The Virginia Court of Appeals upheld benefit awards of closed periods for an injured paramedic, finding that she failed to prove her entitlement to additional compensation. Case: Martinka v. PHI Group Inc.,…

The Virginia Court of Appeals upheld an award of inpatient residential care at an assisted living facility for a worker with a traumatic brain injury. Case: Rockingham County School Board v.

The Virginia Court of Appeals overturned an award of benefits to a worker who suffered identical foot injuries 11 years apart. Case: HealthSouth Corp. v. Hawthorne, No. 2058-23-3, 09/03/2024, unpublished. Facts: Pamela…

The West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals ruled that a worker was entitled to benefits for his injuries from being struck by a car while attempting to aid a motorist…

The West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of a worker’s application for permanent total disability. Case: Murray American Energy Inc. v. Harshey, No. 24-ICA-73, 07/30/2024, unpublished. Facts: Dustin Harshey…

The West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld a determination that an injured worker was entitled to additional physical therapy for her leg injury. Case: ACNR Resources Inc. v. Goff, No.

The West Virginia Supreme Court overturned an award of permanent partial disability benefits to an injured worker, finding that it was improperly based on the opinion of a doctor who failed…

The West Virginia Supreme Court upheld an award of benefits to a worker for his electric shock injury. Case: Quanta Services Inc. v. Bolling, No. 23-420, 08/01/2024, published. Facts: Zachary Bolling worked for…

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that an injured employee’s right to assert a direct claim for unpaid medical expenses is not precluded by a medical provider’s failure to intervene in…

A federal appellate court upheld the summary dismissal of an injured mechanic’s claim for disability discrimination. Case: Goosen v. Minnesota Department of Transportation, No. 23-2360, 06/24/2024, published. Facts: Robert Wayne Goosen worked…

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry announced that starting Aug. 1, a new penalty of $500 can be assessed to health care provider agents who violate certain laws relating…

The Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld the summary dismissal of a worker’s civil suit against his supervisor for his injuries from motor vehicle accident caused when the supervisor fell asleep…

Colorado’s Pinnacol Assurance urged the state’s employers to be proactive in reviewing and enhancing their vehicle safety protocols, saying heavily traveled roads during summer months increase the risk of accidents. Pinnacol…

The Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation is holding a meeting to discuss a preliminary draft of updated rules for the independent medical examination process. Draft rules that the division is considering…

The Colorado Court of Appeals ruled that an administrative law judge had jurisdiction to determine whether an employer made an overpayment after it issued an admission of liability for a specific…

The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation is hosting a webinar on May 22 to discuss presiding officer directives. The division said the program will focus on the origin of presiding officer…

A Texas appellate court ruled that a public school district was immune from civil liability to a former employee on her retaliatory discharge claim. Case: Conroe Independent School District v. Osuna,…

The Texas Department of Insurance said it closed seven Division of Workers’ Compensation field offices along the Gulf Coast in response to Hurricane Beryl. The department said it closed both field…

The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation seeks public comments on draft rules that would allow doctors to use telemedicine to perform maximum medical improvement examinations. “For example, when a treating doctor treats…

The Texas Department of Insurance on Tuesday announced that the former co-owner of Bill Hall Jr. Trucking was sentenced to 10 years of deferred adjudication and ordered to pay restitution…

The Insurance Council of Texas is holding a webinar Aug. 12 that will cover the use of social media when resolving workers’ compensation claims. Marci Reading, vice president of business development…

A Texas appellate court ruled that a trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over a worker’s negligence claims against a colleague and his employer arising from a motor vehicle accident. Case: In…

The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation is accepting comments on the 2025 Medical Quality Review Annual Audit Plan through Nov. 22. The annual plan establishes priorities for the Medical Quality Review…

The Alaska Court of Appeals upheld the restitution order against a convicted workers’ compensation fraudster. Scott Abraham Groom was convicted of taking more than $10,000 in state funds by “false or fraudulent pretense,…

The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that an employer’s optional medical examination is not a reimbursable expense from a worker’s third-party recovery. Case: Brent v. Mississippi Department of Human Services, No. 2022-CT-00529-SCT,…

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch filed a lawsuit accusing pharmacy benefit managers of contributing to the oversupply of opioids in the state and fueling an illegal secondary market. The complaint filed…

A federal appellate court ruled that an insurance carrier could not void a policy based on an employer’s misrepresentation, nor could it maintain a breach-of-contract claim against a marketing agent for failing to…

A split Mississippi Court of Appeals upheld a finding that a worker’s compensable right-foot injury did not leave her permanently and totally disabled and that her left-foot injury was not compensable. Case:…

The Maryland Appellate Court rejected a dispute over whether an injured worker qualified as a public safety employee due to a lack of jurisdiction. Case: Clifton T. Perkins Hospital v. Frierson, No.

The Maryland Appellate Court upheld the denial of a worker’s claim of occupational disease and accidental injury from his alleged chemical exposure. Robert Butler worked as a driver for Velocity Rail…

The Appellate Court of Maryland overturned an $8.7 million jury verdict in favor of an injured worker against the owner of a vessel that also happened to be his employer. Case: Corman Marine…

The Washington Court of Appeals has granted a motion by the Department of Labor and Industries to order the publication of a decision that upheld a $1.7 million judgment against…

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries fined Georgia Pacific $648,292 after a worker was crushed by an unguarded packing machine. Georgia Pacific is appealing the citation. Dakota A. Cline died…

The Vermont Supreme Court upheld the summary dismissal of a worker’s claim for benefits for an out-of-state injury. Ian Burnett worked for Home Improvement Co. of Vermont. HIC is a Vermont…

The claims professional is the decision maker with respect to compensability of any claimed injury, and with respect to the benefits that are to be voluntarily paid. These decisions will…

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This one-hour session will focus on reviewing medical reports from a lay-person perspective.

Learn the secrets, tips and tactics that demystify the handling of the catastrophic loss case. This seminar will equip attendees with a clear overview of the steps and stages each catastrophic…

Learn what constitutes proper billing, how to find and use fee schedules, documentation requirements and dispute resolution. Attendees will achieve a better understanding of the requirements for getting paid under…

What has changed for physician billing for 2015, new conversion factors, updated regulations, dispute resolution trends.

85% of Americans have one or more chronic diseases. These diseases delay recovery and healing of an injured worker. This webinar will teach you how to recognize comorbidities, manage them,…

The Claims Specialist's Start Guide: CA Adjuster Cert Process, Historical Overview, Organizational Structure of WC System, WC Terms and Concepts, Basic Benefits & TD and SJDB Vouchers.

This training will provide attorneys and physicians with everything you need to know about the medical-legal issues involved in "psyche" cases - from the initial diagnosis through the discovery process to the separate…

What is an uninsured employer? How do you handle an uninsured employer case as defense counsel? As an applicant attorney? Join Tobin Lucks’ Nate Halprin for a special one hour…

The Claims Specialist's QuickStart Guide: Adjuster Certification Process…

Learn the fundamentals of the new 2015 Copy Service Fee Schedule. Understand how things are defined, what services are bundled, and when services are not payable. This class is important…

Join us for "A Brief History and the State of Medical Treatment".

This four-hour seminar will present the terminology and application of the AMA Guides to common parts of body injured in work related injuries. Many WPI ratings are missed or…

The New Paradigm of Providing Medical Treatment for Injured Workers.

Intimidated by doctor's depositions? Do you have office staff who are new to cross examination? Or, are you a seasoned practitioner but still would appreciate some useful pointers from someone…