Monthly Archives: <span>March 2017</span>

Montana Bill Seeking to Privatize $1.6B Workers’ Comp Insurance Fund Tabled

Montana lawmakers on Friday put off further discussion on dismantling and privatizing the state’s massive workers compensation system, saying the task was too daunting to take up in the waning days of the legislative session. Instead, the matter will be …

Ohio Air Force Base Trains Cyber Army

Cyber hackers bent on chaos could potentially attack water treatment and chemical plants, power grids, financial institutions and disable weapon systems, and have stolen personal data of millions of federal employees and consumers. Every hour of every day, cyber warriors …

Hot Rod Racer Death Spurred Safety Changes

John Medlen remembers his son’s final seconds like they were his first steps. Eric Medlen inched his dragster to the starting line and waited for the signal. John, also his son’s crew chief, made a couple of routine checks, looked …

Utah Police Say Tougher DUI Law May Require Revised Training, Rules

Some in Utah law enforcement say a new law giving the state the strictest DUI threshold in the country could change how officers screen people for DUI and look for signs someone’s blood alcohol level is over the new 0.05 …

Congress Nixes Obama Workplace Injury Reporting Rule

The U.S. Senate (50-48) joined the House (231-191) in passing a resolution blocking a federal workplace injury and accident reporting rule put in place by the Obama Administration last December. The Department of Labor rule issued by the Occupational Safety …

60% of Workers’ Spinal Fusion Claims Initially Reported as Strains: Study

A study on the use of spinal fusion surgeries in California workers’ compensation shows that in 60 percent of spinal fusion claims the initial report of injury was for a sprain or strain, a majority of the fusions occurred within …

Insurers Could Benefit From Robots That Aid in Digitizing Records

Most staple removers fit in the palm of your hand. This one would fill your living room and uses robotics and artificial intelligence. Ripcord, a startup backed with a $9.5 million funding round led by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, …

Ex-Pharmacy Exec Convicted in Deadly Meningitis Outbreak

The former head of a Massachusetts pharmacy was convicted Wednesday of racketeering and other charges over a meningitis outbreak that killed 64 people across the country and was traced to fungus-contaminated drugs. Prosecutors said Barry Cadden, 50, ran the business …

Lloyd’s Offers Business Interruption Coverage for Suspended Amazon Sellers

Like many people who make their living selling stuff on Amazon.com Inc., Rob Griffin is terrified of getting kicked off the site. Two years ago the Atlanta resident was suspended for selling a banned health supplement and wound up living …

Florida Nightclub Shooting Victims Sue Gunman’s Employer, Wife

A personal injury attorney representing dozens of survivors and victims’ relatives from the Orlando, Fla., nightclub massacre filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the gunman’s employer and wife, claiming they could have stopped Omar Mateen before the attack but didn’t. The …