinOklahoma,Tennes-seeandTexas.Memorialdona-tionsmaybemadetothePitts-fieldFirstChristianChurch,PikeCountyMountedAngelsorgreatStridesc/oAirsman-HiresFuneralHome,Box513,Pittsfield,Ill.,62363.

William (Bill) W. WilesofEdmonddiedFeb.27.

HewasbornApril18,1942,inShawnee.HegraduatedfromShawneeHighSchool,OklahomaBaptistUniversityandtheOUCollegeofLaw.after earning his J.D., mr. Wiles served in the u.s. navy JaG Corps before going into private practice.HejoinedtheOklahomaWorkers’CompensationCourtasastaffattorneyaftermorethan30yearsinprivatepractice.Mr.Wilesenjoyedroastingcoffee,hiking,camp-ingandcanoeing.Helovednationalparks,especiallyyel-lowstone.Memorialcontribu-tionsmaybemadeinMr.Wiles’nametotheyellow-stoneParkFoundationatwww.ypf.orgor222E.MainSt.,Suite301,Bozeman,Mont.,59715.

Chesapeake Energy Corporation is seeking talented professionals for the positions listed below. Chesapeake, an Oklahoma City-based company, is the largest independent producer of natural gas in the U.S. and the most active driller of new wells in the U.S. In 2009 Chesapeake was added to FORTUNE Magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list. Ideal candidates should be self-motivated team players and possess excellent interpersonal skills. A high degree of ana- lytical ability and excellent oral and written communication skills are necessary for success in our fast-paced and reward-ing environment.

Oil & Gas Collection Attorney – Primary responsibilities will be collection of accounts receivables and other opera-tions related to litigation. Qualified candidates must be cur-rent members of the Oklahoma or Texas Bar Association with a minimum of three to five years experience. Expertise in all aspects of collections and a working knowledge of oil and gas law and operations are required.

Chesapeake offers excellent compensa-tion and benefit packages including a very generous equity compensation plan. For immediate and confidential consider-ation, please visit our company website, ww.chk.com, to either submit a résumé or complete an online personal profile.

Family & DivorceMediation Training

OKC•March24-27Tulsa•April14-17

Approved for 40 hours of MCLE creditThis course is lively and highly participatory and

will include lecture, group discussion, andsimulated mediation exercises

Cost: $625 includes all materials

The Course for ProfessionalMediators in Oklahoma

This course fulfills the training requirements set forth in the District Court Mediation Act of 1998

Contact: The Mediation Institute

(405) 607-8914 James L. Stovall, Jr.

13308 N. McArthur Oklahoma City, OK 73142


LAWYERS HELPING LAWYERSASSISTANCE PROGRAM

If you need help coping with emotional or psychological stress please call 1 (800) 364-7886. Lawyers Helping Lawyers Assistance Program is confidential, responsive, informal and available 24/7.


INTERESTED IN PURCHASINg PRODUCINg &NON-PRODUCINgMinerals;ORRI;O&gInterests.Pleasecontact:PatrickCowan,CPL,CSWCorporation,P.O.Box21655,OklahomaCity,OK73156-1655; (405)755-7200;Fax(405)755-5555;E-mail:[email protected].

ArthurD.Linville(405)636-1522

BoardCertifiedDiplomate—ABFELifeFellow—ACFE

CourtQualifiedFormerOSBIAgentFBINationalAcademy

HanDWrItInG IDentIFICatIOn POlYGraPH eXamInatIOn

OF COunsel leGal resOurCes — sInCe 1992 — Exclusiveresearch&writing.Highestquality:trialandappellate, state and federal, admitted and practicedU.S.SupremeCourt.Over20publishedopinionswithnumerous reversals on certiorari. maryGaye leBoeuf (405) 728-9925, [email protected].

serVICes

OFFICe sPaCe

CLASSIFIED ADS

aPPeals and lItIGatIOn suPPOrt—Expertresearch and writing by a veteran generalist whothrives on wide variety of projects, big or small.Cogent.Concise.NancyK.Anderson,(405)682-9554,[email protected].

meDICal malPraCtICeNeedtofileamed-malclaim?Ourlicensedmedicaldoctorswillreviewyourcaseforalowflatfee.Opin-ion letter no extra charge. Med-mal ExPERTS, Inc.Nationwidesince1998.www.medmalExPERTS.com.888-521-3601.

ExPERT WITNESSES • ECONOMICS • VOCATIONAL • MEDICAL Fitzgerald Economic and Business ConsultingEconomic Damages, Lost Profits, Analysis, Business/Pension Valuations, Employment, Discrimination,Divorce, Wrongful Discharge, Vocational Assessment,LifeCarePlans,MedicalRecordsReview,OilandgasLawandDamages.National,Experience.CallPatrickFitzgerald.(405)919-2312.

OFFICE SHARE — NEWLy CONSTRUCTED TOWNCENTERintheVillageduplexsuite,justoffHefnereastofMay,westofPenn;twomediumprivateofficesavail-able; reception/waiting area; large conference room;coffeebar;bath.Flexiblearrangementsinsharingover-headofapprox.$750permonthperoffice.CallJoeat(405)740-1261.

ExECUTIVE SUITES FOR LEASE: Beautifully restoredbuildinginDowntown/MidtownArtsDistrict.WalkingdistancetoCountyandFederalCourthouses.Reception,phone,internet,cabletv,copy/fax/scanner,freeparking.Secretarial suites available. Case sharing opportunitieswith6practicingattorneys.(405)272-0303.

LITIgATION SUPPORT SERVICES: Need litigationsupportbutwanttoavoidtheexpenseofhiringanas-sociate?ContactTulsaContractAttorney@yahoo.comtolearnhowanexperiencedcontractattorneycanbenefityourpracticebyproviding litigation support servicesonanas-neededbasis.Specializinginappeals,researchandwriting.

CONSULTINg ARBORIST, tree valuations, diagnoses,forensics, hazardous tree assessments, expert witness,depositions, reports, tree inventories, DNA/soil test-ing, construction damage. Bill Long, ISA Certified Ar-borist, #SO-1123, OSU Horticulture Alumnus, All ofOklahomaandbeyond,(405)996-0411.

traFFIC aCCIDent reCOnstruCtIOn InVestIGatIOn • analYsIs • eValuatIOn • testImOnY

25 years in business with over 20,000 cases. Experienced inautomobile,truck,railroad,motorcycle,andconstructionzoneaccidents for plaintiffs or defendants. OKC Police Dept. 22years.Investigatororsupervisorofmorethan16,000accidents. Jim G. Jackson & associates edmond, OK (405) 348-7930

RESIDENTIAL APPRAISALS AND ExPERT TESTI-MONyinOKCmetroarea.Over30yearsexperienceandactiveOBAmembersince1981.Contact:DennisP.Hudacky, SRA, P.O. Box 21436, Oklahoma City, OK73156,(405)848-9339.

serVICes

BRIEF WRITINg, APPEALS, RESEARCH ANDDISCOVERy SUPPORT. Fifteen years experience incivil litigation. Backed by established firm. NeilD.VanDalsem,Taylor,Ryan,Schmidt&VanDalsemP.C.(918)749-5566,[email protected].

aFarm Consulting, l.C.RaleighA.Jobes,Ph.D.

2715WestyostRoad•Stillwater,OK74075-0869 Phone(405)372-4485 FAx(888)256-7585

E-Mailraj@afarmconsulting.comAgriculturalEconomicandBusinessConsultant

Willprovideindependentandobjectiveanalysisofagriculturalrelatedproblems.

ResumeandFeeschedulesentuponrequest.

BUSINESS VALUATIONS: Marital Dissolution * Es-tate,gift&IncomeTax*FamilyLimitedPartnerships*Buy-SellAgreements*Mergers,Acquisitions,Reorga-nization & Bankruptcy * SBA/Bank Required. DualCertifiedbyNACVAandIBA,experienced,reliable,es-tablishedin1982.Travelengagementsaccepted.Con-nally&Associates,P.C. (918)[email protected].

LEgALBILLINgSERVICES—Solosandsmallfirmscannowstreamlinetheirbillingprocessbyallowingusto provide them with professional, detailed billingstatementsinatimelyfashion.Savetime,increaseprof-itabilityandbecomemoreefficient.Excellentreferencesand 10 years of Timeslips experience. Call toll free(866)943-5151orwww.mybillingdepartment.com.


In-HOuse real estate attOrneY. SolidOKC-basednationalcorporationseekinganattorneywith3to7yearsofexperience.Strongtransactionalexperience is required. Experience with real estatetransactions,especiallycommercialleasing,isaplus.Positionwillprovidecounseltothecompany’srealestateandconstructiondepartments.Dutieswillin-clude negotiating and drafting commercial leasedocuments, resolvingdisputeswithexisting leases,andprovidingcounselonawidevarietyofreales-tate and construction issues. Exceptional workingenvironment, competitive salary, medical/dentalplan,lifeins.,401k,etc.ApplicationsMUSTincluderesume’, writing sample, and salary requirements.Sendto“BoxCC,”OklahomaBarAssociation,P.O.Box53036,OklahomaCity,OK73152.

POsItIOns aVaIlaBle

POsItIOns aVaIlaBle

OKLAHOMA CITy LAW FIRM, seeking trial lawyerwithtwotofiveyearsexperiencetohandleallphasesofPersonalInjurylitigation.Pleasesendresumeandref-erencesto“BoxT,”OklahomaBarAssociation,P.O.Box53036,OklahomaCity,OK73152.

DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITy, AV RATED, IN-SURANCE DEFENSE LAW FIRM with emphasis onCommercial Trucking Litigation, seeks associateattorneywith0-2yearsoflitigationexperience,goodwriting skills and looking for new challenges. Com-pensationpackageiscommensuratewithlevelofex-perience.Pleasesendresumeinconfidenceviaemailtokaren@millsfirm.com.

DOWNTOWNOKLAHOMACITy,AVRATED,prod-uctliabilityandinsurancedefensefirmseeksattorneywithatleast5yearsofexperience.Pleasesendresumesto“BoxL,”OklahomaBarAssociation,P.O.Box53036,OklahomaCity,OK73152.

PARALEgAL/LEgALASSISTANT(Part-timepossi-bly turning into full-time.)SmallsouthcentralOkla-homa lawoffice looking forahighlyknowledgeableindividualproficientinMicrosoftWordandOutlook.Responsibleformaintainingdockets,drafting,editingand proofreading documents and other duties asneeded. Please e-mail Resume’ and References [email protected].

OFFICe sPaCe

MIDTOWN RENAISSANCE OFFICE SPACE FORLEASE: Office space yours in a beautifully renovated1920sbuildingintheheartofMidtownwithinwalkingdistance to many new restaurants and the BoulevardCafeteria. Amenities include receptionist, phones, In-ternet, copier, fax,postagemeter,2conferencerooms,library, kitchen, housekeeping, onsite file storage andparking. Located in the vicinity of 12th and Walker.(405)627-1380or(405)204-0404.

DOWNTOWNTULSAOFFICESPACE–Oneofficeforrentwithspaceforsupportstaff.Spaceincludesrecep-tionarea,conferenceroom,copymachine,faxandIn-ternet access. Additional services available. Contact(918)583-6964or(918)582-8803.

SOUTH OKC OFFICE SPACE in a building complexsurroundingatranquilpark-likesettingintheWillow-brookgardensProfessionalBuildingcomplex locatedonSouthWalkerAvenuejustsouthofI-240.Nolong-termleaserequired.Varietyofspaceavailablefromaslittleasoneofficeuptoasmuchas5,000square feet.Renovatedin2007.Carpetedfloors,officesrangefromsmall/moderatetolarge,largereceptionarea,built-ins,kitchen,andofficeswithaview!Call(405)239-3800.

OFFICESPACEANDSUPPORTSERVICESAVAILABLE.ContactJimLeeorDavidKisnerat(405)848-5532.

ExPERIENCED PARALEgAL NEEDED for very busyEdmondlawfirm.Experienceincivillitigationrequired.Salary commensurate with experience. Please send re-sumeandreferencesto“BOxAA,”OklahomaBarAsso-ciation,P.O.Box53036,OklahomaCity,OK73152.

ASSISTANTUNITEDSTATESATTORNEy:TheUnitedStatesAttorney’sOfficefortheWesternDistrictofOkla-homa is currently seeking applicants for a term ap-pointmentnottoexceed14monthswhichmaybeex-tended. The applicant selected will have the primaryresponsibilityofworkingwithcriminalandcivilappealmatters.Salaryisbasedonthenumberofyearsofpro-fessionalattorneyexperience.ApplicantsmustpossessaJ.D.degree,beanactivememberofthebaringoodstanding(anyjurisdiction),andshouldhavelegalprac-tice experience post-J.D. Interested applicants shouldsend their resumes to: Robert J. Troester, ExecutiveAssistantU.S.Attorney,U.S.Attorney’sOffice,WesternDistrictofOklahoma,210ParkAvenue,Suite400,Okla-homa City, OK 73102. Resumes must be received nolater than March 19, 2010, and should reference an-nouncementnumber10-WOK-15-A.

ASSISTANTgENERALCOUNSELIII:TheOklahomaDepartment of Mental Health and Substance AbuseServices (ODMHSAS) is recruiting for an AssistantgeneralCounselIII.Thispositionperformsresponsibleprofessional legalwork inpreparation&presentationofcases incourt&administrativeproceedings,&ad-vises theagency&personnelregarding legalmatters.Requires:JurisDoctoratedegreefromanABAaccred-itedlawschoolandmemberingoodstandingwiththeOklahomaBar,withamin.of6yrsexp. inpracticinglaw.Preferencemaybegiventoapplicantswithcivil&administrative litigation, trial exp. & for individualswithamin.of1yr.exp.inrepresentinggovernmentalentitiesinlitigation&trialexp.Applicantmustbewill-ingandabletofulfillalljobrelatedtravelnormallyas-sociated with this position. Salary range: $60,000 –75,900,ODMHSASoffersexcellentbenefit&retirementpackages;reference#2010-10COwithjobtitle&sendresumewithawritingsample&acopyofyourmostrecentperformanceevaluation toaddressbelow.Rea-sonableaccommodationtoindividualswithdisabilitiesmay be provided upon request. Application period:2-19-2010 – 3-27-2010. EOE. ODMHSAS – HumanResources, 2401 NW 23rd, Suite 85, OKC, OK 73107,Fax(405)522-4817,[email protected].


POsItIOns aVaIlaBleCONTRACT MANAgER, OU MEDICAL CENTER:Applieshighleveltechnicalknowledgetomanageandprocess contracts such as service, referral source andincome guarantees. Develops, implements and main-tainsmethodsforensuringcontractcompliance.WorkswithhospitalDirectorsandHCAlegaldepartment topreparedocuments.Bachelor’sDegree+3yrsexperi-ence inmanagingcontracts.Toapplysubmitapplica-tionatwww.oumedicine.comor forquestionscontactDiane gonzales, Recruiter (405) 271-5728 Ext 53707.EEO/AAEmployerM/F/V/D.

PARALEgAL WITH ExPERIENCE HANDLINg SO-CIALSECURITyDISABILITyCASESneededforbusyTulsaoffice.Paycommensuratewithexperience.Bonusforbilingualability.Sendresumeto“BoxA,”OklahomaBar Association, P.O. Box 53036, Oklahoma City, OK73152.Allreplieskeptconfidential.

CLASSIFIED RATES: One dollar per word per inser-tion. Minimum charge $35. Add $15 surcharge per is-sue for blind box advertisements to cover forward-ing of replies. Blind box word count must include “Box____ , Oklahoma Bar Association, P.O. Box 53036, Okla-homa City, OK 73152.” Display classified ads with bold headlineandborderare$50perinch.Seewww.okbar.orgforissuedatesandDisplayAdsizesandrates.DEADLINE: Tuesday noon before publication.Ads must beprepaid.Sendad(e-mailpreferred)inwritingstatingnumberoftimestobepublishedto: Jeff Kelton, Oklahoma Bar association P.O. Box 53036, Oklahoma City, OK 73152 e-mail: [email protected] and contents of any advertisement is notto be deemed an endorsement of the views expressedtherein, nor shall the publication of any advertisementbe considered an endorsement of the procedure or ser-viceinvolved.Allplacementnoticesmustbeclearlynon-discriminatory.

ClassIFIeD InFOrmatIOn

IN-HOUSECOUNSEL:TheBamaCompaniesinTulsa,Oklahoma is seeking a transactional attorney with 7yearsexperienceincontract/businesslaw.Thisroleisresponsible for drafting, reviewing and negotiatingcontracts for various departments and for providingcounselintheareasoflaborandemployment,reales-tate, product’s liability and workers’ compensation.ReportingtotheDirectorofLegalServices,thispositionisahands-onrolewithvariedday-to-dayresponsibili-tiesandthepotentialforgrowthasaleaderwithintheBama system. Prefer undergraduate business degreeand/or broad business knowledge and skills. Pleaseapply online at www.bama.com or send resume [email protected].

THEOUCOLLEgEOFLAWISSEEKINgAPPLICANTSforAssociateDirectoroftheOfficeofProfessional&Ca-reerDevelopment.This individualwillworkwithstu-dentsandalumnicounselingoncareerobjectives,train-ing on job-searching techniques, networking, draftingresumes and other correspondence, interviewing andotheressentialprofessionalcareerdevelopmentprocess-es.Additionalresponsibilitieswillbedevelopingandimplementingprogramsonjob-searchessentials,pro-fessionalcareerdevelopmentandavailablecareerop-tions; surveying graduates and researching the legalcommunityfordataandtrendsofthelegalcareermar-ket;andassistingwithjobfairsandon-campusinter-viewactivities.AlthoughaJ.D.ispreferredapplicantsmust possess a Bachelor’s Degree or an equivalentcombination of education/job-related experience; 2yearsofdemonstratedexperienceandsuccessinlegalrecruitment, legal job-searchprocessorcareercoun-seling;superiororalcommunicationskills,includinginterpersonal,publicspeakingandcounseling;excel-lentwritingskills;abilitytodevelopandmaintainef-fectivecollaborativeworkingrelationships;andbasicofficeequipmentandcomputerskills.Applicantsarerequired to submita cover letter, resumeand listofreferences.Forfurtherinformation,gotohttps://jobs.ou.edu(SeeRequisition#:09013).

POsItIOns aVaIlaBle


THE bACK PAGE

InmylastyearoflawschoolatOUaftertakingthelegislationclasstaughtbyDr.MauriceMerrill,itoccurredtomethatIcouldbetheDemo-crats’gifttogoodgovernment.

IsharedmyvisionwithpoliticallysavvyclassmateslikeRexTravis,AndyCoats,gordonMelson,Buzzgoodwin,BobMacyandLarryDerryberry.Sincenoneofthemobjected,Iassumeditwasabsolutelyunani-mousthatIrunforoffice.

In1964IborrowedthefilingfeefromaseniorpartnerandfiledfortheHouseofRepresentatives.RexTraviscounseledmethattheonlywaythatIcouldbeelected—withmynameandnomoney—wastoknockoneverydoor

inthedistrict.Isetouttodojustthat.

ItwasaveryhotJulyafternoon,andIrangadoorbell.Twochildrencametothedoor.Theyounglady

wasabout12andherbrotherabout8.Iaskediftheirparentswerehome,andtheysaidno.

IthoughtaslongasIwasthereIwould

givethemmypitch.IsaidIwasJerrySoko-losky,runningfortheHouseofRepresenta-tives.Theythoughtthatwasprettyfunny.Undaunted,Icontin-ued,handingthemabrochureandaskingthemtogiveittotheirparentswhentheycamehome.Theygrinnedandnudgedeachotherknowingly.Ithankedthemandturnedaroundtoleave.

AsIsteppedofftheporch,theyoungmanstuckhisheadoutthedoorandyelled,“ToobadforyouBuster,we’reforNixon.”

IlostthatelectionandeversincetherevelationsofWater-gate,I’vealwayswonderedifRichardNixonhadsomethingtodowithit.

Mr. Sokolosky prac-tices in Oklahoma City.

‘Too bad for You, buster…’By Jerry Sokolosky

OBA/CLESpring

WebcastsMedicaid Planning 101Wednesday, March 17, 2010 - 2 p.m.1.5 hours total MCLE

Discrepancies between prenuptial agreements and wills or trust agreements

Register at www.okbar.org/cle

Thurgood Marshall’s Coming!Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - 11 a.m.3.5 hours total MCLE, 3.5 hours ethicsThurgood Marshall is one of the giant figures in the history of American jurisprudence. As the passionate and embattled civil rights lawyer who acted as the lead attorney for the plaintiffs in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, KS, he helped win the U.S. Supreme Court decision to legally end racial segregation in the public schools in the United States. The movie portrays Marshall as an old man as he ruminates and relives past trials and victories and uses Marshall’s mastery of language, storytelling and imitation to create a powerful presentation.

Estate Planning & Public Benefit Issues for Family LawWednesday, March 24, 2010 - 3 p.m.4 hours total MCLE, .5 hours ethicsFamily law and estate planning overlap in certain cases. Understanding the effects changes to family dynamics as a result of divorce can also impact estate-planning documents and public benefits. Our experienced faculty willprovide basic estate planning and public benefit guidance family lawyers need to know to best serve their clients.

When it could be in the best interests of a protected person for the conservator to agree to a divorce to protect the spouse’s assets

Handling a death mid-proceeding

Ethical issues for both the estate planning and divorce lawyer

Public Benefits 101 – what programs are available and what rules apply

Best Practices for Record RetentionThursday, March 25, 2010 - 12:30 p.m.1 hour total MCLE, .5 hours ethics

Business Development Techniques to Build Your Law PracticeTuesday, April 6, 2010 - 3:30 p.m.3.5 hours total MCLE, .5 hours ethics


Which practices are thriving?

The four primary sources of new business

Stop “making a pitch” and start interviewing prospective clients

Exercise: Your 30-second commercial Which activities are a waste of time and which ones are worth your time


LEGAL RESEARCH

THAT SPEAKS

THE SAME

LANGUAGE

YOU DO:

HUMAN.

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Introducing a new Westlaw.® Legal research goes human. There’s your professional life and there’s your personal life.

WestlawNext™ recognizes both, with a more intuitive, you-centric legal research system. Now, finding the information you need is

as easy as searching for it the way you say it. And intelligent tools let you filter, tag, and folder that information effortlessly.

For greater efficiency. And confidence. We’ve always worked for you. Today, we work like you. User-friendly, meet human-friendly.

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volume 81 u no. 7 u march 13, 2010

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