DALLAS, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Insurance ethics and consumer protection for insurance adjusters and employers, and effective strategies for employers in investigating and defending lawsuits filed by employees are just a few of the topics Winstead’s Alex Gonzales, Peyton Smith and Robert Witte will address during the 2004 Nonsubscription Fall Conference, titled, “Nonsubscription to Texas Workers’ Comp: The Lone Star Alternative.” The 2004 Fall Conference will take place on October 20 and 21, 2004, at the Cityplace Center in Dallas.
Organized and hosted by PartnerSource, Inc. and OccMD Group, P.A., the continuing education conference brings together in-house and third party claims adjusters, attorneys, insurance agents, nurses, small and large business owners and officers, and employee benefits, risk management and HR professionals, who are interested in learning how to effectively manage injury claims outside of the Texas Workers’ Compensation System. This year’s conference topics will address current and developing areas that are most likely to affect an organization’s Texas occupational injury program in 2004 and 2005, with practical, hands-on informational presentations and thorough course materials.
Gonzales, Smith and Witte, all Winstead Shareholders, will lead discussions on current and developing legal areas that are most likely to affect businesses who have elected to become a nonsubscriber and, in turn, how to provide employees better benefits while simultaneously increasing profitability by preventing the fraud and unnecessary excess expenses tied to workers’ compensation in Texas. Their course presentation will provide practical hands-on information through case studies and actual client experiences of both small and large businesses who have become nonsubscribers.
In addition, Winstead shareholders will address corporate and insurance ethics, focusing on the ethical considerations which are of particular importance to the insurance industry and businesses in addressing coverage concerns and reservation of rights challenges by carriers.
Alex Gonzales, based in the firm’s Austin office, is a member of Winstead’s Insurance Industry and Corporate Practice Groups. Throughout his 17-year practice, he has represented regulated financial institutions, and insurance companies and agents in regulatory and legislative matters, and served as the Associate Commissioner for Legal & Compliance for the Texas Department of Insurance and Chair of the ABA’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Alex’s practice is in the area of insurance and, in particular, the topic of ethics and compliance in the insurance industry.
Peyton N. Smith is a member of the Litigation Section and Chair of Winstead’s Austin Labor & Employment Practice. He has more than 14 years of experience representing clients in employment law and civil litigation. He handles lawsuits in a number of substantive areas including nonsubscription, the Deceptive Trade Practice and Consumer Protection Act, and other employment and general business litigation matters. Considered by many of his clients as their “outside general counsel,” Peyton represents a variety of businesses who are nonsubscribers, ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 and Fortune 10 companies. Peyton was recently recognized by the Austin Business Journal and local business leaders as one of the five “Attorneys to Watch” in 2004 - 2005.
Robert Witte, based in Winstead’s Dallas office, is a member of the firm’s Litigation/Dispute Resolution Practice Group. His practice involves business litigation in state and federal courts, including the areas of nonsubscriber litigation, ERISA, business tort and negligence to name a few. He has been recognized by several media publications for his adherence to the highest standards of professional competence and ethical conduct. For example, Robert was recently recognized as one of Texas’ 2004 Super Lawyers by Texas Monthly magazine, and as one of Dallas’ Best Attorneys Under 40 by D Magazine.
Winstead Sechrest & Minick is among the largest business law firms in Texas with more than 320 attorneys and 30 practice areas. Winstead has offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and The Woodlands, Texas, Washington D.C., and Mexico City. For more information about the firm, visit http://www.winstead.com/ .
Winstead Sechrest & Minick
CONTACT: Joey D. Mooring of Winstead Sechrest & Minick, +1-214-745-5308,or jmooring@winstead.com
Web site: http://www.winstead.com/
