Star Micro Systems Discussion Forums

Dear Michael and fellow A1 Firms,
Does anyone have any suggestions on dealing with injuries with different Employers or insurance Carriers?

If an individual has an injury with one employer then an injury with another employer, is it better to use separate client cards (then relate them) or the same client card but different injuries?

If you include more then one employer (defendant) on the same client card, then I can see a problem using form letters. If the form letter automatically pulled the defendant's name, it would pull the 1st defendant card which may not be the defendant you want. You would have to use getparty,ask in all of your form letters. Also, you wouldn't be able to use caption because there are multiple client vs. defendant issue. (Eg. Client vs. defendant 1, Client vs. defendant 2)
You would seem to have the same issue if there was a different insurance company for each injury. You would have to keep track when creating form letters of which insurance company for what injury.

However, multiple injuries with the same employer and insurance carrier would not have any of the previous issues and would work well on the same client card.

Thoughts?

Thanks!
Sincerely,
Michael Lerner
Lerner, Moore, Mammano, Strasser, and Silva
www.injuryatwork.com
(909) 889-1131

Hi Michael -

1. If an individual has an injury with one employer then an injury with another employer, is it better to use separate client cards (then relate them) or the same client card but different injuries?

Usually I recommend that offices handle the client card they same way they handle the physical file in the office. Not all offices do it this way but most prefer that they have the same number of physical files as they have client cards in the computer. In this way, the client card reflects what's in the physical file and vice/versa.

2. If you include more then one employer (defendant) on the same client card, then I can see a problem using form letters. If the form letter automatically pulled the defendant's name, it would pull the 1st defendant card which may not be the defendant you want. You would have to use getparty,ask in all of your form letters.

Not all of them (ie: not to the client, the doctor, etc). But, in general, no offices seem to feel there is any real noticeable slowdown when printing letters.

Also, it does NOT necessarily pull the 1st defendant as you mentioned. You may go to the Injuries sheet at the client card, click on the injury you want and it would automatically pull THAT defendant you clicked on (or served). Similarly, it would also pull that employer or carrier with the command = employer and command = insurance.

3. Also, you wouldn't be able to use caption because there are multiple client vs. defendant issue. (Eg. Client vs. defendant 1, Client vs. defendant 2)

Try using COMMAND = CAPTION,FROMAPPS