Blog - Lastest News from Work Comp Staffing Solutions
Split Court Upholds Award of Black Lung Benefits to Widow
A divided federal appellate court upheld an award of black lung benefits to a miner’s widow. Case: Clinchfield Coal Co. v. Mullins, No. 23-1644, 12/02/2025, published. Facts: Donald Mullins worked as a…
Supreme Court Upholds Denial of Worker’s Request to Expand Claim
The West Virginia Supreme Court upheld the denial of a worker's request to expand her claim. Case: Walker v. Goodwill Industries of Kanawha Valley Inc., No. 25-503, 11/25/2025, published. Facts: Karen Walker…
Employer Wrongfully Refuses to Rehire Injured Truck Driver
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruled that an employer wrongfully refused to rehire an injured employee who was cleared to return to work. Case: Bruce Belland Trucking Inc. v. Labor and…
Worker Fails to Allege Viable Claims Under Jones Act, State Law
A New York appellate court upheld the summary dismissal of claims by a worker who said he was injured while working aboard a navigable vessel. Case: Badloo v. City of New York, No. 2025-01110,…
Worker Remains Disabled, Needs Additional Surgery
The Nebraska Court of Appeals upheld a finding that a worker remained temporarily totally disabled and needed additional shoulder surgery. Case: Duncan v. Infrastructure & Energy Alternatives Inc., No. A-25-226, 11/25/2025,…
Governor Vetoes Fraud Assessment Commission
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed a proposal to create an employer-funded account to pay for workers' compensation fraud investigations and prosecutions, according to the Legislature's website. The governor on Friday…
Federal Court Rejects Mine Operator’s Challenge to Black Lung Award for Former Employee
A federal appellate court rejected a coal mine operator’s petition for review of an award of black lung benefits to a miner who was not diagnosed with pneumoconiosis until years…
Supreme Court Upholds Denial of Expansion, Closure of Worker’s Claim
The West Virginia Supreme Court upheld the closure and denial of a worker’s request to expand the scope of his claim. Case: Lester v. West Virginia Division of Highways, No. 25-505,…
Widow Doesn’t Need Carrier’s Consent to Settle Third-Party Claim
A New York appellate court ruled that a widow was not required to obtain the consent of an insurance carrier before settling her claim against third-party tortfeasors, but she was…
SCIF: Ambiguity in Disability Accommodation Rules Could Hamper Enforcement
California's largest workers' compensation carrier said some of the changes that the Division of Workers' Compensation is proposing to its disability accommodation rules could create ambiguity that would make them…
Board’s Denial of Worker’s Occupational Disease Claim Not Supported by Substantial Evidence
A New York appellate court ruled that a Workers’ Compensation Board’s decision denying a worker’s claim for an occupational disease was not supported by substantial evidence. Case: Matter of McGann v.
Committee Passes ‘Worker Safety Day’ Resolution
The New Jersey Assembly Labor Committee passed a resolution that would designate April 18 as Worker Safety Day. Assembly Joint Resolution 126 says there are more than 2.9 million deaths every…