Category: Case comment

Apr 17, 2020

Injured NY Worker Who Received Comp Benefits Might Also Recover in Tort Against Co-Worker

In an unusual case with an interesting twist, a New York appellate court yesterday affirmed a decision by a state trial court that denied a defendant's motion for summary judgment...

Injured NY Worker Who Received Comp Benefits Might Also Recover in Tort Against Co-Worker Injured NY Worker Who Received Comp Benefits Might Also Recover in Tort Against Co-Worker
Apr 16, 2020

"First Do No Harm" – Missouri Employee's Injuries At Doctor's Office Not Compensable

The Supreme Court of Missouri, construing the state’s special causation rules for workers’ compensation claims, affirmed a decision by the state’s Labor and Industrial Relations Commission that denied an employee’s...

"First Do No Harm" – Missouri Employee's Injuries At Doctor's Office Not Compensable "First Do No Harm" – Missouri Employee's Injuries At Doctor's Office Not Compensable
Apr 15, 2020

For NY Board's Form RB-89, Question 15's "When" Did Not Mean a Specific Date

New York practitioners are aware that when a party seeks review of a WCLJ's findings, the state's Workers' Compensation Board has become quite strict in its examination of a party's...

For NY Board's Form RB-89, Question 15's "When" Did Not Mean a Specific Date For NY Board's Form RB-89, Question 15's "When" Did Not Mean a Specific Date
Apr 13, 2020

In Illinois, You Need Neither a Legislature Nor a Governor: Comp Commission Unilaterally Changes its Rules of Evidence

In this morning’s post, I was critical of a number of states whose governors had marched to the microphone and camera and, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, announced...

In Illinois, You Need Neither a Legislature Nor a Governor: Comp Commission Unilaterally Changes its Rules of Evidence In Illinois, You Need Neither a Legislature Nor a Governor: Comp Commission Unilaterally Changes its Rules of Evidence
Apr 10, 2020

Broken Ankle Results in Permanent Total Disability for Nebraska Truck Driver

Illustrating yet again, that the age-old adage that an employer generally takes an employee as it finds him or her, a Nebraska appellate court affirmed a finding by the state’s...

Broken Ankle Results in Permanent Total Disability for Nebraska Truck Driver Broken Ankle Results in Permanent Total Disability for Nebraska Truck Driver
Apr 9, 2020

NC Court Narrows State’s Traveling Employee Rule

In a decision that could have important implications for those who travel as part of their work for North Carolina employers, a state appellate court, affirming a decision of the...

NC Court Narrows State’s Traveling Employee Rule NC Court Narrows State’s Traveling Employee Rule
Apr 7, 2020

In Georgia, Borrowed Servant is Co-Employee of Borrowing Employer’s “Regular” Employee

In Georgia, a borrowed servant is, even though temporarily, the co-employee of the borrowing employer’s regular employees. Accordingly, such a borrowed servant may not sue one of the employer’s regular...

In Georgia, Borrowed Servant is Co-Employee of Borrowing Employer’s “Regular” Employee In Georgia, Borrowed Servant is Co-Employee of Borrowing Employer’s “Regular” Employee
Apr 2, 2020

Virginia School Guard’s Injuries Allegedly Caused by Wind Were Not Compensable

Applying Virginia’s so-called “actual risk test,” a state appellate court affirmed a decision by the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission that had denied benefits to a school security officer who fell...

Virginia School Guard’s Injuries Allegedly Caused by Wind Were Not Compensable Virginia School Guard’s Injuries Allegedly Caused by Wind Were Not Compensable
Mar 31, 2020

Arkansas Carrier Wins: Requires Premiums Be Paid on Worker’s Earnings, Then Says He Was Independent Contractor

In a real “head-scratcher,” an Arkansas appellate court, relying on a 50-year-old decision of the state’s Supreme Court, held that the Arkansas Commission did not err when it determined that...

Arkansas Carrier Wins: Requires Premiums Be Paid on Worker’s Earnings, Then Says He Was Independent Contractor Arkansas Carrier Wins: Requires Premiums Be Paid on Worker’s Earnings, Then Says He Was Independent Contractor
Mar 27, 2020

SC Supreme Court Stresses Commission May Not Use Credibility as a Wild Card

Acknowledging that when South Carolina’s Workers’ Compensation Commission makes a credibility determination based on substantial evidence, that credibility finding itself is substantial evidence, and factual findings properly based on such...

SC Supreme Court Stresses Commission May Not Use Credibility as a Wild Card SC Supreme Court Stresses Commission May Not Use Credibility as a Wild Card
Mar 26, 2020

$2.9 Million California Judgment Against Employer Stands in Muddled Green Card Application Case

A California appellate court affirmed a $2.9 million judgment entered against a former movie industry employer who botched the green card application process of one of its foreign employees, resulting...

$2.9 Million California Judgment Against Employer Stands in Muddled Green Card Application Case $2.9 Million California Judgment Against Employer Stands in Muddled Green Card Application Case
Mar 25, 2020

SD Supreme Court Construes State’s “No Progress” Rule in Comp Cases

Construing South Dakota’s “no progress” rule [S.D. Admin. R. 47:03:01:09], which allows the state’s Department of Labor to dismiss a workers’ compensation petition when there has been “no activity for...

SD Supreme Court Construes State’s “No Progress” Rule in Comp Cases SD Supreme Court Construes State’s “No Progress” Rule in Comp Cases