Category: Case comment

Sep 14, 2018

Oklahoma Claimant Awarded Additional Benefits After Freak Accident at Medical Facility

If It Weren’t For Bad Luck, She’d Have No Luck at All An Oklahoma workers’ compensation claimant is entitled to additional benefits following a bizarre incident in which she sustained...

Oklahoma Claimant Awarded Additional Benefits After Freak Accident at Medical Facility Oklahoma Claimant Awarded Additional Benefits After Freak Accident at Medical Facility
Sep 6, 2018

NC Worker’s Tort Claim Against Insurer for Malicious Prosecution May Move Forward

While a workers’ compensation insurer generally enjoys the same sort of immunity from tort liability afforded the employer [see Larson’s Workers’ Compensation Law, § 100.01], there are limits to that...

NC Worker’s Tort Claim Against Insurer for Malicious Prosecution May Move Forward NC Worker’s Tort Claim Against Insurer for Malicious Prosecution May Move Forward
Sep 4, 2018

Maryland Cab Driver’s “Misclassification” Action Appropriately Dismissed

Misclassification of Workers is not Recognized as independent Tort A Maryland cab driver, who sustained injuries in a work-related auto accident, may not maintain a civil action against the cab...

Maryland Cab Driver’s “Misclassification” Action Appropriately Dismissed Maryland Cab Driver’s “Misclassification” Action Appropriately Dismissed
Aug 13, 2018

Recent Kansas AMA Guides Decision: Would the Court Prefer a Fault-Based System?

Jettisoning the Bath Water—Does the Baby Remain? As someone who has, for the past 32 years, earned the bulk of his living reading—I’ll admit, often only skimming—some 2,500 appellate decisions...

Recent Kansas AMA Guides Decision: Would the Court Prefer a Fault-Based System? Recent Kansas AMA Guides Decision: Would the Court Prefer a Fault-Based System?
Aug 3, 2018

Kansas Court Strikes Down Use of AMA Guides 6th Ed.

Decision Reinstates 4th Edition for Workers’ Comp Disputes In a decision that quotes, among other authority, Linda Loman, wife of Willy Loman, of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, the...

Kansas Court Strikes Down Use of AMA Guides 6th Ed. Kansas Court Strikes Down Use of AMA Guides 6th Ed.
Jul 23, 2018

Alabama Accountant’s Fatal Shooting by Disgruntled Former Client Found Compensable

In a case with a bizarre fact pattern, an Alabama appellate court affirmed an award of workers’ compensation death benefits to the surviving spouse of an accountant who was stalked...

Alabama Accountant’s Fatal Shooting by Disgruntled Former Client Found Compensable Alabama Accountant’s Fatal Shooting by Disgruntled Former Client Found Compensable
Jun 28, 2018

Oklahoma High Court OKs Use of “Current Edition” of AMA Guides

Conflict with PA’s Protz Decision is Only on the Surface The sections of Oklahoma’s Administrative Workers’ Compensation Act (AWCA) that require use of the “current edition” of the AMA’s Guides...

Oklahoma High Court OKs Use of “Current Edition” of AMA Guides Oklahoma High Court OKs Use of “Current Edition” of AMA Guides
Jun 19, 2018

Kansas Claimants’ Attorneys Face “Catch-22” in Appellate Work

No Provision for Court-Ordered Fees on Appeal The Court of Appeals of Kansas recently reiterated that because of what amounts to a “Catch-22” in state law and appellate rules, an...

Kansas Claimants’ Attorneys Face “Catch-22” in Appellate Work Kansas Claimants’ Attorneys Face “Catch-22” in Appellate Work
Jun 18, 2018

Maine Employer Need Not Pay for Injured Worker’s Medical Marijuana

In a case of first impression within the state, the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, in a 5-2 decision, Bourgoin v. Twin Rivers Paper Co., LLC, 2018 ME 77, 187...

Maine Employer Need Not Pay for Injured Worker’s Medical Marijuana Maine Employer Need Not Pay for Injured Worker’s Medical Marijuana
Jun 14, 2018

California: Use of Preprinted C & R Form Does Not Waive Claims Outside Workers’ Comp Context

A California appellate court found a state trial court committed error when it granted summary judgment to an employer in an employment discrimination case filed by a former employee based...

California: Use of Preprinted C & R Form Does Not Waive Claims Outside Workers’ Comp Context California: Use of Preprinted C & R Form Does Not Waive Claims Outside Workers’ Comp Context
Jun 13, 2018

Texas Insurer Barred from Going After Third-Party Settlement Proceeds

Where a worker’s compensation insurance policy contained a clause in which the carrier waived its right to recover from any third party sued by the injured employee, that clause also...

Texas Insurer Barred from Going After Third-Party Settlement Proceeds Texas Insurer Barred from Going After Third-Party Settlement Proceeds
Jun 13, 2018

Kansas Worker Gets No Benefits For Early Morning Injuries While Walking to Hotel

A Kansas roofer, who sustained catastrophic injuries when he was struck by a drunk driver as the roofer walked from a bar to his hotel at 2:20 a.m., could not...

Kansas Worker Gets No Benefits For Early Morning Injuries While Walking to Hotel Kansas Worker Gets No Benefits For Early Morning Injuries While Walking to Hotel