By Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, P.C.

In Workers' Compensation

We all have a duty to keep ourselves, our families, our neighbors, and our communities safe right now. This means temporarily reshaping the way we live our lives to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). At the Law Offices of Jodie Anne Phillips Polich, we are taking this duty seriously and are practicing the “social distancing” guidelines recommended by health officials. To ensure you still have access to us, our lawyers are available to meet with you remotely so we can answer your legal questions and discuss your case.

Across the nation, people are limiting in-person contact as much as possible to help slow the spread of the virus and allow our healthcare system to operate within its capacity. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to provide important guidance about what we all can do to protect ourselves and others from exposure. (Visit the CDC website for the most up-to-date information and recommendations).

Governor Brown has issued Executive Order No. 20-12 which closed all state offices and buildings through April 28, 2020 to slow the spread of COVID-19. This Order includes the offices of the Workers’ Compensation Board where your workers’ compensation hearings are held. Connie Wold, the Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Board, has determined that beginning on April 6, 2020 all hearings will be conducted by telephone and that in-person hearings will resume consistent with Governor Brown’s state of emergency declaration, her executive orders, and the recommendations of public health officials. The Workers’ Compensation Board is working on options to conduct hearings remotely, including video conferencing, although this option will most likely be minimally available due to limited resources.

The State of Oregon is working hard to implement policies that balance the needs and rights of workers to have hearings with the need of all Oregonians to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus by reducing in-person contact. Our attorneys are actively working with other organizations to ensure that solutions facilitating the continued delivery of justice during this pandemic are implemented. It is only by working together in this changing environment created by the pandemic that will enable us to develop solutions that will still allow justice to be served.

During this challenging time, our attorneys remain available to talk about your legal issues over the phone or via free video conferencing services such as:

  • Facetime
  • Skype
  • Zoom

If you are ready to speak with a lawyer now, please contact us. We can meet with you remotely and get started on your case immediately without having to talk in person.

COVID 19 Prevention: Social Distancing

Health officials are recommending “social distancing” measures to cut down on close contact. This will help minimize the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Please make sure you review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for more information about other steps you can take to protect yourself and others from exposure to this virus.

General Info About (COVID-19)

More and more information about the virus is coming out daily. Please stay up-to-date on information and symptoms by checking the following resources:

Symptoms of Coronavirus

Here are some of the major symptoms of the virus:

  • Respiratory Tract Infection – shortness of breath
  • Fever/chills
  • Cough

Please note that carriers of the virus may not be displaying symptoms and that you are still at risk and may be carrying the virus and not know unless you are tested.

Contact the Law Offices of Jodie Anne Phillips Polich

If you were are seeking legal help for an injury that happened at work, let us help you – in the comfort of your own home! If you would like to discuss your legal issues, contact our office at (503) 654-1388 to schedule your free consultation and learn more about how we can meet with you remotely to review your claim.

*This blog was written with the most up-to-date information and this information is subject to change as more information about the virus is released & found.

Jodie Anne Phillips Polich has been serving the needs of injured workers since 1993 and has developed a statewide reputation for the quality of her work.