Category: Case comment

Mar 22, 2022

Kansas General Contractor Found Liable for Benefits Owed to Uninsured Subcontractor’s Injured Worker

In a complex case that saw the Court opine on the distinction between “judicial dictum” and “obiter dictum,” the Kansas Supreme Court held that a general contractor could be liable...

Kansas General Contractor Found Liable for Benefits Owed to Uninsured Subcontractor’s Injured Worker Kansas General Contractor Found Liable for Benefits Owed to Uninsured Subcontractor’s Injured Worker
Mar 21, 2022

Under FL Statute, “Traveling Employee” is Not in “Travel Status” While Driving Home from Work

Reversing a decision by a state judge of compensation claims (JCC) that had awarded workers’ compensation benefits to a Florida HVAC technician who sustained injuries in a vehicular accident as...

Under FL Statute, “Traveling Employee” is Not in “Travel Status” While Driving Home from Work Under FL Statute, “Traveling Employee” is Not in “Travel Status” While Driving Home from Work
Mar 15, 2022

Claim of FL Airlines Employee Barred by Going and Coming Statute

Construing Florida’s “going and coming” statute, § 440.092(2), Fla. Stat., a state appellate court affirmed a finding by a judge of compensation claims that injuries sustained by an American Airlines...

Claim of FL Airlines Employee Barred by Going and Coming Statute Claim of FL Airlines Employee Barred by Going and Coming Statute
Mar 14, 2022

Virginia Widow Loses Death From Radar Beams Claim

In an unusual case in which a surviving spouse claimed that her husband’s death from a heart attack had been caused by his three-week exposure to radar beams at work,...

Virginia Widow Loses Death From Radar Beams Claim Virginia Widow Loses Death From Radar Beams Claim
Mar 8, 2022

Federal Court: Settlement Agreement Created Express Trust Favoring Injured Worker’s Medical Providers

A federal district court, sitting in Wisconsin, has affirmed a decision by a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge that found $400,000 paid into the trust account of an injured worker’s attorney, and...

Federal Court: Settlement Agreement Created Express Trust Favoring Injured Worker’s Medical Providers Federal Court: Settlement Agreement Created Express Trust Favoring Injured Worker’s Medical Providers
Mar 7, 2022

Nebraska Court Agrees Truck Driver Was Independent Contractor

In a decision that stands in stark contrast to court holdings in some other states—particularly California—a Nebraska appellate court affirmed a decision by the state’s compensation court that had found...

Nebraska Court Agrees Truck Driver Was Independent Contractor Nebraska Court Agrees Truck Driver Was Independent Contractor
Feb 25, 2022

NY Board Errs in Setting Disablement Date for Repetitive Stress Injury

A decision by the New York Workers’ Compensation Board that a claimant should have been aware of the work-related nature of his back pain and injury in June 2017, at...

NY Board Errs in Setting Disablement Date for Repetitive Stress Injury NY Board Errs in Setting Disablement Date for Repetitive Stress Injury
Feb 24, 2022

Florida Court Re-examines Valcourt-Williams “Increased Risk” Analysis

A Florida appellate court held that a state JCC had erred when the JCC denied compensability of a claim in which an employee suffered an unexplained fall as she walked...

Florida Court Re-examines Valcourt-Williams “Increased Risk” Analysis Florida Court Re-examines Valcourt-Williams “Increased Risk” Analysis
Feb 22, 2022

Florida Teacher’s Fall After His Leg Went to Sleep is Not Compensable

A Florida appellate court affirmed a state JCC’s denial of a claim filed by a teacher who sustained a broken left femur when he lost his balance and fell after...

Florida Teacher’s Fall After His Leg Went to Sleep is Not Compensable Florida Teacher’s Fall After His Leg Went to Sleep is Not Compensable
Feb 21, 2022

NV Cannabis Dispensary’s Employee Might Recover for Injuries Sustained in Altercation with Customer

Finding that a Nevada appeals officer had focused too narrowly on an employee’s work-related duties and had not considered the totality of the circumstances in determining if the employee’s injury...

NV Cannabis Dispensary’s Employee Might Recover for Injuries Sustained in Altercation with Customer NV Cannabis Dispensary’s Employee Might Recover for Injuries Sustained in Altercation with Customer
Feb 17, 2022

Civil Action Related to COVID-19 Death of Texas Employee Barred by Exclusivity

A federal district court, sitting in Texas and construing Texas law, granted a defendant-employer’s motion for summary judgment in a civil action filed against it by the family of a...

Civil Action Related to COVID-19 Death of Texas Employee Barred by Exclusivity Civil Action Related to COVID-19 Death of Texas Employee Barred by Exclusivity
Feb 15, 2022

Light-Duty NY Worker Gets No Reduced Earnings Benefits Following COVID-19 Cutbacks

Where, after his work-related injury, a New York employee returned to light work for a different employer and then was laid off due to cutbacks related to the COVID-19 pandemic,...

Light-Duty NY Worker Gets No Reduced Earnings Benefits Following COVID-19 Cutbacks Light-Duty NY Worker Gets No Reduced Earnings Benefits Following COVID-19 Cutbacks