MJOC Attorneys Address Attendees During 2011 Convention of American Association of Justice

Attorney’s from Michael J. O’Connor & Associates addressed an impressive crowd of attendees during the Workers’ Compensation and Workplace Injury Section of the 2011 Annual Convention of the American Association of Justice (AAJ), held in New York City from July 9-13.

The AAJ WC & Workplace Injury Section CLE Program was held on July 10 at the Hilton New York. Section Chair was Attorney O'Connor, founder of Michael J. O'Connor & Associates. The title of the program was Acquiring and Protecting Clients, a theme that has been an important part of the O'Connor law firm in its 20 plus years of litigation. "Our firm focuses on workers' comp because we believe in our clients - the blue collar men and women who are working hard to support their families," said Atty. O'Connor.

Attorney Debra A. Matherne of Michael J. O'Connor & Associates spoke during this segment of the annual convention. Her discussion focused on Dealing with the Vocational Counselor. In addition to speaking at the convention, Attorney Matherne was elected secretary of the Workers' Compensation and Workplace Injury Section of the AAJ for 2012. When asked about her election to this position, Atty. Matherne said, "It's an honor to be named secretary to this section of the AAJ. It's an opportunity to help ensure that those who are injured on the job receive the medical treatment, benefits, and compensation they and their families deserve."

According to their website, the American Association for Justice, also known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), has supported plaintiff trial lawyers for 65 years – as the collective voice of the trial bar on Capitol Hill and in courthouses across the nation and by providing exclusive services designed for trial lawyers. The convention offers members of the AAJ the opportunity to earn a year's worth of continuing legal education, to network with attorneys from across the nation, and to return to their practices reenergized and better able to represent their clients.


Our Practice Areas

Michael J. O’Connor & Associates is dedicated to providing clients with the best legal help possible.


For additional information,
please visit our website at
www.oconnorlaw.com
or call us toll free at
1-800-518-4LAW



Inside This Issue:

Did You Know? .................. 2

Staff of MJOC Go on
Autumn Hike....................... 2

Test Your Legalese ............ 3

Spotlight On ........................ 4

Recipe Corner .................... 4

Pennsylvania Nursing Home News ................................... 5

Safety Alert ......................... 5

Satellite Office Locations ... 6




Did You Know?
The Social Security Administration announced Oct. 19 that benefit recipients will receive a 3.6 percent cost of living adjustment.

This is the first time since 2009 that monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income has been raised.

The adjustment will be seen beginning with Social Security benefits received in Jan. 2012 and SSI benefits received Dec. 30, 2011.

According to a Social Security Administration news release, when information about Medicare changes for 2012 are announced it will be available at www.Medicare.gov.

Regardless of your age, if you’re unable to work because you’ve become medically disabled and that disability is expected to last no less than 12 months, you may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.

Often, making a Social Security claim is not a simple one step process. The best course of action is to seek an experienced lawyer as soon as a disability occurs.

Our law firm represents those clients on Social Security by preparing and filing the appropriate appeal paper work and other required forms, as well as compiling all the medical evidence and presenting our client’s testimony at the hearing. We also defend your disability claim against the State’s medical and vocational experts.

Our team of dedicated disability lawyers is well–versed and experienced in every aspect of the claim process. Call us at 1-800-518-4LAW for a free consultation.



The Staff of Michael J. O’Connor & Associates Go on Autumn Hike

The staff of Michael J. O’Connor and Associates took advantage of the warm autumn weather recently, taking a hike along the Broad Mountain.

Led by "Porcupine Pat" McKinney, Education Coordinator for the Schuylkill County Conservation District, the group walked several miles enjoying some of the beautiful scenery of Schuylkill County.

The hiking tour began at the State Game Lands entrance on Route 61 just north of Saint Clair and traveled along the former Reading and Philadelphia railroad lines.

The group saw many interesting sites including a bear's den and a hidden waterfall. Porcupine Pat talked about county history and identified native plants and trees along the trail.

The staff tries to hike as a group at least once each year choosing a new trail to explore each time.

In the past the group has hiked a trail just off the Burma Road as well as walking at Sweet Arrow Lake.


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removed from our mailing list, please call us at: 570–874–3300
or email us at pkellar@oconnorlaw.com





ACROSS

1.    intentionally doing something legally or morally
       wrong
3.    Resolution of a law suit
6.    Specialist in a subject
7.    Loss of property due to violation of the law
9.    Proceeding before a judge or magistrate
13.  Person who has written a will at the time of his or her
       death
17.  Latin for “something for something”
18.  Order of a judge requiring action

DOWN

2.    A warning or caution
4.    To sell the assets of a business

5.    To send back
8.    Reckless disregard for the safety of others
10.  Advance payment to an attorney for services
11.  Attorney not actively involved in day–to–day work of
       firm
12.  Swearing to tell the truth
14.  Having absolute right or title
15.  Written document in which the signer swears under
       oath
16.  Latin for “in fact”
19.  Authority of a court within a particular geographic
       area
20.  Injury that permanently reduces a person’s ability to
       function, but still permits some work

For answers to the puzzle, check our website at www.oconnorlaw.com




SPOTLIGHT ON
Paralegals Amy Bevan
and Jennifer Opuda


Paralegals Amy Bevan and Jennifer Opuda recently celebrated their 15-year anniversary working with Michael J. O’Connor and Associates. The women were recognized at a dinner held at the Schuylkill County Country Club on Sept. 29 and with an office lunch on Oct. 5.

Amy is a paralegal to Attorney David A. Miller for personal injury. She has a B.A. in English from Penn State University.

" I really enjoy working here with such a great group of people and I'm grateful for all of the opportunities I have had here over the years," Bevan said.

Jennifer is a paralegal to Attorney Debra A. Matherne. She has an Associate's Degree in Legal Assisting from McCann School of Business and Technology. "I would like to thank you for the surprise anniversary dinner and luncheon that you threw us as well as the beautiful presents. It's hard to believe it has been fifteen years!" Jennifer said. "Thanks for all the effort you put in into making it an anniversary to remember."

Michael J. O'Connor, Esquire, recognized Amy and Jen at a dinner held in their honor saying, "It's the hard work of dedicated employees like Amy and Jen that have helped us grow Michael J. O'Connor & Associates into the law firm that it has become today. I thank Amy and Jen for their commitment to our clients."




Our resident chef and accountant, Patti D., has
recommended the following delicious recipe,
just in time for the holidays!
PUMPKIN ROLL WITH
CREAM CHEESE FILLING

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup powdered sugar (to sprinkle on towel)
3/4 cup all–purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup LIBBY’S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup powdered sugar (optional)

DIRECTIONS
PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees F. Grease 15x10–inch jell-roll pan; line with wax paper. Grease and flour paper. Sprinkle towel with powdered sugar.
COMBINE flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in small bowl. Beat eggs and sugar in large mixer bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts.
BAKE for 13 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.
BEAT cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until smooth. Carefully unroll cake; remove towel. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Reroll cake. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.

 



PENNSYLVANIA NURSING HOME NEW

PA State Nursing Homes Face
$200 Million Cut in Medicare Payments
According to the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, state nursing homes will see a $200 million cut in annual Medicare payments under a new rule announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Ser-vices. The new rule means an 11 percent cut in basic Medicare rates beginning Oct. 1 according to phca.org.

PHCA said two-thirds of nursing home residents are on Medicaid and because nursing homes lose money caring for residents on Medicaid, they depend on private insurance and Medicare to make up the differ-ence.

"We recognize that there are limited state dollars in Pennsylvania, and appreciate that Governor Corbett and state legislators made the care of the frail and elderly in nursing homes a priority while negotiating the recent state budget," Dr. Stuart H. Shapiro, MD, President and CEO of the PA Health Care Association, said in a news release.

"These draconian cuts in Medicare now threaten this care and the jobs of those who care for the frail and elderly in Pennsylvania. Any future cuts in Medicaid or Medicare may collapse an already fragile system of care - with unthinkable and tragic results."



Consumers who use any of the following products or medications should be alerted to the following warnings, including some alerts issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA).

Transvaginal Mesh: Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) and Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) are 2 common women’s health problems that are treated with the surgical implantation of a transvaginal mesh. However, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has received a growing number of reports that the mesh device is causing complications, including urinary problems, erosion of vaginal tissue, pain, and infection. The transvaginal mesh has not been recalled and has continued to be used by health care practitioners, despite the warnings.


If you or someone you know has used any of these products and has any of the symptoms mentioned above,
you may have a case. Contact the attorney team at Michael J. O’Connor & Associates at 1–800–518–4LAW
for a free initial consultation and a review of your case.







608 West Oak Street
P.O. Box 201
Frackville, PA 17931

Phone: 570–874–3300
Toll Free: 1–800–518–4LAW
Fax: 570–874–4822









 

New Satellite Office Location

For your convenience, Michael J. O’Connor & Associates has 15 satellite office locations around Pennsylvania, in addition to our main office in Frackville, PA. Our newest location, opening December 1, is:

Mechanicsburg
The Execute Offices at Rossmoyne, 5000 Ritter Rd., Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

Or, make an appointment at one of our other locations, closest to you:

Allentown
609 West Hamilton Street
Suite 14, 1st Floor
Allentown, PA 18101

Bala Cynwyd
Two Bala Plaza, Suite 300
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004

Danville
518 Walnut Street
Danville, PA 17821

Hazleton
1201 North Church St.
Building A, Suite 220
Hazleton, PA 18201

Lancaster
1853 William Penn Way
Executive Office at Greenfield
Lancaster, PA 17605

Lock Haven
200 East Water Street
Lock Haven, PA 17745

Philadelphia
1500 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Pittsburgh
1 Oxford Center
301 Grant Street, Suite 4300
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Reading
501 Washington St., Suite 103
Reading, PA 19601

Scranton
116 North Washington Ave.
Scranton, PA 18503

Stroudsburg
731 Sarah Street
Stroudsburg, PA 18360

Sunbury
106 Market Street
Sunbury, PA 17870

Wilkes Barre
216 North River Street
Suite 410
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702

Williamsport
460 Market Street
Suite 205
Williamsport, PA 17701

MAIN OFFICE:

Frackville
608 West Oak Street Frackville, PA 17931