Perez Morris Archives - Page 3 of 11

May 17, 2023

Managing Partner Sarah Perez Featured on ‘Women of Influence’ Podcast

Sarah Perez was recently featured as a guest on the latest episode of Columbus Business First’s “Women of Influence” podcast. Sarah discussed her unique journey to the field of law and her experience in leading Perez Morris through significant growth over the last few years.

It was at an internship with Franklin County Commissioner Paula Brooks that led Sarah to discover she enjoyed using the skills required to be a successful lawyer: research, writing, analytical thinking, and public speaking, which Sarah found inherently interesting.

“Law school changes how your brain works. It changes the way that you approach problems and how you think about things,” Sarah said. She emphasizes that this form of critical thinking applies universally, but cautions prospective law students to ensure their aspirations align with the commitment.

Hear more of Sarah’s story, her insights on the practice of law, the journey to leadership, and the growth of Perez Morris.

Listen to the episode here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/women-of-influence/id1073171182

May 1, 2023

Sarah Perez OSBF 40 and Under

Perez Morris is proud to announce that Managing Partner Sarah Perez was selected to receive the Ohio State Bar Foundation Community Service Award for Attorneys 40 & Under for the Columbus District, which recognizes individuals that dedicate substantial time and effort to service outside of practicing law.

Sarah is the co-founder and immediate past chair of The Overcomer Foundation, an organization that assists single mothers seeking to take the next step in their education and move their families off the benefits cliff toward economic stability.

Additionally, through the firm, Sarah supports several initiatives from Vista Village, a community of tiny homes dedicated to addressing homelessness in Columbus, to continuous aid to food pantries and schools in the communities in which Perez Morris serves.

April 24, 2023

Post AutoZone: The New Analysis of Entitlement to TTD under ORC 4123.56(F)

Over the last 25 years, since the decision in Louisiana Pacific (1995), Ohio courts have defined and redefined the concept of voluntary abandonment and its effect on the payment of temporary total compensation in a claim, based on specific facts and circumstances where the injured worker may have been terminated for cause or voluntarily left the workforce. However, all of this changed in September 2020 when the Ohio legislature amended ORC 4123.56(F) which eliminated the concept of voluntary abandonment. All prior caselaw which applied the concept of voluntary abandonment was wiped clean.

The legislative change in ORC 4123.56(F) raised many questions for both injured workers’ and employers as to how ORC 4123.56(F) would be applied. In the first major pronouncement on this issue, the 10th District issued a decision which significantly limits an employer’s ability to argue against the payment of temporary total compensation in certain circumstances. State ex rel. AutoZone Stores, Inc. v. Industrial Commission, 2023-Ohio-633 (March 2, 2023). The Court’s decision in AutoZone sets forth a new analysis necessary to determine eligibility for temporary total compensation.

In AutoZone, the injured worker had an allowed shoulder claim and was working light duty. He was terminated after an altercation with a co-worker and thereafter requested a period of TTD following an authorized surgery in the claim. The employer argued that claimant was off work due to his termination, not his impairment from the allowed conditions in the claim, and relied upon caselaw that applied the doctrine of voluntary abandonment which the Court in AutoZone pointed out is no longer in existence. The Court pointed out that the compensation being requested was only paid after the surgery, and it was not requested or paid after the claimant’s termination. The Court indicated that the language change in ORC 4123.56(F) requires the claimant’s inability to work “to stem immediately from an impairment arising from the injury…”, and it is not appropriate to turn the court’s gaze back to the facts and circumstances surrounding why the claimant left the workforce before his surgery. To do so is to resurrect the concept of voluntary abandonment which has been superseded by the legislature.

The employer urged the Court to consider that the claimant’s lost wages were directly related to his termination and, since he was not working at the time of his request, he was ineligible for TTD. In response, the Court indicated that this is not the correct analysis. The Court held that “the legislature did not intend to disqualify any person not working without regard for whether the reason he or she is not working is attributable to the workplace injury.”

Prior to the issuance of this decision, employers could successfully argue against a period of compensation in a claim when the injured worker’s employment ended for reasons unrelated to the claim and based on the claimant’s own actions. If the claimant was no longer in the workforce and their employment had been terminated for violation of a company policy, compensation was not payable, even if the injured worker subsequently obtained approval for surgery in the claim. However, the decision in AutoZone makes it clear that the analysis for entitlement to temporary total compensation is based on the specific facts and circumstances immediately surrounding the request for compensation and there is no “look back” at other reasons why the injured worker was not working. ORC 4123.56(f) states:

If an employee is unable to work or suffers a wage loss as the direct result of an impairment arising from an injury or occupational disease, the employee is entitled to receive compensation under this section, provided the employee is otherwise qualified. If an employee is not working or has suffered a wage loss as a direct result of reasons unrelated to the allowed injury or occupational disease, the employee is not eligible to receive compensation under this section.

Accordingly, AutoZone requires that only the facts and circumstances immediately surrounding the request for compensation are relevant, and prior terminations for reasons unrelated to the claim are considered irrelevant. In the AutoZone case, the results may have been different if the claimant requested compensation immediately following his termination for the altercation with the co-worker and if there was not an approved surgery in the claim. Under those facts, the claimant would have been off work due to reasons unrelated to the claim and based on his own behavior. However, the Court makes it clear that the authorized surgery resulted in lost earnings from the date of the surgery forward, regardless of other prior reasons that the claimant had been out of the workforce.

Clearly, this decision limits an Ohio employer’s ability to argue against the payment of compensation in certain circumstances. It is unclear to what extent this decision applies to termination cases where the facts are distinguishable from the facts in the AutoZone case or in the case of voluntary retirement. The matter has been appealed to the Supreme Court of Ohio which will provide the Court with the opportunity to further clarify RC 4123.56(F).

If you have any further questions, please reach out to one of the Perez Morris workers’ compensation practitioners in Columbus or Cleveland.

Rick Hernandez joined Perez Morris in 2017. He is a proactive, strategic and dedicated workers’ compensation defense attorney with more than 30 years’ experience. Rick has represented self-insured and state-funded private employers, state agencies, and public and private universities in proceedings before the Industrial Commission of Ohio and at all levels of court within the state of Ohio. You can reach him at [email protected] or (614) 540-2230. Read more

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Beth Weeden joined Perez Morris in 2018. With more than 30 years’ experience, she counsels employers in all aspects of their workers’ compensation and risk management programs. She represents both self-insured and state-funded employers including national and regional retail distribution centers, retail stores, staffing services, restaurants, manufacturing facilities and home health care providers. You can reach Beth at [email protected] or (614) 396-3822. Read more

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April 12, 2023

Myra Barsoum Stockett named to 2023 Lawyers of Color Power List

Perez Morris is proud to announce that Myra Barsoum Stockett, Managing Attorney of the firm’s Cleveland office, has been named to the Lawyers of Color Power List 2023. This list honors the most influential attorneys in the nation, including law firm executive and management committee members, managing partners, general counsel, and law school deans. Myra has demonstrated continued leadership in the legal profession and in her community throughout her career.

Myra, who is a first-generation Coptic Egyptian, was born to immigrant parents who left their homeland due to persistent persecution against the native Copts. She is a member of the Coptic Orthodox Egyptian community; and serves on the Board of Directors of her church, St. Peter and St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Cleveland, Ohio. Myra also serves on the Board of the Case Western Reserve University Law School Alumni Association, and previously served as General Counsel for a privately owned physician recruiting company. Myra’s unique background and perspective has been an invaluable asset to Perez Morris. She has proven to be a remarkable leader and mentor, guiding her team to success while advocating for her clients. Myra’s practice focuses on workers’ compensation, labor and employment law, and insurance coverage matters.

Lawyers of Color promotes diversity in the legal profession and advances democracy and equality in marginalized communities. The organization, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, hosts conferences and events, produces publications, and conducts research and studies regarding the intersection of the legal profession and social justice.

March 23, 2023

Charity Hyde elected as member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel

Perez Morris is proud to announce that Charity Hyde, Chief Diversity Officer and Managing Attorney, has been nominated and elected as a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC). This is a remarkable accomplishment that reflects Charity’s exceptional legal skills, dedication, and commitment to excellence.

As an FDCC member, Charity will be part of an elite community of attorneys committed to fostering the trust and value of fellowship and referrals among their peers. The FDCC is a highly selective organization, with a limit of only 1,300 US attorneys in private practice. We are thrilled that Charity’s extensive experience with aviation, premises liability, insurance fraud investigation, motor vehicle liability, product liability, and environmental and toxic tort litigation, among other areas, has earned her this distinction.

The FDCC’s objectives are to assist in establishing standards for providing competent, efficient and economic legal services; to provide cutting-edge, top-quality continuing legal education for members; and to share members’ knowledge and experience for the promotion of justice and the public good. The Federation’s membership consists of defense lawyers, insurance industry representatives, corporate counsel, and corporate executives with international, national or regional responsibility for the defense of claims and litigation.

February 10, 2023

The Intersection of Remote Work and Pay Transparency – The Business Journals quotes Anne Marie Schloemer

Anne Marie Schloemer, an attorney at Perez Morris, sheds light on the topic of remote work and the implications of pay transparency laws for employers. Anne explores the nuances of pay transparency regulations and how they differ across various jurisdictions remote work becomes more prevalent, companies are faced with the challenge of understanding how these laws apply to workers who are located in different areas from the company’s headquarters or physical presence.

“For an employer in this position, their best option may be to implement pay transparency company-wide for consistency as well as culture,” Anne notes. She goes on to explain “Pay transparency is also an opportunity for companies to self-audit and ensure their pay practices are proper and not discriminatory based on gender or race,” Anne said. “For any companies who have concerns about what the public would learn if these laws are enacted in their community, now is the time to start making changes.”

February 6, 2023

Perez Morris Announces New Leadership in Cleveland – Strategic hires expand the Columbus-based firm’s offerings to include medical malpractice and pharmacy liability defense

Perez Morris announced today that it welcomes four new attorneys to its Cleveland office. Myra Barsoum Stockett, Jeanne Mullin, and Christine Santoni join the Perez Morris team from Reminger Co., LPA, each bringing a tremendous amount of expertise in their fields of practice. Matthew Turkalj has also joined from Reminger as a key member of the group.

“We are pleased to welcome Myra, Jeanne, Chris, and Matt to the Perez Morris family,” said Perez Morris’ Managing Partner, Sarah Perez. “These strategic hires add to our ever-growing bench of accomplished women trial lawyers and is a significant step in our efforts to expand the scope of top-quality service for our clients.”

These additions will bring medical malpractice and pharmacy liability defense to Perez Morris and greatly enhance the workers’ compensation department in Cleveland. Mullin will chair the firm’s medical malpractice department and will co-manage the Cleveland office with Barsoum Stockett, who will also lead the workers’ compensation group in Cleveland.

“We are eager to get started and to build on the exceptional work being done here,” said Mullin. Mullin, a Cleveland native, brings 23 years of medical and pharmacy law experience with her, along with numerous recognitions, including most recently being honored as Best Lawyers’ “Lawyer of the Year 2022 – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants – Cleveland.” “Combined, Chris and I have tried over 100 medical malpractice jury cases, and we look forward to forging this new path together.”

Barsoum Stockett likewise has over 23 years of experience and is highly regarded among her peers. “This move will provide an opportunity for me to build on the existing workers’ compensation reputation of Perez Morris and to continue to grow this practice area in Cleveland,” she said. “I am excited to not only focus on workers’ compensation but also to expand our employment law group and help grow the Perez Morris footprint in Northeast Ohio.”

This latest expansion follows Perez Morris’ acquisition of the Giffen & Kaminski firm last year, making Perez Morris the largest certified woman-owned law firm in the state of Ohio.

About Perez Morris
Perez Morris is a woman-owned business law firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, with offices in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, and attorneys licensed to practice across the country. We guide our clients to manage their risks and make deals happen. We provide general counsel, business litigation, professional and general liability defense, and commercial transactional services nationwide with a focus on cost-effective, practical, industry-savvy advice that allows our clients to continue to grow and thrive.

Read Press Coverage Here:

Cleveland Business Journal (February 6, 2023) – Perez Morris adds four attorneys to Cleveland law office

Crain’s Cleveland Business (February 7, 2023) – Perez Morris law firm names inaugural co-leaders for its Cleveland office

January 19, 2023

Ildiko A. Szucs Selected to 2023 Class of FDCC Ladder Down Cleveland

Perez Morris is pleased to announce that Ildiko A. Szucs has been selected to the 2023 Class of FDCC Ladder Down Cleveland.

Ladder Down is a year-long program for women lawyers dedicated to leadership empowerment, business development, and mentoring. Founded in 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona, by Alison Christian and Beth Fitch to help women attorneys obtain leadership roles within their firms, Ladder Down has expanded under the leadership of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC). Ladder Down is entering its fifth program year in Cleveland, Ohio.

Ildi joined the Perez Morris Cleveland office in 2022. She focuses her practice on workers’ compensation law and has also represented clients in the areas of motor vehicle liability, premises liability, catastrophic injury and wrongful death.

January 17, 2023

Charity C. Hyde and Matthew Hyde To Attend Loss Executive Association 2023 Conference

Members of the Perez Morris team, Charity C. Hyde (Managing Attorney & Chief Diversity Officer) and Matthew Hyde (Business Development), will attend the upcoming Loss Executives Association (LEA) 2023 Annual Meeting & Education Conference. The conference will be held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from January 25th – 27th, 2023. LEA provides key stakeholders in the property insurance industry with a forum for the discussion, study and consideration of common loss adjustment problems to explore options and alternatives.

January 12, 2023

Perez Morris names Charity C. Hyde Chief Diversity Officer

Perez Morris is proud to announce that Charity C. Hyde has been named Chief Diversity Officer. With the creation of this new role, the women-owned firm continues to focus on providing opportunities for the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal industry and in our communities.

Charity is an active champion of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and within her community. She is an active member of the Defense Research Institute’s (DRI) Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee, as well as the DRI Diversity for Success Seminar and Corporate Expo Planning Committee. She serves as the Marketing Chair for both. Charity also serves as a mentor for the DRI Diverse Rainmaker Mentoring Program in which ten attorneys with no more than ten years of civil litigation experience are selected for the program. Each mentee is paired with a corporate counsel mentor, as well as a DRI Diversity & Inclusion senior committee member mentor. Charity is also an active member of the National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association’s (NRRDA) Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, as well the National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA), the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) – where she serves on the Insurance PAC Committee, the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL), the International Aviation Women’s Association (IAWA), the Association of Professional Insurance Women (APIW), and the Women in Insurance Global Network.

Charity believes that community service is an important part of a lawyer’s life and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (ABF). The ABF Fellows serve as stewards of the American Bar Foundation, a nonprofit research organization with a mission to serve the legal profession and the public, through empirical research, publications, and programs that advance justice and the understanding of law. The Fellows comprise a global honorary society of lawyers, judges, law faculty, and legal scholars who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the profession and service to society. Membership requires nomination and vetting, and is limited to one percent of the lawyers admitted to practice in the United States and its territories and to a limited number of lawyers in international jurisdictions.

Charity Hyde has extensive experience successfully defending companies in a variety of areas including aviation, premises liability, insurance fraud investigation, motor vehicle liability, product liability, and environmental and toxic tort litigation. She has a long history of leading multi-attorney teams in the representation of airlines, airports, financial institutions, retailers, restaurants, food manufacturers, municipalities, and large manufacturing clients in complex, high-exposure, and multi-district litigation. Her extensive defense litigation expertise spanning over two decades includes arbitrations and mediations, as well as trying bench and jury trials successfully to verdict.