by KPMLAW | Mar 21, 2016 | KPMBlog, News, Uncategorized, Updates
KPM LAW announced its new slate of officers Monday. Effective March 15th, John Messersmith will serve as President and Secretary Treasurer. Bill Pfund, Claire Carr, and Brian Cafritz will serve as Vice Presidents. States Chip Kalbaugh, who held the post of President for the past 25 years and continues to serve as a Director, “We have never had such motivated and focused leadership. The momentum that this team has created is exciting. The firm is in exceptional hands and I can’t wait to celebrate its accomplishments well into the...
by KPMLAW | Mar 21, 2016 | KPMBlog, News, Uncategorized, Updates
While attending The National Retail & Restaurant Defense Association in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. earlier this month, Claire Carr presented on the topics of pre-litigation investigation and taking more effective Recorded Statements. Claire has been appointed to chair the Workers’ Compensation Committee of NRRDA for 2016-2017. Brian Cafritz, a founding member and past president of NRRDA, also presented and was re-elected to the Board of Directors to serve a three-year term. NRRDA’s mission is to advance and protect the interests of the retail and restaurant industry. By providing members with information, strategies and tools, NRRDA works to reduce claims and better manage risk; mount effective defense strategies against claims and litigation; and foster and encourage a cooperative relationship among the members of the Association. NRRDA recently welcomed 53 new members and noted record attendance at this year’s conference. NRRDA 2017 will take place in San Diego, CA, March 1-3. ...
by KPMLAW | Mar 21, 2016 | KPMBlog, News, Uncategorized, Updates
John Messersmith has been named President of KPM LAW. John has been an officer and director of the firm since its inception, has been responsible for overseeing the firm’s operations for most of the last 25 years, and is one of the most influential forces behind the firms growth and success. John will lead the firm’s four offices, 36 attorneys, and more than 60 staff. John is an AV-Rated attorney, and member of TIDA, DRI, and CLM, among other professional organizations. ...
by KPMLAW | Mar 21, 2016 | KPMBlog, News, Uncategorized, Updates
KPM LAW’s Janeen Koch, will be presenting and moderating the roundtable discussion “Handling Traumatic Brain Injury Cases – From the Initial Accident through Trial” at the upcoming Claims & Litigation Management Alliance Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, April 6-8. Janeen has assembled a team of experts including Melissa Welden, Senior Liability Claims Specialist with Central Mutual Insurance Company, Tracy Yaun, corporate claims counsel for Berkley Southeast Insurance Group, and Doug Gibson a licensed psychologist and clinical neuropsychologist with MedPsych of Virginia, to participate in the roundtable. For more information, contact Janeen Koch at janeen.koch@kpmlaw.com or look for her informative session at the CLM conference on April...
by KPMLAW | Mar 21, 2016 | KPMBlog, News, Profiles, Uncategorized
KPM LAW continues to benefit from the talent of a bright and eager crop of young attorneys who bring to the firm fresh ideas, who enhance the firm’s tried and true experience, and who represent our next generation of leaders. It is with great pride that we announce Matt Daly and Jessica Relyea’s promotion to partner. Both have proven legal acumen in addition to an exceptional capacity for embracing new projects and initiatives, developing meaningful business relationships, and driving the firm forward. Please join us in celebrating their well-deserved promotions and wishing them continued success at KPM...
by KPMLAW | Mar 21, 2016 | KPMBlog, News, Uncategorized, Updates
Written by Andrew Willis, Esq. Edited by Rachel Riordan, Esq. Workers’ compensation claims involving office chairs are beginning to rise as an increasing number of workers in Virginia and across the U.S. move into sedentary jobs, including claimants working from home. This article looks at the state of the law in Virginia on work accidents involving office chairs and provides guidance on what you can ask during your recorded statement to help make the right decision when it comes to accepting or denying a claim involving an office chair. The Law The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission has decided a number of cases involving injuries to claimants who sat in wheeled office chairs. The issue often litigated with office chairs is whether the accident “arises out of” the employment. The mere happening of an accident at the workplace, not caused by any work-related risk or significant work-related exertion, is not compensable. An injury “arises out of” the employment if there is a causal connection between the conditions under which the work is required to be performed and the resulting injury. As with cases involving claimants who simply fall while walking, the Commission generally requires some kind of defect or hazardous condition before an injury involving an office chair can be compensable. Specifically, the Commission has held that the mere “fact that [a] chair had wheels, of itself, is not sufficient to establish compensability.” Bell v. Sheetz, JCN VA00000401489 (March 29, 2013). In Baker v. B&H Construction, VWC File No. 216-56-07 (April 18, 2005), a claimant suffered a compensable injury when the wheels of his rolling office chair became tangled in...
