Category: Case comment

Feb 14, 2022

Ex Parte Letter to Treating Physician Sinks NY Truck Driver’s Occupational Disease Claim

Stressing that it is for the New York Workers’ Compensation Board to weigh the evidence—including the medical evidence—and that the Board’s findings will be upheld if supported by substantial evidence,...

Ex Parte Letter to Treating Physician Sinks NY Truck Driver’s Occupational Disease Claim Ex Parte Letter to Treating Physician Sinks NY Truck Driver’s Occupational Disease Claim
Feb 11, 2022

Mass Shooting Victim’s NY Civil Action May Move Forward Against Employer

In a case arising out of a tragic and bizarre 2017 multiple-shooting incident at a New York hospital, a state appellate court reversed a decision of the Empire State’s Workers’...

Mass Shooting Victim’s NY Civil Action May Move Forward Against Employer Mass Shooting Victim’s NY Civil Action May Move Forward Against Employer
Feb 10, 2022

Florida JCC May Not Strike Authorized Physician Because of Fee Dispute

Yesterday, a Florida appellate court held the state’s Workers’ Compensation Code (Code) does not authorize a Judge of Compensation Claims (JCC) to strike a physician authorized by the Employer/Carrier (E/C)...

Florida JCC May Not Strike Authorized Physician Because of Fee Dispute Florida JCC May Not Strike Authorized Physician Because of Fee Dispute
Feb 8, 2022

Bus Camera Video Sinks NY City Driver’s Back Injury Claim

Substantial evidence supported the New York Workers’ Compensation Board’s determination that a claimant, a bus driver, had not sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of his...

Bus Camera Video Sinks NY City Driver’s Back Injury Claim Bus Camera Video Sinks NY City Driver’s Back Injury Claim
Feb 7, 2022

Battle Continues in Kansas Over Use of 6th Edition of AMA Guides

In the continuing battle in Kansas over the use of the Sixth Edition of the American Medical Association (AMA) Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, a divided Court of...

Battle Continues in Kansas Over Use of 6th Edition of AMA Guides Battle Continues in Kansas Over Use of 6th Edition of AMA Guides
Feb 2, 2022

Judicial Estoppel Bars NY Defendants’ Exclusive Remedy Defense

In a divided decision, a New York appellate court held that where a Manpower, Inc. temporary worker was assigned to conduct inventory control at a pharmaceutical plant operated by two...

Judicial Estoppel Bars NY Defendants’ Exclusive Remedy Defense Judicial Estoppel Bars NY Defendants’ Exclusive Remedy Defense
Feb 1, 2022

PA Employer’s Right to Subrogation is “Absolute”

Acknowledging that a trial court in a declaratory action had fixed the injured employee’s total damages in his third-party tort claim at almost $2 million, designating $1,500,000 of that total...

PA Employer’s Right to Subrogation is “Absolute” PA Employer’s Right to Subrogation is “Absolute”
Jan 31, 2022

IL Contractor Who Provides Coverage for Subcontractor’s Workers Not Immune From Suit

The exclusive remedy provisions of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act (Act)—820 ILCS 305/5(a), 11— do not extend to a general contractor who paid workers’ compensation insurance premiums and benefits for...

IL Contractor Who Provides Coverage for Subcontractor’s Workers Not Immune From Suit IL Contractor Who Provides Coverage for Subcontractor’s Workers Not Immune From Suit
Jan 27, 2022

New Mexico Cannot Differentiate Between Secondary Mental Benefits and Secondary Physical Benefits

Capping secondary mental impairment benefits—pursuant to NMSA 1978, Section 52-1-41(C)(2015)—to the number of weeks allowable for the worker’s original physical injury [e.g., 150 weeks where the mental injury is secondary...

New Mexico Cannot Differentiate Between Secondary Mental Benefits and Secondary Physical Benefits New Mexico Cannot Differentiate Between Secondary Mental Benefits and Secondary Physical Benefits
Jan 25, 2022

Colorado Court Says Injuries Sustained En Route to Medical Appointment Not Always Compensable

Relying upon the “quasi-course of employment” concept set forth in Larson’s Workers’ Compensation Law, § 10.05, a division of the Court of Appeals of Colorado affirmed an order of the...

Colorado Court Says Injuries Sustained En Route to Medical Appointment Not Always Compensable Colorado Court Says Injuries Sustained En Route to Medical Appointment Not Always Compensable
Jan 21, 2022

Establishing “Personal Comfort” Activity Is Only Half the Battle, says OR Court

Stressing that the focus of the personal comfort doctrine was to determine if an employee’s actions occurred during the course of the employment, the Court of Appeals of Oregon held...

Establishing “Personal Comfort” Activity Is Only Half the Battle, says OR Court Establishing “Personal Comfort” Activity Is Only Half the Battle, says OR Court
Jan 20, 2022

NY Court Affirms Award for Flight Attendant’s Allergy to Uniforms

Illustrating that it is for the New York Workers’ Compensation Board to weigh the evidence, even when that evidence has been presented to a law judge hearing the case, a...

NY Court Affirms Award for Flight Attendant’s Allergy to Uniforms NY Court Affirms Award for Flight Attendant’s Allergy to Uniforms