WORKERS COMPENSATION DEFENSE ATTORNEYS
We focus on workers compensation defense work on the part of employers and their insurance carriers.
Our firm specializes in defense of all types of Workers Compensation claims.
PRACTICE
AREAS
LITIGATION
We are involved in all aspects of workers compensation litigation from the initial employer level investigations, depositions of relevant witnesses, and trial.
ARBITRATION
We have experience in arbitration matters and in third party litigation.
APPELLATE WORK
We handle appellate work and we have represented our clients in the Court of Appeals.
THIRD PARTY LITIGATION
We seek out and determine whether liability rests with a third party defendant.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Silver & Fensten was established in 2000, and we have worked to establish a reputation for doing high-quality defense of Workers’ Compensation claims.
In our firm, the file stays with the attorney who opens the file. That means we handle the claim from the initial file opening all the way through to trial, thereby maintaining a hands-on approach. We frequently deal with the Human Resources departments of the insured employers to make sure that we have a coordinated approach towards the defense of a claim. We work closely with the employers to make sure that we get all the necessary personnel information, injury reports, accident investigation reports, write ups and Material Safety Data Sheets so we can determine the factual aspects of the claim, even before the Applicant’s attorney does.
Upon receipt of every file, we immediately analyze the case and promptly provide you with an initial letter of recommendations. This initial letter provides an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the claim. We also provide you with an outline of the potential liabilities and forecast as to what moves we anticipate the Applicant’s attorney will make to prosecute their claim. We then provide you with a strategy on how to counter those anticipated moves, and what actions to take.
More importantly, we move our cases forward. We do not make any appearance in court simply to get a continuance. Every time we go to court, our goal is to make sure that something affirmative happens to move the case forward, either towards settlement or trial. Our philosophy in defending claims is to work on a combined strategy for the handling of the claim, ensuring that the defense attorney, employer, and the insurance carrier are all on the same page, with no surprises.
Located in Southern California, we regularly appear at Workers’ Compensation Appeals Boards in Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Van Nuys, Pomona, Oxnard, Anaheim, Santa Ana, and San Bernardino.
OUR ATTORNEYS
SCOTT SILVER
Scott Silver was born in Detroit, Michigan and came to California to attend college at California State University Long Beach and then law school at Western State University.
Scott was admitted to practice in California and the United States Federal Courts in 1976. He began his career as a workers’ compensation defense counsel at Zonni, Ginocchio and Taylor in 1978 as an associate attorney. He then founded the firm of Goldstein, Gurvitz & Silver and represented self-insureds and carriers in workers’ compensation from 1983 to 2000. He then founded the firm of Silver & Fensten LLP as senior partner from 2000 to 2019 handling all aspects of defense of major cases including toxic claims, Labor Code §132(a)and Serious and Willful Misconduct matters.
Scott has pursued his medical education through the Medical-Legal Institute, USC School of Medicine - Anatomy, Physiology, Orthopedic Surgery as well as Medical-Legal Institute, UCLA School of Medicine - Neurology, Psychiatry
Scott has successfully argued cases in the California Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. Published decisions include: Rodriguez vs. WCAB (Jerseymaid), 21 Cal. App.4th 1747 (1994); Leffler vs. WCAB, 124 Cal. App.3d 739 (1981); Walker vs. WCAB (Leaver Bros.), 45 Cal. Comp. Cases 889 (1980)
He has taught classes and been on panels for state wide legal conventions on many topics. Scott enjoys his leisure time by golfing, skiing, scuba diving and hiking, as well as spending quality family time.
ALLAN FENSTEN
Owner
Allan Fensten was born and raised in Los Angeles. He attended UCLA where he received his Bachelors Degree in Political Science with an emphasis on International Relations. He attended California Western School of Law in San Diego.
Allan's first job focused on Public Entity workers compensation law at Lewis Marenstein and Kadar representing police officers and fire fighters with work injuries. he had his first published decision from the Court of Appeals dealing with the interplay between PERS Disability Pensions and Vocational Rehabilitation in Burns v. WCAB 190 Cal App 3d 760. He then moved to Goldstein Gurvitz & Silver in 1999 where he worked in defending a variety of cases including sick building syndrome, homeowner’s claims and complex multiparty litigation.
In 2000, Allan formed Silver & Fensten LLP along with Scott Silver. There he worked as the managing partner handling complex litigation and large loss cases. He focuses on the individual industries such as hospitals and health care industrial, food manufacturing and services, commercial warehouses and freight shipping. Allan has also done
asbestos litigation, chemical exposure cases.
We now are Allan Fensten A Prof. Corp. Allan is a lecturer for Workcompcentral.com and various other Bar Associations.
His goals are to understand and meet specific needs of the employer with a focus on being industry specific.
Allan is an avid bicyclist, hiker, photographer.
OUR ADDRESS
16542 Ventura Blvd Ste 315, Encino, CA 91436
Email: info@silver-fenstenlaw.com
Tel: 818-986-4616
Fax: 818-986-2247
This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advise nor does it create the formation of a lawyer client relationship
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