From a defense standpoint, nothing brings about a Grinch-like smile on the face of your defense counsel quite like a potential statute of limitations defense. By definition, statutes of limitations are laws passed which set forth a maximum time after an event occurs within which legal proceedings may be initiated.

    In Mississippi, as it relates to workers’ compensation claim, there are only two potentials for a statute of limitations defense. We have a one year and a two-year statute of limitations. For purposes of this blog entry, we will be tackling the one year statute of limitations defense. This is more common than the two-year statute of limitations, but is also much more convoluted.

For this week’s article, I am bringing in my first guest blogger. My larger-than-life friend, James Swanner, offered to assist as needed when he found out I had entered the blogosphere. Even though I am only producing my third article this week, I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by another week.

James worked his way from a claims adjuster, claims supervisor, then a claims manager, and not having reached his 40th birthday yet, is now the VP of Claims at AmFed National Insurance Company, which is one of the largest and most well-respected insurance companies in Mississippi. After you read his article about how to handle claims, how to really handle claims, you’ll quickly see how he has risen in the ranks at such a meteoric rate with some insight as to how you can better manage your claims.