AMA Guides

Phil has been practicing law since 1981 (yes, most of you were not even born!). He started as a longshore attorney where he learned the Guides. When California adopted the Guides in 2005, the call went out: “Who knows how the Guides?” At that time, there were only about 20 lawyers in California who knew the Guides and California work comp. His phone began to ring off the hook. Phil and Dr. Christopher Brigham (one of the editors of the Guides) began teaching together—a doctor and expert on the Guides and a lawyer who knew California work comp law. For 2 years, they crossed California teaching hundreds of lawyers, doctors, claims professionals, and employers. Dr Brigham introduced Phil to the doctors who authored the Guides. They became his instructors in medicine, measuring impairment, and dealing with rubbish invented by California doctors. They often asked him, “Are your doctors insane?” Hmmm… After their trainings, attendees would say, “Now I finally understand this.” He broke the 600 pages of the Guides into six simple ratings. Plus, he brought his wicked sense of humor to the trainings and shared secrets about the doctors, lawyers, and judges. Attendees were speechless.