Category: Issue commentary

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
Nov 29, 2018

2018’s Top 10 Workers’ Compensation Cases

In the Foreword of our forthcoming Workers’ Compensation Emerging Issues Analysis, 6th Edition [LexisNexis], due out in a few weeks, I note that in contrast to 2017, this year has...

2018’s Top 10 Workers’ Compensation Cases 2018’s Top 10 Workers’ Compensation Cases
Aug 13, 2018

Recent Kansas AMA Guides Decision: Would the Court Prefer a Fault-Based System?

Jettisoning the Bath Water—Does the Baby Remain? As someone who has, for the past 32 years, earned the bulk of his living reading—I’ll admit, often only skimming—some 2,500 appellate decisions...

Recent Kansas AMA Guides Decision: Would the Court Prefer a Fault-Based System? Recent Kansas AMA Guides Decision: Would the Court Prefer a Fault-Based System?
Jul 3, 2018

The Real Reason LeBron is Moving to the Lakers!

There are some who point out that LeBron is getting ready to pay the highest taxes in his life (with a $154 million contract, he can afford it), that he...

The Real Reason LeBron is Moving to the Lakers! The Real Reason LeBron is Moving to the Lakers!
Mar 30, 2018

Commentary: How Equitable is Florida’s New PTSD Coverage?

What Does Florida Have Against Teachers and Bartenders? As I posted Monday [click here to view that post], a bill to extend relatively broad PTSD coverage to Florida’s first responders...

Commentary: How Equitable is Florida’s New PTSD Coverage? Commentary: How Equitable is Florida’s New PTSD Coverage?
Mar 26, 2018

Florida Legislature Approves PTSD Coverage for First Responders

Earlier this month, the Florida Senate and House both unanimously passed Senate Bill 376, so as generally to allow workers’ compensation benefits for first responders who suffer PTSD as a...

Florida Legislature Approves PTSD Coverage for First Responders Florida Legislature Approves PTSD Coverage for First Responders
Feb 2, 2018

Is the Wall Strong Enough?

Recent Air Ambulance Decisions Hint that McCarran-Ferguson Insurance Barrier to Federal Involvement in Workers’ Comp May Be Decaying Two recent court decisions, one from Texas [PHI Air Med., LLC v....

Is the Wall Strong Enough? Is the Wall Strong Enough?
Jan 26, 2018

New Study Says Employer-Directed Choice of MD May Actually Increase Overall Claim Costs

Employer-Controlled Medical Care Drives Claimants to Attorneys, Erasing Savings in Medical Costs A common mantra from the employer-carrier side of the workers’ compensation world goes something like this, “If you...

New Study Says Employer-Directed Choice of MD May Actually Increase Overall Claim Costs New Study Says Employer-Directed Choice of MD May Actually Increase Overall Claim Costs
Dec 1, 2017

Medical Benefits Must be “Reasonable and Necessary”—Not Just Beneficial

Virginia Employer Need Not Provide Specialized “Running Blade” Prosthesis While all but a few American jurisdictions require employers to provide medical benefits that are essentially unlimited in terms of duration...

Medical Benefits Must be “Reasonable and Necessary”—Not Just Beneficial Medical Benefits Must be “Reasonable and Necessary”—Not Just Beneficial
Oct 12, 2017

Virginia Case Shows “On-the-Job” Injuries May Not be Compensable

The phrase is used quite often, even by attorneys: “He [or she] was hurt ‘on-the-job.’” The typical implication is that a worker who sustains an “on-the-job” injury deserves workers’ compensation...

Virginia Case Shows “On-the-Job” Injuries May Not be Compensable Virginia Case Shows “On-the-Job” Injuries May Not be Compensable
Sep 7, 2017

2017’s Top 10 Workers’ Compensation Cases

During September of each of the past five years, my colleague, Robin Kobayashi, and I have pulled together a volume entitled, Workers’ Compensation Emerging Issues Analysis. Annually published by LexisNexis®,...

2017’s Top 10 Workers’ Compensation Cases 2017’s Top 10 Workers’ Compensation Cases
Aug 10, 2017

Bob Wilson May Have a “Cluttered Desk;” His Prediction of Opt Out Reprise is Spot On!

What if Employers Are Willing to Give Up Exclusive Remedy Defense? In his typically lucid and engaging style, Bob Wilson mused in his post this morning that the employer opt...

Bob Wilson May Have a “Cluttered Desk;” His Prediction of Opt Out Reprise is Spot On! Bob Wilson May Have a “Cluttered Desk;” His Prediction of Opt Out Reprise is Spot On!