NJ Court Upholds Bar on Implementing Triennial Determination

Disability Benefits before age 62 are not entitled to a COLA (Cost of Linving) increase in benefits, a “triennial determination.” The Court reasoned that the 1980 NJ statute allowing for a “reverse offset,” one in which the employer takes the Social Security Disability Offset, also permits NJ law to pre-empt Federal law that mandates such a recalculation. 

What are you Looking Forward to After the Pandemic? What is in your Risk Budget?

A panel of infectious disease experts and public health specialists of the Veterans Administration who have been involved in the national COVID response has a roundtable discussion about going forward following the Pandemic.  

NJ Assembly Passes Amended Employment Bill

The NJ Assembly has approved (25 yes-0 no-15 not voting) and amended version of  A2617 that Requires employers to provide hiring preference to employees who have reached maximum medical improvement following work-related injury. 

Court Upholds Mandatory Vaccination or Termination

A Federal court has dismissed an action brought by 117 employees against Houston Methodist hospital’s policy requiring employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by June 7, 2021, or be terminated.

Vaccines highly effective against hospitalization from Delta variant

An encouraging analysis by PHE shows for the first time that two doses of COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective against hospitalization from the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant. Unfortunately, those who aren’t vaccinated face increased risk. 

NJ Judges of Compensation Seek Return to State Pension System

The legislation now pending before the NJ Assembly would permit reinstatement of NJ Judges of Workers Compensation into the state pension system (A1032 3R). A similar bill has already passed the NJ Senate (S758 3R) on February 19, 2021 (29-5-5).

Cybersecurity Must be a Shared Responsibility

Cybersecurity security is becoming even more acute of an issue for law firms. The recent pandemic increased the reliance upon remote technology as lawyers and supporting staff have worked from home and participated in virtual meetings and hearings. The recent ransomware attacks on major utilities have created heightened concerns.