d Amazon Can't Join Injured Worker's Prior Employer as Defendant to Claim By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 11 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that Amazon.com was not entitled to join an injured employee’s prior employer as a defendant in her claim and that she was entitled to… Full Article
d Court Rejects Municipal Worker's Constitutional Challenges to IRE Procedures By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 12 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania rejected an injured municipal employee’s constitutional challenges to the state's new impairment rating process. Case: Epps v. City of Philadelphia (WCAB), No. 835 C.D. 2023, 07/08/2024,… Full Article
d Collateral Estoppel Precludes Worker From Challenging Validity of Settlement By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that an injured worker was precluded from trying to challenge the validity of his settlement agreements with his employer. Case: May v. Dana Corp., No. Full Article
d Injured Firefighter Not Entitled to Reinstatement of Benefits By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that an injured firefighter was not entitled to reinstatement of his benefits. Case: Marinack v. City of Pittsburgh (WCAB), City of Pittsburgh v. Marinack (WCAB),… Full Article
d Adjuster's Miscalculation of Lien Doesn't Allow Worker to Avoid Payment By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 18 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld a determination that a worker was required to pay the full amount of her employer’s lien against her third-party recovery, even though the estimate… Full Article
d Decision Allows Billing Agent to Pursue Civil Claims Against Carriers By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 Billing agents can pursue payments for workers' comp prescriptions outside of the fee-review process, under a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision. The high court on Tuesday published a split decision in… Full Article
d High Court Splits on IRE Doctor's Ability to Consider Conditions Not Listed on NCP By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Pennsylvania Supreme Court split on whether a physician should be limited to assigning an impairment rating only for accepted work-related injuries, but it doesn't change a decision allowing the doctor to consider… Full Article
d Bill Would Limit Employment Protections for Medical Cannabis Users By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Mon, 22 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 Pennsylvania employers would be allowed to make adverse employment decisions against employees and job applicants who legally use medical cannabis, under recently introduced legislation. Senate Bill 1290, introduced Wednesday by Sen. Patrick… Full Article
d Court Upholds Modification of Worker's Benefits for Specific Loss By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Mon, 22 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld the modification of an injured worker’s benefits from wage loss to a specific loss based on the partial amputation of a toe. Case: Perkins v. Full Article
d Injured Worker May Not Set Aside Settlement With Employer By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that a worker was not entitled to set aside the workers’ compensation settlement she reached with her employer. Case: Clarius v. Rite Aid Corp. (WCAB),… Full Article
d Employer Should Have Been Allowed to Set Aside Stipulation Based on Worker's Lies By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 25 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that an employer should have been allowed to set aside its stipulation of facts agreeing to the enlargement of an employee’s claim. Case: VNA of… Full Article
d Widow Gets Award for Paramedic's Fatal Heart Attack By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 26 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld an award of benefits to the widow of a paramedic who died of a heart attack. Case: Prospect Medical Holdings Inc. v. Reeder (WCAB), No. Full Article
d Court Upholds Termination of Benefits for Worker's Slip-and-Fall Accident By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld the termination of a worker’s benefits for her injuries from a slip-and-fall accident. Case: Tarawallie v. Magee Memorial Hospital for Convalescents (WCAB), No. 717 C.D. Full Article
d Supreme Court to Address Exception to Going-and-Coming Rule By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will weigh in on the applicability of the “no-fixed-place-of-work” exception to the “going-and-coming rule” for a tree-trimming supervisor. In February, the Commonwealth Court issued a decision finding that Jorge Martinez… Full Article
d Court Upholds Dismissal of Carrier's Suit Against Claims Administrator, Former Counsel By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 14 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Pennsylvania Superior Court upheld the dismissal of an insurance carrier’s breach-of-contract claim against a third-party claims administrator and a malpractice action against the former attorney for the carrier. Case: Pyramid… Full Article
d Union Painter's Direct Employer Must Pay Benefits but Can Take Pension Offset By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld a determination that a union painter’s direct employer was liable for his benefits but was entitled to a pension offset — and that the worker had… Full Article
d Attorney Gets Scolding for Repeated Constitutional Challenges to IRE Process By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania rejected another constitutional challenge to the state's new impairment rating evaluation procedure and scolded the attorney responsible for bringing the repetitive claims. Case: Bernard v. City… Full Article
d Supreme Court Grants Review of Drug Fee Schedule Dispute By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has granted review of disagreement over the proper prescription drug fee schedule for resolving workers’ compensation disputes. In January, the Commonwealth Court held that Red Book values… Full Article
d Department Accepting Requests for Assessment Refund Through Feb. 24 By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Pennsylvania Insurance Department announced that it will accept requests for refunds of 2009 work comp security fund assessments through Feb. 24. A provision in the budget bill lawmakers passed this… Full Article
d Court Upholds Modification of Worker's Status to Partially Disabled By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 30 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld the modification of a worker’s status from totally to partially disabled. Case: Hines v. Aria Health (WCAB), No. 708 C.D. 2023, 08/22/2024, unpublished. Facts and procedural… Full Article
d Court Upholds Worker's Award but Remands for Judge to Describe Compensable Injuries By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 05 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld an award to an injured worker but sent the case back to the judge to provide a more specific description of the compensable conditions. Case:… Full Article
d Court Upholds Finding That Worker Suffered Compensable Aggravation Injuries By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld a finding that a worker sustained a compensable aggravation of his preexisting lumbar spine degenerative disease and lumbar radiculopathy. Case: Chester Water Authority v. Swiggett,… Full Article
d WCRI Webinar to Cover System Trends By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Workers Compensation Research Institute is holding a webinar on Oct. 2 to cover key findings from the latest editions of its CompScope Benchmarks and Medical Benchmarks for Pennsylvania, as… Full Article
d Court Upholds Employer's Entitlement to Terminate Worker's Benefits By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 19 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld an employer’s entitlement to terminate its payment of benefits to an injured worker. Case: Carter-Zimmitt v. City of Philadelphia (WCAB), No. 1597 C.D. 2022, 09/10/2024,… Full Article
d Court: WCJ Needs to Revisit Contingency Fee Agreement By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 20 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ordered a workers’ compensation judge to reconsider an agreement providing for a 20% contingency fee from a worker’s medical and indemnity benefits. Case: Elder v. Crane… Full Article
d Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Address Surviving Spouse Benefits By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 Pennsylvania Rep. Lindsay Powell introduced legislation that would require that the same eligibility standards apply when awarding death benefits to widows and widowers while also exempting spouses of first responders… Full Article
d Court Upholds $15.5 Million Verdict for Worker With Electric Shock Injuries By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 26 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 Pennsylvania’s Superior Court upheld a jury’s $15.5 million award to a worker for his electric shock injuries. Case: Feldman v. CP Acquisitions 25 LP, No. 501 EDA 2023, 09/12/2024, published. Facts: The… Full Article
d Court Upholds UR Determination That Worker's Treatments Weren't Necessary By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld a utilization review determination that a worker’s ongoing treatments were neither reasonable nor necessary. Michael Perry worked for the Mid Atlantic Hose Center LLC. He… Full Article
d Worker Not Entitled to Penalties for Employer's Failure to Pay for Meds By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Mon, 07 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld the denial of a worker’s claim for penalties for his employer’s failure to pay for his prescribed medications. Case: Benedict v. Hard Chrome Specialists Inc. Full Article
d Court Upholds Dismissal of Claim Against Sedgwick CEO By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 10 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Pennsylvania Superior Court upheld the dismissal of a medical provider’s claim for damages against an insurance company executive for the carrier’s alleged failure to pay for the treatment of… Full Article
d House Passes Direct Deposit Bill, Senate Passes PTSD Bill By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 11 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a bill that would make direct deposit the default method for paying workers' compensation benefits, and the Senate signed off on a measure that would make… Full Article
d Employer Doesn't Waive Subrogation Claim By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania overturned a ruling that an employer had waived its subrogation claim for the benefits it paid to an injured worker in a settlement. Case: American General Life Insurance… Full Article
d Goldberg Segalla Adds Attorney in Philadelphia By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 17 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 Goldberg Segalla announced the addition of Angela G. DiSanti to the firm’s workers' compensation defense group in Philadelphia. Angela G. DiSanti DiSanti has more than 10 years of experience counseling and… Full Article
d Court Upholds Denial of Employer's Petition to Convert Worker's TTD Status to TPD By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld the denial of a municipal employer’s petition to convert an injured worker’s status from temporarily totally disabled to temporarily partially disabled. Lamont Turner worked for… Full Article
d Direct Deposit, PTSD Measures Head to Governor By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 25 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 Pennsylvania lawmakers sent Gov. Josh Shapiro bills that would make direct deposit the default way to pay work comp benefits and make it easier for first responders to receive benefits… Full Article
d Employer That Failed to Provide Treatment for Worker Can Still Direct Future Care By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 15 May 2024 00:00:00 -0700 A Missouri appellate court ruled that an employer was entitled to direct a worker’s future medical care even though it had refused to pay for her treatment for more than a… Full Article
d Second Injury Fund Not Liable for Worker's PTD By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 28 May 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Missouri Court of Appeals upheld a determination that the Second Injury Fund was not liable for a worker’s permanent total disability benefits for a claimed psychological injury. Norma Huffman worked… Full Article
d Court Reinstates Jury Verdict for Worker on Discrimination Claims By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 30 May 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Missouri Court of Appeals reinstated a jury’s verdicts in favor of an injured worker on his disability discrimination claim. Scott Caldwell worked for the UniFirst Corp. as a district sales… Full Article
d No Benefits for Worker Allegedly Injured in Stairwell Mishap By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 31 May 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Missouri Court of Appeals upheld the denial of a worker’s claim for benefits for a knee injury allegedly caused by his misstep while descending a flight of stairs. Case: Fernandez… Full Article
d Court Overturns Denial of Second Injury Fund Benefits for Airline Mechanic By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Mon, 05 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Missouri Court of Appeals overturned a denial of Second Injury Fund benefits to a long-time aircraft mechanic with a multitude of injuries. James Eckardt spent over 40 years working as… Full Article
d Worker Can't Proceed With Civil Suit Against Statutory Employer By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 A Missouri appellate court ruled that a worker could not proceed with a civil suit against a company that qualified as his statutory employer. Case: Montgomery v. Coreslab Structures (Missouri) Inc.,… Full Article
d Missouri Employers Mutual Rebrands Ahead of Privatization By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 19 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 Missouri Employers Mutual announced a new brand identity, MEM, that unites the work comp carrier and its subsidiary, Previsor, under a single banner. The rebranding coincides with the carrier’s transition to… Full Article
d Employer Can Schedule 2nd IME With New Doctor but Must Prove Reasonableness By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Idaho Supreme Court ruled that an employer is not required to use only one physician to evaluate a discrete injury, but it has the burden of proving the reasonableness of… Full Article
d High Court Holds That Commission Did Not Err in Assessment of Worker's Credibility By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 Although the Idaho Industrial Commission erred in several credibility findings, the remainder of its determinations finding that an injured worker was not a reliable witness were supported by substantial and… Full Article
d Insurance Department Adopts 6.7% Rate Cut By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 10 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Idaho Department of Insurance on Wednesday announced that it accepted the National Council on Compensation Insurance's rate filing for an average 6.7% reduction in workers’ compensation rates. Dean L. Cameron The… Full Article
d Goldberg Segalla Adds to Orange County, San Francisco Offices By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 09 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 Goldberg Segalla announced the addition of attorneys to its workers’ compensation defense practice groups in San Francisco and Orange County, California. Lynet’ D. Shigg joined the firm’s San Francisco practice group,… Full Article
d DWC Updates Hospital, ASC Fee Schedule By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Mon, 12 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The California Division of Workers’ Compensation on Friday announced additional changes to the hospital outpatient department and ambulatory surgical centers section of the Official Medical Fee Schedule to align with… Full Article
d Assembly Passes Measure Extending 4850 Time to Park Rangers By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Mon, 12 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The California Assembly unanimously passed a bill that would allow county park rangers to receive salary continuation benefits in lieu of temporary disability. Sen. Angelique Ashby The Assembly on Thursday voted… Full Article
d Court Publishes Decision Requiring SIBTF to Prove Entitlement to SSDI Offset By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 16 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 California’s 2nd District Court of Appeals published its July decision finding that the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund is required to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that it… Full Article
d Appropriations Committee Passes Anti-Discrimination Treatment Bill, Ag Worker Presumption By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Mon, 19 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The California Assembly Appropriations Committee passed bills that would create a presumption that heat injuries are compensable for agricultural workers and would expose employers to penalties for denying injured workers’… Full Article