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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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Nov 2, 2017

Texas Electrician Was Not Traveling Employee In Spite of Weekly Stipend

Death Benefits Claim Barred by Going and Coming Rule In spite of (1) an employer’s designation of an employee as a “field electrician”; (2) the employer’s payment of a $75...

Texas Electrician Was Not Traveling Employee In Spite of Weekly Stipend Texas Electrician Was Not Traveling Employee In Spite of Weekly Stipend
Oct 31, 2017

Raped California Hotel Employee May Proceed Against Employer under State’s Fair Employment and Housing Act

Where a California employee alleged facts showing that she was raped while working on the employer’s premises by a drunk nonemployee trespasser, that the employer knew or should have known...

Raped California Hotel Employee May Proceed Against Employer under State’s Fair Employment and Housing Act Raped California Hotel Employee May Proceed Against Employer under State’s Fair Employment and Housing Act
Oct 30, 2017

SC Workers’ Comp Insurance Policy Procured After Injury is Void

Where owners of a roofing business rushed to an insurance agent and procured a workers’ compensation insurance policy just after an employee was taken to a hospital for treatment of...

SC Workers’ Comp Insurance Policy Procured After Injury is Void SC Workers’ Comp Insurance Policy Procured After Injury is Void
Oct 26, 2017

Florida: Abnormal Pre-Employment BP Reading Does Not Mean Loss of Presumption of Compensability

“White Coat” Syndrome Could Explain Isolated Reading As do a number of states, Florida provides a specialized presumption of compensability favoring certain law enforcement officers [see § 112.18(1), Fla. Stat.]....

Florida: Abnormal Pre-Employment BP Reading Does Not Mean Loss of Presumption of Compensability Florida: Abnormal Pre-Employment BP Reading Does Not Mean Loss of Presumption of Compensability
Oct 24, 2017

Ohio Claimant Has Burden of Showing Unexplained Fall Was Not Caused by Idiopathic Condition

Where an injured employee’s medical history and medications raised a fact issue about the possible role of risks personal to the employee in an otherwise unexplained fall, the employee was...

Ohio Claimant Has Burden of Showing Unexplained Fall Was Not Caused by Idiopathic Condition Ohio Claimant Has Burden of Showing Unexplained Fall Was Not Caused by Idiopathic Condition
Oct 19, 2017

In Georgia, Co-Habitation Without Marriage = No Death Benefits

Within the context of a Georgia workers’ compensation claim, a meretricious relationship works to deny dependency benefits, even if actual dependency exists, held a state appellate court on Tuesday [see...

In Georgia, Co-Habitation Without Marriage = No Death Benefits In Georgia, Co-Habitation Without Marriage = No Death Benefits
Oct 17, 2017

Employer and Co-Employees Not Liable in Tort Following Holiday Party Fatality

In a case with bizarre underlying facts, a New York appellate court held a trial court erred in denying an employer’s summary judgment motion in a tort action filed against...

Employer and Co-Employees Not Liable in Tort Following Holiday Party Fatality Employer and Co-Employees Not Liable in Tort Following Holiday Party Fatality
Oct 17, 2017

Kentucky Driver Who Keeps Tractor-Trailer Rig at Home is Traveling Employee

Where a long-haul truck driver kept one of his employer’s tractor-trailer units at his home because he lived near an interstate highway and the employer’s facility was one hour away...

Kentucky Driver Who Keeps Tractor-Trailer Rig at Home is Traveling Employee Kentucky Driver Who Keeps Tractor-Trailer Rig at Home is Traveling Employee
Oct 13, 2017

NY Employer Does Not Always Take Employee as it Finds Him

Apportionment Allowed for Prior Nonwork-Related Knee Injury A New York appellate court affirmed a finding by the state’s Workers’ Compensation Board that apportioned a claimant’s 30 percent right leg schedule...

NY Employer Does Not Always Take Employee as it Finds Him NY Employer Does Not Always Take Employee as it Finds Him
Oct 12, 2017

Virginia Case Shows “On-the-Job” Injuries May Not be Compensable

The phrase is used quite often, even by attorneys: “He [or she] was hurt ‘on-the-job.’” The typical implication is that a worker who sustains an “on-the-job” injury deserves workers’ compensation...

Virginia Case Shows “On-the-Job” Injuries May Not be Compensable Virginia Case Shows “On-the-Job” Injuries May Not be Compensable
Oct 6, 2017

Oregon: Traveling Employee’s Death While Returning From Shopping Trip Was Not Compensable

A person in the status of a traveling employee is continuously within the course and scope of the employment while traveling, except when the person is engaged in a distinct...

Oregon: Traveling Employee’s Death While Returning From Shopping Trip Was Not Compensable Oregon: Traveling Employee’s Death While Returning From Shopping Trip Was Not Compensable
Oct 5, 2017

Vermont College’s “Tuition Benefit” Should Be Used in Average Weekly Wage Computation

In Haller v. Champlain College, 2017 VT 86, 2017 Vt. LEXIS 107 (Sept. 29, 2017), a divided Supreme Court of Vermont affirmed a determination by the Commissioner of the state’s Department...

Vermont College’s “Tuition Benefit” Should Be Used in Average Weekly Wage Computation Vermont College’s “Tuition Benefit” Should Be Used in Average Weekly Wage Computation

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