Ross J. Ventre II

Successfully represented a national restaurant chain in defense of a claim petition which sought payment of ongoing wage loss and medical bills. During litigation, Ross highlighted Claimant’s inaccurate history regarding her job duties, past medical history, and mechanism of injury. Also presented various fact witnesses, which called into question Claimant’s allegations and resulted in the WCJ finding Claimant not credible. As a result of the decision, the client experienced significant cost savings with avoidance of liability for Claimant’s litigation costs, wage loss benefits and costly medical care, including diagnostic testing, medication management and a PRP injection.

Successfully represented a national energy company before the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board in prosecution of an appeal over a prior adverse Workers' Compensation Judge ruling. The WCAB accepted Ross's argument and determined that the employer’s medical evidence was sufficient to establish a termination petition and overruled the WCJ’s prior decision. As a result of this decision, the client experienced significant benefits by avoiding ongoing liability for medical benefits under the claim and will have the opportunity to pursue significant reimbursement of benefits from the supersedeas reimbursement fund.

Successfully represented a large, national transportation company in defense of a claim petition that sought payment of wage loss and medical bills for an injured worker who was claiming serious spinal and rib injuries. The defense was successful as the employer presented multiple fact witnesses, which refuted Claimant’s testimony and established that Claimant’s employment was terminated for reasons unrelated to any work injury. Successfully highlighted inconsistencies in Claimant’s medical records, which caused the WCJ to reject the Claimant as not credible. As a result of the decision, the client experienced a significant cost savings with avoidance of well over $60,000 in benefits, costs, and fees to date.  

Successfully represented a large food company in defense of a claim petition which sought payment of wage loss and medical bills for an injured worker, who was claiming a repetitive trauma injury. During litigation, Ross highlighted Claimant’s inaccurate history regarding job duties and past medical history, which caused the Workers' Compensation Judge to reject the Claimant as not credible. As a result of the decision, the client experienced a significant cost savings with avoidance of liability for multiple surgeries and ongoing total disability benefits.

Secured termination of benefits in a contested claim. Successfully argued that the claimant, a high wage earner with a history of multiple lower back surgeries, had recovered from the work injury and returned to pre-injury baseline status. Achieved a favorable decision from the Workers' Compensation Judge, preventing liability for a recommended future surgery and anticipated resulting wage loss. The outcome significantly benefited the client by avoiding substantial medical and wage loss liabilities.

Successfully defended claim and penalty petitions. The employee filed the petitions against a family-owned packaging company. The Workers’ Compensation Judge rejected the employee’s credibility based on significant inconsistencies Ventre established relative to the employee’s testimony and that of her co-workers and contents of medical records. The Workers' Compensation Judge also credited the testimony of the IME doctor, who, like the Judge, found the employee to be evasive. This was a significant win for the employer as the employee was pursuing a claim for very serious injuries, including alleged multi-level lumbar and cervical disc herniations and radiculopathy with a reported need for surgery. As a result of the decision, the client avoids liability for wage loss and medical benefits, which could have eclipsed six figures. The employer has no liability for penalties or reimbursement of the employee’s litigation costs.

Successfully prosecuted a termination petition in a matter involving a registered nurse, who sustained a lower back work-related injury. She was employed by a national healthcare company and was injured as the result of riding in a bus. The Workers’ Compensation Judge accepted the defendant’s argument that the nurse was fully recovered as of an initial physical medicine and rehabilitation IME. The Judge accepted that the nurse did not sustain any additional injuries to her cervical spine and/or aggravation of a pre-existing lower back condition, which was based upon diagnostic studies from both before and after the date of injury, which defendant established failed to show any substantial change in nurse’s lumbar spine. As a result of the decision, the client experienced a significant cost saving and could be eligible for a sizable recovery from the supersedeas reimbursement fund.

Appeared before the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court to argue a compelling case of first impression concerning the active clinical practice standard for physicians performing impairment rating evaluations in Pennsylvania.