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Attorney Profile

Michele R. Punturi

Shareholder
1845 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 575-2724
(215) 575-0856 - Fax
mrpunturi@mdwcg.com

Michele is a member of the Workers' Compensation Practice Group and devotes her practice to workers' compensation matters. She has represented brokers, insurance carriers and self-insureds, handling thousands of matters for construction companies, steel product and technology companies, hospitals, retailers, supermarkets, hotels, personnel corporations, landscaping contractors, assisted living facilities, townships, churches, professional athletic teams, and motor vehicle and paper manufacturers.

During her career at the trial level, Michele has successfully defeated numerous Claim Petitions by presenting medical and factual evidence showing that the claimants did not sustain work-related injuries and/or corresponding disabilities. She has also effectively terminated benefits of claimants by presenting medical and surveillance evidence supporting the fact that the claimants completely recovered from the work-related injuries. Michele has also been very successful in modifying claimants' benefits with the use of vocational testimony to prove that the claimants have sufficiently recovered from work injuries to return to the workforce. Her creative legal strategies have included requesting the judge's presence at the employer's premises.

At the appellate level, Michele argued and won Nathan Armstrong v. W.C.A.B. (Haines & Kibblehouse), where the court held that the filing of a Temporary Notice of Compensation Payable and Notice of Compensation Denial acknowledging an injury and no disability was sufficient acknowledgement of an injury for purposes of seeking a Utilization Review of Treatment. Michele also prepared an amicus curiae "Friend of the Court" brief in the case of Lane Enterprises, Inc. v. W.C.A.B. (Patton).

Michele has extensively lectured for various organizations such as the Philadelphia Bar Association, Pennsylvania Self-Insurers' Association and the Insurance Society of Philadelphia. She has also published multiple articles and educational/training materials and has authored a chapter on workers' compensation in the prestigious West Pennsylvania Forms and Commentary Employment Law treatise.

Michele is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and the Widener University School of Law, where she received her juris doctor, cum laude, in 1990. She began her career with Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin as a law clerk, then became an associate, and ultimately achieved shareholder status in December 1997. Michele's success is due in large part to the care and dedication she exhibits to each client and the attention to detail shown in her work. It is these characteristics that have led many of her clients to look to her as a sounding board for business and legal advice.

Michele donates personal time to a variety of charities, including Children's Hospital, Toys for Tots, SPCA and the American Cancer Society.

Areas of Practice

Published Works

  • "Medical Suspension Has Life," PSIA Newsletter, May 2011

  • "A Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation 4-Phase Checklist," PSIA Newsletter, September 2009

  • "IRE's At Issue Again," PSIA Newsletter, May 2009

  • "IRE's At Issue Again," Defense Digest, March 2009

  • "Notice of Ability To Return To Work - LIBC 757 - An Analysis of Allegis Group v. WCAB," PSIA Newsletter, July 2006; and Defense Digest, June 2006

  • "Recent Developments," Pennsylvania Bar Association's Workers' Compensation Section, 2003 Fall Section Meeting, September 2003

  • "Case Law Update-Tough Problems in Workers' Compensation 2003," Pennsylvania Bar Association, March 2003

  • "Employer Liability for Employee Violation of Company Policy," PSIA Newsletter, November 2000

  • "Recourse for Judge's Monetary Settlement Recommendation," PSIA Newsletter, January 2000

  • "Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Forms Checklist," PSIA Newsletter, October 1999

  • "Subrogation Against Employer's Own Commercial Automobile Coverage," PSIA Newsletter, April 1999

  • "Impairment Ratings from the Doctor's and the Attorney Perspectives," Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 1998

  • "Control and Limit Workers' Comp Exposure with Checklist," Workers' Compensation Monitor, June 1998

  • "Checklist for Controlling and Limiting Exposure in Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation: Administrative and Management Tips," Defense Digest, April 1998

  • "Ask an Expert - 500 Clock for Partial Disability," PSIA Newsletter, March 1998

  • "Workers' Compensation Chapter," West's Pennsylvania Forms and Commentary-Employment Law Treatise, 1998

  • "Ask an Expert - Kachinski," PSIA Newsletter, May 1997

  • "Ask an Expert - Act 57 & Kachinski," PSIA Newsletter, March 1997

  • "Ask an Expert - Temporary Notice of Compensation Payable," PSIA Newsletter, March 1997

  • "Ask an Expert - LIBC-757," PSIA Newsletter, March 1997

  • "Ask an Expert - Employee Verification Forms," PSIA Newsletter, January 1997

  • "Ask an Expert - 201(c) of Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Act," PSIA Newsletter, November 1996

  • "Ask an Expert - Act 57 & Specific Loss," PSIA Newsletter, November 1996

  • "Ask an Expert - Denials," PSIA Newsletter, September 1996

  • "Ask an Expert - Total Disability Benefits," PSIA Newsletter, September 1996

  • "Pennsylvania Supreme Court Rules on Pro-Rating Bonuses," Counterpoint, October 1994

  • "Average Weekly Wage and the Inclusions of Bonuses," Counterpoint, January 1993

Classes/Seminars Taught

  • The Litigation Process, Pennsylvania Self-Insured - A to Z Training Course, March 11-12, 2010

  • The Litigation Process, Pennsylvania Self-Insured - A to Z Training Course, March 27-28, 2008

  • Defense Considerations in Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation, The Graham Company Employer's Training Course, November 29, 2007

  • Successfully Navigating Workers' Compensation Law - Hot Topics in Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation - Case Law and Legislative Update, Insurance Society of Philadelphia, October 12, 2006

  • The Litigation Process, Pennsylvania Self-Insured - A to Z Training Course, March 23-24, 2006

  • Workers' Compensation Mock Trial, The Addis Group's 2006 Risk Management Forum, March 23, 2006

  • Workers' Compensation Mock Trial, Churchill Dallas Risk Control Workshop, March 16-17, 2006

  • Workers' Compensation Mock Trial, Raffles Risk Control Workshop, Captive Resource, April 2005

  • Tough Problems in Workers' Compensation 2003, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, March 27, 2003

  • Workers' Compensation 2003 Fall Section Meeting, Pennsylvania Bar Association, 2003

  • The Litigation Process, Pennsylvania Self-Insured - A to Z Training Course, April 11-12, 2002

  • The Impact, Aftermath and Reality of Act 57, Annual Conference, Pennsylvania Self-Insured, June 25, 1998

  • Impairment Ratings from the Doctor's and the Attorney's Perspectives, Philadelphia Bar Association/Workers' Compensation Section, June 17, 1998

  • Legal Update, Annual Conference, Pennsylvania Self-Insurers Association, June 27, 1997

  • Impairment Rating Under Act 57, REM, August 23, 1996

Education

  • Widener University School of Law, Wilmington, Delaware, 1990 J.D.

    Honors: American Jurisprudence Award, Property I, Property II
    Honors: American Jurisprudence Award, Contracts I and II
    Honors: American Jurisprudence Award, Criminal Procedure I Evidence
    Honors: American Jurisprudence Award, Business Organizations, Trial Advocacy
    Honors: Dean's List, and Phi Delta Phi

  • University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1987 B.A.

    Honors: cum laude
    Major: Communications

Defense Digest Article • June 1, 2011
Pennsylvania - Workers' Compensation , KEY POINTS: Beware, claimants, your medical benefits may be suspended! The Commonwealth Court has opened the door to employers and their insurance carriers to suspend medical benefits in certain..., Defense Digest, Vol. 17, No. 2, June 2011
Read More >>
Articles • May 1, 2009
Pennsylvania Self-Insurer's Association Workers' Compensation Newsletter, May 2009
Read More >>

Areas of Practice

Education

  • Widener University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1990)
  • University of Pittsburgh (B.A., cum laude, 1987)

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania, 1990
  • U.S District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1991
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1991

Associations & Memberships

  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Defense Institute
  • Pennsylvania Self-Insurers' Association
  • Philadelphia Bar Association
  • Philadelphia Workers' Compensation Claims Association
  • Volunteer Child Advocate for Support Center of Child Advocates

Honors & Awards

  • AV® Preeminent™ by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyer , 2007-2008
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyer Rising Star, 2005
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyer Corporate Counsel Edition, 2008-2009
  • Award of Excellence, Pennsylvania Self-Insured Association, 2008

Year Joined Organization: 1988


Fraternities/Sororities

  • Phi Delta Phi
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