A state appellate court affirmed a decision by a trial court that a first responder presented evidence sufficient to prove that his menisci tears were an occupational disease under Md. Code Ann., Lab. & Empl. § 9-502(d)(1)(i) (1991, 2016 Repl. Vol.), including...
Oakland–A new California Workers’ Compensation Institute (CWCI) study finds that the number of California workers’ compensation inpatient hospital stays fell 31.2% between 2008 and 2016, compared to a 19.6% drop in hospital stays paid under private plans, a 2.4...
The Supreme Court of Appeals reversed a trial court’s denial of post-trial motions following an adverse jury verdict in a “deliberate intention” action filed pursuant to W. Va. Code § 23-4-2(d)(2)(ii) (2005). The plaintiff, who suffered permanent injuries after...
A trial court properly apportioned 10 percent of a permanently and totally disabled worker’s disability to the Second Injury Fund where it found that the worker sustained a 90 percent PPD as a result of a shoulder and arm injury, but also found that when combined...
In a deeply divided decision, the Supreme Court of Oklahoma held that a workers’ compensation claimant, who sustained an injury to his left shoulder in 2013, was a “physically impaired person,” as defined in Okla. Stat. tit. 85A, § 402(A), in spite of the fact...
The appellate court held that pursuant to Lab. Code § 4751, Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund (SIBTF) benefits commence at the time the employer’s obligation to pay permanent disability benefits begins. Accordingly, the WCAB correctly determined that the...
A Colorado appellate court affirmed an order apportioning two-thirds of an injured worker’s bilateral knee osteoarthritis to the employee, requiring the employer to pay just one-third of the worker’s medical expenses and other benefits, although the worker spent...
In New York, absent an express agreement to the contrary, a defendant sued in tort by an injured employee may seek contribution or indemnification from the employer only if the employee suffered a "grave injury, as that term is defined in N.Y. Workers’ Comp...
Construing Illinois law, a federal district court held that plaintiff’s wrongful death action against the decedent’s employer was barred by the exclusive remedy provisions of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act [see 820 ILCS 305/5] where the decedent was killed...
The Supreme Court of Iowa held that Iowa workers’ compensation law does not prohibit an employee from collecting both PPD benefits and PTD benefits at the same time where the employee suffers successive injuries at the same workplace. The court indicated the general...
Here’s the latest batch of advanced postings for the September 2016 issue of Cal. Comp. Cases. Lexis.com and Lexis Advance subscribers can link to the case to read the complete headnotes and summaries. © Copyright 2016 LexisNexis. All rights reserved...
The Supreme Court of Wyoming affirmed a finding that an injured worker failed to establish a causal relationship between his original work-related injury which, after surgery, left the worker pigeon-toed, and injuries sustained in a subsequent automobile accident...
Here’s the latest batch of advanced postings for the July 2016 issue of Cal. Comp. Cases. Lexis.com and Lexis Advance subscribers can link to the case to read the complete headnotes and summaries. © Copyright 2016 LexisNexis. All rights reserved...
Beware of UR and IMR physicians who use MTUS, ACOEM, and ODG guidelines to deny treatment when, in fact, other MTUS, ACOEM, or ODG guidelines do support an RFA from a treating physician In Gonzalez-Ornelas v. County of Riverside , 2016 Cal. Wrk. Comp. P.D. LEXIS...
In a split (7–2) decision, the Supreme Court of Oklahoma has struck down yet another provision of the state’s controversial 2013 “reform” of its workers’ compensation law. The provision, Okla. Stat. tit. 85A, § 45(C)(5), defers...