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Supreme Court Upholds Denial of Worker's Request to Reopen Claim

The West Virginia Supreme Court upheld the denial of a worker’s request to reopen her claim for temporary total disability benefits, additional medications and a referral to a rheumatologist. Case: Blevins…




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Supreme Court Denies Benefits for Hospital Worker's COVID-19 Infection

The West Virginia Supreme Court upheld a denial of benefits for a hospital maintenance worker’s COVID-19 infection. Case: Morrill v. Lifepoint Hospitals Inc., No. 23-461, 09/23/2024, published. Facts: Curtis Morrill was a…




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Supreme Court Upholds Increase in Worker's PPD Award

The West Virginia Supreme Court upheld an increase in a worker’s permanent partial disability award for a shoulder injury. Case: ACNR Resources Inc. v. Martie, No. 23-386, 09/23/2024, published. Facts: Patrick Martie…




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Worker Gets No Referral for Evaluation of Noncompensable Condition

West Virginia’s Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld the denial of a referral to a neurosurgeon for evaluation of a condition that had not been accepted as compensable in a worker’s claim. Case:…




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Worker Fails to Link Concussion Claim to Actions of Child Tapping Head

West Virginia’s Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld the denial of a school worker’s claim of injury from a child tapping her on the head. Case: Hill v. Wyoming County Board of…




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Worker Not Entitled to Increased PPD Award

West Virginia’s Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld a determination that a worker was not entitled to an increase in his permanent partial disability award. Case: Alban v. West Virginia Division of…




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Health Care Worker Gets 0% Award for Injuries

West Virginia’s Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld a determination that an injured worker was entitled to a 0% permanent partial disability award. Case: Gibson v. Greenbrier Valley Medical Center, No. 24-ICA-160,…




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Court Upholds Worker's 1% PPD Award for Knee Injury

West Virginia’s Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld a 1% permanent partial disability award for a worker’s knee injury. Case: Davis v. Charleston Area Medical Center Inc., No. 24-ICA-131, 10/01/2024, published. Facts: Thomas…




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No Increase in Worker's PPD Award for Occupational Pneumoconiosis

West Virginia’s Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld a determination that a worker was not entitled to an increase in his permanent partial disability award for occupational pneumoconiosis. Case: Lucey v. Murray…




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Worker Can Recover Costs of Medical Treatment by Non-Intervening Providers

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…




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Trucking Company Fined After Worker Dies in Confined Space

The Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited trucking Wayne Transports Inc. after a worker died in a confined space. Justin Erickson, 39, was found dead in the tank of a tanker…




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Registration for Work Comp Summit Opens Monday

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry announced that it will open registration Monday for its one-day Workers’ Compensation Summit set for Oct. 29. Session topics will include a legislative update…




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Exclusivity Doesn't Bar Worker From Suing Employer's Auto Insurance Carrier

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that when a worker is injured in the course of his employment by the acts of an underinsured third-party tortfeasor, workers’ compensation exclusivity does not bar him…




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Temp Worker Can't Maintain Tort Suit Against Employer's Client

A Texas appellate court ruled that a temporary employment provider’s employee could not pursue a civil remedy against his employer’s client for an on-the-job injury. Case: Waeli v. BWFS Industries LLC,…




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Court Revives Worker's Challenge to Partial Denial of Claim

A Texas appellate court revived an injured school district employee’s challenge to an administrative law judge’s determination that she was barred from pursuing compensation for some alleged conditions and dates…




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No Benefits for Worker's Motorcycle Death

A Texas appellate court ruled that a worker’s death in a motorcycle accident while retrieving his company-issued laptop from home was not compensable. Michael Evans was a safety consultant for Xcel…




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Federal Court Sends Worker's Jones Act Claim Back to State Level

A federal appellate court ruled that a worker’s Jones Act claims should be sent back to a Texas state court. Shanon Roy Santee worked as a remote-operated vehicle technician in the…




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Court Lacks Jurisdiction Over Worker's Negligence Claim Against Colleague, Employer

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…




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Worker Can't Get Writ to Avoid Arbitration of Claim Against Nonsubscribing Employer

A Texas appellate court denied an injured worker's petition for mandamus relief of a trial judge’s order compelling him to arbitrate a negligence claim against his nonsubscribing employer. Adrian Murillo worked…




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Split Court Says Diabetic Worker's Foot Injury Didn't Cause Total Disability

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:…




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Court Dismisses Dispute Over Whether Worker Qualifies as Public Safety Employee

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.




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Worker Fails to Prove Occupational Disease, Accidental Injury From Chemical Exposure

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…




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Court Upholds Commission's Method for Determining Worker's AWW but Vacates Calculation

The Maryland Appellate Court ruled that the state Workers’ Compensation Commission used an appropriate methodology to calculate a worker’s average weekly wages but miscalculated the amount by relying on an improper…




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Companies Fined $650,000 After Worker Dies in Storage Facility

Two companies were fined a combined $650,000 after a worker died in an apple storage facility that had a low oxygen level to prevent fruit from spoiling, the Washington State…




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Worker Failed to Perfect Appeal of Board Decision Denying Request to Reopen Claim

The Washington Court of Appeals upheld the denial of an injured worker’s request to reopen her claim due to her failure to timely perfect her appeal of the decision of…




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Worker Who Failed to Connect Neck Injury to PTSD Diagnosis Not Entitled to Reopen Claim

The Washington Court of Appeals upheld a determination that a worker was not entitled to reopen his claim for a neck injury because he failed to prove that the accident contributed…




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L&I Fines Wildlife Department for Worker Death

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries fined the state wildlife department $200,400 for two incidents that killed one worker and hospitalized another. Mary Valentine, a 48-year-old Department of Fish…




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Appeals Court Reverses Order Precluding Worker From Making PPD Claims

A trial court erred when it granted a motion in limine to preclude an injured worker from presenting to a jury the question of eligibility for a permanent partial disability…




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Court Strikes Down Statutory Prohibition on Workers Posting Recordings of IMEs Online

The Washington Court of Appeals held that a law prohibiting injured workers from posting to social media recordings of their independent medical examinations is an unconstitutional prior restraint on free…




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Construction Company Fined for Using Crane to Lift Workers

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries said a Seattle construction company is facing $155,300 in fines for knowingly putting workers at serious risk of injury or death by…




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Court Upholds Closure of Worker's Claim, Denial of Additional Treatment

The Washington Court of Appeals upheld a decision closing a worker’s claim and denying her further treatment. Case: Creighton v. United Airlines Inc., No. 58293-7-II, 08/27/2024, unpublished. Facts: Tamra Creighton worked for…




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Claims School Seminar to Explore Return to Work, Case Law and IMEs

Workers’ compensation defense firm Reinisch Wilson Weier is holding a one-day educational seminar in November that will cover case law affecting the Washington state workers’ compensation system, the independent medical…




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State Lacks Jurisdiction Over Worker's Injury Claim

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…




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Workers' Compensation Insurance Policies and Principles




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Workers' Compensation Basics, History, Terms, Benefits, SJDB

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.




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Medical Treatment for Injured Workers

The New Paradigm of Providing Medical Treatment for Injured Workers.




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Navigating the Return to Work Fund Program and Beyond

Training will include: facts to know about the Return to Work Fund/Benefit (RTWF or RTWB), important dates and deadlines to remember, what do you and your client need to avoid…




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Thriving as a Work Comp Medical Provider

This four hour seminar is an interactive educational program designed for primary treating physicians and specialists managing injured workers. The course is ideally suited for practicing medical providers, chiropractors and…




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Work Comp Matters - Free Weekly Podcast - Episode 1

"Work Comp Matters" - the central location for all your workers' compensation, employment and labor law matters. Steve Appell hosts this weekly podcast from sunny southern California - presenting some…




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Work Comp Matters - Free Weekly Podcast - Episode 2

"Work Comp Matters" - the central location for all your workers' compensation, employment and labor law matters. Steve Appell hosts this weekly podcast from sunny southern California - presenting some…




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Work Comp Matters - Free Weekly Podcast - Episode 3

"Work Comp Matters" - the central location for all your workers' compensation, employment and labor law matters. Steve Appell hosts this weekly podcast from sunny southern California - presenting some…




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Work Comp Matters - Free Weekly Podcast - Episode 4

"Work Comp Matters" - the central location for all your workers' compensation, employment and labor law matters. Steve Appell hosts this weekly podcast from sunny southern California - presenting some…




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Work Comp Matters - Free Weekly Podcast - Episode 10: Business Relationships

"Work Comp Matters" - the central location for all your workers' compensation, employment and labor law matters. Steve Appell hosts this weekly podcast from sunny southern California - presenting some…




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Work Comp Matters - Free Weekly Podcast - Episode 11: Death

"Work Comp Matters" - the central location for all your workers' compensation, employment and labor law matters. Steve Appell hosts this weekly podcast from sunny southern California - presenting some…




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Work Comp Matters - Free Weekly Podcast - Episode 12: Hiring and Firing

"Work Comp Matters" - the central location for all your workers' compensation, employment and labor law matters. Steve Appell hosts this weekly podcast from sunny southern California - presenting some…




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2017 San Diego Work Comp Special

This course provides essential updates and specific tools for workers' compensation professionals residing in or near San Diego, CA. Instructors will discuss liens, case law updates and the impact SB…




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Work Comp Matters - Free Weekly Podcast - Episode 13: Marketing and Advertising

"Work Comp Matters" - the central location for all your workers' compensation, employment and labor law matters. Steve Appell hosts this weekly podcast from sunny southern California - presenting some…




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Work Comp Matters - Free Weekly Podcast - Episode 14: Judges

"Work Comp Matters" - the central location for all your workers' compensation, employment and labor law matters. Steve Appell hosts this weekly podcast from sunny southern California - presenting some…




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Work Comp Matters - Free Weekly Podcast - Episode 15: What's News

"Work Comp Matters" - the central location for all your workers' compensation, employment and labor law matters. Steve Appell hosts this weekly podcast from sunny southern California - presenting some…




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Work Comp Matters - Free Weekly Podcast - Episode 16: Artificial Intelligence

"Work Comp Matters" - the central location for all your workers' compensation, employment and labor law matters. Steve Appell hosts this weekly podcast from sunny southern California - presenting some…