Blog - Lastest News from Work Comp Staffing Solutions
Panel Clarifies Requirements for Determining Reasonableness of Fee Awards
The Supreme Court of Tennessee’s Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel upheld a lump-sum award of attorney fees representing 20% of a widow’s recovery. Case: Henderson v. Pee Dee Country Enterprises Inc.,…
DLI Not Required to Issue Copy of Order to Attorney Purporting to Represent Worker
The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled that the Department of Labor and Industries was not required to issue a copy of its order denying a worker’s claim to the attorney…
Worker Who Ripped Off SAIF Gets Partial Reversal of Comp Fraud Conviction
The Oregon Court of Appeals vacated part of a criminal defendant’s conviction for workers’ compensation fraud. Case: State v. Jacob, Nos. 17CR24167 and A167825, 06/15/2022, published. Facts: Joseph Jacob II received workers'…
WCD Adopts Attorney Fee Rules
The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division adopted new attorney fee rules that take effect Sept. 1. In addition to revised wording to enhance clarity, the new rules include a provision for annual…
DIR Increases Annuity Table Interest Rate
The Nevada Division of Industrial Relations adopted an updated actuarial annuity table increasing the interest rate used to calculate permanent partial disability lump-sum settlements. The interest rate increased to 2.41%, effective…
WCC Notice Clarifies Record Request Procedures
The South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission issued an advisory notice outlining the procedures it uses to assess requests to disclose contents from claims files. The WCC collects and stores personally identifiable…
Registration Open for Educational Conference
The Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation announced that registration is open for its 25th annual Educational Conference in August. The three-day conference will feature a case law update, a soup-to-nuts review…
Court Upholds Denial of TTD to Worker but Finds Entitlement to SEB
A Louisiana appellate court upheld the denial of temporary total disability benefits to an injured worker but found she was entitled to supplemental earning benefits because a vocational rehabilitation counselor had…
Employer Sanctioned for Closing Claim Without Attending Physician
The Oregon Court of Appeals upheld a determination that an employer unreasonably closed a worker’s claim when she did not have an attending physician. Case: In the Matter of Cramer, Nos.
Summary Judgment Inappropriate for Construction Worker Who Fell While Using Stilts
A New York appellate court ruled that a worker was not entitled to summary judgment on his Labor Law claim for injuries from a fall while using stilts on a…
Court Upholds Reduction of Worker’s SLU, Fee Awards
A New York appellate court upheld a reduction in a worker’s schedule loss of use and attorney fee awards. Case: Matter of Harmon v. Office of Children and Family Services, No.
No Benefits for Worker With Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
The Iowa Court of Appeals upheld a denial of benefits to a worker for his noise-induced hearing loss due to the untimeliness of his claim. Case: Havill v. Quaker Oats Co.,…