9

Appeal Can't Be Rejected as Untimely Without Evidence of When Decision Was Mailed

The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations cannot reject an appeal as untimely based on its “sent” date for a decision without direct evidence that…




9

Court Rejects Worker's Bid for Increase in PPD Award

Hawaii’s Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld an award of permanent partial disability benefits for a worker’s knee injuries. Case: Noborikawa v. Host International Inc., No. CAAP-20-0000172, 09/20/2024, unpublished. Facts: Carrie N. Noborikawa…




9

How Cryptographic 'Secret Sharing' Can Keep Information Safe

One safe, five sons and betrayal: this principle shows how shared knowledge can protect secrets—without having to trust anyone




9

Inside Mathematicians' Search for the Mysterious 'Einstein Tile'

The quest for the einstein tile—a shape never seen before in mathematics—turned up even more discoveries than mathematicians counted on




9

These Numbers Look Random but Aren't, Mathematicians Prove

A new mathematical proof helps show whether a sequence of numbers is “pseudorandom”




9

Tomorrow's Quantum Computers Threaten Today's Secrets. Here's How to Protect Them

Researchers are racing to create codes so complex that even quantum computers can’t break them




9

How String Theory Solved Math's Monstrous Moonshine Problem

A concept from theoretical physics helped confirm the strange connection between two completely different areas of mathematics




9

Surreal Numbers Are a Real Thing. Here's How to Make Them

In the 1970s mathematicians found a simple way to create all numbers, from the infinitely small to infinitely large




9

The Strangely Serious Implications of Math's 'Ham Sandwich Theorem'

A simple solution to gerrymandering crumbles when confronted with math’s ‘ham sandwich theorem’




9

WCD Adds 'Physician Associate' to Change of Provider Form

The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division on Friday announced that it updated the form used to request a change of provider to replace the term “physician assistant” with “physician associate.” The WCD…




9

Carrier Doesn't Have to Treat Worker as Having 'Combined Condition'

The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled that an insurance carrier did not have to treat a worker as having a combined condition when none of her impairment was related to her compensable…




9

Court Overturns Jury's $10 Million Verdict to Worker's Widow

The Oregon Court of Appeals overturned a jury’s $10 million verdict in favor of a worker’s widow for his asbestos exposures. Case: Ibarra v. C.H. Murphy/Clark-Ullman Inc., No. 411, 06/20/2024, unpublished. Facts…




9

Court Clarifies When Spouse Doesn't Qualify as Beneficiary of Fatally Injured Worker

The Oregon Court of Appeals clarified when a worker’s spouse falls within an exception to the definition of “beneficiary” because the couple was “living in a state of abandonment” at…




9

Roofing Material Supplier Fined $92,226 for Fall Hazards

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division fined a building materials supplier $92,226 for repeatedly failing to protect workers from potential fall hazards that it said could seriously injure or…




9

Court Upholds Denial of Benefits for Worker Injured in 'Arduous Trek' to Office

The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a denial of benefits for a university employee with significant preexisting health problems for her alleged injuries from walking to her workplace. Case: Ostrowski v.




9

Federal Court Reinstates Injured Worker's Civil Suit Against Crane Contractor

A federal appellate court revived an injured worker’s suit against a crane contractor, finding there were triable questions as to whether the crane operator allegedly responsible for his injuries was…




9

Judge Miscalculates Insurance Provider's Lien Against Amputee's Tort Settlement

The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled that a trial judge miscalculated an insurance provider’s lien against a truck driver’s third-party recovery for an accident that resulted in the loss of…




9

Court Overturns Denial of University Employee's Claims

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals overturned the denial of a university employee’s claim for injuries from a collision with a jogger as she walked along a public sidewalk…




9

High Court Overturns Finding That Injured Worker Doesn't Qualify as Employee

The District of Columbia’s highest court overturned a finding that an injured worker was not an employee within the meaning of the Workers’ Compensation Act. Case: Sanchez Lopez v. DOES, No. 22-AA-0765,…




9

Self-Insured Parent Co. of Miner's Final Employer Liable for Black Lung Benefits

A federal appellate court upheld the imposition of liability for a coal miner’s Black Lung Benefits Act claim on the self-insured parent of his final employer. David Howard spent 17 years…




9

High Court Overturns Denial of Former Pro Soccer Player's Knee Injury Claim

The District of Columbia’s high court overturned the denial of a former professional soccer player’s claim for benefits for a right knee injury allegedly caused by a decades-old injury to her…




9

Federal Court Scolds Insured for Frivolous Contest to Carrier's Entitlement to Payment

A federal appellate court scolded an insured for its frivolous defense during arbitration with its carrier and threatened to sanction the insured for its frivolous challenge to the arbitration award. Case: American…




9

Court Upholds Dismissal of Carrier's Garnishment Claim to Collect on Default Judgment

A federal appellate court upheld the dismissal of an insurance carrier’s garnishment claim against another carrier seeking to collect a default judgment against an employer for a workers’ compensation claim. Case:…




9

Court Upholds Summary Dismissal of Widow's Claim Against Parent of Late-Husband's Employer

A federal appellate court upheld the summary dismissal of a widow’s wrongful death claim against the parent company of her late-husband’s employer. Case: Mesenbring v. Rollins Inc., No. 23-2473, 06/28/2024, published. Facts:…




9

Court: Fatal Heart Attack Compensable, Worker's Adult Son Qualifies as Beneficiary

An Illinois appeals court overturned the denial of death benefits to a deceased worker’s adult son, finding that the father's fatal heart attack was compensable and that the son was an…




9

Audit Finds 'Major Improvement' in City's Comp Program Under TPA

Chicago’s Office of Inspector General said in its latest audit that contracting with a third-party administrator represented a “major improvement” in running the city’s work comp program compared to the…




9

Chamber, Self-Insurers' Association Open Registration for Work Comp Conference

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce and Illinois Self Insurers’ Association opened registration for their Workers’ Compensation and Safety Conference scheduled for Oct. 9 in Lisle. The conference will feature a case law…




9

Disability Law Allows Withholdings From Employees' Benefits

The Illinois Appellate Court ruled that the Public Employee Disability Act does not prohibit an employer from withholding taxes from a worker’s benefits. Case: Bitner v. City of Pekin, No. 4-23-0718,…




9

Federal Law Preempts Worker's Claim for Alleged State Insurance Law Violations

A federal appellate court ruled that a worker’s claim that his employer’s health plan administrator violated Illinois law was preempted by federal law. Case: Carnes v. HMO Louisiana Inc., No. 4:22-cv-04179,…




9

Court Rejects Police Officer's Constitutional Challenges to IRE Process

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania rejected an injured police officer’s constitutional challenges to the state’s new impairment rating evaluation scheme. Case: Powell v. City of Philadelphia (WCAB), No.  406 C.D. 2023,…




9

Judge Must Determine Whether to Penalize Employer's Refusal to Pay for Pot

A Pennsylvania appellate court on Monday ordered a workers’ compensation judge to determine whether an employer should be penalized for failing to reimburse an injured worker for medical cannabis. The Commonwealth…




9

Court Upholds Denial of Widow's Claim for Truck Driver's Fatal Heart Attack

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld the denial of a widow’s claim for a truck driver’s fatal heart attack. Case: Dnistranskiy v. Brite Logistics Inc. (WCAB), No. 414 C.D. 2023, 05/10/2024,…




9

Court Upholds Denial of Worker's Claim for Lead-Exposure Injury

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld the denial of a worker’s claim for benefits based on his industrial lead exposure. Case: Mercer v. Active Radiator MPN Inc., No. 1326 C.D. 2023,…




9

Employer Can't Join Other Parties to Share Potential Liability for Fatal Claim

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld an administrative decision finding that an employer could not join another entity and its insurance carrier as liable parties for a worker’s fatal accident. Case:…




9

Court Upholds Dismissal of Worker's Untimely Appeal

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld the dismissal of a worker’s untimely appeal of the denial of his workers’ compensation claim. Case: Oldfield v. Popcorn Alley Inc., No. 233 C.D. 2023,…




9

Amazon Can't Join Injured Worker's Prior Employer as Defendant to Claim

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…




9

Court Rejects Municipal Worker's Constitutional Challenges to IRE Procedures

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,…




9

Adjuster's Miscalculation of Lien Doesn't Allow Worker to Avoid Payment

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…




9

High Court Splits on IRE Doctor's Ability to Consider Conditions Not Listed on NCP

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…




9

Court Upholds Modification of Worker's Benefits for Specific Loss

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.




9

Employer Should Have Been Allowed to Set Aside Stipulation Based on Worker's Lies

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…




9

Widow Gets Award for Paramedic's Fatal Heart Attack

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.




9

Court Upholds Termination of Benefits for Worker's Slip-and-Fall Accident

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.




9

Court Upholds Dismissal of Carrier's Suit Against Claims Administrator, Former Counsel

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…




9

Union Painter's Direct Employer Must Pay Benefits but Can Take Pension Offset

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…




9

Court Upholds Modification of Worker's Status to Partially Disabled

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…




9

Court Upholds Worker's Award but Remands for Judge to Describe Compensable Injuries

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:…




9

Court Upholds Employer's Entitlement to Terminate Worker's Benefits

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,…




9

Court Upholds UR Determination That Worker's Treatments Weren't Necessary

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…




9

Worker Not Entitled to Penalties for Employer's Failure to Pay for Meds

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.