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About
the Firm |
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The
firm started in 1996 with a focus on small business representation
and employment law. Over the years the firm has helped dozens
of new entrepreneurs start their businesses and navigate the
complexities of starting a new business. In addition to formation,
small business cases include tax and zoning disputes, contract
disputes, customer complaints and employment law
issues. |
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In
response to requests from area doctors to help their injured
patients, the firm started handling workers compensation claims
in 1997. Growing to one of the biggest workers compensation
firms in the State by 2003*. |
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Many
clients who have been injured on the job also have third party
claims arising from how they got hurt (for example they may
have been on a construction site or in a car
accident) so in order to fully protect the rights of these clients,
the firm expanded into personal injury claims in 1999. By 2003
the firm was handling hundreds of personal injury claims ranging
from motor vehicle accidents to falling objects on construction
sites, to slip and falls. |
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The
firm has recovered millions of dollars in benefits for injured
persons! However, the firm is not just about dollars. We work
with our clients to help them find retraining and housing assistance
to get their lives back on track after devastating injuries.
The firm prides itself on being tough on their own clients –
not allowing clients to sit back and wait for a lawsuit to fix
their problems and motivating them to get fully treated and
retrained so that they can reenter the workforce as soon as
possible in the highest and most productive fashion. |
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As
a full service firm, we also handle a variety of real
estate closings for our clients who have bought or
sold a home and wills for clients that do not have estate
planning documents in place. |
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*Based
upon data published by the Texas Workers Compensation Commission
about the billing and number of clients handled by attorneys
before the TWCC in 2003. |
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The
Attorneys |
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Joan
Durkin |
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Joan
Durkin is the President of the firm and is the Senior Attorney.
She has been practicing law for over a decade.
BUSINESS EXPERIENCE - In addition to holding
an MBA degree, she is a business owner and has served on the
Board of Directors of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Chamber of Commerce,
which gives her a unique insight into the needs of small business.
MEDIATION EXPERIENCE - Joan has resolved over
500 unfair labor practice cases, over 200 disputed benefit cases,
over 50 U.S. Air Force employment cases, dozens of private sector
employment disputes. Additionally Joan has mediated dozens of
general civil and family law cases for Dispute Resolution Services
of Tarrant County.
TRAINING - Joan is a highly sought after speaker
and trainer.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION - Joan has served as
a former hearing officer for the Texas Workers' Compensation
Commission, so she is very familiar with the workers compensation
laws and the operation of the TWCC. She has handled over 500
disputed benefit cases and has a success rate in excess of 90%.
While past performance is not a predictor of future results,
it shows that experience counts!
EDUCATION
BA from the University of Texas at Arlington
MBA from the University of North Texas
JD from Southern Methodist University Law School.
Ms. Durkin is also an experienced mediator with over eight years
experience. She has over 200 hours of specialized alternate
dispute resolution training including courses from the:
Attorney-Mediator Institute
Dispute Resolution Services
Federal Labor Relations Authority
Resolution Group
Dallas Bar Association |
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Support
Staff |
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LITIGATION
LEGAL ASSISTANT
Cases that have been filed in State or
Federal Court are handled by a legal assistant who has at least
ten years experience with drafting pleadings, scheduling hearings,
drafting discovery and responses, preparing witnesses for deposition
and hearing. The legal assistant handles most of the communication
with the client in gathering facts and data needed by the attorneys
to evaluate and litigate the case. |
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PRE-LITIGATION
LEGAL ASSISTANT
Cases that involve employment claims or
injuries (other than work comp), as well as non litigation matters
such as wills and real estate are handled by the prelit assistant.
The legal assistant handles most of the communication with the
client in gathering facts and data needed by the attorneys to
evaluate and negotiate the case.
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WORKERS
COMPENSATION ASSISTANT
Cases before the Division of Workers Compensation involve a
high degree of specialized knowledge of the forms, deadlines
and systems. Legal assistants that handle these cases are well
trained and knowledgeable about medical terminology, work comp
terminology and deadlines, work comp forms and case handling
strategy. The legal assistant handles most of the daily communication
with the client, health care providers and adjusters as well
as the Division of Workers Compensation. |
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INTAKE
COORDINATOR
Potential clients will speak with an intake coordinator whose
job it is, to gather as much relevant data as they can in a
short period of time so that the attorneys will have enough
information to evaluate the case and the caller will not have
to repeat the same information again and again. The intake coordinator
must ask for a great deal of detail in order for us to be able
to determine if we can help the caller. |
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FRONT
OFFICE
Front office staff deal with walk in clients, mail handling
and billing. They are the firms first contact with potential
customers and they are continuously trained in customer service
techniques.
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Durkin
Law Offices, P.C.
669 Airport Freeway, Ste. 107
Hurst, Texas 76053
817-545-9700
817-268-8899 (metro)
817-545-5071 (fax) |
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