Category: Case comment

Aug 12, 2015

NC: Surviving Spouse Loses Claim for Death Benefits Since She Neither Lived With Nor Was Dependent Upon Worker at Time of His Death

A surviving spouse was not entitled to receive workers’ compensation death benefits where evidence established that she left the family home several years prior to the deceased employee’s death, rarely...

NC: Surviving Spouse Loses Claim for Death Benefits Since She Neither Lived With Nor Was Dependent Upon Worker at Time of His Death NC: Surviving Spouse Loses Claim for Death Benefits Since She Neither Lived With Nor Was Dependent Upon Worker at Time of His Death
Aug 11, 2015

Under DC Comp Act, Emailing Order to Employer Does Not Start 10-Day Period for Payment Without Penalty

Virtually all workers’ compensation acts impose a penalty for late payment of benefits. For example, D.C. Code § 32–1515(f) provides for a 20 percent penalty if any compensation is not...

Under DC Comp Act, Emailing Order to Employer Does Not Start 10-Day Period for Payment Without Penalty Under DC Comp Act, Emailing Order to Employer Does Not Start 10-Day Period for Payment Without Penalty
Aug 10, 2015

Average Wage Calculation Must Be Computed For Nevada Self-Employed FedEx Driver

The lack of a salary associated with typical employment does not necessarily prevent an average monthly wage calculation for a self-employed injured Nevada worker, held the state’s Supreme Court last...

Average Wage Calculation Must Be Computed For Nevada Self-Employed FedEx Driver Average Wage Calculation Must Be Computed For Nevada Self-Employed FedEx Driver
Jul 22, 2015

Georgia Comp Board Won’t Resolve Fee Dispute Between Attorneys Dissolving Their Firm

In a dispute involving the dissolution of a law partnership and the rights of two attorneys in attorneys’ fees resulting from the settlement of workers’ compensation cases, Georgia’s Board of...

Georgia Comp Board Won’t Resolve Fee Dispute Between Attorneys Dissolving Their Firm Georgia Comp Board Won’t Resolve Fee Dispute Between Attorneys Dissolving Their Firm
Jul 15, 2015

Assault by Nebraska Employee Against Sex Offender Co-Employee Did Not Arise from the Employment

Where an employee (“Bates”) assaulted a co-employee (“McDaniel”) after Bates performed an Internet search and discovered that McDaniel was a registered sex offender, the assault did not arise out of...

Assault by Nebraska Employee Against Sex Offender Co-Employee Did Not Arise from the Employment Assault by Nebraska Employee Against Sex Offender Co-Employee Did Not Arise from the Employment
Jul 7, 2015

NY Cage Dancer Forfeits Right to Future Comp Benefits

A New York appellate court has refused to vacate a portion of a county court’s judgment that, following a defendant’s guilty plea to fraudulent practices (N.Y. Workers’ Comp. Law §...

NY Cage Dancer Forfeits Right to Future Comp Benefits NY Cage Dancer Forfeits Right to Future Comp Benefits
Jul 3, 2015

How One State Bucked Trend of Allowing Former Spouse to Access Post-Divorce Workers’ Comp Benefits

With the divorce rate for U.S. marriages hovering at almost 50 percent, courts and legislatures are called upon to weigh two conflicting rules related to workers’ compensation benefits when it...

How One State Bucked Trend of Allowing Former Spouse to Access Post-Divorce Workers’ Comp Benefits How One State Bucked Trend of Allowing Former Spouse to Access Post-Divorce Workers’ Comp Benefits
Jun 25, 2015

New Mexico Court Finds State’s “Farm and Ranch Laborer” Exclusion Unconstitutional

In Rodriguez v. Brand West Dairy, 2015 N.M. App. LEXIS 69 (June 22, 2015), a divided Court of Appeals of New Mexico recently held that the exclusion of coverage afforded...

New Mexico Court Finds State’s “Farm and Ranch Laborer” Exclusion Unconstitutional New Mexico Court Finds State’s “Farm and Ranch Laborer” Exclusion Unconstitutional
Jun 24, 2015

Florida Appellate Court Throws Out Judge Cueto’s “Padgett” Decision on Procedural Grounds

Earlier today (June 24th), Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal reversed and completely repudiated the decision of Judge Jorge E. Cueto, Circuit Court for Miami-Dade County, that had, on August 19,...

Florida Appellate Court Throws Out Judge Cueto’s “Padgett” Decision on Procedural Grounds Florida Appellate Court Throws Out Judge Cueto’s “Padgett” Decision on Procedural Grounds
Jun 23, 2015

Maryland: Electronic Submission of Claim Does Not Toll Statute of Limitations

In Hranicka v. Chesapeake Surgical, Ltd., 2015 Md. LEXIS 413 (June 18, 2015), the Court of Appeals of Maryland held that an employee’s claim was time-barred under Md. Code Ann.,...

Maryland: Electronic Submission of Claim Does Not Toll Statute of Limitations Maryland: Electronic Submission of Claim Does Not Toll Statute of Limitations
Jun 15, 2015

Colorado High Court Ok’s Firing of Worker For State-Authorized Use of Medical Marijuana

Earlier today, the Supreme Court of Colorado, affirming a split decision of the state’s Court of Appeals, held that under the plain language of Colo. Rev. Stat. § 24–34–402.5, Colorado’s...

Colorado High Court Ok’s Firing of Worker For State-Authorized Use of Medical Marijuana Colorado High Court Ok’s Firing of Worker For State-Authorized Use of Medical Marijuana
Jun 12, 2015

Iowa Court Affirms Rejection of “Uncontradicted” Expert Testimony

An commissioner’s award of permanent total disability benefits to an HVAC employee who claimed he suffered an electric shock while servicing a unit at a customer’s residence was supported by...

Iowa Court Affirms Rejection of “Uncontradicted” Expert Testimony Iowa Court Affirms Rejection of “Uncontradicted” Expert Testimony