Insurance Company Tricks

I've blogged on insurance companies discussing their ways, but a new report from the American Association for Justice formalizes and confirms some of what I've said. Check out Tricks of the Trade.

Here's the executive summary (minus the footnotes) of behaviors:

"The U.S. insurance industry has trillions of dollars in assets, enjoys average profits of over $30 billion a year, and pays its CEOs more than any other industry. But insurance companies still engage in dirty tricks and unethical behavior to boost their bottom line even further.

The current economic turmoil affecting the insurance industry onWall Street has only made the outlook bleaker for consumers living on Main Street. Insurance companies are likely to demand huge rate hikes and
refuse more claims than ever.

Some of America’s most well-known insurance companies—the same ones that spend billions on
advertising to earn your trust—have endeavored to deny claims, delay payments, confuse consumers with incomprehensible insurance-speak, and retroactively refuse anyone who may cost them money.

This report describes some of the most egregious ways the insurance industry attempts to make money at the expense of consumers. These are some of the tricks of the trade:

Denying Claims
Some of the nation’s biggest insurance companies—Allstate, AIG, and State Farm among others—have denied valid claims in an attempt to boost their bottom lines. These companies have rewarded employees who successfully denied claims, replaced employees who
would not, and when all else failed, engaged in outright fraud to avoid paying claims.

Delaying Until Death
Many insurance companies routinely delay claims, knowing full well that many policyholders will simply away in safes. Undoubtedly, the most shameful use of delay tactics has been by long-term care insurers, who often take advantage of their policyholders’ age and ill health. In the words of one regulator, "the bottom line is that insurance companies make money when they don’t pay claims…They’ll do anything to avoid paying, because if they wait long enough, they know the policyholders will die."

Confusing Consumers
Insurance contracts are some of the most dense and incomprehensible contracts a consumer is ever likely to see. More than half of all states have enacted "plain English" laws for consumer contracts, yet many Americans still do not fully understand the risks they are subject to. After Hurricane Katrina, insurance companies used obscure "anti-concurrent" clauses to get out of paying claims. Consumers who purchased hurricane insurance and thought they were covered suddenly found the coverage eliminated by an obscure clause they could not hope to understand.

Discriminating by Credit Score
Increasingly, insurance companies are using credit reports to dictate the premiums consumers pay, or whether they can even get insurance in the first place. The practice penalizes the poor, senior citizens with little credit, and those who have suffered financial crisis through no fault of their own. Insurance companies have denied fiscally responsible people who paid their bills in cash, but refused renewals because of a lack of credit history. Others have seen auto rate hikes near 600 percent despite clean driving records after falling on economic troubles.

Abandoning the Sick
Health insurers looking to cut costs have taken to canceling retroactively, or rescinding, the policies of people whose conditions have become expensive to treat. Some insurance companies have even offered bonuses to employees who meet "cancellation goals." Rescission targets patients in the midst of treatment when they are at their most vulnerable—even cancer patients in the midst of chemotherapy have been targeted.

Canceling for a Call
Many people are rightly reluctant to make small claims on their home insurance for fear their insurance company will raise their premiums. But few realize that insurance companies often refuse to renew a policy because the policyholder did as little as inquire about the possibility of making a claim. Many times an insurance company will count an inquiry over the phone
as the same as a claim, and then they will do everything in their power to drop the policyholder."


Wisconsin Personal Injury Attorney

Medical Defense Doctors

A while back I blogged on defense medical examinations, which defense lawyers and insurance companies love to call "independent", and I referred to one company's schedule of medical examiners posting it's October-November 2006 schedule.

Here are three recent schedules from the company's website for the lawyer looking for info:

"October/November 2008
***
Appleton / Green Bay / Oshkosh / Neenah
October 20, 2008 Thomas W. Schueppert, M.D. – Ortho. Foot & Ankle Surgeon
October 27, 2008 William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 29, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
October 29, 2008 Ellen O’Brien, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 3, 2008 William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 3, 2008 Marc J. Novom, M.D. – Neurologist
November 7, 2008 Sridhar V. Vasudevan, M.D. – Physical Medicine & Rehab
November 7, 2008 Randal Wojciehoski, D.O., DPM – Internal/ER Med./Podiatry
November 10, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 10, 2008 William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 11, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 12, 2008 Michael A. Weiner, M.D. – Plastic/Hand Surgeon
November 17, 2008 William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 18, 2008 William R. Klemme, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 18, 2008 Thomas W. Grossman, Jr., M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 20, 2008 Michael W. Orth, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 25, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
December 5, 2008 Sridhar V. Vasudevan, M.D. – Physical Medicine & Rehab
Dec. 12 & 15, 2008 Michael R. Nordstrom, M.D. – Otolaryngology
December 16, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
Call for dates Gregory Nystrom, D.C. – Chiropractor
Call for dates Brad K. Grunert, Ph.D. – Psychology

Lakewood
Call for dates William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon

Duluth, MN(Superior)
October 24, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 3, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
November 18, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
December 1, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon

Eau Claire
October 22, 2008 Ellen O’Brien, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 25, 2008 Kevin J. Kulwicki, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 6, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 13, 2008 David A. Solfelt, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 13, 2008 Gilbert Westreich, M.D. – Neurology
November 14, 2008 Daniel P. Lochmann, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 17, 2008 Michael W. Orth, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 19, 2008 Thomas A. Lyons, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
November 20, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
December 5, 2008 William T. Monacci, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
December 9, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon

Kenosha
November 25, 2008 Thomas W. Grossman, Jr., M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon

LaCrosse/Tomah
October 24, 2008 Michael G. Wirth, D.C. - Chiropractor
October 24, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
November 21, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
December 1, 2008 Paul L. Liebert, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
December 5, 2008 Daniel P. Lochmann, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
December 19, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon

Madison
October 20, 2008 Marc J. Novom, M.D. – Neurologist
October 27, 2008 Kevin J. Kulwicki, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 29, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
October 29, 2008 Thomas A. Lyons, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
October 29, 2008 William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 3, 2008 David A. Solfelt, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 3, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 8, 2008 Thomas J. O’Brien, M.D. – Ortho. Surgeon/Spine Specialist
November 14, 2008 John S. Xenos, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 14, 2008 Sridhar V. Vasudevan, M.D. – Physical Medicine & Rehab
November 17, 2008 Kevin J. Kulwicki, M.D. – Ortho. Surgeon/Upper Extremity
November 26, 2008 Morris M. Soriano, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
December 5, 2008 John S. Xenos, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
December 8, 2008 Kevin J. Kulwicki, M.D. – Ortho. Surgeon/Upper Extremity
Call for dates Michael R. Nordstrom, M.D. – Otolaryngology
Call for dates David H. Bartlett, M.D. – Ortho Surgeon – Knees & Shoulders
Call for dates James E. Self, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
Call for dates Michael A. Weiner, M.D. – Plastic/Hand Surgeon
Call for dates Dan B. Futch, D.C. – Chiropractor

Milwaukee
October 27, 2008 Steven I. Grindel, M.D. – Ortho. Surgeon/Upper Extremity
October 27, 2008 Thomas A. Lyons, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
October 28, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
November 4, 2008 Timothy S. O’Brien, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 4, 2008 Randal Wojciehoski, D.O., DPM – Internal/ER Med./Podiatry
November 6, 2008 Steven P. Friedel, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 7, 2008 Thomas J. O’Brien, M.D. – Ortho. Surgeon/Spine Specialist
November 11, 2008 James C. Foster, M.D., MPH – Occupational Medicine
November 12, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 13, 2008 Michael A. Weiner, M.D. – Plastic/Hand Surgeon
November 15, 2008 John S. Xenos, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 17, 2008 J. Christopher Noonan, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 24, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
December 6, 2008 John S. Xenos, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
December 17, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
Call for dates J. Jay Goodman, M.D. – General/Vascular Surgeon
Call for dates Gary N. Guten, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon – Knee Specialist
Call for dates Mark R. Aschliman, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
Call for dates Anthony A. Ferguson, M.D. – Ortho Surgeon - Foot/Ankle
Call for dates Marc J. Novom, M.D. – Neurologist
Call for dates Michael R. Nordstrom, M.D. – Otolaryngology
Call for dates Steven Donatello, M.D. – Pain Management

Plainfield
November 18, 2008 James C. Foster, M.D., MPH – Occupational Medicine

Wausau/Stevens Point
October 22, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
October 24, 2008 Sridhar V. Vasudevan, M.D. – Physical Medicine & Rehab
October 25, 2008 Kevin J. Kulwicki, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 29, 2008 Marc J. Novom, M.D. – Neurologist
November 7, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 17, 2008 William R. Klemme, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 18, 2008 Michael W. Orth, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 18, 2008 James C. Foster, M.D., MPH – Occupational Medicine
November 19, 2008 William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
November 20, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
November 21, 2008 David A. Solfelt, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
December 5, 2008 Michael G. Wirth, D.C. - Chiropractor
December 6, 2008 William T. Monacci, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
December 12, 2008 Michael R. Nordstrom, M.D. - Otolaryngology
December 15, 2008 Thomas A. Lyons, M.D. – Neurosurgeon"

"September / October 2008
***NORTHERN ILLINOIS IME’s
ILLINOIS/Chicago Metro IME APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE
September 17, 2008 Jeffrey T. Behr, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
Call for dates Michael W. Orth, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
Call for dates Paul D. Belich, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
Call for dates Steven C. Delheimer, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
Call for dates Norman Kohn, M.D. – Neurologist
Call for dates Scott A. Kale, M.D. – Internal Medicine

Appleton / Green Bay / Oshkosh / Neenah
September 4, 2008 Steven P. Friedel, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 8, 2008 Michael C. Reineck, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 9, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 10, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 12, 2008 Michael G. Wirth, D.C. – Chiropractor
September 15, 2008 Marc J. Novom, M.D. – Neurologist
September 17, 2008 Michael A. Weiner, M.D. – Plastic/Hand Surgeon
September 24, 2008 Ellen O’Brien, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 25, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
September 27, 2008 Steven P. Friedel, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 29, 2008 William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 3, 2008 Michael W. Orth, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 7, 2008 William R. Klemme, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 7, 2008 Thomas W. Grossman, Jr., M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 13, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 14, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 21, 2008 Thomas W. Grossman, Jr., M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 22, 2008 William T. Monacci, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
October 29, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon

Lakewood
Call for dates William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon

Duluth, MN(Superior)
September 2, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
September 17, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 7, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
October 24, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon

Eau Claire
September 2, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 8, 2008 Kevin J. Kulwicki, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 10, 2008 Thomas A. Lyons, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
September 15, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
September 19, 2008 Daniel P. Lochmann, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 23, 2008 John M. Williams, Sr., M.D. – Occupational Medicine
September 27, 2008 Ellen O’Brien, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 30, 2008 Michael W. Orth, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 7, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 16, 2008 Michael A. Weiner, M.D. – Plastic/Hand Surgeon
October 22, 2008 Thomas A. Lyons, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
October 22, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon

Kenosha
September 23, 2008 Thomas W. Grossman, Jr., M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon

LaCrosse/Tomah
September 6, 2008 Ellen O’Brien, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 24, 2008 Paul L. Liebert, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 26, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 24, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
October - call Daniel P. Lochmann, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon

Madison
September 12, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 15, 2008 Michael C. Reineck, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 17, 2008 William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 17, 2008 Thomas A. Lyons, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
September 20, 2008 Thomas J. O’Brien, M.D. – Ortho. Surgeon/Spine Specialist
September 24, 2008 Marc J. Novom, M.D. – Neurologist
September 25, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
September 26, 2008 James C. Foster, M.D., MPH – Occupational Medicine
October 1, 2008 William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 1, 2008 Morris M. Soriano, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
October 10, 2008 Sridhar V. Vasudevan, M.D. – Physical Medicine & Rehab
October 14, 2008 Thomas W. Grossman, Jr., M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 14, 2008 James C. Foster, M.D., MPH – Occupational Medicine
October 15, 2008 Thomas A. Lyons, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
October 16, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 29, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
Call for Dates David H. Bartlett, M.D. – Ortho Surgeon – Knees & Shoulders
Call for Dates James E. Self, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
Call for Dates Michael A. Weiner, M.D. – Plastic/Hand Surgeon
Call for Dates Dan B. Futch, D.C. - Chiropractor

Milwaukee
September 11, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 18, 2008 Michael A. Weiner, M.D. – Plastic/Hand Surgeon
September 19, 2008 Thomas J. O’Brien, M.D. – Ortho. Surgeon/Spine Specialist
September 22, 2008 Michael C. Reineck, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 24, 2008 William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 24, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
September 30, 2008 Thomas W. Grossman, Jr., M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 2, 2008 Steven P. Friedel, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 8, 2008 William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 13, 2008 Thomas A. Lyons, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
October 15, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 20, 2008 James C. Foster, M.D., MPH – Occupational Medicine
October 22, 2008 William T. Monacci, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
October 29, 2008 Michael W. Orth, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
Call for Dates J. Jay Goodman, M.D. – General/Vascular Surgeon
Call for Dates Gary N. Guten, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon – Knee Specialist
Call for Dates Mark R. Aschliman, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
Call for Dates Anthony A. Ferguson, M.D. – Ortho Surgeon - Foot/Ankle

Plainfield
September 23, 2008 James C. Foster, M.D., MPH – Occupational Medicine
October 13, 2008 James C. Foster, M.D., MPH – Occupational Medicine

Wausau
September 3, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
September 10, 2008 Thomas A. Lyons, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
September 16, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
October 1, 2008 Michael W. Orth, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 6, 2008 William R. Klemme, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 13, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 15, 2008 Michael A. Weiner, M.D. – Plastic/Hand Surgeon
October 18, 2008 Steven P. Friedel, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
October 21, 2008 Sridhar V. Vasudevan, M.D. – Physical Medicine & Rehab
October 22, 2008 Thomas A. Lyons, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
October 23, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
October 29, 2008 Marc J. Novom, M.D. – Neurologist"

"May/June 2008
***
Appleton / Green Bay / Oshkosh / Neenah
May 3, 2008 Steven P. Friedel, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 7, 2008 Marc J. Novom, M.D. – Neurologist
May 14, 2008 Michael A. Weiner, M.D. – Plastic/Hand Surgeon
May 15, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 15, 2008 William B. Kelley, M.D. – General Surgeon
May 23, 2008 Sridhar V. Vasudevan, M.D. – Physical Medicine & Rehab
May 27, 2008 Thomas W. Grossman, Jr., M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 29, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
May 29, 2008 William R. Klemme, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 30, 2008 William T. Monacci, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
June 2, 2008 William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 6, 2008 Sridhar V. Vasudevan, M.D. – Physical Medicine & Rehab
June 7, 2008 William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 9, 2008 Steven P. Friedel, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 10, 2008 Thomas W. Grossman, Jr., M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 10, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 16, 2008 William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 23, 2008 William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 24, 2008 Thomas W. Grossman, Jr., M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
July 1, 2008 William R. Klemme, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
July 3, 2008 Michael W. Orth, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon

Lakewood
Call for dates William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon

Duluth, MN(Superior)
May 5, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
May 16, 2008 Randal Wojciehoski, D.O., DPM – Internal/ER Medicine/Podiatry
May 20, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 2, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
June 24, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon

Eau Claire
May 5, 2008 Michael W. Orth, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 8, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 9, 2008 Daniel P. Lochmann, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 10, 2008 Kevin J. Kulwicki, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May21, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
May 22, 2008 Thomas A. Lyons, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
May 28, 2008 Ellen O’Brien, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 4, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 4, 2008 Randal Wojciehoski, D.O., DPM – Internal/ER Medicine/Podiatry
June 7, 2008 Kevin J. Kulwicki, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 9, 2008 Thomas A. Lyons, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
June 12, 2008 Michael A. Weiner, M.D. – Plastic/Hand Surgeon
June 18, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
June 20, 2008 Daniel P. Lochmann, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 30, 2008 Michael W. Orth, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon

Kenosha – NEW LOCATION
May 19, 2008 Thomas W. Grossman, Jr., M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon

LaCrosse/Tomah
May 21, 2008 Ellen O’Brien, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 30, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 13, 2008 Daniel P. Lochmann, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 27, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon

Madison
May 5, 2008 David A. Solfelt, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 6, 2008 Thomas W. Grossman, Jr., M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 14, 2008 Morris M. Soriano, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
May 14, 2008 William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 16, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 19, 2008 David A. Solfelt, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 21, 2008 Thomas A. Lyons, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
May 29, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
May 29, 2008 James C. Foster, M.D., MPH – Occupational Medicine
June 3, 2008 Thomas W. Grossman, Jr., M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 4, 2008 Marc J. Novom, M.D. – Neurologist
June 11, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 13, 2008 John S. Xenos, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 13, 2008 Sridhar V. Vasudevan, M.D. – Physical Medicine & Rehab
June 21, 2008 Thomas J. O’Brien, M.D. – Ortho. Surgeon/Spine Specialist
Call for Dates David H. Bartlett, M.D. – Ortho Surgeon – Knees & Shoulders
Call for Dates James E. Self, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
Call for Dates Michael A. Weiner, M.D. – Plastic/Hand Surgeon
Call for Dates Dan B. Futch, D.C. - Chiropractor

Milwaukee
May 12, 2008 Steven I. Grindel, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 12, 2008 Thomas W. Grossman, Jr., M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 14, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 15, 2008 Michael A. Weiner, M.D. – Plastic/Hand Surgeon
May 19, 2008 J. Christopher Noonan, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 19, 2008 Thomas A. Lyons, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
May 20, 2008 William D. Moore, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 20, 2008 Thomas W. Grossman, Jr., M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 27, 2008 Timothy S. O’Brien, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 31, 2008 William T. Monacci, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
June 6, 2008 Michael W. Orth, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 7, 2008 Steven P. Friedel, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 9, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 9, 2008 Mark R. Aschliman, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 14, 2008 John S. Xenos, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 17, 2008 Thomas W. Grossman, Jr., M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 20, 2008 Thomas J. O’Brien, M.D. – Ortho. Surgeon/Spine Specialist
July 7, 2008 J. Christopher Noonan, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
Call for Dates J. Jay Goodman, M.D. – General/Vascular Surgeon
Call for Dates Gary N. Guten, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon – Knee Specialist
Call for Dates Mark R. Aschliman, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
Call for Dates Anthony A. Ferguson, M.D. – Ortho Surgeon - Foot/Ankle

Plainfield
June 26, 2008 James C. Foster, M.D., MPH – Occupational Medicine

Wausau
May 6, 2008 Michael W. Orth, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 9, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 10, 2008 Kevin J. Kulwicki, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 22, 2008 Thomas A. Lyons, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
May 22, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
May 28, 2008 William R. Klemme, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
May 30, 2008 Sridhar V. Vasudevan, M.D. – Physical Medicine & Rehab
June 5, 2008 Stephen E. Barron, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 7, 2008 Kevin J. Kulwicki, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
June 9, 2008 Thomas A. Lyons, M.D. – Neurosurgeon
June 11, 2008 Michael A. Weiner, M.D. – Plastic/Hand Surgeon
June 16, 2008 Marc J. Novom, M.D. – Neurologist
June 19, 2008 Paul A. Cederberg, M.D. - Orthopedic Surgeon
June 27, 2008 Sridhar V. Vasudevan, M.D. – Physical Medicine & Rehab
June 30, 2008 William R. Klemme, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
July 1, 2008 Michael W. Orth, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon
July 12, 2008 Kevin J. Kulwicki, M.D. – Orthopedic Surgeon"

One last interesting thing is the company's Printable Request for Service Form - Liability/No-Fault/Personal Injury. If I were deposing one of these doctors, I'd certainly want to see a copy of the one completed by the insurance defense lawyer. Here's the "SPECIFIC ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED" questions the defense lawyer fills out by checking a box next to the applicable number(s) on the personal injury form:

"1. Diagnosis: Please give your impression of the injury or condition claimed as a result of the accident in question. Have the correct diagnoses been made and are they supported by the objective findings?
2. Causation: Are the above-described diagnoses medically causally related to the accident or injury in question?
3. Other Conditions: Please note any pre-existing injuries or conditions. Are any of these affecting the claimant’s recovery from the injuries or conditions alleged as a result of the accident or injury in question?
4. Apportionment: If the accident in question is only partially contributing to the current condition, please indicate and apportion the current condition between this accident and other conditions or events.
5. Past Treatment: Has treatment to date been reasonable and necessary as it relates to the accident or injury in question?
6. Future Treatment: Is future medical treatment necessary as a result of the accident or injury in question? If yes, please specify the type,
frequency, and duration of the suggested treatment(s) along with your prognosis.
7. Healing Period: Has the claimant reached an end of healing, maximum medical improvement, or pre-injury status as it relates to the accident or injury in question? If yes, please indicate the date it was reached. If no, please indicate when it can be anticipated.
8. Work Restrictions: Is the claimant capable of working? Please describe temporary or permanent work restrictions, if any, necessary as a result of the accident or injury in question.
9. Daily Living Activities: Is the claimant capable of performing activities of daily living? Please describe the limitations, if any, that exist as a result of the accident or injury in question.
10. Permanence of Injury: Has the accident or injury resulted in any permanent impairment? If yes, please provide your opinion as to the nature and extent of this impairment and rationale to support your opinion."

Once a box is checked, what do you think the doctor writes in the "IME" report?

Wisconsin Personal Injury Lawyer