Category: Case comment

Nov 21, 2019

Claims Regarding 40-Year-Old Injury Not Barred by Florida Statute of Limitations

Where a Florida employer, for unknown reasons, stopped paying an injured worker PTD benefits in 1987 regarding the claimant’s accepted claim, but the Division of Workers’ Compensation (“the Division”) continued...

Claims Regarding 40-Year-Old Injury Not Barred by Florida Statute of Limitations Claims Regarding 40-Year-Old Injury Not Barred by Florida Statute of Limitations
Nov 20, 2019

NM Supreme Court Applies IME Statute to Death Benefit Cases

In a well-expressed opinion that illustrates how an appellate court is sometimes required to construe an ambiguous statute, the Supreme Court of New Mexico held that while there was no...

NM Supreme Court Applies IME Statute to Death Benefit Cases NM Supreme Court Applies IME Statute to Death Benefit Cases
Nov 19, 2019

Florida JCC May Not Ignore Clear Opinion of Expert Medical Advisor

Where an Expert Medical Advisor (EMA) clearly indicated in his report that a claimant had not reached MMI because of the claimant’s need for future surgery, it was error for...

Florida JCC May Not Ignore Clear Opinion of Expert Medical Advisor Florida JCC May Not Ignore Clear Opinion of Expert Medical Advisor
Nov 18, 2019

Ohio Worker Gets PTD Benefits in Spite of Refusing Vocational Rehab

Acknowledging that an employee’s refusal of vocational rehabilitation services can constitute voluntary abandonment of the workforce for disability compensation purposes, an Ohio appellate court held that such a refusal does...

Ohio Worker Gets PTD Benefits in Spite of Refusing Vocational Rehab Ohio Worker Gets PTD Benefits in Spite of Refusing Vocational Rehab
Nov 15, 2019

On-Premises Slip and Fall Not Compensable for Arkansas Worker

Illustrating the narrow rule that Arkansas utilizes to determine if an injury arises out of and in the course of the employment, a state appellate court recently affirmed the denial...

On-Premises Slip and Fall Not Compensable for Arkansas Worker On-Premises Slip and Fall Not Compensable for Arkansas Worker
Nov 14, 2019

Missouri Worker Fails to Connect Tinnitus to Work-Related Brawl

In a decision illustrating the broad latitude given to Missouri’s Labor & Industrial Relations Commission in judging the weight of medical evidence, a panel of a state appellate court recently...

Missouri Worker Fails to Connect Tinnitus to Work-Related Brawl Missouri Worker Fails to Connect Tinnitus to Work-Related Brawl
Nov 12, 2019

Hospital Worker’s Injuries Exiting Elevator Cannot Support Tort Suit Against Louisiana Employer

Where a hospital worker, who had arrived at her employer’s facility one hour prior to the time she was supposed to clock in (which was her habit), sustained injuries as...

Hospital Worker’s Injuries Exiting Elevator Cannot Support Tort Suit Against Louisiana Employer Hospital Worker’s Injuries Exiting Elevator Cannot Support Tort Suit Against Louisiana Employer
Nov 11, 2019

Pennsylvania Borrowed Employee May Not Sue Borrowing Employer In Tort

Construing the so-called “borrowed employee” doctrine, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania stressed that where a worker employed by one company is furnished by that company to perform work for another...

Pennsylvania Borrowed Employee May Not Sue Borrowing Employer In Tort Pennsylvania Borrowed Employee May Not Sue Borrowing Employer In Tort
Nov 8, 2019

Eight Days Late Results in More than a Dollar Short for Mississippi Claimant

While some jurisdictions show significant flexibility when it comes to time limitations for filing workers’ compensation appeal or review requests, Mississippi appears to be much less forgiving. In Hardy v....

Eight Days Late Results in More than a Dollar Short for Mississippi Claimant Eight Days Late Results in More than a Dollar Short for Mississippi Claimant
Nov 7, 2019

Provision of Company Vehicle to Texas Employee Does Not Necessarily Bring Commute Within Employment

The mere gratuitous furnishing of transportation by the employer to the employee as an accommodation, and not as an integral part of the contract of employment, does not, by itself,...

Provision of Company Vehicle to Texas Employee Does Not Necessarily Bring Commute Within Employment Provision of Company Vehicle to Texas Employee Does Not Necessarily Bring Commute Within Employment
Nov 6, 2019

“Don’t Lift that Box”: Georgia Worker Fired For Insubordination, Not Because of His Injury

That the firing of a worker has some connection to his or her work-related injury is insufficient, in and of itself, to support an award of temporary disability benefits following...

“Don’t Lift that Box”: Georgia Worker Fired For Insubordination, Not Because of His Injury “Don’t Lift that Box”: Georgia Worker Fired For Insubordination, Not Because of His Injury
Nov 5, 2019

No Carpal Tunnel Recovery for West Virginia Embalmer

Illustrating the broad discretion that the state’s Workers’ Compensation Board of Review has when it comes to making factual determinations—including those regarding medical causation—the Supreme Court of Appeals of West...

No Carpal Tunnel Recovery for West Virginia Embalmer No Carpal Tunnel Recovery for West Virginia Embalmer