Category: Case comment

Feb 5, 2019

Arizona High Court Says Nebraska Law Prevents Absolute Assignment of Injured Worker’s Third-Party Claim

Dueling Statutes: Which State’s Subrogation Law Should Apply? Variables within America’s mobile economy often produce complex choice of law issues, particularly when it comes to employer/insurer subrogation interests. For example,...

Arizona High Court Says Nebraska Law Prevents Absolute Assignment of Injured Worker’s Third-Party Claim Arizona High Court Says Nebraska Law Prevents Absolute Assignment of Injured Worker’s Third-Party Claim
Feb 4, 2019

Tennessee: No Compensable Claim Where Employer Failed to Use On-Site Defibrillator

The Supreme Court of Tennessee, reversing a decision of a state trial court, held that an employer who failed to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to assist an employee...

Tennessee: No Compensable Claim Where Employer Failed to Use On-Site Defibrillator Tennessee: No Compensable Claim Where Employer Failed to Use On-Site Defibrillator
Jan 17, 2019

Husband/Wife Bakery Ends Up With Two Policies; Insurers Must Split Cost of Death Claim

Policy Procured “by Mistake” Remains in Force Since Cancellation Wasn’t Done According to Missouri Law Cancellation of a workers’ compensation insurance policy, even when both the insured and the insurer...

Husband/Wife Bakery Ends Up With Two Policies; Insurers Must Split Cost of Death Claim Husband/Wife Bakery Ends Up With Two Policies; Insurers Must Split Cost of Death Claim
Jan 15, 2019

Florida Comp Act’s Drug-Free Workplace Program Statute Provides no Private Right of Action

Unsuccessful Job Applicant Sought to Utilize Statute After Passing Drug Test, But Not Getting Job § 440.102, Fla. Stat., which establishes a drug-free workplace program as part of Florida’s overall...

Florida Comp Act’s Drug-Free Workplace Program Statute Provides no Private Right of Action Florida Comp Act’s Drug-Free Workplace Program Statute Provides no Private Right of Action
Jan 14, 2019

Kentucky Considers PTSD Benefits—but Only for First Responders

Animal Farm Logic: “All [workers] are equal, but some [workers] are more equal than others.” House Bill 40, which would provide workers’ compensation benefits for post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), but...

Kentucky Considers PTSD Benefits—but Only for First Responders Kentucky Considers PTSD Benefits—but Only for First Responders
Dec 31, 2018

Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Comp Immune From Tort Liability for Alleged Faulty Inspections

An Ohio appellant court recently held that the state’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (“BWC”) was immune from tort liability in a civil action filed against it by the estate of...

Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Comp Immune From Tort Liability for Alleged Faulty Inspections Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Comp Immune From Tort Liability for Alleged Faulty Inspections
Dec 27, 2018

Video Surveillance & Social Media Result in Misconduct Finding by NY Board

A determination by the New York Workers’ Compensation Board that a claimant made false representations regarding material facts in violation of N.Y. Workers’ Comp. Law § 114-a was supported by...

Video Surveillance & Social Media Result in Misconduct Finding by NY Board Video Surveillance & Social Media Result in Misconduct Finding by NY Board
Dec 26, 2018

Immunity Afforded to Ohio Subcontractors Under Contractor’s Self-Insurance Plan is Constitutional

The grant of immunity afforded to subcontractors enrolled in an Ohio contractor’s self-insurance plan [see Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 4123.35(O)] from claims by employees of another enrolled subcontractor does...

Immunity Afforded to Ohio Subcontractors Under Contractor’s Self-Insurance Plan is Constitutional Immunity Afforded to Ohio Subcontractors Under Contractor’s Self-Insurance Plan is Constitutional
Dec 20, 2018

Deeply Divided Oklahoma High Court Says Reduction of PPD Allowed Where Employer Paid Full Wages During Police Officer’s Disability Period

In a deeply divided (5-4) decision, the Supreme Court of Oklahoma recently held that a provision in the state’s workers’ compensation law [Okla. Stat. tit. 85A, § 89] allowing an...

Deeply Divided Oklahoma High Court Says Reduction of PPD Allowed Where Employer Paid Full Wages During Police Officer’s Disability Period Deeply Divided Oklahoma High Court Says Reduction of PPD Allowed Where Employer Paid Full Wages During Police Officer’s Disability Period
Dec 11, 2018

South Carolina: In Dependency Case, Commission May Not Presume “Fornication” Occurred

In an ancient decision (one year older than me), Day v. Day, 216 S.C. 334, 58 S.E.2d 83 (1950), the Supreme Court of South Carolina, reflecting the general moral mindset...

South Carolina: In Dependency Case, Commission May Not Presume “Fornication” Occurred South Carolina: In Dependency Case, Commission May Not Presume “Fornication” Occurred
Dec 10, 2018

Nevada Employer Need Not Show Knowledge of Specific Medical Diagnosis to Recover from Subsequent Injury Fund

In Nevada, under Nev. Rev. Stat. § 616B.578, in order for an employer to receive reimbursement from the state’s “Subsequent Injury Account,” it must prove that that it had knowledge...

Nevada Employer Need Not Show Knowledge of Specific Medical Diagnosis to Recover from Subsequent Injury Fund Nevada Employer Need Not Show Knowledge of Specific Medical Diagnosis to Recover from Subsequent Injury Fund
Dec 10, 2018

29-Month Delay in Filing North Dakota Claim Bars Recovery

The Supreme Court of North Dakota recently affirmed an ALJ’s finding that the filing of a worker’s claim some 29 months after the work incident was not timely, and, therefore,...

29-Month Delay in Filing North Dakota Claim Bars Recovery 29-Month Delay in Filing North Dakota Claim Bars Recovery