Category: Case comment

Oct 12, 2015

Wyoming Employer Need Not Keep Immigration Documentation on Hand

While the workers’ compensation laws of virtually all states include illegally employed persons—e.g., minors and undocumented “aliens”—within the term “employee,” Wyoming’s definition is more restrictive. Only those aliens whom the...

Wyoming Employer Need Not Keep Immigration Documentation on Hand Wyoming Employer Need Not Keep Immigration Documentation on Hand
Sep 28, 2015

Wyoming High Court Adopts “Substantial and Motivating Factor” Test to Judge Retaliatory Discharge Claim

Adopting the “substantial and motivating factor” test to determine if an employer’s decision to terminate a worker’s employment was retaliatory, the Supreme Court of Wyoming reversed a trial court order...

Wyoming High Court Adopts “Substantial and Motivating Factor” Test to Judge Retaliatory Discharge Claim Wyoming High Court Adopts “Substantial and Motivating Factor” Test to Judge Retaliatory Discharge Claim
Sep 22, 2015

PA Court Strikes Down Use of AMA Guides, 6th Ed.

Last Friday, a deeply divided Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania struck down as unconstitutional the requirement, codified in § 306(a.2) of the state’s Workers’ Compensation Act [77 Pa. Stat. Ann. §...

PA Court Strikes Down Use of AMA Guides, 6th Ed. PA Court Strikes Down Use of AMA Guides, 6th Ed.
Sep 11, 2015

Ohio Court Again Says TTD Benefits Unaffected by Pre-Injury Drug Use Undetected Until After Injury

An Ohio appellate court has again concluded that the doctrine of voluntary abandonment does not bar an injured worker’s entitlement to TTD compensation in a case involving a pre-injury infraction—here,...

Ohio Court Again Says TTD Benefits Unaffected by Pre-Injury Drug Use Undetected Until After Injury Ohio Court Again Says TTD Benefits Unaffected by Pre-Injury Drug Use Undetected Until After Injury
Sep 2, 2015

Washington High Court Says Valley Fever is Not Covered by Firefighters’ Presumption

Valley fever is not a “respiratory disease” for purposes of the state of Washington’s firefighters presumption [Wash. Rev. Code § 51.21.185(1)]; it is instead an “infectious disease” and is not...

Washington High Court Says Valley Fever is Not Covered by Firefighters’ Presumption Washington High Court Says Valley Fever is Not Covered by Firefighters’ Presumption
Aug 28, 2015

Kentucky High Court Says “Concurrent” Wages May Only Be Considered for AWW Computation if Concurrent Employment Existed on DOI

Where an injured employee had but one employer on the date of injury, the employee’s average weekly wage must be computed by considering only the wages from that employer; “concurrent”...

Kentucky High Court Says “Concurrent” Wages May Only Be Considered for AWW Computation if Concurrent Employment Existed on DOI Kentucky High Court Says “Concurrent” Wages May Only Be Considered for AWW Computation if Concurrent Employment Existed on DOI
Aug 27, 2015

Tennessee Mattress Store Manager Prevails in PTSD Claim After Encounter with Purse Snatching Customers

The manager of a Tennessee mattress store, who alleged that she sustained a psychological injury (“PTSD”) when she pursued two persons into the employer’s store parking lot after they had...

Tennessee Mattress Store Manager Prevails in PTSD Claim After Encounter with Purse Snatching Customers Tennessee Mattress Store Manager Prevails in PTSD Claim After Encounter with Purse Snatching Customers
Aug 26, 2015

NC Employee’s Injury Playing Laser Tag Found Compensable

An employee who suffered a knee injury while playing laser tag at a company-sponsored marketing conference sustained an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of the employment,...

NC Employee’s Injury Playing Laser Tag Found Compensable NC Employee’s Injury Playing Laser Tag Found Compensable
Aug 19, 2015

Illinois Welder’s Knee Injury While Swiveling in Chair Found Compensable

Using a neutral risk analysis, an Illinois appellate court reversed a trial court’s decision that in turn had affirmed the denial of workers’ compensation benefits to a worker who injured...

Illinois Welder’s Knee Injury While Swiveling in Chair Found Compensable Illinois Welder’s Knee Injury While Swiveling in Chair Found Compensable
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