workers’ compensation News

Top Fire Official on Injury Leave Fired After Video Surfaces

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (AP)–A Massachusetts mayor has fired a top fire official out on injury leave after he was captured on video lifting heavy equipment. New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell said Tuesday that Deputy Fire Chief Paul Coderre Jr. was …

Assault at Job Covered by Workers’ Comp, Mississippi Supreme Court Rules

A man gets assaulted at work by two co-workers. Is the man’s recourse for his injuries limited only to the exclusive remedy of the workers’ compensation system? The Mississippi Supreme Court this month said, “yes,” despite the employee’s claims of …

Updated CMS Guide Spells Out the Risk of Skipping CMS Review of Work Comp Settlements

Insurers that are inclined to skip a government review of proposed workers’ compensation settlements may think twice about that strategy because of an updated policy guideline issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Jan. 11. For the …

Viewpoint: Telehealth Risks and Predicted Impacts For 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the delivery of healthcare – including the adoption of telehealth, defined as the delivery and facilitation of health-related services via telecommunications and digital communication technologies. Its usage soared as consumers and providers sought ways to safely …

Employer Must Face Worker’s Lawsuit Over Husband’s COVID Death, Calif. Court Rules

A California candymaker must face a lawsuit by an employee who says she caught COVID-19 at work and gave it to her husband, resulting in his death, a state appeals court held on Tuesday, upholding what appeared to be the …

Claim For Fatal Heat Stroke Barred by Missouri Ruling on Co-Employee Lawsuits

Tyler Scott Halsey worked himself to death trimming trees in 96-degree heat, his parents say. They alleged in a lawsuit against his employer, Townsend Tree Service, that his supervisor did not offer enough water or rest breaks and disabled the …

Some Experts Say Too Many Work Comp Claims Are Litigated

Employers may be warming up to the idea that fighting some workers’ compensation claims and medical treatments can be counterproductive, and new emphasis should be placed on keeping injured workers happy – and out of the courtroom. “The workers’ comp …

Pa. Supreme Finds Injury During Transit From After-Hours Event Was Work Related

A traveling salesperson injured in a car accident after an employer-sponsored happy hour had to drive past the highway exit to his home on the way to the event, sparking debate over whether he was still considered “on the job” …

NCCI: Work Comp Claim Frequency Dipped During Height of Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic corresponded with an unusual decrease in workers’ compensation claim severity, while claim frequency was pretty much unchanged, according to a report released Wednesday by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. NCCI said average claim severity for lost-time …

Jury Awards $42 Million to Rapid City Woman Injured at Work

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A Pennington County jury has awarded $42 million to a Rapid City woman after she was denied medical benefits from her previous employer and the employer’s insurance company. United Parcel Service and Liberty Mutual were …