Category: Case comment

Sep 12, 2019

Wyoming High Court Says Both Employer and Division of Workers’ Compensation Estopped From Using Statute of Limitations Defense

In a complex case, with procedural twists and turns, the Supreme Court of Wyoming reversed a finding that an employee’s claim for workers’ compensation benefits was barred because he failed...

Wyoming High Court Says Both Employer and Division of Workers’ Compensation Estopped From Using Statute of Limitations Defense Wyoming High Court Says Both Employer and Division of Workers’ Compensation Estopped From Using Statute of Limitations Defense
Sep 11, 2019

Utah High Court Comes Close to Adopting Positional Risk for Unexplained Falls

The Supreme Court of Utah affirmed a finding by the state’s Labor Commission that an employee’s injuries sustained in an unexplained fall in a parking lot adjacent to the employer’s...

Utah High Court Comes Close to Adopting Positional Risk for Unexplained Falls Utah High Court Comes Close to Adopting Positional Risk for Unexplained Falls
Sep 10, 2019

Sixth Circuit Side-Steps Federal Immigration Issue in Retaliatory Discharge Action

While hypothetical questions may have been the standard in law school courses taught via the Socratic Method, the Sixth Circuit recently held such questions are not to be considered by...

Sixth Circuit Side-Steps Federal Immigration Issue in Retaliatory Discharge Action Sixth Circuit Side-Steps Federal Immigration Issue in Retaliatory Discharge Action
Sep 6, 2019

Tourist Medicine May Be Coming to a Comp Claim Near You

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Doctor. I shared a nostalgic conversation last week with a similarly-aged J.D. about our early days of law practice. More than...

Tourist Medicine May Be Coming to a Comp Claim Near You Tourist Medicine May Be Coming to a Comp Claim Near You
Sep 5, 2019

Provision of Vehicle to Employee Not Controlling Factor in Texas Death Benefits Case

The provision by an employer of a company-owned vehicle was insufficient to establish a work-connection between an employee’s fatal vehicle accident and the employment, held a Texas appellate court recently...

Provision of Vehicle to Employee Not Controlling Factor in Texas Death Benefits Case Provision of Vehicle to Employee Not Controlling Factor in Texas Death Benefits Case
Aug 30, 2019

Rule 12(b)(1) vs. 12(b)(6): What’s the Difference? Parties Discover that With Motions to Dismiss, Subsections Matter

Questions of employer immunity from actions for workplace injuries do not raise issues pertaining to the original subject matter jurisdiction of Washington's superior courts, held a state appellate court in...

Rule 12(b)(1) vs. 12(b)(6): What’s the Difference? Parties Discover that With Motions to Dismiss, Subsections Matter Rule 12(b)(1) vs. 12(b)(6): What’s the Difference? Parties Discover that With Motions to Dismiss, Subsections Matter
Aug 29, 2019

Texas Gross Negligence Statute Requires Showing of Both Objective and Subjective Elements

Construing Tex. Lab. Code Ann. § 408.001(b), which provides that the exclusive remedy provision of the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act does not prohibit the recovery of exemplary damages by the...

Texas Gross Negligence Statute Requires Showing of Both Objective and Subjective Elements Texas Gross Negligence Statute Requires Showing of Both Objective and Subjective Elements
Aug 27, 2019

Maryland First Responder’s Degenerative Knee Condition is Occupational “Disease”

In a divided decision, the Court of Appeals of Maryland yesterday held that since there was no showing that a first responder had a concomitant preexisting condition, and since he...

Maryland First Responder’s Degenerative Knee Condition is Occupational “Disease” Maryland First Responder’s Degenerative Knee Condition is Occupational “Disease”
Aug 26, 2019

Receipt of Benefits Bars Worker and Parents of Deceased Worker From Maintaining Civil Actions Against North Dakota “Employer”

Where one North Dakota worker was killed and another seriously injured in a work-related explosion, neither the deceased worker’s parents nor the injured worker could maintain a civil action against...

Receipt of Benefits Bars Worker and Parents of Deceased Worker From Maintaining Civil Actions Against North Dakota “Employer” Receipt of Benefits Bars Worker and Parents of Deceased Worker From Maintaining Civil Actions Against North Dakota “Employer”
Aug 23, 2019

Bartering Arrangement Results in Loss of PTD Benefits for Ohio Man

A partially-divided Supreme Court of Ohio has affirmed a decision by a lower level appellate court that, in turn, had refused to vacate an order terminating an injured worker’s PTD...

Bartering Arrangement Results in Loss of PTD Benefits for Ohio Man Bartering Arrangement Results in Loss of PTD Benefits for Ohio Man
Aug 22, 2019

New Hampshire Injured Worker’s Death from Heroin and Oxycodone Overdose is not Compensable

The Supreme Court of New Hampshire recently affirmed a decision of the state’s Compensation Appeals Board (CAB) that denied death benefits to the widow of a worker who died of...

New Hampshire Injured Worker’s Death from Heroin and Oxycodone Overdose is not Compensable New Hampshire Injured Worker’s Death from Heroin and Oxycodone Overdose is not Compensable
Aug 15, 2019

SC’s Auto Insurance Carriers May Not Offset PIP Benefits by Amounts Insured Receives for Workers’ Comp Benefits

In a tale of the “dueling statutes,” the Supreme Court of South Carolina recently held that insurers providing automobile insurance may not reduce their obligations to provide no-fault personal injury...

SC’s Auto Insurance Carriers May Not Offset PIP Benefits by Amounts Insured Receives for Workers’ Comp Benefits SC’s Auto Insurance Carriers May Not Offset PIP Benefits by Amounts Insured Receives for Workers’ Comp Benefits