Bob O’Halloran demonstrates great talent at multi-tasking. Whether it’s successfully handling workers’ comp claims or being able to simultaneously watch three sports events on television, Mr. O’Halloran is at the top of his game.

Mr. O’Halloran is a Floridian through and through, with enthusiastic alum support of Florida State University (Go Seminoles!). Today, Mr. O’Halloran is Vice President of Claims for Summit Consulting, Inc. With 28 years experience, he’s a trained, multi-lines adjuster for multi-line claims administration and supervision with nationwide, self-insured corporations, municipalities, and insurance companies, and serves as Chairman for the Workers’ Compensation Claims Professionals organization.

While Mr. O’Halloran’s practical nature and a competitive spirit are helpful in his business, it’s his interest in people that’s key to his achievements. When asked to describe his work, his sincere response is, “I can help a lot of people get on with their lives …they get hurt and they’re afraid, unsure of how to survive…claims settlements allow them to pursue an ambition, find a goal to work towards…people’s needs have been met.”

Even in his personal life Mr. O’Halloran helps meet others’ need through his involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters Tampa Bay. When he does relax, it’s to play golf and, if three TV channels broadcast a game at the same time, chances are Mr. O’Halloran is keeping watch over all of them.

  To listen for free to a podcast of Bob O'Halloran, Chairman of WCCP, on the challenges facing claims adjusters, click here.

  To read a blog by WCCP on claims adjuster ethics, click here.

  To read a blog by WCCP on reserves, click here.

 To read a blog by defense attorney Robert J. Grace, Jr. on the attorney's fee cap legislation, click here.

 To read a blog by Dennis A. Ross and Christine R. Sensenig on why the Florida legislature needs to pass legislation to overturn the Murray decision regarding attorney's fees, and why we need to pay attention to changes in the medical fee schedule, click here.

WCCP has named Dubreuil's Florida Workers' Compensation Handbook the official show book for the WCCP conference. To order the book, click on the image below.

The 2009 Editorial Consultants for Dubreuil's Florida Workers' Compensation Handbook represent both the defense and claimants point of view:

 Robert J. Grace, Jr.  is a shareholder with the law firm of Stiles, Taylor & Grace, P.A. His areas of practice include civil trial practice, workers' compensation and general insurance defense.  The firm maintains offices in four Florida cities including Tampa, Hollywood, Jacksonville and Tallahassee as well as Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Grace received his Masters of Law in international banking law from Boston University in 1991, his Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi in 1990, and his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and history in 1987 from Indiana University. Mr. Grace is admitted to the Florida Bar, the United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. He is active in the Florida Bar, where he was a committee member of the Clients' Security Fund from 1997 to 2003, serving as Vice-Chairman during 2002-2003. He is also a member of the Trial Lawyers and Workers' Compensation Sections of The Florida Bar. He is also active in the Florida Defense Lawyers' Association, the Defense Research Institute, the Hillsborough County Bar Association and the American Bar Association, where he is a member of the Litigation Section, the Tort and Insurance Practice Section and the Labor and Employment Law section. He is a frequent lecturer around the country on a variety of legal topics. Mr. Grace is "AV" Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and was recognized by Florida Trend Magazine as part of Florida's Legal Elite.

 William J. McCabe practices law in Longwood, Florida with the law firm of Shepherd, McCabe & Cooley. Mr. McCabe is a 1967 graduate of the University of Florida.  He received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering.  He served on active duty with the United States Marine Corps from 1967-1970.  He received his J.D. from the University of Florida in 1972.  He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1973.  He has handled workers’ compensation cases and workers’ compensation appeals since graduating from law school.  He has been extensively involved in workers’ compensation appeals since 1980 representing Claimants only. In 1988 Mr. McCabe received the Orange County Legal Aid Society Award of Merit.  In 1999 his law firm was recognized by the Seminole County Legal Aid Society. Mr. McCabe has presented Continuing Legal Education Seminars for the Florida State Bar Association, including seminars on appellate practice in Workers’ Compensation at the Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Forum for the years 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.  Mr. McCabe has had  Oral Argument before the First District Court of Appeal at the Workers’ Compensation convention for each of the last four years (2004-2008).  

What's New for the 2009 Edition of Dubreuil's Florida Workers' Compensation Handbook. Currently scheduled to warehouse in late August 2009, the Florida Handbook has been updated throughout. Some highlights include:

• Legislative and Case Developments. In Part I of the handbook, we have updated the chapters with recent, significant changes in the law. One of the most important changes this past year involves the legislation to overturn the Texas Supreme Corut's decision in Murray v. Mariner Health, and to restore the cap on workers' comp attorney's fees. We've included discussion of Murray as well as a point counter-point discussion of the Legislature's amendment to § 440.34, Fla. Stat. from the claimant and defense point of view.
• Regulatory Changes. In Part I of the handbook, we have covered any important developments related to rule changes.
• Chapter Updates. In Part I of the handbook, we have made updates throughout, including revisions by WCCP to Ch. 10, To Pay or Not to Pay and Adjuster Ethics, and Ch. 11, Reserves. Excerpts of these changes have been blogged about by WCCP. See links above.
• Case Summaries. In Part II of the handbook, we have added an entire new section for significant cases decided during the past year.
• Tables and Schedules. In Part VIII of the handbook, we have updated several tables, including the wage loss discount factor table.
• Statutes and Rules. In Parts III thru VII of the handbook, we have updated the reprints of the statutes and rules.

 Pre-order your copy today and help us keep John Dubreuil's legacy alive. Thank you.

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