By Judge Dale Tipps, Murfreesboro Becoming a workers’ compensation judge included a few unexpected benefits. For instance, due to avoidance of ex parte communications, my phone rarely rings while I’m trying to draft that next order. Another pleasant surprise is how much I enjoy meeting folks during their settlement approval hearings. Most people don’t have … Continue reading Of Bears and Men
Category: Hon. Dale Tipps
Ten Tips for Better Trial Practice
By Judge Dale Tipps, Murfreesboro I recently gave a presentation on practice tips at the Bureau’s annual Educational Conference. It was such a triumph that I’m going share some of it here. (“Triumph” means I finished on time and no one fell asleep.) Ask the Question. Specifically, ask the doctor. Many expedited hearings could be … Continue reading Ten Tips for Better Trial Practice
Best Practices for Closing Future Medicals
By Judges Pamela B. Johnson, Lisa Lowe Knott and Dale Tipps Attorneys love certainty. They like to tell their clients what will happen, rather than what they think will happen or what should happen. Ambiguity drives them crazy. This perhaps explains why closed medical benefit settlements are the source of much weeping and gnashing of … Continue reading Best Practices for Closing Future Medicals
Pain Management Presents Complex Issues for UR
By Judges Brian Addington and Dale TippsIn recent years, sadly, Tennessee has struggled with issues concerning prescription pain medications. Tennessee was in the top ten states for the number of prescribed pain medications in 2012. In addition, a 2010 report for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that Tennessee ranked eighth nationally nationally for drug-overdose deaths. Opioid addiction … Continue reading Pain Management Presents Complex Issues for UR
From the Bench 