Category: Case comment

Apr 28, 2020

Federal District Court Says Proximity of Firing to Filing Claim Was Alone Insufficient to Survive Employer’s Motion for Summary Judgment

Construing Colorado law, a federal district court granted, in relevant part, a former employer’s motion for summary judgment in a case filed against it for retaliatory discharge [Donez v. Leprino...

Federal District Court Says Proximity of Firing to Filing Claim Was Alone Insufficient to Survive Employer’s Motion for Summary Judgment Federal District Court Says Proximity of Firing to Filing Claim Was Alone Insufficient to Survive Employer’s Motion for Summary Judgment
Apr 24, 2020

NY Employer/Carrier May Preclude Medical Reports Without Enforcing Subpoenas

Yesterday, a New York appellate court held that the Board's decision to preclude medical reports of two of claimant's treating physicians was appropriate in spite of the fact that the...

NY Employer/Carrier May Preclude Medical Reports Without Enforcing Subpoenas NY Employer/Carrier May Preclude Medical Reports Without Enforcing Subpoenas
Apr 23, 2020

NY Claimant's False Representations Lead to Disqualification from Future Benefits

A New York appellate court affirmed a determination by a state Workers’ Compensation Law Judge, later upheld by New York’s Board, that disqualified a claimant from receiving future wage replacement...

NY Claimant's False Representations Lead to Disqualification from Future Benefits NY Claimant's False Representations Lead to Disqualification from Future Benefits
Apr 22, 2020

Idaho Court Says Bodies of Tandem Skydivers Are Not "Equipment"

Acknowledging that one of the important factors to be considered in determining whether a worker is an independent contractor, rather than an employee, is whether the worker brings important “equipment”...

Idaho Court Says Bodies of Tandem Skydivers Are Not "Equipment" Idaho Court Says Bodies of Tandem Skydivers Are Not "Equipment"
Apr 21, 2020

NY Court Construes State’s Traveling Employee Rules and Affirms Award of Benefits

Construing the state’s traveling employee rules, as those rules pertain to claims for workers’ compensation benefits, a New York appellate court affirmed a decision by the state’s Workers’ Compensation Board...

NY Court Construes State’s Traveling Employee Rules and Affirms Award of Benefits NY Court Construes State’s Traveling Employee Rules and Affirms Award of Benefits
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