New York Workers' Compensation Handbook

Joseph P. DeCoursey is the Managing Partner of the Rochester office of the workers’ compensation defense firm of Hamberger & Weiss LLP and a member of the firm’s Governing Committee. He has specialized in workers’ compensation defense on behalf of employers and insurance carriers for over 20 years. He has enjoyed his entire legal career at Hamberger & Weiss LLP. He joined the firm in 2005 as an associate, was elected to the partnership in 2013, and was elected to the Governing Committee and Managing Partner in 2023. 

Mr. DeCoursey graduated with a B.A. from the University of Rochester in 2001 and earned his J.D. degree from the University at Buffalo School of Law in 2004, where he served as a member and Articles Editor of the Buffalo Law Review. 

Mr. DeCoursey has devoted his entire legal career to the defense of employers, insurance companies, self-insured employers, and third-party administrators in Workers’ Compensation claims and related matters. His advocacy experience is extensive and includes successfully representing his clients at thousands of hearings, trials, depositions, and in appellate court.

A significant portion of Mr. DeCoursey’s practice involves Section 32 settlement negotiation and preparation. This includes compliance with the Medicare Secondary Payer statute as well as the preparation of Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside Arrangements. In recent years, he has focused on appellate practice, counseling clients on litigation avoidance, and evaluating claims for settlement. 

In 2013, Mr. DeCoursey was named a Rising Star in the area of Workers’ Compensation by Super Lawyers. In 2025, he was listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Workers’ Compensation Law. He has also been listed in the Western New York Daily Record and Rochester Business Journal “Power 50 Law List”. 

Mr. DeCoursey and his firm are proud to serve as the New York State member of the National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network (NWCDN), a nationwide network of law firms, one per state, devoted to excellence in the practice of defense of employers and carriers in workers’ compensation matters. He is a member of the  New York State Bar Association Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section, Workers’ Compensation Division, and the Monroe County Bar Association. Mr. DeCoursey has lectured on numerous Workers’ Compensation topics at his firm’s annual Workers’ Compensation seminars for many years and also spoken at seminars sponsored by other groups including: New York State Bar Association, New York Self-Insurers Association, New York State Association of Self-Insured Counties,  and the National Business Institute. During his career, Mr. DeCoursey has mentored many attorneys in his firm and the compensation community as well as clients and contacts on workers’ compensation practice.

Ronald Balter is a partner with the firm of Vecchione, Vecchione & Cano, L.L.P. in Garden City Park, New York. He is a 1980 graduate of the University at Buffalo. He received a B.A. in Political Science. He received his J.D. from New York Law School in 1983. He was admitted to the Bar of the State of New York in 1984 and has practiced almost exclusively before the Workers' Compensation Board since then.

He is a member of the New York State Bar Association and American Bar Association. He served as chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Tort, Insurance and Compensation Law Section's Workers' Compensation Division from 2004 until 2006. Mr. Balter has also served on the Board of Directors of the Society of New York Workers' Compensation Bar Association since 1988.

In 2005 Mr. Balter was named the Workers' Compensation Attorney of the Year by the Institute for Jewish Humanities. More recently he was honored as the 2008 recipient of the Russell J. Gugino award by the University at Buffalo's Alumni Association for his continued support of the university's Athletic Department.

In 2016 he was the initial recipient of the Mary M. Russo – John Sciortino Award presented by the New York State Bar Association’s TICL Section for outstanding contribution to the practice of workers’ compensation law in New York State. In 2018 he was honored by the Dollar General Bowl Game as the Champion of Life Honoree for the University at Buffalo for his excellence in law, the community and as a steward for his alma mater.

Mr. Balter has presented Continuing Legal Education Seminars for the New York State Bar Association, the Injured Workers' Bar Association, the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.