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Mar 10, 2026

Second Circuit Bars Medical Marijuana Reimbursement Under the Longshore Act

In Garcia v. Director, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, 2026 U.S. App. LEXIS 6549 (2d Cir. Mar. 5, 2026), the Second Circuit denied a petition for review filed by a...

Second Circuit Bars Medical Marijuana Reimbursement Under the Longshore Act Second Circuit Bars Medical Marijuana Reimbursement Under the Longshore Act
Mar 6, 2026

New York’s Hidden Cost Problem: WCRI Examines the Price of Delivering Benefits

Every dollar spent on workers’ compensation falls into one of two broad categories: benefits paid to injured workers—medical care and wage replacement—and the costs of delivering those benefits. The second...

New York’s Hidden Cost Problem: WCRI Examines the Price of Delivering Benefits New York’s Hidden Cost Problem: WCRI Examines the Price of Delivering Benefits
Mar 5, 2026

Delaware Supreme Court Reinstates IAB’s Denial of Sole Proprietor Coverage

In Motors v. Bayly (Red House Motors d/b/a Bayly’s Garage), 2026 Del. LEXIS 92 (Mar. 2, 2026), the Delaware Supreme Court reversed a Superior Court decision that the high court...

Delaware Supreme Court Reinstates IAB’s Denial of Sole Proprietor Coverage Delaware Supreme Court Reinstates IAB’s Denial of Sole Proprietor Coverage
Mar 3, 2026

Florida Court Invalidates Rules Expanding “Absolute Choice” Pharmacy Provision

In Publix Super Markets, Inc. v. Department of Financial Services, 2026 Fla. App. LEXIS 1469 (Fla. 1st DCA Feb. 25, 2026), the First District Court of Appeal recently held that...

Florida Court Invalidates Rules Expanding “Absolute Choice” Pharmacy Provision Florida Court Invalidates Rules Expanding “Absolute Choice” Pharmacy Provision

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Dec 2, 2021

Slowly Plods the Tortoise: Workcompwriter Celebrates 1,000 Posts

Launch the balloons! Break out the kazoos! Almost exactly ten years ago—on December 14, 2011—I posted my first offering on this website (to see it, click here). It discussed a...

Slowly Plods the Tortoise: Workcompwriter Celebrates 1,000 Posts Slowly Plods the Tortoise: Workcompwriter Celebrates 1,000 Posts
Nov 30, 2021

Full-Time, Seasonal Work Sinks Missouri Worker’s Second Injury Fund Claim

Where a Missouri employee was able to work on a full-time, seasonable basis following a second work-related injury, the Missouri Commission did not err in finding that the employee had...

Full-Time, Seasonal Work Sinks Missouri Worker’s Second Injury Fund Claim Full-Time, Seasonal Work Sinks Missouri Worker’s Second Injury Fund Claim
Nov 29, 2021

Oregon Employee’s Slip and Fall Claim in “Annex Parking Area” Not Barred by Going and Coming Rule

Construing the “parking lot” exception to the standard going and coming rule, an Oregon appellate court affirmed an award of benefits to a dental hygienist who sustained injuries when she...

Oregon Employee’s Slip and Fall Claim in “Annex Parking Area” Not Barred by Going and Coming Rule Oregon Employee’s Slip and Fall Claim in “Annex Parking Area” Not Barred by Going and Coming Rule
Nov 22, 2021

Waiting 19 Months to Seek Medical Treatment Proves Fatal to NY Claims Examiner’s Case

A New York appellate court affirmed a decision by the state’s Workers’ Compensation Board that denied benefits to a claims examiner who alleged that she had sustained injuries to her...

Waiting 19 Months to Seek Medical Treatment Proves Fatal to NY Claims Examiner’s Case Waiting 19 Months to Seek Medical Treatment Proves Fatal to NY Claims Examiner’s Case
Nov 16, 2021

Florida’s Second DCA Reverses Itself; Public Utility Was “Contractor” as to its Maintenance Efforts

Following Tampa Electric Company's motion for rehearing regarding its October 20, 2020 decision, in which Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal had held that the public utility company’s obligation to...

Florida’s Second DCA Reverses Itself; Public Utility Was “Contractor” as to its Maintenance Efforts Florida’s Second DCA Reverses Itself; Public Utility Was “Contractor” as to its Maintenance Efforts
Nov 11, 2021

Alaska Supreme Court Says Estate’s Wrongful Death Action is Barred by Exclusivity Even When Comp Benefits are Limited to Burial Expenses

Addressing a difficult factual pattern for the second time, the Supreme Court of Alaska affirmed a trial court’s decision that had granted summary judgment in favor of a general contractor...

Alaska Supreme Court Says Estate’s Wrongful Death Action is Barred by Exclusivity Even When Comp Benefits are Limited to Burial Expenses Alaska Supreme Court Says Estate’s Wrongful Death Action is Barred by Exclusivity Even When Comp Benefits are Limited to Burial Expenses
Nov 9, 2021

Battle of the Forms: NY Board Abuses Discretion in Failing to Reopen Claim

Where there was a clear discrepancy between the schedule loss of use (SLU) percentage indicated on the face of a surgeon’s C-4.3 form (Doctor’s Report of Maximum Medical Improvement/Permanent Impairment)...

Battle of the Forms: NY Board Abuses Discretion in Failing to Reopen Claim Battle of the Forms: NY Board Abuses Discretion in Failing to Reopen Claim
Nov 8, 2021

Utah High Court Hints that Intentional Tort Exception to Exclusivity Might Not Apply to Occupational Disease Claims

Observing that Utah has recognized the intentional tort exception to exclusivity in cases falling under the state’s Workers’ Compensation Act (WCA), but had not (yet) extended the exception to cases...

Utah High Court Hints that Intentional Tort Exception to Exclusivity Might Not Apply to Occupational Disease Claims Utah High Court Hints that Intentional Tort Exception to Exclusivity Might Not Apply to Occupational Disease Claims
Nov 2, 2021

Kentucky High Court Construes Mental Injury Statute and Affirms Award

Acknowledging that pursuant to KRS 342.0011(1), Kentucky does not allow recovery for work-related psychological injuries unless they are the “direct result” of a physical injury [emphasis added], the Supreme Court...

Kentucky High Court Construes Mental Injury Statute and Affirms Award Kentucky High Court Construes Mental Injury Statute and Affirms Award
Nov 1, 2021

Washington Supreme Court Says Staffing Agencies May Sometimes Be Liable for Safety Violations

Addressing an important issue within the modern workplace—whether in a joint employment context, staffing agencies may be liable employers for safety violations under the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act...

Washington Supreme Court Says Staffing Agencies May Sometimes Be Liable for Safety Violations Washington Supreme Court Says Staffing Agencies May Sometimes Be Liable for Safety Violations
Oct 27, 2021

Going and Coming Rule Bars Recovery in Texas Plaintiff’s Vicarious Liability Action

Citing precedent from the Supreme Court of Texas, a lower appellate court held that the going and coming rule—a creature of the workers’ compensation setting—could be applied in plaintiff’s vicarious-liability...

Going and Coming Rule Bars Recovery in Texas Plaintiff’s Vicarious Liability Action Going and Coming Rule Bars Recovery in Texas Plaintiff’s Vicarious Liability Action
Oct 25, 2021

UIM Insurer May Offset IL Employee’s Comp Benefits Against Policy Obligation

In a decision not designated for publication, an Illinois appellate court held that a trial court did not err in granting judgment on the pleadings favoring an auto insurance company...

UIM Insurer May Offset IL Employee’s Comp Benefits Against Policy Obligation UIM Insurer May Offset IL Employee’s Comp Benefits Against Policy Obligation

New Comments

  • ramivou: They hid behind a flawed "reading" of this statute for a decade. I am glad the SC finally put an end to the misconception that it was a "first six months only" filing requirement, rather than an ongoing responsibility.
  • trob: Thanks for the query. New York's going and coming doctrine is similar to that in place in the majority of jurisdictions. That is to say that for employees with a fixed place of work and who are on a relatively consistent work schedule, the commute to and from the residence is outside the course and scope of the employment. Often overlooked is the fact that the employee must generally have a fixed ...
  • ramivou: Is coming and going covered in NY?
  • trob: Excellent question. My thought is that the employer was following what it assumed was the typical practice of seeking to protect its "subrogation" interest in state court; in virtually all jurisdictions, the state trial courts are where subrogation issues are litigated. What differed here, of course, was that it wasn't a standard subrogation case, i.e., the employee's work-related injury wasn't ca...
  • ramivou: Why didn't they file it with the state Commission instead?
  • Thomas A. Robinson: I suspect that ACME could seek contractual indemnity, as you note, either from the staffing agency or its carrier. The goal of the Board or agency generally is to see to the proper award of benefits for compensable injuries. Allowing the "aggrieved" parties to sort it out later is completely consistent with the overall theory of workers' compensation. Many thanks for the comment. Best wishes.
  • Barry Stinson: I wonder if Acme's insurer could seek contractural indemnity from Variety's insurer outside of the WC system.
  • Michael C. Duff: The conceptual distinction is between joint causation and presumptive single causation.
  • Thomas A. Robinson: Sorry, I don't/can't provide legal advice. Best wishes, however.
  • Ken Smith: What can I do when my attorney blows my case with an incomplete RB89