Category: Case comment

Aug 25, 2014

Kentucky Cap on Claimant Attorney’s Fees Applies In Spite of Multiple Proceedings to Recover Benefits

The $12,000 cap on claimant’s attorney’s fees contained in KRS 342.320(2)(a) applies to the entire “original claim,” including any interlocutory proceedings, such as as a medical fee dispute, held a...

Kentucky Cap on Claimant Attorney’s Fees Applies In Spite of Multiple Proceedings to Recover Benefits Kentucky Cap on Claimant Attorney’s Fees Applies In Spite of Multiple Proceedings to Recover Benefits
Aug 20, 2014

Informal Arrangement Regarding Boarding of Horses Did not Create Employer-Employee Relationship

An oral agreement whereby one party (Cornett) was allowed to board horses on property owned by another (Schumacher) and pay the latter a portion of the boarding fees received as...

Informal Arrangement Regarding Boarding of Horses Did not Create Employer-Employee Relationship Informal Arrangement Regarding Boarding of Horses Did not Create Employer-Employee Relationship
Aug 19, 2014

Annual Service Bonus is Part of Iowa Employee’s Average Weekly Wage Computation

Where the only conditions precedent to receiving an annual bonus was simply being an “active employee on November 30th of the year the bonus was paid and the condition precedent...

Annual Service Bonus is Part of Iowa Employee’s Average Weekly Wage Computation Annual Service Bonus is Part of Iowa Employee’s Average Weekly Wage Computation
Aug 15, 2014

Louisiana Claimant Gets Hit With Forfeiture of Benefits and Stiff Penalties for Misrepresentations

A Louisiana appellate court has affirmed an Order of the state’s Office of Workers’ Compensation that heavily sanctioned a workers’ compensation claimant for fraud in violation of La. R. S....

Louisiana Claimant Gets Hit With Forfeiture of Benefits and Stiff Penalties for Misrepresentations Louisiana Claimant Gets Hit With Forfeiture of Benefits and Stiff Penalties for Misrepresentations
Aug 8, 2014

Nebraska High Court Clarifies “Manifestation” Date in Repetitive Trauma Cases

The Supreme Court of Nebraska recently held that for purposes of assigning liability among several employers for a dental hygienist’s repetitive trauma injury, the injury manifested itself on the day...

Nebraska High Court Clarifies “Manifestation” Date in Repetitive Trauma Cases Nebraska High Court Clarifies “Manifestation” Date in Repetitive Trauma Cases
Aug 5, 2014

Divided California Supreme Court Says In-Home Caregivers May Not Sue Alzheimer’s Patients For Injuries

Acknowledging that agitation and physical aggression are common late-stage symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, that injuries to caregivers are not unusual, and that California and other jurisdictions had previously established the...

Divided California Supreme Court Says In-Home Caregivers May Not Sue Alzheimer’s Patients For Injuries Divided California Supreme Court Says In-Home Caregivers May Not Sue Alzheimer’s Patients For Injuries
Jul 28, 2014

Alaska: Same-Sex Partner of Deceased Worker Entitled to Death Benefits In Spite of State’s “Marriage Amendment”

On Friday, the Supreme Court of Alaska, in Harris v. Millennium Hotel, 2014 Alas. LEXIS 149 (July 25, 2014), held that the state’s workers’ compensation death benefits statute, Alaska Stat....

Alaska: Same-Sex Partner of Deceased Worker Entitled to Death Benefits In Spite of State’s “Marriage Amendment” Alaska: Same-Sex Partner of Deceased Worker Entitled to Death Benefits In Spite of State’s “Marriage Amendment”
Jul 25, 2014

Pennsylvania: Claimant’s Invocation of Self-Incrimination Rights Cannot, Standing Alone, Furnish Sufficient Evidence to Suspend Comp Benefits

On Monday, in Cruz v. Workers’ Comp. Appeal Bd. (Kennett Square Specialties), 2014 Pa. LEXIS 1772 (July 21, 2014), the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania held that as to the proper...

Pennsylvania: Claimant’s Invocation of Self-Incrimination Rights Cannot, Standing Alone, Furnish Sufficient Evidence to Suspend Comp Benefits Pennsylvania: Claimant’s Invocation of Self-Incrimination Rights Cannot, Standing Alone, Furnish Sufficient Evidence to Suspend Comp Benefits
Jul 16, 2014

Illinois Court Says “Ordinary” Reaching Activity is Nevertheless Risk of Employment

Acknowledging that there are three categories of risk to which an employee may be exposed: (1) risks distinctly associated with her employment; (2) personal risks; and (3) neutral risks which...

Illinois Court Says “Ordinary” Reaching Activity is Nevertheless Risk of Employment Illinois Court Says “Ordinary” Reaching Activity is Nevertheless Risk of Employment
Jul 7, 2014

New York Court Affirms PTSD Award to Physician’s Assistant Threatened by Surgeon During Surgical Procedure

A New York appellate court has affirmed a decision of the state’s Workers’ Compensation Board that awarded workers compensation benefits for a stress-related injury sustained by a cardiothoracic physician’s assistant...

New York Court Affirms PTSD Award to Physician’s Assistant Threatened by Surgeon During Surgical Procedure New York Court Affirms PTSD Award to Physician’s Assistant Threatened by Surgeon During Surgical Procedure
Jul 1, 2014

Ohio: Trouble-Maker Fails to Prove Discharge Was Because of Workers’ Compensation Claims

Acknowledging that two employees who had been embroiled in a shouting match during the work day had been treated different by the employer–the employee who apparently started the argument received...

Ohio: Trouble-Maker Fails to Prove Discharge Was Because of Workers’ Compensation Claims Ohio: Trouble-Maker Fails to Prove Discharge Was Because of Workers’ Compensation Claims
Jun 30, 2014

Illinois: Tort Action Against Employer Not Barred Where Workers’ Comp Claim Was Time-Barred Before Employee Ever Learned of It

In a case of first impression, an Illinois appellate court, reversing a decision by a state trial court, has ruled that neither the exclusive remedy provisions of the Illinois Workers’...

Illinois: Tort Action Against Employer Not Barred Where Workers’ Comp Claim Was Time-Barred Before Employee Ever Learned of It Illinois: Tort Action Against Employer Not Barred Where Workers’ Comp Claim Was Time-Barred Before Employee Ever Learned of It