NEW YORK, New York - Many workplaces sponsor recreational events outside of work, especially during the summer. Such events may include picnics, softball games, trips to an amusement park or cocktail parties at nearby restaurants or bars.

But what many people might not realize is employers are responsible for the well-being and safety of employees during such events, according to New York workers' compensation attorney Jordan A. Ziegler of . And if employees get injured at such events, they are eligible to receive workers' compensation benefits.

"The rights and responsibilities of employers extend beyond the workplace," Ziegler said. "When companies host off-site, employer-sponsored events, safety precautions must be taken. If employers fail to do so and an employee gets hurt at such an event, that employee is eligible for workers' compensation since the injury was within the scope of their employment."

Ziegler cited an example of a workplace injury many people might not realize is covered by workers' comp. Last year, some people sustained eye injuries while looking at the August 21, 2017 eclipse at work-sponsored eclipse viewing parties. "In this case, employers were responsible for providing safety glasses," Ziegler said. "Employees who were injured while eclipse-viewing on the job were able to file workers' compensation claims if their boss did not provide adequate eye protection."

"Workers' comp goes a long way toward helping ease the financial burden that comes with not being able to fully return to work," Ziegler said. "There are so many complicated ins and outs of filing, however, that all too often injured workers will give up rather than fight for what they are entitled to. That's where we are able to step in and help people get their lives back on track."

About Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP

With 80 years of experience hearing over 100,000 cases, Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP has obtained settlements totaling over a billion dollars for New Yorkers. With 100 legal professionals on staff and 11 office locations, the law firm has won numerous accolades for providing its clients with strong, reliable legal representation and has a well-earned reputation as one of the top law firms for cases involving workplace accidents, workers' compensation and Social Security disability.

NEW YORK - The maximum workers' compensation benefit for New York workers increased by nearly 4 percent, a decision applauded by New York workers' compensation attorney Jordan A. Ziegler of .

"The wage loss portion of workers' compensation is a lifeline for injured workers," Ziegler said. "As both wages and cost of living has increased statewide, this increase in the maximum benefit is necessary to keep pace."

Effective this past July 1, the New York State Workers' Compensation system will increase its new maximum weekly benefit for workers' compensation claims to $904.74, an increase of 3.9 percent or $34.13 compared to $870.61 last year. However, obtaining benefits can be complicated. In order to receive them, it's important to take the following steps:

• Tell your employer you were hurt at work. You have 30 days to do so.
• Inform the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB). The deadline to do so is two years.
• File a claim, even if you don't lose time from work. Someone has to pay the medical bills and it's typically the WCB's insurance company's responsibility.
• Save correspondences related to your injury, including phone records and emails. Written communication is the best way to communicate. Make copies of everything.
• When seeking medical attention, either in the nearest emergency room or a doctor's office, ask for detailed records of your injury and prescribed treatment.
• Talk a workers' compensation lawyer to learn more about your rights.

About Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP

With 80 years of experience hearing over 100,000 cases, Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP has obtained settlements totaling over a billion dollars for New Yorkers. With 100 legal professionals on staff and 11 office locations, the law firm has won numerous accolades for providing its clients with strong, reliable legal representation and has a well-earned reputation as one of the top law firms for cases involving workplace accidents, workers' compensation and Social Security disability.

"Eddie and Matt have both been strong, committed advocates for injured New York workers for many years, and true assets to our team," said attorney Victor Pasternack, the firm's longest-serving partner. "We're proud of their accomplishments and excited to see them take on an even more integral role in our practice."

Mr. Romano, a graduate of The John Marshall Law School, is a past president of the Workers' Injury Law and Advocacy Group (WILG) as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the New York State Workers' Compensation Bar Association. He has been practicing law in New York since 1995.

Mr. Funk, a graduate of Brooklyn Law School, is the current president of the New York State Trial Lawyers' Association (NYSTLA) and a member of the Executive Board of the Injured Workers' Bar Association. He has been practicing law in New York since 1999.

The legislation is named for Lavern Wilkinson, a Brooklyn woman who died in 2013 following a battle with cancer that was misdiagnosed. Under Lavern's Law, patients will have the right to sue for a missed cancer diagnosis for two and a half years after they learn of the diagnostic error.

The previous law gave only 15 months from the date of the misdiagnosis itself - meaning that in many cases, patients did not even learn about the error until the statute of limitations had already passed.

"Families of cancer patients already endure too much loss and heartbreak, and without accountability, the current law imposes additional burdens upon them," said attorney Matthew Funk, president of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and a senior partner at Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP. "This legislation will help bring justice to cancer victims and restore hope to their loved ones."

Funk added that more must be done to protect patients throughout New York.

"While Lavern's Law provides much-needed protection for cancer patients, there are many other types of medical errors that often go undiscovered until it is too late to take legal action. We call upon our legislators to continue to work to expand protections for all New Yorkers who have been injured due to medical malpractice."

The media company presents the award to "individuals and organizations who have demonstrated dedication and commitment to the well-being of New York and its citizens through their accomplishments, such as promoting respect for human rights, good governance and transparency, combating exploitative working conditions, offering pro bono services and community giving."

Attorney Funk primarily handles workers' compensation cases at the firm, where he is a partner. He is also the current president of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association (NYSTLA), serves on the Executive Board of the Injured Workers Bar Association and regularly gives lectures on workers' compensation law to various labor organizations.

"I'm honored to be selected for this award," Funk said. "The rights of workers are constantly under threat and we must continue to fight to protect them."

As an example of such a threat, Funk cited current efforts by the New York State Workers' Compensation Board to reduce benefits for workers who suffer permanent injuries.

Funk was presented with the award during a breakfast reception on October 19^th at Baruch College.

"I'm honored to serve as President of the leading trial lawyers' association in the State of New York," Funk said. "Thousands of attorneys belong to this organization and I will work tirelessly to represent their needs as the 50^th President of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association."

Founded in 1953, the represents more than 3,500 trial lawyers throughout the state of New York. According to the organization, the association's mission is "to promote a safer and healthier society, to assure access to the civil justice system by those who are wrongfully injured and to advance representation of the public by ethical, well-trained lawyers." Notably, Mr. Funk is the first workers' compensation attorney to lead the NYSTLA.

A partner at Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP, Mr. Funk primarily handles workers' compensation cases for the law firm. A 1995 graduate of Albany University and 1998 graduate of Brooklyn Law School, Mr. Funk serves on the Executive Board of the Injured Workers Bar Association. He also frequently lectures on workers' compensation issues for various labor organizations.

"It's an honor to serve as vice chair of the advisory board for one of the leading health care providers in New York," Ziegler said. "Occupational and environmental medicine serves a vital role in our society. This critical field of medicine focuses on identifying and addressing hazardous conditions in the workplace."

"Through my work as a New York personal injury attorney who handles workers compensation cases, I frequently encounter situations where accidents occurred due to unsafe working conditions," Ziegler said. "That's why I'm proud to bring my knowledge and expertise in this field to the advisory board at Northwell Health."

is New York State's largest private employer and health care provider. With 550 outpatient facilities and 21 hospitals in New York State, Northwell Health employs more than 61,000 people, including more than 15,000 nurses and 3,400 doctors.

Attorney Jordan Ziegler is a senior partner at Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP. Mr. Ziegler handles a wide range of injury cases, including ones involving workers compensation, Social Security Disability claims and legal issues involving civil service disability retirement pensions from the New York City, New York State and local retirement systems.

Along with serving as Vice Chair of the Advisory Board at Occupational & Environmental Medicine of Long Island at Northwell Health, Mr. Ziegler serves as chair of the law firm's Civil Service Disability Retirement Pension Department. He has also been named a "Super Lawyer" from 2006 to 2016 in the area of workers' compensation by Super Lawyers magazine and is a member of the Eastern Long Island Police Pipes and Drums since 2001.

"I am honored and excited to be elected president of the Workers' Injury Law & Advocacy Group," Gruber said. "As a longstanding member of the organization and its Board of Directors, I look forward to the opportunity to lead this well-respected group which represents some of the best workers' compensation lawyers in the country."

Gruber became president of WILG at the organization's annual convention at the Boulders Resort & Spa in Carefree, Arizona on Sept. 24 and 25. Gruber succeeds former president Alan S. Pierce, of Pierce, Pierce & Napolitano of Salem, Massachusetts.

"WILG's members possess a wealth of knowledge and skills about workplace injury law," Gruber said. "They gained that expertise through years of hard work on a wide range of workplace injury cases throughout the country. As the president of WILG, I will work tirelessly to promote our members' accomplishments and to encourage other lawyers who specialize in this area of law to join our organization.

"Workplace injury attorneys are some of the most passionate, professional people I know," Gruber added. "The same holds true for WILG and our members. We strive every single day to make the lives of injured workers and their families better and to hold the companies responsible for such injuries accountable for their actions. I take tremendous pride in my work and I know my colleagues at WILG do so as well."

Founded in 1995, WILG is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to representing the interests of workers and their families affected by workplace injuries and illnesses. More than 1,000 workplace injury attorneys, paralegals and other professionals belong to WILG.

A workers' compensation lawyer since 1996, Mr. Gruber has spent the past two decades defending the rights of injured workers. He is a 1991 graduate of Michigan State University and a 1995 graduate of The University of Denver College of Law, where he earned his juris doctor.

Along with WILG, Mr. Gruber belongs to several legal organizations, including the Workers Compensation Committee of the Brooklyn Bar Association, where Mr. Gruber has served as chairman since 2012. He is also a member of the Injured Workers Bar Association and the Workers Compensation Alliance.

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Attorney Matthew A. Funk of New York City law firm Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano, LLP, was installed as president-elect of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association at a ceremony in the city on Tuesday, June 14.

A 1998 graduate of Brooklyn Law School, Funk became a partner at the firm in 2007. He also serves on the board of directors of the Injured Workers Bar Association and is a member of the workers' compensation committee for the New York Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH).

"Being named president-elect is a great honor," Funk said. "For decades, NYSTLA has been dedicated to protecting the legal rights of New Yorkers. I look forward to working with all of the organization's officers to continue to pursue that goal over the coming years."

As president-elect, Funk is slated to become the next president of NYSTLA in July 2017. He had previously served as the group's second vice president and deputy treasurer. He has also served on the organization's workers' compensation committee, legislative committee, no-fault committee and labor law committee.

Founded more than 60 years ago, NYSTLA is dedicated to preserving and enhancing New York's civil justice system. The organization works directly with victims and also partners with various groups to protect the rights of consumers.

The ceremony was held at Cipriani 25 Broadway in Manhattan.

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DISCLAIMER: Please remember that prior results cannot and do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter, including yours, in which a lawyer or law firm may be retained. The information provided in this press release is not legal advice, but is provided to give general legal information for educational purposes. Reviewing or accessing this press release does not establish a client-attorney relationship with this Firm.

The honorees include attorneys Christopher D. Latham, Victor Pasternack, Edgar N. Romano, Robert Saminsky, Catherine M. Stanton, Kevin Walsh, and Jordan A. Ziegler.

Attorney Latham is a first-time honoree. The other attorneys have been named to the list multiple times: seven consecutive years for Romano, eight for Pasternack and Saminsky, ten for Stanton and eleven for Ziegler. Attorney Walsh has been named to the list four times.

"My colleagues and I are honored to be selected for this prestigious list," attorney Romano said. "Super Lawyers' research-driven approach to rating attorneys highlights the most dedicated and successful professionals in our field. These awards are a testament to our commitment to helping injured New Yorkers."

Since 1991, Super Lawyers has recognized lawyers who have attained a high degree of professional achievement. The multi-phased annual selection process includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations by practice area. No more than 5 percent of New York attorneys are selected by Super Lawyers.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING

DISCLAIMER: Please remember that prior results cannot and do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter, including yours, in which a lawyer or law firm may be retained. The information provided in this press release is not legal advice, but is provided to give general legal information for educational purposes. Reviewing or accessing this press release does not establish a client-attorney relationship with this Firm.