Robert P. Schenk has developed his skills exclusively in the area of workers' compensation litigation. He accepted a position with Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin in 1998 and continues to serve the firm as a valued member of the Workers' Compensation Department. Robert has handled over 2,000 workers' compensation matters in his career to date. He primarily represents large self-insured entities and third-party administrators. He has represented large religious organizations and a large number of hospitals and physician groups. Robert regularly engages in multi-party litigation as workers' compensation cases frequently involve multiple employers and carriers. Robert has handled a few precedent-setting cases: · In Pennsylvania, a Workers' Compensation Judge has jurisdiction to determine paternity as it relates to entitlement to benefits within the workers' compensation context. · When an employer seeks to suspend the workers' compensation benefits that have been granted to an employee who is an unauthorized alien, a showing of job availability by the employer is not required. · When the compensation claim involves sexual harassment, the personal animosity defense may preclude an award of benefits. However, the employer must raise the issue before the judge. It is not jurisdictional to be raised on appeal by the court Sua Sponte. Mr. Schenk regularly engages in cases involving multiple experts, as claimants frequently have multiple injuries of a physical and/or mental nature. Robert has lectured before various organizations on the law on workers' compensation topics. He was appointed to the Administration's Committee promulgating the Proposed Rules to Administer Act 57. Before beginning his legal career, Robert served in the United States Marine Corps. His service brought him to Spain as an Embassy Marine and a member of the Precision Drill Platoon. He also served in Panama as a member of the Jungle/Anti-Guerilla Warfare Unit. He was decorated five times during his service and was honorably discharged in 1987. Following his military service, Robert attended college at Western Connecticut State University. He majored in English, with minors in Psychology and Philosophy. Upon his graduation, he attended law school at Villanova School of Law. In 2007, Robert was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Board for South Harrison Township. He participates in Bar Association runs organized by the Support Center for Child Advocates, he contributes yearly to the United Way, and he is a member of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation. Year Joined Organization: 1998 Published Works: Losing Sight of Act 44 - Judicial Rollback of Legislative Medical Savings, Defense Digest, March, 2008 Classes/Seminars Taught: Workers' Compensation Case Law Update, MDWCG, May 2008 W.C. Claims Handling Strategies, Providence Property and Casualty Co., April, 2008, Dallas TX. Workers' Compensation Case Law Update, MDWCG, September 2007, Philadelphia, PA Basic PA Case Handling for Adjusters, Providence Property and Casualty Co., November 2006, Dallas, TX Litigating W.C. Construction Cases in PA, KHS&S Contractors, September 2006, Cherry Hill, NJ Current Issues in PA Workers' Compensation, Old Republic Ins. Co., September 2005, Greensburg, PA Effective Marketing Techniques for Partner and Associates, MDWCG, August 2005, Philadelphia, PA Workers' Compensation Case Law Update. Morris., CLE, August 2005, Philadelphia, PA Basic Claims Handling - PA Workers' Compensation Cases, CNA, October 2003, Reading, PA Handling Claims in PA, ACE/USA, ESIS, July 2003, Wilmington, DE Workers' Compensation Case Law Update. McLaughlin., CLE, October 2002, Philadelphia, PA Current Case Law Update, PAWCCA, May 2002, Bala Cynwyd, PA Status of Vocational Rehabilitation in Light of Current Case Law, Concentra, March 2002, King of Prussia, PA Successful File Management and Billing Guidelines, MDWCG, April 2001, Philadelphia, PA Avoiding Pitfalls Inherent to the Use of Bureau Forms, RSKCO, August 2000, Bala Cynwyd, PA Proving Fraudulent Claims Under Act 57, Sumitomo Marine Management (USA), Inc., February 1998, Warren, NJ Practical Management of Cases under Act 57, PMA Insurance Company, June 1997, King of Prussia, PA Large Firm v. Small Firm, Advantages for the New Associate's Consideration, PA Bar Association's Law School Practicum, April 1995, Widener School of Law, Wilmington, DE Honors and Awards: AV Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Professional Associations and Memberships: Pennsylvania Bar Association Philadelphia Bar Association, Workers' Compensation Section Philadelphia Claims Association Past Employment Positions: United States Marine Corp, 1983 - 1987 |