Category: Case comment

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”
Dec 7, 2016

Tennessee Court Awards Permanent Total Benefits For Worker’s Migraines

The Supreme Court of Tennessee’s Special Workers’ Compensation Appeals Panel recently affirmed a decision by a state trial court awarding an X-ray technician permanent and total disability benefits because of...

Tennessee Court Awards Permanent Total Benefits For Worker’s Migraines Tennessee Court Awards Permanent Total Benefits For Worker’s Migraines
Nov 21, 2016

Connecticut Police Officer’s Failure to File Timely Hypertension Claim No Bar to Subsequent Claim Related to Myocardial Infarction

Connecticut, like a host of other states, has a special presumption that aids police officers (and some other first responders) who pass a physical exam at the time of hiring...

Connecticut Police Officer’s Failure to File Timely Hypertension Claim No Bar to Subsequent Claim Related to Myocardial Infarction Connecticut Police Officer’s Failure to File Timely Hypertension Claim No Bar to Subsequent Claim Related to Myocardial Infarction
Nov 18, 2016

IL Middle School Teacher’s Injury in Student/Faculty Basketball Game Was Compensable

A number of states, including Illinois, exclude workers’ compensation coverage for some recreational injuries that are deemed by statute to be outside the course and scope of the employment [see...

IL Middle School Teacher’s Injury in Student/Faculty Basketball Game Was Compensable IL Middle School Teacher’s Injury in Student/Faculty Basketball Game Was Compensable
Nov 17, 2016

South Carolina High Court Adopts Larson’s “Divided Premises” Rule

Adopting Dr. Arthur Larson’s “divided premises” rule [Larson’s Workers’ Compensation Law § 13.01[4][b]], in which an employee remains within the course and scope of the employment while traveling along or...

South Carolina High Court Adopts Larson’s “Divided Premises” Rule South Carolina High Court Adopts Larson’s “Divided Premises” Rule
Nov 15, 2016

Boys Will Be Boys: Winning Comp Claim Isn’t as Easy as Falling Out of a Tree

A Mississippi pipe fitter, who sustained five broken ribs and a spinal cord injury when he fell a distance of approximately 25 feet from the top of a gum tree...

Boys Will Be Boys: Winning Comp Claim Isn’t as Easy as Falling Out of a Tree Boys Will Be Boys: Winning Comp Claim Isn’t as Easy as Falling Out of a Tree
Oct 18, 2016

New Mexico High Court Blocks Estate’s Attempt to Go After Employer’s Uninsured Motorist Coverage

No Coverage Where Tortfeasor Was Co-Employee Answering a question certified to it from a federal district court sitting in New Mexico, that state’s Supreme Court held that an employee injured...

New Mexico High Court Blocks Estate’s Attempt to Go After Employer’s Uninsured Motorist Coverage New Mexico High Court Blocks Estate’s Attempt to Go After Employer’s Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Oct 11, 2016

NY Correction Officer Fails to Link Bronchitis to Commercial Airline Flight

For many of us, it’s uncanny. Within a few days of flying on a commercial jet, we come down with some sort of cold or bronchial disorder. Our intuition tells us...

NY Correction Officer Fails to Link Bronchitis to Commercial Airline Flight NY Correction Officer Fails to Link Bronchitis to Commercial Airline Flight
Sep 13, 2016

Oklahoma Supreme Court Strikes Down State’s Opt Out Law

Earlier today (September 13, 2016), in Vasquez v. Dillard’s, Inc., 2016 OK 89, in a 7–2 decision, the Supreme Court of Oklahoma, in one of the most important workers’ compensation...

Oklahoma Supreme Court Strikes Down State’s Opt Out Law Oklahoma Supreme Court Strikes Down State’s Opt Out Law
Sep 1, 2016

510 Pills Per Month With Little Improvement: Tennessee High Court Allows Change of Physician

Illustrating the deep—and sometimes bitter—divide between some who espouse clinically oriented medical treatment and others that promote the so-called “best practices” guidelines outlined in evidence-based medicine (EBM), a Special Workers’...

510 Pills Per Month With Little Improvement: Tennessee High Court Allows Change of Physician 510 Pills Per Month With Little Improvement: Tennessee High Court Allows Change of Physician