Schottenstein Zox & Dunn

Our Workplace Safety Practice Group attorneys have more than 125 years of experience representing employers in the defense of workers’ compensation claims administratively and in Ohio state courts. At Schottenstein Zox & Dunn, we emphasize an integrated approach, working closely with our Labor and Employment Practice Group to offer claims defense within the broader context of employment issues.

This approach enables our attorneys to provide clients with a synergized resource and comprehensive solutions that address all aspects of safety and workers’ compensation matters including OSHA defense, ADA and FMLA issues, intentional tort and VSSR matters.

We represent local and national mid-sized and large employers – both public and privately-held and often self-insured – as well as government agencies.

Our services include:

• workers’ compensation claims defense at the administrative and court levels
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defense
• providing employers with assistance and counseling in becoming self insured and maintaining their self-insured status
• representation of employers in challenging adverse audit findings and providing other regulatory compliance assistance 
• employer intentional tort defense 
• workplace violence counseling and defense
• violations of specific safety requirements (VSSR) defense 
• employment termination defense for alleged workers’ compensation retaliation and discrimination 
• counseling and defense of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) matters
• general advice and counseling in workers’ compensation, safety and leave issues

Practical Experience Pays
Our workplace safety attorneys bring clients hands-on, practical experience and strategic solutions. Attorneys within this practice group represent employers in administrative hearings before the Industrial Commission of Ohio, the Adjudicating Committee and the Self-Insured Review Panel of the Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation, and in court proceedings at all levels.

Our team is unique because we employ the same aggressive approach in handling administrative hearings and trials as we use in our other employment areas. Much like the defense of a discrimination claim, our attorneys appear for the administrative hearings fully prepared – witnesses are interviewed, claim and related personnel files are thoroughly reviewed, medical records are gathered and reviewed, and testimony and position statements are presented at hearings.

We are not only counselors, but true advocates that help clients take preventive steps to minimize claims and ultimately, reduce financial liabilities.

Focus on Value
Although the Workplace Safety Practice Group focuses on providing outstanding representation to our clients, we also recognize the need to provide those services in the most efficient manner possible.  Our Group is structured with a mix of partners, associates and paralegals with a broad range of professional experience in workplace safety matters. 

All client matters are reviewed to make sure the right attorney is working on the right case.  This approach insures that our clients only pay for an appropriate level of expertise in any case.  Our efficiency is supported by attorneys in our other Ohio offices who exclusively practice workplace safety law.  This structure enables us to provide value to clients in all parts of Ohio.  
 
Our commitment to value is further illustrated by the Group’s experience with alternate fee arrangements.  Although many clients prefer a traditional hourly fee structure, others seek more predictability for their legal budgets.  This can involve representation on a fixed per-hearing rate or a predetermined annual fee.  Our trial experience enables us to provide detailed defense budgets so our clients know the fee exposure in the early stages of a case.  In sum, our Workplace Safety Practice Group provides first class service while remaining focused on providing value to our clients.