Category: Case comment

Jun 25, 2019

Georgia Restaurant Manager’s Gunshot Wound at Home During Attempted Robbery Was Compensable

A Georgia appellate court, reversing a decision of a state Superior Court, held that substantial evidence supported a finding by the State Board of Workers’ Compensation that a restaurant manager’s...

Georgia Restaurant Manager’s Gunshot Wound at Home During Attempted Robbery Was Compensable Georgia Restaurant Manager’s Gunshot Wound at Home During Attempted Robbery Was Compensable
Jun 24, 2019

Deeply Divided Oklahoma Supreme Court “Opts Out” of Legislature’s Definition of “intentional” Injury

“Substantially Certain” Doctrine Stays, in Spite of Specific Language to the Contrary In a deeply divided decision, with three justices concurring specially with the majority’s opinion, and four justices dissenting,...

Deeply Divided Oklahoma Supreme Court “Opts Out” of Legislature’s Definition of “intentional” Injury Deeply Divided Oklahoma Supreme Court “Opts Out” of Legislature’s Definition of “intentional” Injury
Jun 19, 2019

Presumption of Correctness Afforded Florida’s EMAs Passes Constitutional Muster

§ 440.13(9)(c), Fla. Stat., which provides a presumption of correctness to the opinion of an expert medical advisor (“EMA”), is not violative of separation of powers, equal protection, and due...

Presumption of Correctness Afforded Florida’s EMAs Passes Constitutional Muster Presumption of Correctness Afforded Florida’s EMAs Passes Constitutional Muster
Jun 18, 2019

Kentucky’s Special Hearing Loss Threshold is Constitutional

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 342.7305, pursuant to which workers’ compensation claimants suffering hearing loss may not be awarded income benefits unless their whole person impairment rating (“WPI”)—as determined by converting...

Kentucky’s Special Hearing Loss Threshold is Constitutional Kentucky’s Special Hearing Loss Threshold is Constitutional
Jun 17, 2019

NJ Diabetic Teacher’s Failure to Accommodate Claim Not Barred by Exclusivity

In a decision discussing several employment-related law issues, a New Jersey appellate court held, in relevant part, that a bodily injury claim arising from an employer’s failure to accommodate allegation...

NJ Diabetic Teacher’s Failure to Accommodate Claim Not Barred by Exclusivity NJ Diabetic Teacher’s Failure to Accommodate Claim Not Barred by Exclusivity
Jun 13, 2019

Delaware Supreme Court Says Injured Employees May Recover Under Employer’s Underinsured Motorist Coverage

The Supreme Court of Delaware, reversing earlier rulings by a state trial court, held that the exclusive remedy provisions of the state’s Workers’ Compensation Act (the Act), two workers who...

Delaware Supreme Court Says Injured Employees May Recover Under Employer’s Underinsured Motorist Coverage Delaware Supreme Court Says Injured Employees May Recover Under Employer’s Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Jun 12, 2019

Seattle Delivery Service Hit With $1 Million in Workers’ Comp Premiums, Penalties and Interest

Two weeks ago I wrote about Amazon’s new “last-mile” delivery service. In that post, I pointed out that Amazon had carefully crafted the business model to assure that the delivery...

Seattle Delivery Service Hit With $1 Million in Workers’ Comp Premiums, Penalties and Interest Seattle Delivery Service Hit With $1 Million in Workers’ Comp Premiums, Penalties and Interest
Jun 11, 2019

Federal Court in Colorado Holds Injured Employee May Not Recover Under Employer’s Uninsured Motorist Coverage

In a diversity insurance case that the court indicated was an issue of first impression, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, construing Colorado law, held that an...

Federal Court in Colorado Holds Injured Employee May Not Recover Under Employer’s Uninsured Motorist Coverage Federal Court in Colorado Holds Injured Employee May Not Recover Under Employer’s Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Jun 10, 2019

Colorado High Court Says 8th Amendment’s “Excessive Fines” Prohibition Protects Corporations, as Well as Individuals

Decision Calls Into Question Whether Per Diem Fines to Uninsured Employers Are Unconstitutionally Harsh The Supreme Court of Colorado, with one justice dissenting in part, recently held that the Eighth...

Colorado High Court Says 8th Amendment’s “Excessive Fines” Prohibition Protects Corporations, as Well as Individuals Colorado High Court Says 8th Amendment’s “Excessive Fines” Prohibition Protects Corporations, as Well as Individuals
Jun 7, 2019

Texas Employee’s Tort Action for Fall in Parking Lot Injury May Move Forward

Employer Fails to Show Injury “Fell” Within “Access Doctrine” Exception to Going and Coming Rule A Texas appellate court recently held that an employer—the City of Corpus Christi—failed to show...

Texas Employee’s Tort Action for Fall in Parking Lot Injury May Move Forward Texas Employee’s Tort Action for Fall in Parking Lot Injury May Move Forward
Jun 6, 2019

NY Claimant Establishes Aspergillosis Claim as an Accidental Injury

Court’s Ruling of No Occupational Disease Does Not Bar Claim (After Remittal) for Accidental Injury Where a New York appellate court reversed the state Workers’ Compensation Board’s finding that a...

NY Claimant Establishes Aspergillosis Claim as an Accidental Injury NY Claimant Establishes Aspergillosis Claim as an Accidental Injury
Jun 5, 2019

For Illinois “Borrowing Employer,” Exclusive Remedy Defense Not Tied to Payment of Insurance Premiums

A temporary staffing agency worker may not maintain a cause of action against a “borrowing employer” for personal injuries sustained in a work-related accident in spite of the fact that...

For Illinois “Borrowing Employer,” Exclusive Remedy Defense Not Tied to Payment of Insurance Premiums For Illinois “Borrowing Employer,” Exclusive Remedy Defense Not Tied to Payment of Insurance Premiums