We had a great program last Friday. The First District Court of Appeal hosted our program. The Workers' Compensation Institute provided support, lunch, and logistical support. Our presenters were exceptional. James McConnaughhay or WCI kicked the program off. First District Court Chief Judge Robert Benton welcomed the attendees and reiterated the importance of both the workers' compensation system and the effort to continually refresh skills through educational opportunities.
Judge John Lazzara organized the program and was our master of ceremonies. Judge Lazzara deserves all of the credit for making this program a reality.
Our presenters included Steve Coonrod, Mary Cruickshank, Randall Porche, Tara Sa'id, Jake Schickel, Christopher Smith, OJCC State Mediators Susan Bisbee, Alan Gordon, Workers' Compensation Judges Beck (SAR), Condry (ORL), Lazzara (TLH), Lewis (FTL), Medina-Shore (MIA), and Sojourner (LKL), and First District Court Judges Ervin (retired) and Wetherell.
The team from Resource Managers Incorporated provided on site logistical support. Kathy Shelton and her team set up, monitored audio visual technology, organized breakfast, lunch and snacks. Our thanks to Kathy, Cathy Bowman, Woody Douglas, and Shirley Kendall. The program would not have succeeded without them.
The Division of Administrative Hearings provided logistical support with the live program and the recording and playback processes. Our thanks to Administrative Services Director Lisa Mustain and her team. They coordinated our videoteleconference sites, arranged the recording, broadcast the recording, prepared the handout materials, and anticipated and solved a myriad of issues with the program preparation.
Six hours of CLE credit were available for those that attended live in Tallahassee. The Florida Bar CLE credit number for this six hour program is 1301008N (New Reality of Workers' Compensation Litigation; 6 hours total, 1 hour of ethics, 4.5 hours Board Certification in Workers' Compensation).
The OJCC recorded and rebroadcast the ethics panel over the OJCC video teleconference system at noon on Friday. Viewers attended in Miami, Ft. Myers, Port St. Lucie, Orlando and Tampa. The video will be made available on Youtube soon. If you want a copy of the printed program materials mentioned by the panelists, email me david.langham@doah.state.fl.us. The Florida Bar CLE credit number for this one hour recorded program is 1301009N (Judicial Panel Discussion of Ethical Practices; 1 hour general or 1 hour ethics).
I am thankful to all who participated Friday. Through educational opportunities like this we all grow. I learned things Friday that I will use for the rest of my career; I hope you did too. It is my hope we can continue to enjoy the partnership of WCI and the Court. We look forward to presenting more programs like this in coming years.
