Category: Case comment

Mar 2, 2021

MS Claimant Establishes Claim in Spite of Cautious Medical Testimony

A Mississippi appellate court affirmed an ALJ’s decision, affirmed by the state’s Workers’ Compensation Commission, that an employee’s stress fracture in her right foot was work-related, entitling the employee to...

MS Claimant Establishes Claim in Spite of Cautious Medical Testimony MS Claimant Establishes Claim in Spite of Cautious Medical Testimony
Mar 1, 2021

NY Court Says “Yes” to Medical Marijuana

A New York appellate court has affirmed a decision by the state’s Workers’ Compensation Board that allowed a variance to the state treatment guidelines for workers’ compensation claims and which...

NY Court Says “Yes” to Medical Marijuana NY Court Says “Yes” to Medical Marijuana
Feb 23, 2021

W. Va Claimant’s PTSD Claim Fails in Spite of Her Use of Earlier Case as a “Template”

In a deeply divided (3-2) memorandum decision, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia affirmed a decision rejecting the claim of a cashier at a gaming parlor who contended...

W. Va Claimant’s PTSD Claim Fails in Spite of Her Use of Earlier Case as a “Template” W. Va Claimant’s PTSD Claim Fails in Spite of Her Use of Earlier Case as a “Template”
Feb 22, 2021

Arkansas Muscle Strain Claim May Be Compensable Where Physician Did Not Observe Spasms

Construing Ark. Code Ann. § 11-9-102(4)(D) (Supp. 2019), which indicates that a compensable injury must be established by medical evidence supported by objective findings [emphasis mine], an Arkansas appellate court...

Arkansas Muscle Strain Claim May Be Compensable Where Physician Did Not Observe Spasms Arkansas Muscle Strain Claim May Be Compensable Where Physician Did Not Observe Spasms
Feb 18, 2021

Colorado High Court Says Injured Employee May Not Recover Via Co-Employee’s UM/UIM Policy

An injured employee is barred by operation of Colorado’s Workers’ Compensation Act’s exclusivity and co-employee immunity principles from bringing a UM/UIM benefits action against a co-employee vehicle owner’s insurer for...

Colorado High Court Says Injured Employee May Not Recover Via Co-Employee’s UM/UIM Policy Colorado High Court Says Injured Employee May Not Recover Via Co-Employee’s UM/UIM Policy
Feb 16, 2021

Arkansas Court Stresses Difference Between “Idiopathic” and “Unexplained”

An Arkansas appellate court affirmed the denial of workers’ compensation benefits to an employee who suffered mysterious GI bleeding while completing workers’ compensation claims forms at his employer’s facility, and...

Arkansas Court Stresses Difference Between “Idiopathic” and “Unexplained” Arkansas Court Stresses Difference Between “Idiopathic” and “Unexplained”
Feb 15, 2021

Alabama Trucker Not Bound by Jurisdictional Limitation in Her Employment Agreement

Where an Alabama resident sustained injuries in a work-related vehicular accident in Alabama, she could seek workers’ compensation benefits before an Alabama court in spite of a broad provision in...

Alabama Trucker Not Bound by Jurisdictional Limitation in Her Employment Agreement Alabama Trucker Not Bound by Jurisdictional Limitation in Her Employment Agreement
Feb 12, 2021

NY Court Remands Case Where Occupational Disease Disablement Date Was Close to Date Policy Lapsed

Where an employee retired in 2014, and was determined to be disabled by an occupational disease in 2016, at which time his employer had no workers’ compensation policy in effect–and...

NY Court Remands Case Where Occupational Disease Disablement Date Was Close to Date Policy Lapsed NY Court Remands Case Where Occupational Disease Disablement Date Was Close to Date Policy Lapsed
Feb 11, 2021

Surveillance Video Leads to NY Board’s Finding of Disqualification under § 114-a

A New York appellate court affirmed a decision of the state’s Workers’ Compensation Board that found an injured employee had misrepresented his physical condition to his treating physicians–videotape surveillance showed...

Surveillance Video Leads to NY Board’s Finding of Disqualification under § 114-a Surveillance Video Leads to NY Board’s Finding of Disqualification under § 114-a
Feb 9, 2021

NJ High Court Allows Claim for Injury Sustained During Charity’s “Fun Day”

Where a chef/cook, employed by a non-profit organization, sustained injuries at her employer’s “Family Fun Day”, an event that included recreational activities, games and music, held on a Saturday for...

NJ High Court Allows Claim for Injury Sustained During Charity’s “Fun Day” NJ High Court Allows Claim for Injury Sustained During Charity’s “Fun Day”
Feb 8, 2021

24-Hour NY Home Health Attendant’s Stop at Personal Physician’s Office Was Not a Deviation from Employment

A New York appellate court reversed a finding by the state's Workers' Compensation Board that had denied workers' compensation benefits to a home health attendant who provided care to one...

24-Hour NY Home Health Attendant’s Stop at Personal Physician’s Office Was Not a Deviation from Employment 24-Hour NY Home Health Attendant’s Stop at Personal Physician’s Office Was Not a Deviation from Employment
Feb 4, 2021

Lack of Proximity Between Injury and Firing Found to be Fatal to Claim of Retaliatory Discharge

A federal district court in Illinois, construing that state’s law concerning retaliatory discharge claims, held–in relevant part–that a plaintiff’s factual allegations did not give rise to a claim of retaliatory...

Lack of Proximity Between Injury and Firing Found to be Fatal to Claim of Retaliatory Discharge Lack of Proximity Between Injury and Firing Found to be Fatal to Claim of Retaliatory Discharge