Professor John F Burton Jr: Illinois Proposed Changes Are Obectionable

The former chair of the 1972 National Commission on Workers' Compensation told the Illinois legislature yesterday that the proposed changes to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act will degrade the system and reduce benefits to injured workers. Profession Emeritis John F. Burton, Jr., yesterday presented a statement to the Committee of the Whole before the Illinois House of Representatives.

Professor John F. Burton Jr.

OSHA's Intent Is Not To Preempt State Tort Law Claims by the HazCom Standard

My thanks to attorney, Steven H. Wodka of Little Silver, NJ, for sending this information:

"Those of you who handle toxic torts may have seen defense motions to dismiss your

clients’ failure to warn claims based on the argument that such claims are preempted by OSHA’s hazard communication standard.  Their argument is based on an unpublished NJ Appellate Division decision, Bass v. Air Products & Chemicals Inc., et al., Docket No.  A-4542-03T3, decided May 25, 2006.

The Law School's Roll in Workers' Compensation Law To Be Discussed

At the American Bar Association Midwinter Seminar & Conference, Co-sponsored by Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section and the Labor Law Section of the ABA, members of The College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers will present a special panel discussion addressing the issue of teaching workers’ compensation in the nation’s law schools. All of the panelists have experience as adjunct professors teaching workers’ compensation. The program is scheduled March 8-12, 2012 in San Antonio, Texas. They will review how many law schools are featuring a workers’ compensation course, how the panelists teach the subject, and they will also provide advice on how to lobby a law school to initiate such a course. The College members will be accompanied by a special guest from Texas, workers’ compensation hearing officer Hon. Patrice Squirewell-Jean, who has taught as an adjunct at Thurgood Marshall School of Law/Texas Southern University.


The College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers has been established to honor those attorneys who have distinguished themselves in their practice in the field of workers' compensation. Members have been nominated for the outstanding traits they have developed in their practice of twenty years, or longer, representing plaintiffs, defendants, serving as judges, or acting for the benefit of all in education, overseeing agencies and developing legislation.


To read more about the conference click here.

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