Category: Case comment

May 27, 2025

When the Boss Wears Two Hats

Exclusivity Does Not Shield Corporate Officers/Property Owners From Liability as Landlords In Nelson v. Smith, 2025 N.C. App. LEXIS 306 (May 21, 2025), the North Carolina Court of Appeals reversed...

When the Boss Wears Two Hats When the Boss Wears Two Hats
May 20, 2025

Food Delivery Driver’s Tort Claim Against Pizzeria Barred by KY’s Up-the-Ladder Immunity Rule

In a fresh decision that further solidifies Kentucky’s robust up-the-ladder immunity doctrine, a federal district court has dismissed a negligence action filed by a food supplier’s delivery driver against a...

Food Delivery Driver’s Tort Claim Against Pizzeria Barred by KY’s Up-the-Ladder Immunity Rule Food Delivery Driver’s Tort Claim Against Pizzeria Barred by KY’s Up-the-Ladder Immunity Rule
May 19, 2025

MS Court of Appeals Applies Intoxication Presumption in Rooftop Fall Case

In Ladner v. Hinton Homes LLC, 2025 Miss. App. LEXIS 171 (Miss. Ct. App. May 6, 2025), the Mississippi Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of workers’ compensation benefits to...

MS Court of Appeals Applies Intoxication Presumption in Rooftop Fall Case MS Court of Appeals Applies Intoxication Presumption in Rooftop Fall Case
May 13, 2025

Pennsylvania Pharmacy May Not be Joined as Party in Comp Case

In a decision released earlier this week, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania drew a firm jurisdictional line in a billing dispute that grew out of a utilization review determination. In...

Pennsylvania Pharmacy May Not be Joined as Party in Comp Case Pennsylvania Pharmacy May Not be Joined as Party in Comp Case
May 12, 2025

Final Means Final—Even When the Law Changes

Favorable Ruling by NY High Court Cannot Support Employer’s Reopening Request In Matter of Coyle v. W & W Steel Erectors LLC, 2025 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 2889 (3d Dept....

Final Means Final—Even When the Law Changes Final Means Final—Even When the Law Changes
May 7, 2025

NY Court Clarifies When Financial Hardship Justifies Total Disability

Construing an exception to New York’s cap on permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits [see N.Y. Workers’ Comp. Law, § 35(3)], which allows—in certain situations—reclassification of the claimant’s disability to permanent...

NY Court Clarifies When Financial Hardship Justifies Total Disability NY Court Clarifies When Financial Hardship Justifies Total Disability
May 6, 2025

California Court Reverses WCAB’s Award for Carpool Injuries Sustained During Commute

In a decision reemphasizing the boundaries of compensability for commuting injuries, the California Court of Appeal (Third Appellate District) has annulled a WCAB award awarding workers’ compensation benefits to a...

California Court Reverses WCAB’s Award for Carpool Injuries Sustained During Commute California Court Reverses WCAB’s Award for Carpool Injuries Sustained During Commute
Apr 30, 2025

Arkansas Court Enforces Strict Dependency Hierarchy Despite Estrangement

In a decision underscoring the rigid statutory structure governing death benefits in workers’ compensation law, the Arkansas Court of Appeals recently affirmed the denial of benefits to the parents of...

Arkansas Court Enforces Strict Dependency Hierarchy Despite Estrangement Arkansas Court Enforces Strict Dependency Hierarchy Despite Estrangement
Apr 29, 2025

Georgia Court Blocks Assigned Negligence Claim Over Lapsed Workers’ Compensation Coverage

In Diaz Arriola v. Coleman, 2025 Ga. App. LEXIS 161 (Apr. 24, 2025), the Georgia Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of an injured employee’s assigned negligence and breach of...

Georgia Court Blocks Assigned Negligence Claim Over Lapsed Workers’ Compensation Coverage Georgia Court Blocks Assigned Negligence Claim Over Lapsed Workers’ Compensation Coverage
Apr 28, 2025

Hawaii Supreme Court Clarifies Employee Status in Workers’ Compensation Context

The Hawai’i Supreme Court recently held that a tenant who performed maintenance work on rental property, in exchange for reduced rent and occasional payment, was an employee—not a volunteer—and accordingly...

Hawaii Supreme Court Clarifies Employee Status in Workers’ Compensation Context Hawaii Supreme Court Clarifies Employee Status in Workers’ Compensation Context
Apr 22, 2025

SD Supreme Court Weighs Conflicting Medical Evidence

Reverses Factual Findings Where Evidence Was in Deposition Form In a split decision, the South Dakota Supreme Court reversed—in relevant part—a Department of Labor determination that had ruled a claimant’s...

SD Supreme Court Weighs Conflicting Medical Evidence SD Supreme Court Weighs Conflicting Medical Evidence
Apr 21, 2025

MN High Court Reaffirms Case-Specific Standard in PTD Retirement Presumption Cases

In a thoughtful and clarifying opinion, the Minnesota Supreme Court has reaffirmed the case-specific nature of the statutory retirement presumption applicable to permanent total disability (PTD) claims under Minn. Stat....

MN High Court Reaffirms Case-Specific Standard in PTD Retirement Presumption Cases MN High Court Reaffirms Case-Specific Standard in PTD Retirement Presumption Cases