Oot & Stratton, Attorneys at Law

Call us at 315-449-4306. People will always tell you that if you're hurt at work, you need an attorney, and not just any attorney, you need one that is experienced in Workers' Compensation. We have decades of experience and we want to help you level the playing field. The carrier has teams of attorneys, are you up to do that by yourself? We can help you.

Send a message to learn more

Remember that injuries at work don't just impact the worker, they impact the entire family. If you have a claim, you are likely lost in all the paperwork and the issues that surround the claim. Make sure you get experienced help. We have more than 40 years of experience helping injured workers. Phone appointments are available. Give us a call, at 315-449-4306.

For more than 25 years we have had our office in East Syracuse, serving injured workers throughout Central New York. We are about a half mile off of Rte. 481 on Fly Road, appointments can be in person or by phone. There is no fee for the initial conference if we don't take your case. If you're hurt, you and your family need help. Give us a call at 315-449-4306.

Great news, we’ve relocated our offices and it will make life simpler for our clients! We are now at 6315 Fly Road, Suite 102, East Syracuse, NY 13057.

Our phone fax and email remain the same, what changes is the street address and the ease of getting into the office. There is plenty of “close in” parking, we are on the first floor and you shouldn’t have to walk more than 50-100 feet on the level to get into our suite.

Covid has not stopped us from continuing to represent the injured worker... Sure, just like all of you, we have had to adapt, but we have worked to make it easy for you to obtain help. Remember, we understand that when you're hurt and need help, it's not just about you, your family is injured too. Call for an appointment at 315-449-4306, in office or telephone appointments available.

Tne end of the State of Emergency, does not mean the end of taking precautions and staying safe, and we understand that. We learned during the pandemic that potential clients welcomed the fact that they didn't have to show up at our office to discuss their claim and easily get the help they need.

We continue to offer phone appointments for new clients who are looking for representation.

One lesson the WCB learned from the pandemic: they can successfully hold virtual hearings, eliminating the need for you or your attorney to travel to appear in front of a Judge.

An important thing we learned from the pandemic: people that need help are very comfortable with phone appointments and interviews.

If you need help with your claim, (and the law has become so complicated that almost every injured worker needs an attorney) call and set up a phone appointment.

Call: 315-449-4306. It’s that simple. We’re happy to try to help, we’ve been helping people like you for decades.

Employer fraud takes place all the time, but gets very little attention despite the huge cost to the system.

https://amp.sacbee.com/news/business/article248161970.html

Sacramento cleaning company owner faces felony charges in workers’ compensation fraud case Insurance regulators allege the businessman under-reported employment numbers and payroll of more than $5 million to cut premiums.

Here is an excellent article outlining the difficulties in NYS Workers' Compensationhttps://static1.squarespace.com/static/53ee4f0be4b015b9c3690d84/t/5e48e3aa7a7f2c7e5e360e5e/1581835184335/TimeforaReal_Look_2020.pdf

static1.squarespace.com

This ruling is huge for people whose Workers’ Compensation benefits have been capped by the State. The WCB may well try to appeal this, but the law is designed to benefit injured workers and it’s hard to imagine them taking a position that would deprive this widow and her son of money.

Spackenkill student wins ruling on posthumous workers' compensation The court denied the motion to rehear arguments that could've kept the Workers' Compensation Board from paying benefits to Kanye Khalid Green.

We continue to fight for the rights of injured workers in New York.

The Workers Compensation Board continues to process claims and insurance companies continue to fight them.

Don’t get caught short. A worker injured in NY that does not need an attorney is very rare. The law is very complex and at some point you are going to need help. We are handling claims, going to hearings and helping people every day.

Just like you, because of the coronavirus we are doing things differently now but it doesn’t stop us.

If you would like to speak with us, call 315-449-4306 and set up a phone appointment.

On weekends, call 315-449-4348.

We continue to fight for our clients. The Workers’ Compensation Law in NYS is designed to protect all injured workers. Even in the face of this crisis, the Workers’ Compensation Board continues to process claims and insurance companies continue to fight them.

Don’t get caught short. We continue to take in new clients, we continue to go to hearings and continue to move claims towards a favorable resolution, even though this coronavirus requires all of us to live and work differently.

Give us a call, we can get you going in the right direction.

New clients can call 315-449-4306 and set up a phone appointment.

For calls on the weekend, 315-449-4348.

We are all on lockdown and our office building is closed, but we are adapting to the crisis by working from home and communicating electronically. Please understand that we are continuing to consult with people struggling with their claims. We are responding to the needs of our clients and attending hearings virtually.

If you’re injured and need help, please call and schedule a phone appointment.

Beginning on 3/17/2020:

To protect our clients, and staff during the emerging COVID-19 (Novel Corona Virus) crisis, we will be working on our cases, but the office will be temporarily closed to visitors.

If you have paperwork you think we need to see, please mail it or email it to us.

Clients or potential clients, needing to conduct business with the firm should use email: [email protected]; Phone: 315-449-4306 or regular mail. 4983 Brittonfield Parkway, East Syracuse, NY 13057

The Workers’ Compensation Board has notified us this is also their policy and that from this point forward all hearings will be conducted “Virtually”. If you have a hearing coming up we will be in contact with you.

NY is at a critical point to control the spread of this deadly virus and limiting personal contact is the only sure way to avoid spread.

Our first concern is to keep people safe. Following that our only goal is to make sure our services to our clients continue without interruption and we will continue to work diligently, but differently for a short period of time.

There is simply no business that needs to be conducted personally right now that is more important than preventing the spread of this deadly disease.

Call, write or email us if you need us.

Starting tomorrow: We are adapting to the CDC recommendations temporarily.

New York--May 30,2019 -- "Despite its early history as a national leader in safeguarding the interests of workers injured on the job, the focus of workers’ compensation in New York has shifted from fairly compensating injured workers to minimizing employer costs, according to a new report from the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School.

We see that every day, not just in the financial limitations and the regular attacks on benefits, but particularly in the use of the Treatment Guidelines to limit the ability of the injured to access medical care that their physicians feel is reasonable and necessary. The regulation allows an LPN to veto a treatment plan formulated by a physician.

https://www.newschool.edu/pressroom/pressreleases/2019/erodingworkers.htm?preview=true

Eroding Workers Comp| The New School News Releases New York--May 30,2019 -- Despite its early history as a national leader in safeguarding the interests of workers injured on the job, the focus of workers’ compensation in New York has shifted from fairly compensating injured workers to minimizing employer costs, according to a new report from the ...

“Physical therapists say the current compensation structure of the state Workers Compensation system makes it easier for participants to get potentially addicting pain pills rather than PT treatment.

They're hoping a change currently under consideration by the Workers Comp Board will address this issue, which seems to be at odds with the state's effort to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic.”

Joining us to explain were Kelly Garceau, exective director of NYPTA; and Brendan Sullivan, a member of the NYPTA Public Policy Committee and the owner of the Health and Wellness Center in Latham.

http://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-region/capital-tonight-interviews/2018/09/06/physical-therapy-opioid-crisis

Combating opioid crisis: physical therapy as treatment Opioid overdose deaths in New York are up since 2010.

In this ruling yesterday, the conservative majority on the Supreme Court left much of the workforce defenseless.

"Labor law experts said the impact of the ruling in Epic Systems vs. Lewis will fall heaviest on tens of millions of low-wage workers who do not belong to unions. As a practical matter, they said, workers at convenience stores, restaurants, hotels or the like will find it expensive and risky to bring complaints if they must do so on their own".

http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-court-workers-20180521-story.html =mcnewsletter

Supreme Court upholds arbitration that bans workers from joining forces over lost wages Supreme Court rules on workers' rights and forced arbitration.

Do yourself a huge favor. If you are on opioids, work with your prescribing physician to reduce or eliminate them from your life. Nationally, there is an effort to reduce or eliminate the use of them and the NYS Workers' Compensation Board has issued stringent guidelines for their prescription and use and the failure of your physician to adequately justify the use of them or the failure to abide by those rules can leave you without medication. Take your life into your own hands, you and your physician should work to significantly reduce or eliminate opioid use to the greatest extent possible. Don't let your healthcare decisions be made by bureaucrats, you need to make positive decisions with the active assistance of your provider.

Today is the first day of “Virtual Hearings” in the Syracuse District where you will be offered the opportunity to appear by video for your hearings. A couple of things you should consider: First, if you’re represented, make sure you consult with your attorney before choosing how you are going to appear. Your attorney may want you to appear in person. If you’re not represented but are scheduled to testify, it might be smart to go to your hearing in person.

So, you have bots, hackers, and no privacy on your FB account, despite your privacy settings and no matter how personal a "private" post or photo might be.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-new-york-court-facebook/ny-top-court-says-private-facebook-photos-can-be-disclosed-idUSKCN1FX2L0

NY top court says 'private' Facebook photos can be disclosed New York state's highest court ruled on Tuesday that Facebook users may be required to turn over photos and other information that are relevant to litigation, even if they are shielded by "privacy" settings.

The Workers' Compensation Board has created complex Medical Treatment Guidelines that challenge the sound medical advice of your treating physician and as a consequence two things happen, Doctors are forced to discriminate against the injured workers, treating them differently than their private patients and frustrated doctors are backing out of the WC system.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/investigations/NY-Refers-Injured-Workers-to-Docs-that-Dont-Accept-Workers-Comp-372153352.html

Injured Workers Referred to Docs Who Don't Take Workers' Comp Dozens of doctors who once accepted workers' compensation insurance have effectively dropped out of the program, but New York state continues to list them as participants, the I-Team has learned, leaving injured...

If you're an injured worker, or a family member of an injured worker, this will really upset you. Huge conventions and wild parties all over the country being hosted by people that are profiting off of your disability while arguing that you're paid too much. This is a disgrace.

Call us if you would like help with your claim. 315-449-4306.

https://www.propublica.org/article/workers-comp-conferences-expos-and-middlemen

‘All of This Because Somebody Got Hurt at Work’ Hummer limos, go-go dancers, a live alligator and glowing aliens in spandex at the national workers’ comp and disability expo. Journey into the little-known workers’ comp industrial complex.

If you're not represented, don't assume you've been fully paid in your claim. We recently evaluated a three year old claim where the claimant was sure he had been properly paid and found that they owed him $22,000. Call us if you have questions 315-449-4306.

So, you don't have a lawyer and you're waiting to see your doctor and a "Nurse Case Manager" who works for the Insurance Company shows up and insists on going in with you for the appointment and then you find out your payments are reduced. You need a qualified and skilled attorney to stop this before it happens. Call us if you have questions. 315-449-4306.

Here's a very real problem for you. If you are representing yourself and you contact the adjuster handling your claim, sooner or later, one of you is going to be very unhappy. What do you do next? The answer is nothing, there is nothing you can do and your file will go on the bottom of the pile. Get yourself an attorney that has experience handling Workers' Compensation claims. Call if you have any questions: 315-449-4306

$60K on a "dead case"? Is your WC claim dead for money to you? It could be if it's older than 18 years but you can't trust the insurance company if they say it is. In the past week with careful analysis we were able to defeat the "dead case" argument in two claims and secure over $60,000 in benefits for our clients. Call 315-449-4306 if you have questions

Workers' Compensation is not a simple matter and you can't assume that the Judges in your case will represent you or protect your interests. The insurance company will have a lawyer. Get yourself an experienced attorney. Any questions, call 315-449-4306.

Every year the NYS Business Council launches an attack on injured workers, seeking to bolster profit on the back of suffering families. Any questions, please call 315-449-4306. http://www.npr.org/2015/03/04/390441655/injured-workers-suffer-as-reforms-limit-workers-compensation-benefits

Injured Workers Suffer As 'Reforms' Limit Workers' Compensation Benefits Over the past decade, states have slashed workers' compensation benefits, denying injured workers help when they need it most and shifting the costs of workplace accidents to taxpayers.