Construction Defense

Construction injuries often lead to two claims: one pending in workers’ compensation court and a civil case based on New York’s Labor Law. These cases are multi-jurisdictional as the two courts reviewing the same set of facts have very different jurisdictional limitations and powers. The injured worker is typically represented by seasoned counsel (from one of just a few firms who have turned construction claims into a specialty) and is aided by a statutory scheme in New York which creates a cottage industry of strict liability claims for employers. The embattled construction employer is therefore required to defend two claims at once filed by the same employee.

Our Team

Our Construction Defense Team is led by Partner Tashia Rasul, Esq. This dedicated team exclusively handles workers’ compensation claims arising out of construction accidents. Tashia’s expertise lies in complex coverage issues, wrap-ups, and claims arising out of catastrophic injuries. As part of her practice, Tashia frequently visits accident sites and provides on-site training to employers regarding workers’ compensation claims, as well as to develop defense strategies. Tashia is the author of the “Defending Construction Claims in New York” Handbook, available here.

Tashia regularly counsels clients on the importance of coordinating defense of workers’ compensation and general liability claims, and has a track record of favorable outcomes as a result of such coordination. In concert with Lois Law Firm’s recommended protocol for coordinating workers’ compensation and general liability defense, Tashia led a discussion of the protocol at the 2019 Annual Claims and Litigation Management (CLM) Conference to educate her peers on the importance of joint defense.

Who We Represent

We represent large project owners, OCIP and CCIPs, insurance carriers, self-insured employers, third party claim administrators, and employers before the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. We handle cases from cradle-to-grave. We want to be by your side, moving cases aggressively to closure from the start of litigation all the way through to settlement.

We only assign one attorney and one paralegal to each case. This means that your team members always have one contact to go to for any questions. We do not have “hearing attorney” or a “negotiation attorney” or “appeal department” or anything else! All of our attorneys handle all of those roles – meaning cases are not “passed around” as they move through the litigation process. Your risk professional or adjuster always knows who is assigned – because the attorney does not change.

Our Approach

Within seven (7) days of referral, we provide your adjuster with a comprehensive legal action plan and budget, setting out the likely exposure, plan of action to get the case to close, analysis of any potential legal defenses, and identify the handling/trial attorney and paralegal assigned to the case. We provide you with any court- or venue- specific information, such as who the judge is, evaluation of the treating providers, best IME doctor to use, etc.

About LOIS

All of our attorneys are 100% dedicated to defending employers and carriers in worker’s compensation claims. While we do some associated general litigation (usually subrogation related to a workers’ compensation claims we handle) all LOIS attorneys focus their practice on workers’ compensation.

We have tried dozens of cases to conclusion this year in each of the courts we go to. We are aggressive in pursuing appeals and our practice has an above-average record on winning appeals.

We Handle the Entire State

We appear in all New York City courts and all “upstate” hearings. We handle all workers’ compensation hearing locations in the State of New York.

City hearing points:

We attend all Hearing Points statewide:

Rates

We are strictly time and expense. Contact Team Leader Tashia Rasul, Esq., or Executive Director of Operations Lauren Rella for our rates to provide a workers’ compensation defense in New York.

Attorney Contact

Contact partner Tashia Rasul, Esq., Construction Defense Team Lead, with questions or to make referrals.