Co-Chair, Workers’ Compensation Practice


Mr. Geaney’s practice involves representation of employers, self-insured companies, third party administrators, and insurance carriers in workers’ compensation, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act. He also conducts training sessions on workers’ compensation, ADA, and FMLA issues.

Mr. Geaney authors the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Blog, which was named a LexisNexis Top Blog for Workers’ Compensation and Workplace Issues for 2016, and John H. Geaney’s New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Manual for Attorneys, Physicians, Adjusters, and Employers.

A frequent seminar moderator and presenter, Mr. Geaney travels the State of New Jersey extensively, speaking on a diverse range of topics spanning the breadth of workers’ compensation law.  John also served as the Mayor of Voorhees Township, New Jersey in 1991.

Bar Admissions

New Jersey

Education

Boston College Law School, Boston, MA. Juris Doctorate
Wendel F. Grimes Moot Court Competition Semi-Finalist.

Holy Cross College, Worcester, MA. Bachelor of Arts.

University of Durham, Durham, England.

Publications

John H. Geaney’s New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Manual for Attorneys, Physicians, Adjusters, and Employers, co-distributed with the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 Editions.

The ADA, FMLA and Workers’ Comp – A Careful Approach Can Control Costs, New Jersey Municipalities, March, 2013.

Medical Expense Landmines: Clearing the Workers-Comp Benefit Highway, InRe: TRIAL LAW insert in New Jersey Lawyer, April, 2007.

Five Absence Management Protocols for Workers’ Compensation Injuries in New Jersey, Government Finance Officers’ Association of New Jersey Report, April, 2007.

Guide to Employment Issues under the ADA and FMLA for Practitioners and Employers, co-distributed with the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2004 and 2006 Editions.

Professional Awards & Honors

Selected to the “New Jersey Super Lawyer” list (2005-2017, 2021 in the area of Workers’ Compensation)

  • Only 5% of attorneys are selected to “Super Lawyers” through a peer nominated process based on independent research and peer evaluation
  • The Super Lawyers list is issued by Thomson Reuters.
  • A description of the selection methodology may be obtained by clicking on the following link:  https://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html
  • No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

 

Selected to The Best Lawyers in America® (a trademark of BL Rankings, LLC) (2022-2024 in the area of Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers)

  • A description of the selection methodology may be obtained by clicking on the following link: https://www.bestlawyers.com/methodology
  • No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Professional Associations & Memberships

New Jersey Public Risk Management Association – Board Member

National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network, New Jersey designee.

American Bar Association.

Burlington County Bar Association, Chair, Workers’ Compensation Section (2005-2007).

Central Jersey Joint Insurance Fund and Garden State Municipal Joint Insurance Fund (Workers’ Compensation Litigation Coordinator), Consultant Services.

Fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers.

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National Council for Self-Insurers.

New Jersey Self Insurers Association, Membership and Program Committees.

Larson’s National Workers’ Comp Advisory Board, Member.

Classes & Seminars

”Workers’ Compensation And The New Jersey State Law,” in-house NJASBO, February 2024

“Mitigating Indemnity And Medical Exposure In New Jersey Workers’ Compensation,” in-house ADP, February 2024

“Negotiating Strategies in Permanency and Maximizing the Difference Between Impairment and Disability,” Millennium Seminar, December 2023

“The Challenges of Workers’ Compensation Adjusters In Assessing Causation and Controlling Costs for Employers – A Panel Discussion, New Jersey Self Insurers’ Association, November 2023

“Medical Treatment and Causation in Workers’ Compensation,” in-house Holy Name Hospital, November 2023

“The Ten Commandments of New Jersey Workers’ Compensation for Employers,” in-house webinar, October 2023

“New Jersey Workers’ Comp Overview,” in-house Clear Spring Property and Casualty Company, October 2023

“Properly Valuing New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Cases,” in-house Wakefern, October 2023

“Defending Against Workers’ Compensation Fraud,” in-house NESBIG, September 2023

“Effective Strategies To Use in Reopener Cases,” “Proving Fraud Cases And Understanding The Four Main Types of Fraud,” “The Elements of Successful IME’s,” “Cannabis and Workers’ Compensation,” panel discussions- moderator, Millennium Seminars, September 2023

“New Jersey Workers’ Comp Overview for Comp Professionals,” in-house Hello Fresh, August 2023

“Handling High Exposure Partial Permanent Disability Cases,” NJPLIGA, June 2023

“Considerations In Defending Occupational Disease Claims,” NJPLIGA, June 2023

“Strategies on Defending Reopener Claims,” NJPLIGA, June 2023.

“Workers’ Compensation, ADA and FMLA Scenarios,” in-house Holman, June 2023.

“New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law for Physicians,” in-house RWJBarnabas Health, June 2023

“Innovative Strategies For Adjusters And Employers To Defeat Reopeners In New Jersey,” webinar, June 2023

“Workers’ Compensation Webinar,” in house Hackensack Meridian, May 2023

“Key Cases and Developments in NJ Workers’ Compensation Law,” “Understanding the Winning Approaches of Successful Workers’ Compensation Managers,” panel discussion-moderator, and “Location, Location, Location and Causation, Causation, Causation: Mastering the Premises Rule and the Arising from Work Requirements in NJ Law,” Millennium Seminars, April 2023

“Workers’ Compensation And The New Jersey State Law,” in-house NJASBO, February 2023

“Valuing New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Cases: Why Current Valuation Technique Are Legally Wrong,” webinar, February 2023

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“New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law for Physicians,” RWJBarnabas Health, December 2022

“Recent Cases and Statutory Changes You Need to Know,” “Occupational Health and Internal Medicine Issues in Workers’ Compensation – panel discussion, Moderator,” Millennium Seminars, December 2022

“Panel Discussion: Hot Topics In Workers’ Compensation – Around the Water Cooler,” New Jersey Self Insurers’ Association, November 2022

“New Challenges in Workers’ Compensation: The Employer’s Responsibility to Provide Medical Marijuana Under NJ Workers’ Compensations and Defending COVID-19 Claim Petitions, “JIF Retreat, September 2022

“Cannabis and Comp,” NJ Prima Seminar, September 2022

“The Use of Medical Experts and Medical Evidence in Workers’ Compensation Trial – panel discussion Moderator,” “Effective Strategy in Handling COVID-19 Claims and New Jersey Fraud Cases,” Millennium Seminars, LLC, September 2022

“Subrogation And Section 40 Liens Overview,” Avalon Subrogation Partners, June 2022

“What Really Happens When You Presume?-Presumption Laws And Their Impact”-panel discussion, New Jersey Self Insurers’ Association, May 2022

“The Five Key Principles That Define A Successful And Cost-Effective Workers’ Compensation Program,” “The First 30 Days: Why The Initial Investigation Often Dictates Case Outcomes – panel discussion” and “Developing Fraud Defenses In New Jersey Workers’ Comp – panel discussion,” Millennium Seminars, LLC, April 2022

“Workers’ Compensation and Healthcare: Telemedicine and The Aging Work Force,” panel discussion, New Jersey PRIMA, April 2022

“New Jersey Workers’ Comp Overview for Comp Professionals.” HelloFresh/Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc., April 2022

“New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law for Physicians,” in-house RWJBarnabas Health, March 2022.

“Workers’ Compensation And The New Jersey State Law,” in-house NJASBO, February 2022.

“New Jersey Workers’ Comp Overview For Comp Professionals,” Eaton Corp., December 2021

“COVID Claims In New Jersey Workers’ Compensation,” Morris Essex Insurance Group, December 2021

“Claim Managers’ Expectations of Defense Counsel, TPAs, and Other Vendors – Panel Discussion” and “The Brave New World of COVID Claims, Canzanella Cases, Presumptions and Adverse Vaccine Reactions,” Millennium Seminars, December 2021

“New Jersey Workers’ Comp Overview for Comp Professionals,” in-house AmeriTrust, November 2021

“Subrogation And Section 40 Lien Overview,” in-house NIP Group, November 2021

“Challenging Issues For Employers In The Pandemic Era,” and “Proper Handling of Head Injury And Concussion Claims – Panel Discussion,” Millennium Seminars, October 2021

“Workers’ Compensation Legal Update,” NJ PRIMA, September 2021

“New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law For Physicians,” Orthopaedic Institute of Central Jersey, September 2021

“The Impact Of The COVID Essential Employee Law And The Pandemic On Workers’ Comp Now And In The Future,” and “Maximizing The Effectiveness of Permanency Exams,” Millennium Seminars, August 2021

“Essentials Of New Jersey Workers’ Compensation,” New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, August 2021

“New Jersey Workers’ Comp Overview For Medical Clinicians,” in-house RWJBarnabas Health, June 2021

“2021 Hot Topics In Workers’ Compensation,” Millennium Seminars, LLC/The Advanced Spine Center, June 2021

“Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud – Panel Discussion,” NJ PRIMA, May 2021

“Legislative Issues: Proposals To Change WC And Liability Statutes,” MEL and MRHIF, May 2021

“Defending COVID-19 Comp Claims And Rebutting The Presumption,” New Jersey Self Insurers’ Association, May 2021

“2021 Update On Recent And Key Proposed Legislation And Key Cases To Know” and “What You Need To Know About Knee And Shoulder Replacement Surgeries In Comp – Panel Discussion,” Millennium Seminars, April 2021

“COVID-19 Vaccine:  Issues Pertaining To COVID-19 And Vaccination Programs – Panel Discussion,” NJ PRIMA, March 2021

“Ethical Considerations In The Essential Employees Law, COVID Claims And The Canzanella Act,” ERIC West/NJSIG, March 2021

“Subrogation And Section 40 Lien Overview,” in-house D&H Alternative Risk Solutions, February 2021

“New Jersey Workers’ Comp Overview For Comp Professionals” and “Frequently Asked Workers’ Compensation Questions By School Boards,” NJASBO School Insurance And Risk Management, February 2021

“Ethical Considerations In The Essential Employees Law, COVID Claims And The Canzanella Act,” CAIP Sub-Fund/NJSIG, February 2021

“Ethical Considerations In The Essential Employees Law, COVID Claims And The Canzanella Act,” NJEIF/NJSIG, February 2021

“The Main Defenses You Need to Know In New Jersey Workers’ Comp” and “Everything You Wanted to Ask a Neurosurgeon About Spine Cases: A Question and Answer Session With Webinar Attendees,” Millennium Seminars, February 2021

“Ethical Considerations In The Essential Employees Law, COVID Claims And The Canzanella Act,” MOCCSIF/NJSIG, January 2021

“New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law For Physicians,” Advanced Orthopaedic Centers, January 2021

“Overview Of P&C Insurance Coverages,” in-house NJASBO, January 2021

“Ethical Considerations In The Essential Employees Law And Canzanella Act,” SAIF Northwest School Group,  December 2020

“The 2020 Comp Year In Review: Major Decisions And Legislation Affecting New Jersey Workers’ Compensation” and “How New Jersey School Boards Are Coping With COVID-19 Issues And The Impact On Workers’ Compensation,” Millennium Seminars, December 2020

“COVID-19 And Workers’ Compensation,” Human Resource Association of Southern New Jersey, November 2020

“Defending COVID-19 Claims In New Jersey,” The Advanced Spine Center, November 2020

“Ethical Considerations In The Essential Employees Law And Canzanella Act,” in-house ERIC NORTH, November 2020

“The Impact On Public Entities’ Workers’ Compensation Programs From The 2020 Essential Employees Law And From 2019 Thoms P. Canzanella Act,” Fairview Insurance, October 2020

“What You Need to Know About Legal Presumptions In Workers’ Compensation,” Millennium Seminars, October 2020, “On The Front Lines Of COVID-19,” and “Issues In Workers’ Comp And Employment Law With COVID-19,” Millennium Seminars, October 2020

“COVID-19 And Workers’ Compensation webinar,” Central Jersey Claims Association, October 2020

“Red Hot Topics in New Jersey Comp,” Millennium Seminar webinar, May 2020

“New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law for Physicians,” Meridian Health, March 2020

“Guess the Defense” & “Section 20-22,” AmeriTrust Group, March 2020

“New Statutory Changes On Cancer Claims For Public Safety Responders,” – in-house panel discussion GSMJIF and PEJIF and “What You Need To Know About Liens And Subrogation Rights,” in-house panel discussion GSMJIF and PEJIF, February 2020

“Strategies In Handling Reopener Claim Petitions,” Treatment Issues In New Jersey Workers’ Compensation,” and “Reserving And Evaluating Permanent Disability In New Jersey Comp,” in-house ESIS, December 2019

“New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law for Physicians,” Premier Orthopaedic Associates, December 2019

“New Statutory Changes on Cancer Claims for Public Safety Responders and Case Law Update,” “Panel Discussion:  Modified Duty Issues in New Jersey Workers’ Comp,” and “Panel Discussion with Petitioners’ Counsel:  Why Do Injured Workers Hire Counsel?” Millennium Seminars, December 2019

“Comp Law For Physicians”, Hudson Pro Orthopedics – webinar, November 2019

“Stress Cases in NJ Workers’ Comp,” New Jersey Counties Excess Joint Insurance Fund Workshop, October 2019

“You Be the Workers’ Comp Judge,” North Jersey Workers’ Compensation Seminar 2019 presented by Dr. Gatto & The Advanced Spine Center, October 2019

“Accept or Reject – Comp Claims That Make Sense and the Ones That Are Nonsense,” Passaic County School Business Administrators, October 2019

“New Jersey Workers’ Comp Overview,” in-house webinar Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, September 2019

Accept or Reject?? Comp Claims That Make Sense and the Ones That are Nonsense,” in-house Arthur J. Gallagher, September 2019

“Panel Discussion:  The First 30 Days of a Comp Claim:  What You Should Be Doing,” “Panel Discussion:  The ADA, FMLA, and Comp Legal Intersection,” and “What are the Legal Defenses that Work in NJ Workers’ Compensation?” Millennium Seminars, September 2019

“Differentiating Shoulder and Cervical Pathology in Workers’ Comp Patients,” panel discussion, Orthopaedic Institute of Central Jersey, September 2019

“New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law for Physicians,” NJM Insurance Group with Premier Orthopaedics, July 2019

“Key Cases You Need to Know in Workers’ Compensation,” “Panel Discussion:  Pre-hire, Post-accident Drug Testing and Workplace Drug Policies,” and “Medical Issues in Workers’ Compensation,” Millennium Seminars, June 2019

“New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law for Physicians,” Active Orthopedics, April 2019

“Case Law Update,” in-house Professional Municipal Management JIF, April 2019

“The Key Cases and Statutes Every Comp Practitioner Needs to Know,” “What We Need to Know About Third Party Liens,” “Panel Discussion:  When Does Surveillance Work Best And What Pitfalls Must You Avoid?” and “Current Trends in New Jersey Workers’ Compensation,” Millennium Seminars, April 2019.

“New Jersey Workers’ Comp Overview For Comp Professionals,” in-house, York Risk Services, April 2019

“Accept or Reject? Comp Claims That Make Sense and the Ones That Are Nonsense,” ERIC NORTH, March 2019

“New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law For Physicians,” in-house Hackensack Meridian Health, January 2019

“Case Law Update and Minor/Major Deviation Review,” “Panel Discussion: Creative Ideas to Improve Your Workers’ Comp Program,” and “Complex Subrogation Issues and Lien Compromises: Petitioner and Respondent Views,” Millennium Seminars, December 2018

“Workers’ Compensation Case Law Update,” and “Successful Defense of Occupational Disease and Repetitive Trauma Claims,” in-house GSMJIF, October 2018

“Recent Cases You Should Know and Understanding Idiopathic Claims,” and “Jeopardy,” The Advanced Spine Center, October 2018

“Legal Issues in Occupational Medicine,” MARCOEM, October 2018

“What is the Value of a Compensable Claim in Your State – panel discussion – New Jersey member,” NWCDN, September 2018

“Determining Causation From A Medical Perspective:  What Physicians Need From Clients And The Importance of Past Medical History,” panel discussion, Orthoapedic Institute of Central Jersey, September 2018

“Subrogation And Section 40 Lien Overivews,” in-house Qual-Lynx, June 2018

“Recreational, Social Activity and Volunteer claims in New Jersey Workers’ Compensation,” in-house MOCSSIF, June 2018

“New Jersey Workers’ Comp Overview For Comp Professionals,” Lamb Insurance, April 2018

“New Jersey Workers’ Comp Overview For Comp Professionals,” in-house York Risk Services, March 2018

“New Jersey Workers’ Comp Overview For Comp Professionals,” in-house Holy Name Hospital, March 2018

“Issues Facing Adjusters In Workers’ Compensation,” in-house, Bed Bath & Beyond, March 2018

“Recent Cases In New Jersey,” in-house AmTrust North America, February 2018

“How Employers And Carriers Can Save Money And Get Better Control Over New Jersey Cases” and “Understanding The Three Benefits In New Jersey Comp,”  in-house New Level Administrators, February 2018

“Recreational And Social Activity Claims In New Jersey Workers’ Compensation,” in-house New Jersey Schools Insurance Group, January 2018

“Understanding New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Laws,” in-house Township of Middletown, November 2017

“Understanding New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Laws,” Arthur J. Gallagher Princeton Office Risk Management Clients, October 2017

“Overview of Fitness for Duty Exams and FCEs,” SPELL JIF, September 2017

“How Do Permanency Awards Get Decided And What Can Boards Of Education Do To Reduce Exposure?” NESBIG, September 2017

“How Do Permanency Awards Get Decided And What Can Boards Of Education Do To Reduce Exposure?” PIP Pool, September 2017

“Jeopardy” and “Problem Issues in Workers’ Comp And Recommended Solutions, a Panel Discussion,” Kirshner Spine Institute, September 2017

“How Does Arthritis Affect Workers’ Comp Programs, a Panel Discussion,” Arthritis Foundation, September 2017

“Panel Discussion: Which State Has The Best Comp Law?  Compare And Contrast:  New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia Comp Laws,” “Fundamentals Of NJ Workers’ Comp And Tips On Winning Cases,” “Panel Discussion:  45 Tips In 45 Minutes,” “Panel Discussion:  Challenges Facing Public And Private Employers In Workers’ Comp,” and  “Panel Discussion:  Breaking Bad:  How Workers’ Comp Cases Become FLMA And ADA Nightmares,” Millennium Seminars, LLC,  July 2017

“New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law For Physicians,” in-house Hackensack/Meridian Occupational Health, June 2017

“The Mysterious New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Rate Chart,” in-house Garden State Municipal Joint Insurance Fund, June 2017

“Issues Facing Adjusters In Workers’ Compensation,” Trends In Occupational Disease Claims In New Jersey,” New Jersey Workers’ Comp Overview For Comp Professionals,” and Key Defenses In NJ Workers’ Compensation,” in-house York Risk Services Group, Inc., June 2017

“The Neurosurgeon’s View of Workers’ Comp,” Webinar, June 2017

“New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law For Physicians,” UCOG, May 2017

“Cases on Major/Minor Deviations And Idiopathic Claims – A Panel Discussion,” New Jersey Self Insurers’ Association, May 2017

“Cost Savings And Recent Cases In NJ Workers’ Comp And The Interaction Among Workers’ Comp, ADA And FMLA,” HRA of Southern New Jersey, April 2017

“New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Law for Physicians,” in-house Hackensack University Medical Center, April 2017

“Problem Issues In Workers’ Comp And How To Solve Them,” “Panel Discussion: How Companies Are Managing Challenges To Their Comp Programs” and “Panel Discussion:  Terminating Workers On Workers’ Comp While Avoiding A Civil Suit,” Millennium Seminars, LLC, April 2017

“New Jersey Workers’ Comp Overview For Comp Professionals,” and “ADA and FMLA,” in-house Conti Corporation, March 2017

“Hot Topics In Workers’ Compensation,” in-house CCMSI, February 2017

“Workers’ Compensation Issues,” in-house York Risk Services, January 2017

“Issues Facing Adjusters In Workers’ Compensation,” in-house AmTrust North America, January 2017

“New Jersey Workers’ Comp Overview for Comp Professionals,” in-house Sedgwick CMS, January 2017

“New Jersey Workers’ Comp Overview for Comp Professionals,” in-house AmTrust North America, November 2016

“Section 40 Liens,” in-house AmTrust North America, November 2016

“Getting Even Better:  Taking Your Workers’ Compensation Program To The Next Level,” a panel discussion, The Advanced Spine Center, October 2016

“An Update On Recent New Jersey Case Law and Legislation,” PMA Companies, September 2016

“Frequently Asked Questions By School Boards,” Arthur J. Gallagher, September 2016

“Panel Discussion- Workers’ Comp Shoulder and Knee Injuries,” Orthopaedic Institute of Central Jersey, September 2016

Consultant Services

Garden State JIF

Central Jersey JIF (Workers’ Compensation Litigation Coordinator)

Eric North JIF

Gem Ambulance

Board Memberships

Friends of MEND, Inc., Board of Directors, Trustee & Vice President.

Kids Chance of New Jersey, Board of Directors, Secretary.