At about this time each year, I highlight what I think are the ten most important workers’ compensation decisions reported during the calendar year. In some respects, 2019 has been...
Top 10 Workers’ Compensation Cases of 2019 Top 10 Workers’ Compensation Cases of 2019Section 306(a.3) Mandating Use of AMA Guides, 6th Ed., Stands In enacting 77 Pa. Stat. § 511.3, which mandates a physician’s use of the American Medical Association “Guides to the...
PA Court Says “Protz-Fix” is Constitutionally OK PA Court Says “Protz-Fix” is Constitutionally OKThe U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma recently held that Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation subrogation statute, 85A Okla. Stat. § 43 does not violate Article 23, Section 7...
Federal Court Says Oklahoma’s Subrogation Statute is Constitutional Federal Court Says Oklahoma’s Subrogation Statute is Constitutional“Substantially Certain” Doctrine Stays, in Spite of Specific Language to the Contrary In a deeply divided decision, with three justices concurring specially with the majority’s opinion, and four justices dissenting,...
Deeply Divided Oklahoma Supreme Court “Opts Out” of Legislature’s Definition of “intentional” Injury Deeply Divided Oklahoma Supreme Court “Opts Out” of Legislature’s Definition of “intentional” InjuryDecision Calls Into Question Whether Per Diem Fines to Uninsured Employers Are Unconstitutionally Harsh The Supreme Court of Colorado, with one justice dissenting in part, recently held that the Eighth...
Colorado High Court Says 8th Amendment’s “Excessive Fines” Prohibition Protects Corporations, as Well as Individuals Colorado High Court Says 8th Amendment’s “Excessive Fines” Prohibition Protects Corporations, as Well as IndividualsLack of Jury Trial and Limited Damages Pass Constitutional Muster Oklahoma’s retaliatory discharge statute [85A O.S.Supp. 2013 § 7], which restricts jurisdiction in relevant instances to the Workers’ Compensation Commission...
Oklahoma’s Retaliatory Discharge Statute Withstands Constitutional Challenge Oklahoma’s Retaliatory Discharge Statute Withstands Constitutional ChallengeA Florida appellate court has upheld the constitutionality of a provision within the state’s Workers’ Compensation Act [§ 440.093(3), Fla. Stat.] that cuts off temporary benefits for psychiatric injuries six...
Florida’s 6-Month Limitation on Temporary “Physical-Mental” Benefits is Constitutional Florida’s 6-Month Limitation on Temporary “Physical-Mental” Benefits is ConstitutionalIn 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 PeriodIn 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 CasesDuring 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 CasesIn a highly anticipated decision, Protz v. Workers’ Comp. Appeal Bd. (Derry Area Sch. Dist.), 2017 Pa. LEXIS 1401 (June 20, 2017), a split Supreme Court of Pennsylvania yesterday held that...
Pennsylvania High Court Strikes Down Use of “Most Recent” AMA Guides Pennsylvania High Court Strikes Down Use of “Most Recent” AMA GuidesThe Oklahoma legislature adjourned last Friday (May 27, 2016), without resolving a bill that would have amended several troublesome provisions of the state’s controversial Employee Injury Benefit Act (“opt out”...
Oklahoma Legislature Can’t Agree on Opt Out Fix Oklahoma Legislature Can’t Agree on Opt Out Fix