Longshore and DBA claims

Published on: December 5, 2018

Injuries in Puerto Rico due to Hurricane repair, rebuilding or power restoration

We are seeing injuries in Puerto Rico occurring when linemen are restoring power and when workers are doing hurricane repairs or rebuilding. Anyone injured under a contract with an American company should consult with this firm about getting money for those injuries. All consultations are free and there is no charge unless we obtain a settlement.

Generally the insurance company is providing benefits for the linemen or worker once they return home. The lineman or injured worker then sees a local Workers compensation attorney who applies for benefits from the State workers compensation system where they live. Once the worker recovers per the treating doctor and receives a few checks, that is generally the end of the case.

But it should not be. This firm has long held the view that these are Federal Claims that must be filed in the Federal Longshore and Defense Base Act Court system.

The Division has weighed in and confirmed they have jurisdiction.

This firm anticipated this and opened our Puerto Rico office last year to handle these claims.

https://www.joannhoffman.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Image-10-17-18-at-4.15-PM-300x200.jpg

Why does this firm care?

The difference to an injured person on a minor hand injury can be $50,000 in Federal Court versus $15,000 in the State Workers Compensation system for a small injury.

We are well equipped to handle these case with our Main office in South Florida and Our Satellite office in Puerto Rico.

For the Puerto Rico injured workers who came from the United States and received medical care in the States, we need you to know a few things:

You have the right to choose your doctor. Please do not sign a paper saying your choice of doctor is the one the insurance company picked for you. Why? Because we can help you pick a doctor that will help you medically and financially. Why would the insurance company help you pick a doctor that would help them pay more money? Exactly.

What to do now? Perhaps you are reading this and feel you need more information about the financial benefit and time limitation to have us file a DBA claim for you.

Continue reading →

Published on: October 12, 2018

Honorarios y costos de abogados son pagados por la compañía de seguro cuando al cliente se le obtiene un acuerdo legal

By Jo Ann Hoffman & Associates, P.A.

soldiers-1002_1280

Honorarios y costos de abogados son pagados por la compañía de seguro cuando al cliente se le obtiene un acuerdo legal. Nosotros tenemos un aviso en la entrada de nuestra firma: “Ayudar a los heridos es nuestra Pasión” y eso explica porque trabajamos. Estamos comprometidos a ayudarles a los trabajadores lesionados en todo el mundo que fueron heridos trabajando bajo un contrato con una empresa estadounidense. En la realización de esta larga misión, estamos constantemente escuchando las necesidades de nuestros clientes. Buscamos maneras de mejorar nuestros servicios hacia ellos y poner los servicios legales y el conocimiento a su alcance. Déjenos dejar claro: nuestras tarifas y costos dependen en que obtengamos un acuerdo para nuestros clientes de DBA. Nosotros no hacemos que los clientes paguen los costos. Cuando ganamos un caso, por ley la compañía de seguro paga nuestras honorarios y costos. También tomamos en consideración que cuando un cliente de DBA vive fuera de los Estados Unidos y hace un reclamo de beneficios, es muy probable que vaya ser negado. La razón por la cual sus beneficios pueden ser negados son los siguientes: la compañía de seguro no puede encontrar médicos en otros países al igual que pagarles en monedas internacionales para poder tratarlos. Esto significa que el trabajador lesionado va tener que pagar todo el tratamiento médico. Generalmente, entre más tratamiento médico usted reciba, más grande va hacer su compensación.

IMG_7946-e1539370237245-1-225x300 Así que usted va a obtener su propio tratamiento y nos va permitir buscar reembolso de esos gastos para usted. Sabemos que eso puede ser un obstáculo para el tratamiento, pero también sabemos que como una persona lesionada puede ir a un hospital local por una suma razonable. Esa visita va a documentar sus lesiones siempre y cuando usted de su historia de trabajo que hizo para los contratistas Americanos y como usted fue lesionado haciendo ese trabajo. Por favor obtenga esos registros médicos para que pueda enviarlos a nosotros.

Si usted cree que ha perdido la audición en uno o ambos oídos debido a su trabajo, obtenga una prueba auditiva y solicite una copia de los resultados de esa prueba. Necesitamos sus registros médicos para solicitar sus beneficios. Juntos podemos trabajar hacia una compensación justa para usted. También empujamos para poner fondos en sus manos lo más rápido posible. Debemos traducir sus registros médicos al inglés y presentarlos a la Corte apropiada. Aquí ves una deposición que tiene lugar en nuestra oficina.

Continue reading →

Published on: October 12, 2018

Our fees and costs are paid by the insurance company when we obtain a DBA settlement for you

By Jo Ann Hoffman & Associates, P.A.

We are committed to helping injured workers everywhere in the World who were injured working under a contract with an American company. In performing this life mission, we are constantly listening to the needs of our clients. We seek ways to upgrade our services to them and put legal services and knowledge at their fingertips.

Let us make it clear: Our fees and costs are contingent on obtaining a settlement for our DBA clients. We do not have a client pay our costs. When we win a settlement it will include having the insurance company pay our fees and costs.

We also take into consideration that when a DBA client living outside of America makes a claim for benefits, it will most likely be denied. This means the injured worker has to go to the expense of paying for his own medical treatment. Generally the more medical treatment you receive, the larger the settlement. When you live outside of the USA, your DBA case will be denied because frankly the insurance company cannot find and pay doctors in different countries and currencies to treat you.

So you will pay for your own treatment and let us seek reimbursement of those expenses for you. We know that you having to pay for your medical care, can be a hindrance to treatment but we also know you as an injured person can go to your local hospital for a reasonable sum. That visit will document your injuries provided you give a history of your work for the American contractor and how you were injured doing that work. Please get a copy of those records so you can send them to us.

If you believe you have lost hearing in one or both ears due to your work, get a hearing test and ask for a copy of the results of that testing. We need your medical records to file for your benefits. Together we can work toward a fair settlement for you. This law firm fights to put settlement funds in your hands as fast as possible. We must have your records translated into English and filed with the proper Court. Only after your injuries are properly documented along with the dates of your employment will your case be ready for a settlement.

When you injured different body parts on different dates these require that separate claims be filed under the different dates of accident. Each body part needs a medical treatment record. As an example, if you hurt your foot in 2015, go see a doctor and let him know what pain or problem that foot is giving you.

What if you settled your right to shoulder treatment? If you already settled your right to shoulder treatment you cannot make any further claim for that body part as a result of the past employment under which you settled.

Continue reading →

Published on: June 19, 2018

ENTIDADES DE TERCERAS PARTES CONTRA TRIPLE CANOPY Y SOC

By Jo Ann Hoffman & Associates, P.A.

Nuestro bufete de abogados les gusta encontrar casos de responsabilidad de terceras partes y obtener una resolucion monetaria para los clientes. Sin embargo, no mentiriamos a un cliente acerca de su reclamacion de terceras partes. Para dejar en claro que nohay demandas pendientes válidas contra Triple Canopy y/o SOC. Esto incluye casos contra ellos por salarios no pagados o casos de denuncias (quitam). Los ex empleados de estas compañías no tienen la legitimidad para presentar estos casos en los Estados Unidos, lo que significa que no hay dinero que el cliente obtiene en estos casos. El único caso exitoso contra Triple Canopy fue presentado por el gobierno de los Estados Unidos. Este caso fue basado en la información proporcionada por un ex empleado que documentó que Triple Canopy le había cobrado excesivamente al gobierno de los Estados Unidos. Este caso se basó en el hecho de que los guardias contratados por Triple Canopy no podían pasar una prueba de armas de fuego y falsificaban puntajes de pruebas para guardias no calificados, por lo que el gobierno de los Estados Unidos, recibió una sobrecarga por el nivel de habilidad de los guardias.

IMG_6201-1-300x225 Hemos revisado los contratos y hemos recibido información de que a nuestros clientes y otros guardias heridos o lesionados en zonas de guerra se les esta pidiendo que paguen dinero a abogados en Perú porque harán reclamaciones de terceras personas. Esto no está permitido bajo la ley de los Estados Unidos. La Ley de Base de Defensa (DBA) es una ley que permite a los trabajadores lesionados, mientras que bajo contrato con un contratista estadounidense para recuperarse de lesiones documentadas médicamente, tales como la pérdida de audición, problemas psiquiátricos, lesiones físicas y salarios perdidos; Pero no de dolor y sufrimiento. No existe un caso de terceros para los trabajadores lesionados en Perú. No pedimos al trabajador que pague dinero por adelantado y no debe pagar por adelantado a ningun abogado o a su acuerdo. Recientemente hemos oído rumores de que un abogado de Perú garantizará un establecimiento $85.000 en un caso de terceras partes. Un trabajador lesionado no debe dar el dinero que le hemos obtenido en su resolucion monetaria a ningun abogado que este tratando de perseguir una demanda de terceras partes en el Perú. Hemos visto un contrato de un abogado de Perú que garantiza al cliente un 1 millón de dólares y les pide que le paguen dinero, esto no es correcto. No se dejen engañar por esto y no regale su dinero por la cual hemos trabajado tan diligentemente para conseguirlo.

Published on: March 30, 2018

Para hacer un reclamo hacia DBA es necesario completar el formulario de ganacias

By Jo Ann Hoffman & Associates, P.A.

Para aquellos trabajadores que han sido enviados a las zonas de guerra, y han descubierto que tiene lesiones una vez que regresaron a su casa, incluso si esta en un país diferente. Si usted tiene dificultad para escuchar por haber estado expuesto a bombardeos o experimenta pesadillas o reacciones de sobresalto a ruidos fuertes, es necesario que busque tratamiento médico en su propio país. Hasta que no vea a un doctor no podemos hacer una reclamación por usted. Una vez que vea al médico, usted necesita enviarnos toda la documentacion de apoyo como los registros médicos. Solo asi podemos presentar su reclamo.

Ear-1-300x200 Usted puede obtener mas detalles en mi foro de informacion acerca del DBA( Defense Base Act).

Este bufete de abogados representa a los trabajadores que han perdido sus honorarios bajo el contrato de empleo. Les estamos enviando una solicitud (LS200 Report of Earnings). Favor de llenarla, ya que permitira que el empleado que ha sido lesionado pueda documentar sus honorarios perdidos y sus problemas fisicos o psiquiatricos, desde que dejo de trabajar. Por otra parte también permitiria a la compañia de seguro calcular sus ingresos debidamente en acorde con sus lesiones. Continue reading →

Published on: March 28, 2018

Making a DBA Claim and Completing the Earning Form

By Jo Ann Hoffman & Associates, P.A.

For those workers who have been sent to war zones to work, you may discover you have injuries once you return to your home even if in a different country. When you are having difficulty hearing from being exposed to bombing or experiencing nightmares or startle responses to loud noises, you should seek medical treatment in your own country. Until you see a doctor we cannot make a claim for you. Once you see the doctor we will need to see those medical records. We can then file a Claim and I discuss that in my other blogs.

This firm represents many injured workers who have lost wages since their last employment when they were under contract to work. I want to provide access to the form you will need to complete to have your lost wages considered. The form is called an LS200 Report of Earnings. What it does is allow the injured worker to document his earnings since the time he lost his employment where his injury is ongoing as with spinal physical injuries or psychiatric injuries. This is important because this documentation allows the insurance company to calculate the wage loss of the injured worker.

Let me explain it with an example. Say when you were working you earned $200 per week. Your psychiatric injuries have prevented you from working for 6 months of the twelve months since you lost your employment. Your lost wage benefit is payable at 2/3 of your $200 per week earning or $133.33 per week. If you lost 6 months of wages you are eligible for 26 weeks times $133.33 or $3,466.58 but you must complete the earnings form so the proper calculation can be made.

Continue reading →

Published on: February 26, 2018

The Simple Solution to Control AR Rifles

By Jo Ann Hoffman & Associates, P.A.

Florida has experienced the tremendous loss associated with the Parkland shooting which is now among the 10 deadliest mass shootings in America. It is time for us to come together and implement change so these mass shootings stop.

Many people are coming up with ideas. I have been encouraged by the Governor’s recommendation to restrict the age at individual can buy AR rifles to 21 although 25 would be better. I like the idea of banning AR rifles altogether, but what do we do with the ones that exist?

I like the idea of better background checks and stopping the availability of AR rifles to those with mental illness. We need to be able to stop an evil person who has an AR rifle and starts threatening people before he acts. We should be able to arrest and incarcerate them at that point and confiscate the AR rifle(s). We want to allow police to proactively arrest an evil person seeking to kill one or more with his AR rifle before he strikes.

I want to share an important lesson I learned when I was a young law student. I defended a minor who was charged with the burglary of a home. I was successful in defending the case and winning the trial for him. As a result of that he was released from juvenile court jail and I went on my Christmas vacation. When I returned, I learned he went out before Christmas and killed two people at random coming out of the shopping mall. That was a true wake up call for me and I realized it would not be my calling to go into criminal defense. It made me realize that an evil person will always do evil even when given a second chance, put in a loving home or given help. They will look at you, do evil and say, “You knew I was evil when you tried to help me.”

I see that when there is a tragedy such as a mass shooting there is focus on why the person did it. Was he not schooled properly, not given enough help and so on? It may be interesting to look back but inevitably the person was evil and would commit an atrocious act in the future.

People might say, “He was a ticking time bomb,” “I knew he would shoot up the school someday.” He had a screw loose.” Ok let’s say all those things were known to be true.

Law enforcement can do nothing. Why? They can’t arrest people on possibilities, on crazy likelihoods or suspicions unless the person has put his plan into words written or spoken. Remember the Las Vegas shooter never exposed his plan. So what we need to do is give law enforcement the ability to prevent these tragedies from continuing to occur.

That is why I put my idea out as The Simple Solution. Continue reading →

Published on: January 30, 2018

Longshore Benefits for Injuries or Death on Tow Boats

By Jo Ann Hoffman & Associates, P.A.

Longshore benefits are available to workers injured on recreational yachts over 65 feet and to those working on towboats or tugboats of any size per 33 USC 902 which is the Longshore statute. When the injury occurs on such a maritime vehicle, the questions are 1. what benefits are available and 2. what caused the injury. Let’s discuss the benefits that are available first.

Now under the Longshore statute, the injured worker will receive 2/3rd of the injured worker’s gross 52 week average of pay up to a maximum of $1,471.78 per week in 2018. If the accident caused death, then the family will receive $3,000 in funeral expenses PLUS compensation pursuant to 33 USC Section 906-909. This means the wife will receive 50% of the average wage of the decedent up to the maximum (presently $1,471.81 per week.) If there is one or more children an additional 16 2/3% will be paid again up to the maximum weekly compensation rate. The definition of children includes adopted children, stepchildren, an acknowledged child born out of wedlock, or a child born after the death of the injured worker. The widow’s benefits will terminate with her remarriage except for a two year stipend of compensation that will be paid in a lump sum. In the case of remarriage, the remaining children would then receive additional compensation. If one child then that child would receive 50% of the worker’s average wage and if there are additional children then all together the children will receive benefits equal to 66 2/3 % of the worker’s average weekly pay. Now the benefits paid to a minor child do not continue forever as they end when the child turns 18 or if the child is a student pursuing full time school their weekly benefits can be paid up to age 23.

If the deceased worker leaves no surviving spouse or child, then benefits will be paid to those DEPENDENT relatives including grandchildren, brothers or sisters or parents or any other person satisfying the definition of dependent under 26 USC 152. These people must prove the injured worker contributed to their living expense in some way, ie rent, cash, payment of bills, place to live, or the like.

Continue reading →

Published on: August 13, 2017

Lesiono mientras trabajaba en el extranjero en el extranjero

By Jo Ann Hoffman & Associates, P.A.

Si usted se lesiono mientras trabajaba en el extranjero para un contratista estado unidense, lo primero que debe hacer es reportar su lesion y presentar un formulario LS-203 con prueba de que lo notifico a su empleador DBA. Es una buena idea enviar dicha notificacion por correo electronico al ajustador y tambien al mismo tiempo mandarse una copia ha usted mismo, para que posea prueba del envío. Asegurase de enviarnos un mensaje de texto a 1-754-317-2823 para una consulta gratuita especialmente si usted esta teniendo problemas psiquiátricos despues de ser estacionada en una zona de guerra. Es muy importante que usted tiene su abogado presentar una reclamación dentro de un ano de haber un psiquiatra diagnosticar una condición psiquiátrica causada por su empleo.

Una vez que el examinador de reclamos de OWCP esta asignado a su caso, entonces usted puede tener una conferencia establecida a traves de una solicitud por escrito para una conferencia informal. Con esta solicitud por escrito usted proporcionara detalles, documentacion y prueba medica para sus derechos y beneficios. Una vez que el examinador de reclamaciones de OWCP emita la recomendacion a su favor puede tener la esperanza pero no la expectativa de que la compania de seguros comience a pagar. Asegurese de que la recomendacion se ocupe de todos los problemas por los cuales busca compensacion para que el juez pueda decidir sobre todas esas cuestiones. Entregue su declaracion LS-18 antes de la audiencia 14 dias despues de la recomendacion emitida.

Continue reading →

Published on: July 25, 2017

DBA Claims with Third Party Liability

By Jo Ann Hoffman & Associates, P.A.

While rare, an attorney should always consider the viability of pursuing a third-party claim where a DBA injury is due to the negligence of a third-party other than your employer. This is allowed under 33 U.S.C. Section 933 (a) but has a strict requirement of notification under subsection (g)Compromise obtained by person entitled to compensation:

“1. If the person entitled to compensation (or the person’s representative) enters into a settlement with a third person referred to in subsection (a) for an amount less than the compensation to which the person (or the person’s representative) would be entitled under this chapter, the employer shall be liable for compensation as determined under subsection (f) only if written approval of the settlement is obtained from the employer and the employer’s carrier, before the settlement is executed, and by the person entitled to compensation (or the person’s representative). The approval shall be made on a form provided by the Secretary and shall be filed in the office of the deputy commissioner within thirty days after the settlement is entered into.

2. If no written approval of the settlement is obtained and filed as required by paragraph (1), or if the employee fails to notify the employer of any settlement obtained from or judgment rendered against a third person, all rights to compensation and medical benefits under this chapter shall be terminated, regardless of whether the employer or the employer’s insurer has made payments or acknowledged entitlement to benefits under this chapter.”Do not settle your third-party case without first obtaining written permission from both the employer and the DBA insurance company to settle the third party claim. If you settle the third-party claim without getting written consent you will lose all future compensation and medical treatment payable by the DBA insurance company. If you are settling your third-party case for less than the compensation you are entitled to under the DBA case, you must obtain written approval on Longshore DBA Form LS-33 which must be filed within 30 days of the settlement with the District Director.

Continue reading →