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CHP Captain Arrested for Alleged Comp Fraud

The California Highway Patrol announced that a former captain was arrested on suspicion of workers' compensation insurance fraud and theft. Matthew Stover, 51, was arrested without incident in Folsom Thursday on…




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CWCI: Drop in Opioid Prescriptions More Pronounced in Comp

Declines in opioid use among injured workers exceeded the decline among the overall population from 2017 to 2023, the California Workers' Compensation Institute reports. CWCI said data from the state's Controlled…




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WCIRB Posts 2025 X-Mods

The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California announced that insurers, agents and brokers can access recently published 2025 experience modifications for policyholders. Insurers, agents and brokers who use WCIRB Connect…




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DWC Announces TTD Rates for 2025

The California Division of Workers’ Compensation announced that the minimum and maximum temporary total disability rates are increasing Jan. 1. The minimum TTD rate will increase to $252.03 per week from…




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2nd DCA Publishes Decision on Admissibility of Expert Testimony in FELA Case

A California appellate court has ordered the publication of its decision from last month finding that a trial judge prejudicially erred in excluding the testimony of a railway worker’s expert…




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DWC Completes Server Upgrades

The California Division of Workers' Compensation on Friday said it completed the process of upgrading its Workers' Compensation Information Servers. WCIS is ready to receive and process production data files daily,…




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Court Upholds Finding of Partial Disability, Remands Dispute of Claimed Overpayment

The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that a worker was partially disabled by carpal tunnel syndrome and the Workers’ Disability Compensation Appeals Commission should address whether she received an overpayment…




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Insolvency Pool Can't Collect From Carrier for Staffing Service's Client

The Georgia Court of Appeals upheld a finding that the state Insurers Insolvency Pool did not have a right to reimbursement from the insurer of a business using a staffing…




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Comp Settlement Doesn't Preclude Civil Suit Against Third Parties

The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that a worker’s settlement of his compensation claim against his employer did not preclude him from pursuing a civil suit against alleged third-party tortfeasors…




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Contractor Has Immunity From Civil Liability to Injured Worker

A federal appellate court ruled that a contractor who hired a crane company’s services was immune from civil liability for injuries suffered by an employee of the crane company. Case: Hall v.




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Widow Misses Deadline to Challenge Denial of Claim by 1 Day

The Georgia Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of a widow’s challenge to the denial of her claim for death benefits as time-barred. Case: Coffman v. Barnsley Consulting Group, No. A24A0740,…




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Federal Court Again Rules Contractor Has Immunity From Worker's Claim

A federal appellate court has again ruled that a contractor was immune from civil liability for injuries suffered by an employee of a crane company it hired. Case: Hall v. SAC…




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Report: Man Accused of Selling Insurance Without License

The owner of a Georgia tax preparation business was charged with 23 counts of insurance fraud and two counts of deceptive practices for allegedly selling workers’ compensation insurance without being…




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Employer Entitled to Dismissal of Worker's Retaliation Claim

The 11th U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the City of Atlanta was entitled to summary judgment dismissing an injured worker’s retaliation claims against it. Case: Fripp v. City of Atlanta,…




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Employer Faces Civil Liability for Fatal Shooting

The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that an employer can face civil liability for the death of an employee who was shot at work by a colleague. Solo Cup Operating Corp.




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Vehicle Qualifies as Uninsured if Exclusivity Prevents Worker From Recovery

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that if a worker is injured as a passenger in an employer-owned vehicle, and workers’ compensation exclusivity precludes a recovery under the automobile liability policy, the…




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Governor Approves Legacy Court, Mental Health Bills

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed bills creating a new venue for legacy claims and covering public safety workers with mental health claims that aren’t accompanied by a physical injury. Stitt on…




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Supreme Court Says Employer Can't Contract to Create Liability for Negligence

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that an employer may not contractually create common-law negligence liability by setting additional nonemployer roles or capacities when the liability is based on the same physical…




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Lawmakers Approve 2024 Fee Schedule

The Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission announced that state lawmakers have approved the updated 2024 Medical Fee Schedule. The state House of Representatives voted 94-1 to pass House Joint Resolution 1035 in…




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Co-Employee Immunity Requires Both Workers to Be in COE/SOE

A divided Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that an employee who injures a colleague must be acting within the course and scope of employment when the incident occurs to receive the…




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Last-Leg Amazon Delivery Workers Can't Be Compelled to Arbitrate Claims

A divided Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that two workers employed by a local delivery contractor for Amazon Inc. could not be compelled to arbitrate their workers’ compensation retaliation claims. Case: Mathis…




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WCC Provides Contact Info for New Legacy Court

The Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission provided contact information for the newly created court that will hear legacy claims from before the 2014 reforms that created the state’s administrative program. Gov. Kevin…




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Court of Existing Claims Announces Preliminary Review Docket

The Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Court of Existing Claims is implementing a preliminary review docket for active cases pending as of July 1. The court’s preliminary review docket will be held at…




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Comp Commission Updates CEC Contact Information

The Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission announced personnel updates and changes in contact information within the Court of Existing Claims. The commission said Katrina Stephenson, who will become judicial liaison and order…




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Court Upholds Worker's Entitlement to Additional Treatment, AWW Calculation

The Arkansas Court of Appeals upheld a determination that a worker was entitled to additional treatment for a foot injury, as well as the Workers’ Compensation Commission’s calculation of her…




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Court Says Worker's Lies Don't Forfeit Entitlement to Benefits

The Arkansas Court of Appeals upheld an award of benefits for a man with a rapid-repetitive-motion injury and that he did not forfeit his entitlement to benefits by lying about his medical…




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DOL Sets Benefit-Assistance Events for Black Lung Disease Cases

The U.S. Department of Labor's federal Black Lung Program has set outreach events for current and former coal miners with disabilities related to black lung disease in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. Miners' families and…




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Court Upholds Causal Connection Between Coal Worker's Employment, Pneumoconiosis

A federal appellate court upheld a finding that a worker’s coal mine employment caused his pneumoconiosis. Case: Lance Coal Corp. v. OWCP, No. 23-3779, 05/09/2024, unpublished. Facts: Virgil Combs worked for Lance…




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ATF Medical Names Katherine Nelson VP of National Sales

ATF Medical appointed Katherine Nelson to serve as vice president of sales. Katherine Nelson Nelson will be based in Las Vegas and oversee the company’s efforts to market mobility and accessibility…




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DOL Updates Hazard Communication Standard

The U.S. Department of Labor on Tuesday said it adopted a new rule updating its hazard communication standard that takes effect July 19. The revised rule requires labels on small packages…




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WCRI Webinar to Cover Impact of Excessive Heat

The Workers Compensation Research Institute is holding a 30-minute webinar on June 6 to discuss the impact of excessive heat on workplace injuries. WCRI recently released a study measuring the extent…




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Rating Bureau, Comp Commission Ready New Websites

California’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau and the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission on Wednesday announced plans to launch new websites. The Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission announced that it will unveil its…




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OccMD Names Cheryl Killion Director of Nurse Case Management

Medical management firm OccMD on Tuesday announced the appointment of Cheryl Killion as the new director of nurse case management effective June 1. Killion has served as a senior nurse case…




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Federal Court Says it Lacks Jurisdiction Over Petition Filed Day Too Late

A federal appellate court ruled that it had no jurisdiction over a petition for review of a denial of survivor’s benefits under the Black Lung Benefits Act filed one day…




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Regulatory Preamble Can Support Award of Black Lung Benefits

A federal appellate court ruled that an administrative law judge did not err in relying on a regulatory preamble to support an award of black lung benefits to a veteran…




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IAIABC Announces NextGen Award Winners

The International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions announced the recipients of its NextGen Award recognizing young professionals who are having a positive effect on their organizations and the…




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AppliedVR Names Michael Marsau Executive Director, Workers' Compensation

AppliedVR appointed Michael Marsau as its executive director of workers’ compensation. Michael Marsau Marsau is overseeing the launch of the company’s flagship RelieVRx prescription therapeutic into the workers’ compensation market, the…




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Federal Court Upholds Worker's Award of Black Lung Benefits Despite ALJ's Evidentiary Mistake

A federal appellate court upheld an award of black lung benefits to a coal industry employee despite the administrative law judge’s evidentiary error. Case: Coastal Coal Co. LLC v. Harrison, No.




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Court Upholds Worker's Convictions for Embezzlement, Workers' Compensation Fraud

A federal appellate court upheld a worker’s convictions and sentence to embezzlement and workers’ compensation fraud. Case: U.S. v. Holmes, No. 23-4700, 06/21/2024, unpublished. Facts and procedural history: Federal prosecutors in South…




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Court Overturns Black Lung Award, Clarifies Burden of Proof for Legal Pneumoconiosis Claims

A divided federal appellate court overturned an award of black lung benefits to a coal miner based on an administrative law judge’s misapplication of the burden of proof for a legal…




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DOL Session to Discuss Benefits for Nuclear Weapons Workers

The U.S. Department of Labor will host an informational session in Lisle, Illinois, to discuss benefits available under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act. The program provides lump-sum payments and…




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Bill Would Allow Treatment by Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners

Physician assistants and nurse practitioners would be authorized to treat injured federal workers under a bill being debated in the U.S. House of Representatives. HR 618, by Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., would add…




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Truck Driver's Work Counts as Coal Mine Employment for Black Lung Benefits

A federal appellate court upheld an award of compensation under the Black Lung Benefits Act to a worker, finding that the time he spent as a truck driver was “substantially…




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Senate Committee Report Says Amazon Injury Rate Spikes for Prime Day, Holidays

Amazon warehouses are particularly unsafe during Prime Day and the holiday season because the company disregards safety protocols so workers can keep up with the high volume of orders, according…




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WCRI Webinar to Cover Trends in Drug Payments

The Workers Compensation Research Institute is holding a 30-minute webinar Aug. 1 to discuss key findings from its study of interstate variation and trends in work comp drug payments. The WCRI…




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Crowdstrike Outage Hits Comp Agencies

EDITOR’S NOTE: The New York State Workers Compensation Board said Friday afternoon that the majority of online services should now be restored. “Users may still experience lingering issues with some applications,”…




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Court Dismisses Employer's Challenge to Review Board Order

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an employer’s challenge to a decision of the Benefits Review Board remanding a worker’s motion to modify his partial disability award under…




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Comp Agencies Report Disruptions From Tech Outage

The software update that grounded airplanes and disrupted hospitals worldwide Friday also wreaked havoc on workers’ compensation regulators in some states. Officials from Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York,…




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DOL Says Injunction Protects Against Retaliation

The U.S. Department of Labor said a federal court in Washington state issued an injunction preventing the U.S. Postal Service from retaliation against employees. The department said the injunction was part…




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Railway Worker Loses Challenge to Dismissal of Retaliation Claim

The U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals denied review of a railway worker’s challenge to the dismissal of his claim he had been terminated in retaliation for his successful pursuit…