Category: Case comment

Mar 2, 2017

Virginia Employer Proves Employee Was Intoxicated, But Still Loses Case

The Court of Appeals of Virginia recently reiterated that in order to defeat a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, it is not enough to show that an employee was intoxicated...

Virginia Employer Proves Employee Was Intoxicated, But Still Loses Case Virginia Employer Proves Employee Was Intoxicated, But Still Loses Case
Mar 1, 2017

$841,200 Fine Against Small Colorado Employer Was Unconstitutionally Excessive

While upholding the facial constitutionality of Colo. Rev. Stat. § 8–43–409, which provides for the imposition of fines against certain employers that fail to maintain workers’ compensation insurance, a Colorado...

$841,200 Fine Against Small Colorado Employer Was Unconstitutionally Excessive $841,200 Fine Against Small Colorado Employer Was Unconstitutionally Excessive
Mar 1, 2017

Georgia Supreme Court Clarifies “Willful Misconduct” Doctrine

Reversing a decision of the state’s Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Georgia, in Telecom v. Burdette, 2017 Ga. LEXIS 103 (Feb. 27, 2017), held that while the mere...

Georgia Supreme Court Clarifies “Willful Misconduct” Doctrine Georgia Supreme Court Clarifies “Willful Misconduct” Doctrine
Feb 16, 2017

Wyoming Worker Fails to Connect the Dots Between Original Surgery and Subsequent Procedure to Alleviate Continued Pain

The Supreme Court of Wyoming affirmed a finding by a state district court that an injured worker failed to establish a causal connection between her 2013 need for shoulder surgery...

Wyoming Worker Fails to Connect the Dots Between Original Surgery and Subsequent Procedure to Alleviate Continued Pain Wyoming Worker Fails to Connect the Dots Between Original Surgery and Subsequent Procedure to Alleviate Continued Pain
Feb 13, 2017

Ohio Employee’s Personal Delivery of FMLA Documents Was Not in Course and Scope of Employment

An Ohio appellate court affirmed a trial court’s finding that injuries sustained by an employee when she slipped and fell while descending a stairway as she left her employer’s HR...

Ohio Employee’s Personal Delivery of FMLA Documents Was Not in Course and Scope of Employment Ohio Employee’s Personal Delivery of FMLA Documents Was Not in Course and Scope of Employment
Feb 10, 2017

Like Oil & Water, Oxycodone and Xanax Don’t Mix

Nebraska Worker’s Death From Apparent Suicide is Not Compensable In a case that is heartbreaking from multiple points of view, the family of an injured Nebraska employee was denied workers’...

Like Oil & Water, Oxycodone and Xanax Don’t Mix Like Oil & Water, Oxycodone and Xanax Don’t Mix
Jan 26, 2017

NCCI May Not Impose Bankrupt Staffing Company’s Experience Rating on Purchaser in Court-Approved Sale of Assets

A debtor’s workers’ compensation experience rating is the sort of “interest” of which the debtor’s assets can be sold free and clear, under § 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code,...

NCCI May Not Impose Bankrupt Staffing Company’s Experience Rating on Purchaser in Court-Approved Sale of Assets NCCI May Not Impose Bankrupt Staffing Company’s Experience Rating on Purchaser in Court-Approved Sale of Assets
Jan 19, 2017

Lousiana Court Sustains Worker’s West Nile Virus Claim as Accidental Injury

A Louisiana appellate court affirmed, in relevant part, a ruling by a state workers’ compensation judge that a worker sustained an accidental injury arising out of and in the course...

Lousiana Court Sustains Worker’s West Nile Virus Claim as Accidental Injury Lousiana Court Sustains Worker’s West Nile Virus Claim as Accidental Injury
Jan 12, 2017

Memo to Worker’ Comp Carrier: Standing on Your Rights Can Result in Scorched Feet

Tennessee Appeals Panel Affirms $27K Attorney’s Fee Related to $187 Medical Claim In Grissom v. UPS, 2017 Tenn. LEXIS 4 (Jan. 9, 2017), the Special Workers’ Compensation Appeals Panel of the...

Memo to Worker’ Comp Carrier: Standing on Your Rights Can Result in Scorched Feet Memo to Worker’ Comp Carrier: Standing on Your Rights Can Result in Scorched Feet
Jan 6, 2017

“Star” Opera Singer is not Employee of the Metropolitan Opera House

A New York appellate court has agreed with Wendy White, prominent opera singer at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center (“the Met”), that White is not an employee and,...

“Star” Opera Singer is not Employee of the Metropolitan Opera House “Star” Opera Singer is not Employee of the Metropolitan Opera House
Dec 27, 2016

Nebraska County Courts Lack Jurisdiction to Determine Comp Insurer’s Subrogation Interest

A Nebraska county court lacked subject matter jurisdiction when it conducted a subrogation hearing to determine a workers’ compensation insurer’s interest in a wrongful death settlement that had been reached...

Nebraska County Courts Lack Jurisdiction to Determine Comp Insurer’s Subrogation Interest Nebraska County Courts Lack Jurisdiction to Determine Comp Insurer’s Subrogation Interest
Dec 22, 2016

Arkansas Estate’s Wrongful Death/Mesothelioma Case Barred by “Catch–22”

In a deeply divided decision, the Supreme Court of Arkansas recently held that a wrongful death action filed against a deceased worker’s employer was barred by the exclusive remedy provisions...

Arkansas Estate’s Wrongful Death/Mesothelioma Case Barred by “Catch–22” Arkansas Estate’s Wrongful Death/Mesothelioma Case Barred by “Catch–22”