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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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May 24, 2019

Oklahoma’s Retaliatory Discharge Statute Withstands Constitutional Challenge

Lack of Jury Trial and Limited Damages Pass Constitutional Muster Oklahoma’s retaliatory discharge statute [85A O.S.Supp. 2013 § 7], which restricts jurisdiction in relevant instances to the Workers’ Compensation Commission...

Oklahoma’s Retaliatory Discharge Statute Withstands Constitutional Challenge Oklahoma’s Retaliatory Discharge Statute Withstands Constitutional Challenge
May 23, 2019

Tornadoes and other “Acts of God”: When Are Weather-Related Injuries Compensable?

Yesterday, I had an interesting e-mail exchange with a blog subscriber who wanted my take on the compensability of injuries resulting from Acts of God, specifically, tornadoes and and lightning...

Tornadoes and other “Acts of God”: When Are Weather-Related Injuries Compensable? Tornadoes and other “Acts of God”: When Are Weather-Related Injuries Compensable?
May 22, 2019

NC Worker May Proceed in Tort Against Employer and Plant Nurse for Negligent Treatment

A North Carolina worker, who alleged that he was negligently diagnosed and treated by his employer’s plant nurse after suffering a stroke at work, may proceed in tort against that...

NC Worker May Proceed in Tort Against Employer and Plant Nurse for Negligent Treatment NC Worker May Proceed in Tort Against Employer and Plant Nurse for Negligent Treatment
May 21, 2019

Idaho Worker Seeking Disability Benefits May Not Avoid Independent Medical Exam

Once an Idaho claimant has filed a complaint seeking disability benefits, the employer may require her to attend a medical examination under Idaho Code § 72-433, held the Supreme Court...

Idaho Worker Seeking Disability Benefits May Not Avoid Independent Medical Exam Idaho Worker Seeking Disability Benefits May Not Avoid Independent Medical Exam
May 20, 2019

NY’s Public Assistance Benefits Are Wages for Purposes of Computing Loss of Use Award

Public assistance benefits paid to participants in a New York work experience program (WEP) are “wages,” as that term is defined in the state’s Workers’ Compensation Law [N.Y. Workers’ Comp....

NY’s Public Assistance Benefits Are Wages for Purposes of Computing Loss of Use Award NY’s Public Assistance Benefits Are Wages for Purposes of Computing Loss of Use Award
May 17, 2019

Virginia Court Clarifies “Sudden Mechanical or Structural Change” Requirement

A Virginia appellate court, affirming a decision by the state’s Workers’ Compensation Commission, held that a claimant need only prove her accident caused one “sudden mechanical or structural change” to...

Virginia Court Clarifies “Sudden Mechanical or Structural Change” Requirement Virginia Court Clarifies “Sudden Mechanical or Structural Change” Requirement
May 16, 2019

Oregon Court Says Landlord Employers Are Immune From Tort Liability

An Oregon appellate court, construing a specialized exception to the exclusive remedy provision of the state’s Workers’ Compensation Law, agreed in relevant part with a trial court that the personal...

Oregon Court Says Landlord Employers Are Immune From Tort Liability Oregon Court Says Landlord Employers Are Immune From Tort Liability
May 15, 2019

Ohio Court Takes Broad View of “Arising Out of Employment”

Owner/Employee’s Injuries in Wreck Were Work-Related Despite Fact That Meeting’s Purpose Was Tangential Injuries sustained in an auto accident by the owner/employee of a commercial-vehicle tire changing service as the...

Ohio Court Takes Broad View of “Arising Out of Employment” Ohio Court Takes Broad View of “Arising Out of Employment”
May 14, 2019

Divided Iowa Supreme Court Says TPAs Are Immune from Common Law Bad Faith Claims

In a signficantly divided (5-2) decision, the Supreme Court of Iowa, answering a question certified to it from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, held that,...

Divided Iowa Supreme Court Says TPAs Are Immune from Common Law Bad Faith Claims Divided Iowa Supreme Court Says TPAs Are Immune from Common Law Bad Faith Claims
May 10, 2019

Open Court Settlement Stipulation Binds Parties in NY Civil Action

Plaintiffs May Not Back Out Because They Didn’t Account for Workers’ Comp Lien and Medicare Set-Aside An open-court stipulation of settlement in a New York trial court is an independent...

Open Court Settlement Stipulation Binds Parties in NY Civil Action Open Court Settlement Stipulation Binds Parties in NY Civil Action
May 9, 2019

Missouri Court Says Medical “Expert” Need Not be an M.D.

Opinion of Audiologist With Ph.D. Trumps Opinion of M.D. A Missouri appellate court has affirmed a decision of the state’s Labor and Industrial Relations Commission awarding permanent partial disability benefits...

Missouri Court Says Medical “Expert” Need Not be an M.D. Missouri Court Says Medical “Expert” Need Not be an M.D.
May 7, 2019

Florida Talent Payroll Services Firm is “Similar Agent” Under “Employer” Statute

While Not an “Employee Leasing Company,” It Qualified as “Employer” A Florida appellate court held that a talent payroll services firm, while not an “employee leasing company,” was nevertheless an...

Florida Talent Payroll Services Firm is “Similar Agent” Under “Employer” Statute Florida Talent Payroll Services Firm is “Similar Agent” Under “Employer” Statute

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