Copyright
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
California's WVPP Legislation: A Potential Benefit for Workers and Industry?
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Premature Satisfaction of a Third-Party Lien
The New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division, ruled that a third-party lien can remain unresolved until the workers’ compensation claim is adjudicated.
Friday, March 22, 2024
Asbestos Claimants Maybe be Impacted by US Supreme Court Decision
The recent Supreme Court oral arguments in Truck Insurance Exchange v. Kaiser Gypsum Co. Inc. (22-1079) centered on the question of whether an insurer has the right to object to a debtor's reorganization plan under Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The outcome of this case will significantly impact how asbestos claims are handled in bankruptcy proceedings.
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Long COVID Continues as a Workplace Crisis
Long COVID continues to impact the lives of US workers. Millions of Americans live with long COVID and its many symptoms. These include fatigue, cognitive impairment (commonly referred to as muscle or joint pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sleep difficulties, mood changes, and more. With millions of Americans suffering daily, more must be done to address this crisis.
Monday, January 8, 2024
Not A Violation of Public Policy
In rejecting an employee’s attempt to go forward with a lawsuit directly against an employer, the NJ Appellate Division ruled, in an unreported case*, that an employee, in a novel argument, may assert the “violation of public policy” as an allegation.
Saturday, December 30, 2023
Top Blog Posts of 2023
It has been a busy year for the Workers' Compensation blog. This blog has had over 2 million views. Here is a list of the most popular posts in 2023.
Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 28, 2023
NJ Rates to Rise in 2024
New Jersey is set to become one of a handful of states with a minimum wage of at least $15/hour on January 1, 2024 when the rate increases to $15.13/hour, surpassing the goal set by Governor Murphy and the Legislature in 2019.
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Not an Exception
In most instances, the sole remedy for a worker injured at work is Workers’ Compensation Act [WCA] benefits. Even if the employer fails to obtain workers’ compensation insurance, the employee remains limited to those remedies provided under the WCA.
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Misclassification Lawsuit Filed by NJ Attorney General
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo announced today that they have filed the first lawsuit under a 2021 law that permits the State to file suit in New Jersey Superior Court against employers who have misclassified workers as independent contractors when they are, in fact, employees.
Thursday, December 7, 2023
Potential Impact of the Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Case
The Purdue Pharma bankruptcy case will significantly impact workers’ compensation cases nationally. The US Supreme Court heard oral argument this week, and the potential consequences are far-reaching.
Friday, December 1, 2023
Arrowood Indemnity Company In Liquidation
On November 8, 2023, Arrowood Indemnity Company, a Delaware domestic property and casualty insurance company (“Arrowood”) was ordered liquidated by the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court”).
Friday, November 24, 2023
An Artificial Intelligence Certification
Since the public introduction of ChatGPT, the legal community has been attempting to co-evolve with Artificial Intelligence [AI]. AI's major limitation is the fear that this disruptive technology is producing unreliable results.
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Extra-territorial Medical Provider Claims
A New Jersey medical provider failed to select the appropriate cause of action and party to seek recovery for unpaid medical bills. The case highlights the bumping road for NJ medical providers who seek reimbursement in claims involving extra-jurisdictional work-related accidents.
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Toxic Flight Attendant Uniforms Result in a $1.1 Million Verdict
Wearing an employer-designated work uniform shouldn’t result in severe and debilitating occupational exposures. Unfortunately, some American Airlines flight attendants suffered injuries from wearing the flight uniforms prescribed by their employer. The lawsuit that they filed lawsuit resulted in a $1.1 Million award.
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
The Essentials of Trial Preparation
Proper trial preparation is the key to a successful Worker's Compensation claim outcome. A recent NJ Appellate Division opinion emphasizes the importance of appealable issues and having the necessary evidence available.
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
NJCRIB Submits Request for 3.9% Decrease in Premium Rate
The New Jersey Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau [NJCRIB] has submitted to the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance a request for a 3.9% decrease in the overall workers' compensation premium and rate level effective January 1, 2014.
Friday, September 29, 2023
Impacts of a Governmental Shutdown
The effects of a government shutdown on state workers' compensation systems and their integration with Social Security will vary depending on the specific circumstances of each state. However, some general trends can be expected.
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Implementing AI for Workers’ Compensation Law Firms and Insurance Companies
Artificial intelligence [AI] opens new frontiers for workers’ compensation law firms and insurance companies. Last week, Google announced new applications that will vastly expand how workers’ compensation claims can be serviced, managed, and supported.
Thursday, August 24, 2023
Judicial Oversight
A cornerstone of the NJ Workers’ Compensation Act [WCA] is that the Division of Workers’ Compensation [DWC] is mandated to oversee the settlement of accident or injury claims.