Category: Case comment

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
Dec 3, 2018

New York Court Says Attorney’s Ex Parte Text Message to Physician Was Harmless

In a divided decision, a New York appellate court recently held that the state’s Workers’ Compensation Board abused its discretion when it excluded from the record a physician’s medical report...

New York Court Says Attorney’s Ex Parte Text Message to Physician Was Harmless New York Court Says Attorney’s Ex Parte Text Message to Physician Was Harmless
Nov 27, 2018

Divided PA Supreme Court Refuses to Allow Comp Carrier to Maintain Third-Party Action on Behalf of Injured Employee

Injured Employee Must Either Assign Cause or Join Litigation as Party Plaintiff In Pennsylvania, a workers’ compensation insurance carrier may not maintain a third-party action against an alleged tortfeasor on...

Divided PA Supreme Court Refuses to Allow Comp Carrier to Maintain Third-Party Action on Behalf of Injured Employee Divided PA Supreme Court Refuses to Allow Comp Carrier to Maintain Third-Party Action on Behalf of Injured Employee
Nov 21, 2018

Massachusetts Retaliatory Discharge Statute Protects Employee’s Right to Sue Employer in Tort

A provision of the Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Act (Act), Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 152, § 75B(2), and not the common law, affords an employee who was injured on the job...

Massachusetts Retaliatory Discharge Statute Protects Employee’s Right to Sue Employer in Tort Massachusetts Retaliatory Discharge Statute Protects Employee’s Right to Sue Employer in Tort