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Mar 12, 2026

Virginia Court Counts Subcontractor Workers in Coverage Threshold Case

Small contractors sometimes believe that keeping their payroll lean — two employees instead of three — will keep them outside the reach of the workers’ compensation statute. But the Virginia...

Virginia Court Counts Subcontractor Workers in Coverage Threshold Case Virginia Court Counts Subcontractor Workers in Coverage Threshold Case
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

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Oct 8, 2018

NY Employee’s Shoulder Injury While Scanning Parking Pass Not Compensable

An employee, who sustained a shoulder injury as she reached out of her car window to scan her parking pass at a parking garage near her place of employment, did...

NY Employee’s Shoulder Injury While Scanning Parking Pass Not Compensable NY Employee’s Shoulder Injury While Scanning Parking Pass Not Compensable
Sep 18, 2018

I’ve Written a New Book from the “Other Side” of my Life

I am pleased to announce the recent publication of my new book entitled, Questions of Faith: Encountering Christ at the Point of Doubt and Confusion [Mazarin Press, Raleigh, NC; additional...

I’ve Written a New Book from the “Other Side” of my Life I’ve Written a New Book from the “Other Side” of my Life
Sep 18, 2018

Nevada Casino Employee’s Tort Action Against Employer for Delaying Stroke Treatment is Barred by Exclusivity

A housekeeping employee at a Las Vegas casino, who suffered a stroke just prior to the beginning of his work shift, and who contended his medical condition was exacerbated when...

Nevada Casino Employee’s Tort Action Against Employer for Delaying Stroke Treatment is Barred by Exclusivity Nevada Casino Employee’s Tort Action Against Employer for Delaying Stroke Treatment is Barred by Exclusivity
Sep 14, 2018

Oklahoma Claimant Awarded Additional Benefits After Freak Accident at Medical Facility

If It Weren’t For Bad Luck, She’d Have No Luck at All An Oklahoma workers’ compensation claimant is entitled to additional benefits following a bizarre incident in which she sustained...

Oklahoma Claimant Awarded Additional Benefits After Freak Accident at Medical Facility Oklahoma Claimant Awarded Additional Benefits After Freak Accident at Medical Facility
Sep 6, 2018

NC Worker’s Tort Claim Against Insurer for Malicious Prosecution May Move Forward

While a workers’ compensation insurer generally enjoys the same sort of immunity from tort liability afforded the employer [see Larson’s Workers’ Compensation Law, § 100.01], there are limits to that...

NC Worker’s Tort Claim Against Insurer for Malicious Prosecution May Move Forward NC Worker’s Tort Claim Against Insurer for Malicious Prosecution May Move Forward
Sep 4, 2018

Maryland Cab Driver’s “Misclassification” Action Appropriately Dismissed

Misclassification of Workers is not Recognized as independent Tort A Maryland cab driver, who sustained injuries in a work-related auto accident, may not maintain a civil action against the cab...

Maryland Cab Driver’s “Misclassification” Action Appropriately Dismissed Maryland Cab Driver’s “Misclassification” Action Appropriately Dismissed
Aug 13, 2018

Recent Kansas AMA Guides Decision: Would the Court Prefer a Fault-Based System?

Jettisoning the Bath Water—Does the Baby Remain? As someone who has, for the past 32 years, earned the bulk of his living reading—I’ll admit, often only skimming—some 2,500 appellate decisions...

Recent Kansas AMA Guides Decision: Would the Court Prefer a Fault-Based System? Recent Kansas AMA Guides Decision: Would the Court Prefer a Fault-Based System?
Aug 3, 2018

Kansas Court Strikes Down Use of AMA Guides 6th Ed.

Decision Reinstates 4th Edition for Workers’ Comp Disputes In a decision that quotes, among other authority, Linda Loman, wife of Willy Loman, of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, the...

Kansas Court Strikes Down Use of AMA Guides 6th Ed. Kansas Court Strikes Down Use of AMA Guides 6th Ed.
Jul 23, 2018

Alabama Accountant’s Fatal Shooting by Disgruntled Former Client Found Compensable

In a case with a bizarre fact pattern, an Alabama appellate court affirmed an award of workers’ compensation death benefits to the surviving spouse of an accountant who was stalked...

Alabama Accountant’s Fatal Shooting by Disgruntled Former Client Found Compensable Alabama Accountant’s Fatal Shooting by Disgruntled Former Client Found Compensable
Jul 3, 2018

The Real Reason LeBron is Moving to the Lakers!

There are some who point out that LeBron is getting ready to pay the highest taxes in his life (with a $154 million contract, he can afford it), that he...

The Real Reason LeBron is Moving to the Lakers! The Real Reason LeBron is Moving to the Lakers!
Jun 28, 2018

Oklahoma High Court OKs Use of “Current Edition” of AMA Guides

Conflict with PA’s Protz Decision is Only on the Surface The sections of Oklahoma’s Administrative Workers’ Compensation Act (AWCA) that require use of the “current edition” of the AMA’s Guides...

Oklahoma High Court OKs Use of “Current Edition” of AMA Guides Oklahoma High Court OKs Use of “Current Edition” of AMA Guides
Jun 19, 2018

Kansas Claimants’ Attorneys Face “Catch-22” in Appellate Work

No Provision for Court-Ordered Fees on Appeal The Court of Appeals of Kansas recently reiterated that because of what amounts to a “Catch-22” in state law and appellate rules, an...

Kansas Claimants’ Attorneys Face “Catch-22” in Appellate Work Kansas Claimants’ Attorneys Face “Catch-22” in Appellate Work

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