Workers' compensation costs are an integral part of any company's budget. It is important, therefore, for all employers in Ohio, whether they pay premiums to the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation or whether they are self-insured, to keep those costs at a minimum. Bricker & Eckler LLP has many years of experience in representing both state fund and self-insured employers before Ohio's workers' compensation system and before Ohio's courts to assist employers in keeping expenses down.

Thomas R. Sant chairs the workers' compensation practice area. Tom, who has practiced law since 1973, was most recently employed as the assistant director of legal operations at the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. There he dealt with a broad variety of issues, including employer premium disputes, self-insurance matters, subrogation and fraud. Prior to assuming his position in the law department, Tom was the Director of Special Investigations, the department which investigates allegations of fraud committed against the state insurance fund and self-insured employers by injured workers, health care providers, lawyers and employers. He also played a role in the legislative and rule making initiatives advanced by the Bureau of Workers' Compensation. Thus, he brings a unique expertise and understanding of the regulatory issues involved in workers' compensation law.

Regardless of the type of compensation issue any employer, whether state fund or self-insured, has in Ohio, Bricker & Eckler LLP is well qualified to provide competent representation during the administrative process and before the courts, should the matter proceed beyond the administrative process. Common among the issues facing employers in the Ohio workers' compensation system are injury claims, death claims, and injured worker applications for additional awards based on allegations of violations of specific safety requirements.

Additionally, employers have disputes with the Bureau of Workers' Compensation over premiums assessed and the classification of employees for purposes of premium allocation. Also, Bricker & Eckler LLP has experience in processing applications for employers interested in becoming self-insured. Bricker & Eckler LLP can and regularly does represent employers who have one or more of the enumerated issues and others within Ohio's workers' compensation system.

In addition, Bricker & Eckler LLP has long played a leading role in drafting and lobbying for workers' compensation reform before Ohio's legislature. The firm, through Tom Sant, also maintains regular contact with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation and continues to have valuable input in the formulation of rules and policy developed by that agency.

Bricker & Eckler LLP has the expertise and experience to tackle any problem arising for any employer dealing with any type of workers' compensation issue.