Copyright
Saturday, April 6, 2024
Unions Sue New Jersey to Close Smoking Loophole
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
$10 Million Punitive Damage Award for Workplace Discrimination Upheld
Unlike the NJ workers' compensation claims, there is no cap on punitive damages available for claims under the NJ Law Against Discrimination.
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
California's WVPP Legislation: A Potential Benefit for Workers and Industry?
Friday, March 29, 2024
Exposed to "Forever Chemicals": NJ Workers' Compensation for PFAS Illness
Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as "forever chemicals," are a growing concern in the workplace. These man-made chemicals are nearly impossible to break down and can build up in the body over time. Unfortunately, some New Jersey workers are facing serious health consequences due to PFAS exposure.
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.
Deviation From Employment
Monday, March 25, 2024
Analysis of US EPA's Draft Risk Evaluation for Formaldehyde and Worker Health
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) draft risk evaluation of formaldehyde, released on March 15, 2024, raises significant concerns for worker health and worker compensation risk exposure.
Saturday, March 23, 2024
A Cautionary Tale on the Use of AI
Judge Desai addressed the misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Larry Grant v. City of Long Beach, 22-56121 D.C. No.2:21-cv-06666 JVS-JEM, in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion filed on March 22, 2024. The analysis highlights the potential pitfalls of using unverified AI for legal pleadings and emphasizes the need for caution among attorneys.
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.
Thursday, March 21, 2024
The New York Game: A Baseball Tale Steeped in Labor Struggles
Monday, March 18, 2024
US Bans Asbestos
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
OSHA Fines Paterson NJ Contractor $1Million for Fall Violations
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a New Jersey contractor for again exposing workers to fall hazards, this time while working at a construction site in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.
Thursday, February 8, 2024
COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits for Healthcare Workers Proposed in Legislation
Legislation (A3504) has been introduced to establish the Health Care Workers COVID-19 Supplemental Benefits Program in the Division of Workers' Compensation.
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
OSHA Fines NJ Container Company $437,860 for Safety and Health Violation
A transportation company faces $437,860 in federal penalties after the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated its Paulsboro, NJ, location and found workplace safety and health hazards.
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
Long Overdue Public Safety Worker Coverage
Legislation has been reintroduced to provide workers’ compensation benefits for certain public safety workers who developed an occupational illness or injury flowing from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. A closer look at the legislation reveals that it removes defenses such as causal relationship, statute of limitations, and jurisdiction. Complicated statutory and regulatory challenges may ultimately offset the benefits offered.
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.
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
NJ Expands Compensation Benefits for First Responders
NJ Governor Phil Murphy signed A-5909/S-4267, which revises workers' compensation coverage for certain injuries to certain volunteer and professional public safety and law enforcement personnel. The bill amends current workers’ compensation law to add that a response to an emergency, including work sufficient to cause certain injuries or death, is compensable.
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.
Sunday, January 7, 2024
Household Contact Awarded $30 Million Verdict for Mesothelioma
Employers have a responsibility not only to their employees but also to their household contacts, individuals who live in the employee’s home. Employees who are exposed at work may carry the toxic substances home on their clothes or their body.
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Long COVID-Related Illness is a Significant Cause of Death
Long COVID-Related deaths are statistically significant and will be reflected in an increase in workers' compensation dependency awards. More Than 3,500 Americans Have Died from Long COVID-Related Illness in the First 30 Months of the Pandemic.