August 2006 | Workers Compensation Section

MINUTES OF THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

OF:

August 18, 2006

I. CALL TO ORDER

Chair Marty Alvey called the meeting to order at 12:08 PM at the Oregon State Bar offices in Lake Oswego, Oregon. The following members were present: Chair-Elect Linh Vu; Treasurer Matthew Roy; Secretary Holly Somers; Members Meg Carman, Matthew Fisher, Rodger Hepburn, Dean Lederer, and Geoff Wren. Present by phone were Members Shelley Edling, Julie Masters, and Jill Riechers. Also present was OSB liaison Suzanne Cushing. Not present were Members Chuck Mundorff, Art Stevens, and Mark Thesing.

II. MINUTES

We forgot to address the minutes of the June 16, 2006 meeting.

III. CHAIR REPORT

The Bar is creating packets for new admittees and our Section has the opportunity to invite admittees to join the Section free of charge for the remainder of the year. There is a $4 per member assessment charged by the Bar for those who join. The Committee agreed the invitation should be extended and Member Wren volunteered to create a flyer to include in the new admittee packets. The flyer is due September 7, 2006.

The Bar is increasing the member assessment from $4 to $5.25 beginning 2007. The Committee agreed that we could absorb this increase without making any adjustments to member dues.

The Board of Governors invited the Section to extend an offer of CLEs to “Judges” and 50 year members of the Bar. BOG has not decided whether Administrative Law Judges are included in its definition of Judges. The Committee discussed the proposal and decided to take no action.

Workers’ Compensation Board Chair Abbie Herman requested feedback from the Committee as to whether the new procedures for processing responsibility cases were effective, whether the cases were moving expeditiously, and whether the Committee had any suggestions for improvement. The consensus of the Committee was the new procedures were more effective and that cases were moving more expeditiously, but that there was still room for improvement. Members suggested that a follow up conference call should be scheduled at the time of the initial and subsequent conference calls unless a hearing date is scheduled. Chair Alvey will report this information to Board Chair Herman.

Ms. Cushing reported that the Bar is still working on obtaining information as to whether the Section is continuing to subsidize Casemaker charges.

IV. TREASURER’S REPORT

Treasurer Roy reported that Salishan expenses totaled $27,035, which is within the budgeted amount. Other expenses have been within budget. The current balance is $21,874. Three new members joined the Section in June, making our total membership 358.