pretrial next week

[smoke1]

Finally got in contact with my attorney. He said it is a pretrial. He said I don't have nothing to prepare for. I thought a pretrial is a last attempt to get both sides to reach an agreement. Has anyone went to a pretrial. If so does the arb ask questions. If so what kind of questions do they ask. I would be happy to get some information from anyone that have been through a pretrial.thanks a bunch. smoke

[1171]

each state handles there comp board and issues differently.
here's an example of a how a pretrail is handled in california.
http://hurtworker.com/english/mandatorys...ntconf.htm
(you should put your location in your profile so we know how your state does things!)

[smoke1]

thanks 1171. Very good information. I'm from central Illinois. That does help. But I wonder why my attorney said I have nothing to prepare for. smoke.

[1171]

he probably doesn't know how to prepare a client for settling.
P.S.

put your state in your profile so responders don't have to ask each time.
you might want to read chpt 5
http://www.iwcc.il.gov/handbook.pdf

[smoke1]

Thanks 1171. great information. I have the book also. Hopefully everything will be fine. I read the book again last night. All I can do is go in prepared I guess. thanks again. Also I put information in my profile. smoke

[Timothy Belt]

It varies with state and to some extent with the judge. Here in Luzerne County PA we have two hearing locations. If the pretrial is at the northern end of the county, the pretrial is just a scheduling conference. If the pretrial is at the southern end of the county, testimony will be taken. Similar differences in procedure exist throughout the entire state. I am sure your lawyer knows more about what to expect at this pretrial then any of us on this forum.

[kate]

As Timothy says. It varies by state. In Florida it's only for the attorneys to submit the issues and their responses. The IW and the IC do not get involved until the "Merits" (actual) hearing. Many times all they do is send in paperwork for the pretrial and don't even have to appear.

From the Illinois WC Commission website:
Cases are assigned to the hearing site closest to the site of the accident. If the accident occurred outside of Illinois, the case is assigned to the site closest to the petitioner's home; if the petitioner lives outside of Illinois, the case is set at the site most convenient to the parties. The Accident Location Table lists every town in Illinois and its hearing site.

Accident Location Table link: http://www.iwcc.il.gov/location.xls

[smoke1]

thanks timothy belt and kate. Kate that web page has great information. I am trying to educate myself about the whole comp thing. This case is almost 6 years old. I am starting to just saying I'm tired of this whole comp thing . I just want it to end soon. My last hearing that I had to go to was last April. How long can this thing take. I know comp is hoping I just give up. They only want to pay 4,0000 of medical bills .My medical outstanding is over 18,000. If I give up I know they win but it's getting to the point this case will never end the way it is going. smoke

[kate]

For more information, you can also go to the top of this site and click on State Info tab, choose your state and then the link from the "General Information" on the right side of the page.