Category: Case comment

Apr 22, 2019

What’s In A Comma?

Divided Kansas Supreme Court Argues Over Workers’ Comp Act’s “Failure to Move Forward” Statute In a divided decision, the Supreme Court of Kansas held that Kan. Stat. Ann. § 44-523(f)(1)...

What’s In A Comma? What’s In A Comma?
Apr 22, 2019

Oregon Supreme Court: Minimum Wage Law May Not Be Used to Determine Claimant’s Status as “Worker”

A commercial truck driver, who sustained injuries during an unpaid pre-employment drive test that consisted of an actual delivery for the prospective employer, was not a “worker,” as that term...

Oregon Supreme Court: Minimum Wage Law May Not Be Used to Determine Claimant’s Status as “Worker” Oregon Supreme Court: Minimum Wage Law May Not Be Used to Determine Claimant’s Status as “Worker”
Apr 19, 2019

NY Court Reverses Board’s Decision to Disqualify Claimant From Future Benefits

Court Says Board Mischaracterized Videotape Surveillance Evidence A New York appellate court reversed a decision by the state’s Workers’ Compensation Board that disqualified a claimant from receiving future wage replacement...

NY Court Reverses Board’s Decision to Disqualify Claimant From Future Benefits NY Court Reverses Board’s Decision to Disqualify Claimant From Future Benefits
Apr 18, 2019

Missouri Court Affirms Award for Fall in Employer’s Parking Garage

45-Year Employee Did Not Face Similar Risk in Non-Employment Life A Missouri appellate court affirmed a decision by the state’s Labor and Industrial Relations Commission that awarded workers’ compensation benefits...

Missouri Court Affirms Award for Fall in Employer’s Parking Garage Missouri Court Affirms Award for Fall in Employer’s Parking Garage
Apr 17, 2019

Deeply Divided MS Court Says Deceased Employee’s Ex-Wife May Impose Lien for Child Support

Lien Allowed in Spite of Fact that Children Had Been Adopted by Step-Father In a 5-4 decision, the Court of Appeals of Mississippi held the biological children of a deceased...

Deeply Divided MS Court Says Deceased Employee’s Ex-Wife May Impose Lien for Child Support Deeply Divided MS Court Says Deceased Employee’s Ex-Wife May Impose Lien for Child Support
Apr 16, 2019

Ohio Supreme Court Says Federal Employment Standards May Not Be Used to Determine if Claimant Was Part of Workforce

An Ohio appellate court erred when, in trying to determine if a claimant was part of the active workforce, it turned to an article describing how the United States Department...

Ohio Supreme Court Says Federal Employment Standards May Not Be Used to Determine if Claimant Was Part of Workforce Ohio Supreme Court Says Federal Employment Standards May Not Be Used to Determine if Claimant Was Part of Workforce
Apr 15, 2019

Kansas Supreme Court Reiterates: “Idiopathic” and “Unknown” Are Not Synonyms

Case Sent Back to Board for Determination Consistent With its Holding In a case of first impression, the Supreme Court of Kansas, affirming a decision of the state’s Court of...

Kansas Supreme Court Reiterates: “Idiopathic” and “Unknown” Are Not Synonyms Kansas Supreme Court Reiterates: “Idiopathic” and “Unknown” Are Not Synonyms
Apr 15, 2019

Colorado DIME Physician's Opinion Not Always Given Presumptive Deference

DIME Physician’s Opinions as to the Cause of Engineer’s Narcolepsy Not Afforded Special Deference By virtue of a special Colorado statute [Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8-42-107(8)(b)(III)], a division-sponsored independent medical...

Colorado DIME Physician's Opinion Not Always Given Presumptive Deference Colorado DIME Physician's Opinion Not Always Given Presumptive Deference
Apr 12, 2019

Rhode Island’s “Work-Sharing” Benefits Not Used in Computing AWW

In a case of first impression, the Supreme Court of Rhode Island held that “benefits” received under the state’s “work-sharing” program [see R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-44-69] are not to...

Rhode Island’s “Work-Sharing” Benefits Not Used in Computing AWW Rhode Island’s “Work-Sharing” Benefits Not Used in Computing AWW
Apr 11, 2019

Nebraska Deputy’s Fatal Injuries in Auto Accident Not Compensable

Deputy Was on Cell Phone Exchanging Shift-Change Information at Time of Crash A deputy sheriff’s death in an automobile accident did not arise out of and in the course of...

Nebraska Deputy’s Fatal Injuries in Auto Accident Not Compensable Nebraska Deputy’s Fatal Injuries in Auto Accident Not Compensable
Apr 10, 2019

Exclusive Remedy Defense Protects Some Employers In Spite of Express Indemnification Agreement

Landlord Could Not Implead Tenant/Employer In Injured Employee’s Suit Where Employer Was Not Negligent The exclusive remedy provision of the Delaware Workers’ Compensation Act [Del. Code Ann. tit. 19, §...

Exclusive Remedy Defense Protects Some Employers In Spite of Express Indemnification Agreement Exclusive Remedy Defense Protects Some Employers In Spite of Express Indemnification Agreement
Apr 9, 2019

Florida’s 6-Month Limitation on Temporary “Physical-Mental” Benefits is Constitutional

A Florida appellate court has upheld the constitutionality of a provision within the state’s Workers’ Compensation Act [§ 440.093(3), Fla. Stat.] that cuts off temporary benefits for psychiatric injuries six...

Florida’s 6-Month Limitation on Temporary “Physical-Mental” Benefits is Constitutional Florida’s 6-Month Limitation on Temporary “Physical-Mental” Benefits is Constitutional