to 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
to 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
to Court Continues to Reject Repetitive Constitutional Challenges to IRE Process By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania rejected yet another constitutional challenge to the state's new impairment rating evaluation process. Pamela Barrett Walker worked for the City of Philadelphia. She suffered injuries at… Full Article
to 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
to 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
to 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
to Railway Worker Fails to Prove Ear Injury, Hearing Loss By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld the denial of a railway worker’s claim of injury to his ear and hearing loss. Case: Patrick v. Velocity Rail Solutions Inc. (WCAB), No. 652… Full Article
to Court Continues to Reject Repetitive Constitutional Challenges to IRE Process By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 02 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania continues to reject repetitive challenges to the constitutionality of the state's new impairment rating evaluation process. Case: Kittles v. City of Philadelphia (WCAB), No. 1058 C.D. Full Article
to Employer Loses Challenges to Benefits Reinstatement, Expansion of Claim, Penalties By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 04 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania rejected an employer’s challenges to orders reinstating a worker’s benefits, the expansion of his claim and the imposition of penalties. Case: Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board v. Berardi (WCAB),… Full Article
to 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
to 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
to 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
to 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
to 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
to 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
to 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
to 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
to 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
to Senate Passes Bill to Prolong Electronic Payment Authorization By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 14 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The California Senate unanimously passed a bill that would allow carriers to continue using debit cards to pay benefits for another two years. The Senate on Monday voted 38-0 to pass… Full Article
to 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
to Legislature Passes Bill to Give Park Rangers 4850 Time By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Mon, 19 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 California lawmakers passed a bill that, if approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom, would allow county park rangers to collect full salary-continuation benefits in lieu of temporary disability for up to… Full Article
to Amended Bill Would Allow Employers to Deny Time Off for 'Business Necessity' By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 21 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 California employers could deny an injured worker’s request for time off to get medical treatment for business necessity, under a recently amended bill. Sen. John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, on Monday amended… Full Article
to Cal/OSHA Hires More Investigators By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 23 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health, commonly known as Cal/OSHA, has increased staffing in its Bureau of Investigations Unit to take on more probes into serious workplace injuries across the… Full Article
to Bill to Mandate In-State Licensing for UR Docs Returns By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 A bill that would require some doctors performing utilization review to be licensed in the state was brought back to life after spending roughly a year on the California Assembly’s… Full Article
to WCAB Lacks Jurisdiction to Act on Petition for Recon Over 60 Days After Filing By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 A California appellate court ruled that the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board lacks jurisdiction to act on a petition for reconsideration more than 60 days after it was filed. Joseph Mayor worked… Full Article
to Legislature Sends to Governor Proposed Pay Raise for Fraud Investigators By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The California Legislature passed a bill that would increase salaries for Insurance Department fraud investigators. The Senate on Aug. 26 voted 32-7 to pass AB 2872, which had not been amended… Full Article
to Subcontractor Can't Demand Payment for Work Done Without Comp Coverage By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 04 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 A California appellate court ruled that a subcontractor on a construction project was not entitled to pursue payment for its work because it failed to maintain workers’ compensation coverage. Case: American Building Innovation LP… Full Article
to WCAB Consolidates Cases in Attorney Fee Dispute By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 05 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board issued an en banc decision Wednesday consolidating five cases to resolve a dispute over how to split fees between an injured worker’s current and former… Full Article
to Safety Regulators Remind Employers to Protect Workers From Smoke By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 11 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health reminds employers of the requirement to protect their workers from unhealthy air as wildfires in the southern part of the state fill… Full Article
to CalChamber Urges Veto of Ag Worker Heat Injury Presumption By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 13 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The California Chamber of Commerce on Thursday issued a statement urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to veto a bill that would create a presumption of compensability for certain heat-related injuries suffered… Full Article
to Privette Doctrine Shields General Contractor From Liability to Subcontractor's Employee By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 A California appellate court ruled that the Privette doctrine shielded a general contractor from civil liability to a subcontractor’s injured employee. Case: Luna v. Crane Development Corp., No. D081692, 09/20/2024, unpublished. Facts:… Full Article
to Newsom Rejects In-State Licensing for UR Docs, Raises for Fraud Investigators By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed bills that would have required some utilization review doctors to be licensed in the state and would have increased salaries for fraud investigators at the… Full Article
to Pacific Workers' Law Adds Yuvanna M. Davis to Firm By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 Pacific Workers’ Compensation Law Center in Oakland hired Yuvanna M. Davis as a workers’ compensation attorney. Yuvanna M. Davis The firm said Davis has a strong background in workers’ rights and… Full Article
to Governor Signs Bill to Delay Comp Mandate for Contractors By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill delaying by two years the implementation of a universal workers’ compensation coverage requirement for all contractors. The bill Newsom signed Sunday also includes a… Full Article
to WCIRB Promotes Tony Milano to EVP, Chief Actuary By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California on Thursday announced the promotion of Tony Milano to executive vice president and chief actuary. Tony Milano “Tony’s promotion to our Senior Leadership… Full Article
to Governor Vetoes 4850 Time for Rangers By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed over potential cost concerns a bill that would have allowed county and special district park rangers to receive full-pay salary continuation benefits in lieu of… Full Article
to WCIS Upgrade Slated for October By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The California Division of Workers’ Compensation announced that its Workers’ Compensation Information System will undergo an upgrade in October. The division said WCIS will receive an internal system update and secure… Full Article
to Governor Signs Debit Card Bill, Vetoes Ag Worker Presumption By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 California Gov. Gavin Newsom enacted legislation allowing carriers to continue using prepaid debit cards for payment of temporary and permanent disability benefits. At the same time, the governor vetoed a bill… Full Article
to DWC Posts Quarterly Adjustment to Hospital, ASC Fees By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 03 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The California Division of Workers’ Compensation posted an order adopting the latest quarterly update to the outpatient hospital and ambulatory surgery center section of the Official Medical Fee Schedule. The division… Full Article
to DWC Adopts Updates to MTUS Drug List By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 03 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The California Division of Workers’ Compensation announced updates to the drug list in the Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule to align with national treatment guidelines. The division said the order updates the… Full Article
to Andrea Coleman to Succeed Bill Mudge as WCIRB President, CEO By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 04 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California announced that Andrea Coleman will succeed Bill Mudge as president and CEO next year. Andrea Coleman Coleman’s promotion will take effect Feb. 1,… Full Article
to Cal/OSHA Cites Farm Labor Contractor for Heat Violations By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health cited a farm labor contractor $17,550 for violating heat illness prevention standards. Cal/OSHA said it opened an investigation into Ruiz Farm Labor in… Full Article
to DWC Adopts Medicare Changes to Hospital, ASC Fee Schedule By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 10 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0700 The California Division of Workers' Compensation posted an order updating the hospital outpatient department and ambulatory surgical centers section of the Official Medical Fee Schedule. The division in October posted an… Full Article
to Contractor Has Immunity From Civil Liability to Injured Worker By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0700 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. Full Article
to Widow Misses Deadline to Challenge Denial of Claim by 1 Day By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0700 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,… Full Article
to Federal Court Again Rules Contractor Has Immunity From Worker's Claim By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 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… Full Article
to Employer Entitled to Dismissal of Worker's Retaliation Claim By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 12 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0700 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,… Full Article
to Supreme Court Says Employer Can't Contract to Create Liability for Negligence By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Wed, 22 May 2024 00:00:00 -0700 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… Full Article
to Co-Employee Immunity Requires Both Workers to Be in COE/SOE By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0700 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… Full Article
to Last-Leg Amazon Delivery Workers Can't Be Compelled to Arbitrate Claims By ww3.workcompcentral.com Published On :: Thu, 27 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0700 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… Full Article
