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Robert GravesPartnerBurns Anderson Jury & Brenner Phone: (512) 338-5322 Fax: (512) 338-5363 E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  Download vCard |
Profile:
Bob’s leadership and legal experience made him a perfect fit when he joined BAJB in November 2000. From his early days as a Pathfinder with the 82nd Airborne Division, to Willamette University College of Law’s Law Review, to representing the largest workers’ compensation carrier in Texas, he has consistently proven that hard work can accomplish great feats.
Before joining BAJB, he was in-house counsel for Texas’ largest workers’ compensation insurance company, representing it in administrative and court proceedings and eventually managed a subrogation department. He returned to private practice at BAJB, where he engages in the complex interplay between legislative, governmental and regulatory forces.
Bob has practiced insurance defense, focusing on workers' compensation since 1995. He has extensive experience in all aspects of Texas Workers' Compensation, including medical disputes, compliance and practice matters, benefit disputes and subrogation.
His greatest loves are his wife and two sons. Bob also enjoys playing guitar.
As of January 1, 2008, BAJB is proud to have Bob Graves named as a junior partner.
Certification:
Texas Workers' Compensation Law - Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Workers' Comp. Seminars:
Click here for list of seminar topics
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Bob has presented numerous seminars on workers' compensation topics. His audiences include attorneys, insurance adjusters and insurance company employees, risk managers, employers, and Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers' Compensation Commission personnel.
Professional Affiliations:
Member, Workers' Compensation Law Advisory Commission, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Member, College of the State Bar
Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Austin Bar Association
Reported Cases:
Pacific Employers Insurance Company v. Reynolds, 961 S.W.2d 516 (Tex. App.- San Antonio, 1997)
In re Kitt, 129 Or. App. 591, 879 P.2d 1348 (1994)
Murphy v. Manfred (Fred) MAAS, 122 Or. App. 376, 857 P.2d 890 (1993)
State v. Ward, 129 Or. App. 409, 879 P.2d 1307 (1994)
State v. Hoskinson, 123 Or. App. 305, 859 P.2d 576 (1994)
State v. Hustead, 118 Or. App. 732, 848 P.2d 147 (1993)
State v. Brown, 122 Or. App. 632, 857 P.2d 915 (1993)
State v. Galli, 125 Or. 218, 865 P.2d 361 (1993)
Publications & Seminars:
Speaker: New Designated Doctor Rules, Letters of Clarification, and Designated Doctor Issues, Insurance Council of Texas 2010 Workers’ Compensation Fall Seminar.
Panelist: Medical Dispute Resolution Update; State Bar of Texas Advanced Workers' Compensation Course, 2010.
Speaker: “In Comp, No One Can Hear Your Scream! The Continuing Saga of the Designated Doctor Process,” Insurance Council of Texas 2010 Workers’ Compensation Spring Seminar.
Author and Speaker: “2009 Rule Update: ‘Welcome to the Jungle!’” Insurance Council of Texas 2009 Workers’ Compensation Fall Seminar.
Panelist: “Perspectives on the Workers’ Compensation System,” Insurance Council of Texas 2008 Workers’ Compensation Fall Seminar.
Author and Speaker: “Navigating the Designated Doctor Process Through the Blizzard of Ozz!” (presented to various entities).
Author and Speaker: “Understanding the Role of the Designated Doctors in the Texas Workers’ Compensation System and How You Can Address Disputed Issues with Designated Doctors, Spring, 2008 Insurance Council of Texas Workers’ Compensation Seminar.
Author: “Reimbursement of Health Insurers: ‘Gotta Have More Cowbell!’” Workers’ Compensation Section Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 1 (February 2008).
Co-Author and Co-Speaker: “The Life and Times of a Workers’ Compensation Claim,” November 1, 2007 Insurance Council of Texas Workers’ Compensation Seminar.
Author and Speaker: “Medical Disputes: ‘The Road Goes on Forever and the Party Never Ends.’” (presented to various entities).
Author and Speaker: 2007 Legislative Update; “Just When You Thought It Was Safe to Go Back Into The Water.’” (presented to various entities).
Author and Speaker: “The Disability Management Process and Claims Handling,” Austin Claims Association 2007 Workers’ Compensation Seminar, July 31, 2007.
Author: “’Turn Out the Lights, the Party is Over;’ Texas Supreme Court Declines to Take Up DWC Appeal of Court of Appeals Decision that Found TWCC Exceeded its Authority in Issuing and Applying Advisories 2003-10 and 2003-10B.” ICT Workers’ Compensation Update, July 20, 2007.
Author: “Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow; DWC Announces PRME Rule to be Repealed.” ICT Workers’ Compensation Update, July 20, 2007.
Author and Speaker: “The Disability Management Rules; Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag.” (presented to various entities).
Author and Speaker: “Legal Issues Associated with the Disability Management Process,” Insurance Council of Texas, Disability Management Training, April 19, 2007.
Author and Speaker: "Network Update; The Medical Dispute Monsters, Comparison of the Two Systems: Non-Network v. Network, Workers' Compensation, Using the New Rules to Obtain Treatment and Payment, Workers' Comp. Publications, March 30, 2007.
Co-Editor: Texas Workers' Comp Reporter (January 2006 to January 2007).
Author and Speaker: "'Call the Doctor. I think I am Gonna Crash:' What You Need to Know, but Are Afraid to Ask About the New Designated Doctor and Required Medical Examination Rule and Processes," Insurance Council of Texas Fall, 2006 Workers' Compensation Seminar and various entities.
Author: "New Medical Peer Review Rules: 'After All, We're Not Savages," Texas Workers' Comp Reporter Volume 4, Issue 5, October 2006.
Co-Presenter: "Carriers' Perspectives on Hearings; Ethical Issues," 2006 Ombudsman Conference.
Author: "Waiver of the Right to Dispute the Extent of a Compensable Injury, Clear as Mud?" Texas Workers' Comp Reporter Volume 4, Issue 1, June 2006; ICT Workers' Compensation Update, June 7, 2006; Workers' Comp Central (workerscompcentral.com), July 15, 2006.
Author and Speaker: "Navigating the Twists and Turns Forged by House Bill 7: Denial of Claims (Do's and Don'ts) New Preauthorization Rule, the Expanded Role of the Designated Doctor and Other Issues," Insurance Council of Texas Spring, 2006 Workers' Compensation Seminar.
Presenter: "Subrogation: 'It's a Gas, Grab the Cash with Both Hands and Make a Stash,'" (various entities).
Author: "New Network Rules Adopted," Texas Workers' Comp Reporter Volume 3, Issue 9, February 2006.
Author: "ALJ Issues Prehearing Order in Stop-Loss Reimbursement Case," Texas Workers' Comp Reporter Volume 3, Issue 9, February 2006.
Author: "You Get What You Need," Texas Workers' Comp Reporter, Volume 3, Issue 8, January 2006.
Author: "Stop-Loss Reimbursement; There Must Be Some Kind of Way Out of Here, Said the Joker to the Thief," ICT Workers' Compensation Update, October 24, 2005.
Author and Speaker: "Legislative Changes Impacting Indemnity Benefits; Beam Me Up Scotty," Insurance Council of Texas 2005 Fall Workers' Compensation Seminar.
Speaker: "An Update on Workers' Compensation Developments: Noteworthy Cases, Hot Legislative Issues and Emerging Trends" & "Partnering With Your Claims Adjuster and Defense Counsel for Effective Claims Management," Council on Education Management Austin Workers' Comp. Update, 2005.
Speaker: "Winning Strategies for Reining In Workers' Compensation Costs," Council on Education Management 2005 Texas Workers' Compensation Forum.
Author: "Employers Utilizing Temporary Workers, Get It In Writing," ICT Workers' Compensation Update, June 30, 2005.
Presenter: "2005 Workers' Compensation Reform – HB-7; The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" (various entities).
Author and Speaker: "Hot Issues Regarding Income Benefits; Don't be Workers' Compensation 'Girlie Men,'" Insurance Council of Texas 2004 Workers' Compensation Seminar.
Author: "Court of Appeals Upholds TWCC's 2002 Medical Fee Guidelinem," ICT Workers' Compensation Update, June 22, 2004.
Author: "The New C&P Rules; Send Lawyers, Guns and Money," Insurance Council of Texas Workers' Compensation Symposium, 2003.
Author: "Court Invalidates Rule that Requires Insurers to Develop and Consistently Apply Reimbursement Methodology for Medical Services Not Covered by a Fee Guideline," ICT Texas Workers' Compensation Update, July 29, 2003.
Author and Speaker: "Legislative Update," 2003. (presented to various entities).
Author and Speaker: "Overview of Average Weekly Wage Calculations and Issues." (presented to various entities).
Author: "Texas Workers' Compensation Commission v. Continental Casualty Company: The Bridge City Gap is Gone," Oct. 25, 2002.
Author: "Texas Court of Appeals in Austin Strikes Down TWCC Medical Audit and Payment Rule Which Provides for Health Care Provider Audits by Carriers," 2002 Summer Reference Manual, ICT Service, Inc., 21-25, 2002.
Author: "A Tale of Two Statutes: The Rise and Fall of the Carrier's Interlocutory Order," ICT Texas Workers' Compensation Update.
Presenter: "Workers' Compensation 101; Now I Stopped Worrying and Love Workers' Compensation." (presented to various entities).
Presenter: "Identifying Occupational Diseases and Repetitive Trauma Injuries." (presented to various entities).
Presenter: "Spinal Injuries under the TWCA: MD vs. D.C.," (presented to various entities)
Presenter: "Identify Exceptions: Defenses Under the Texas Workers' Compensation Act." (presented to various entities).
Presenter: "Problems Related to Identify Correct Employer." (presented to various entities).
Presenter: "Supplemental Income Benefits: A Tribute to the Simpsons." (presented to various entities).
Presenter: "Subrogation: The Ugly Duckling of Workers' Compensation." (presented to various entities).
Author Comment: "The Interaction of the Bankruptcy Code and Environmental Laws," The Grind, and The Grease, 29, Williamette Law Review 297, 1993.
Author Note: "Administrative Agencies Get Their Way Over constitutional Rights," Rust v. Sullivan, 28 Williamette Law Review 173, 1992.
