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(c) 2010-2024 Jon L Gelman, All Rights Reserved.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Largest Verdict in US Asbestos History $322 Million Awarded by a Jury

A Mississippi jury has awarded a worker injured by asbestos $322 Million last week. This is the largest single asbestos award in the history.

The worker filed claims against Chevron Phillips Chemical (CP Chem and Carbide Corporation. He was employed in the oil fields in 1979 (at age 16) and mid 1980's and exposed to asbestos fiber. The worker was diagnosed with asbestosis, a progressive lung disease, caused by the exposure to asbestos fiber. 


Asbestos, for decades, has been linked to asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma remains an incurable and fatal disease. Asbestos is one of the modern world’s most historic occupational medical disasters. Not only is it well documented, it continues not to be banned in the US.

For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman  1.973.696.7900  jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered asbestos related disease.

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Saturday, May 7, 2011

Worker Alleging Workers Compensation Discrimination Awarded $361,000

A worker in Minnesota was awarded $361,000 against his employer for being discriminated against for filing a workers' compensation claim. The worker alleged that the employer terminated him after he suffered a work related accident and filed a claim for workers' compensation benefits.

The worker was injured on the job when a car lost control and struck the truck that the worker was driving. The employer alleged that the employee did not disclose previous injuries on his job application and terminated him. A jury subsequently awarded the injured employee $111,000 in dames for lost wages and emotional distress and another $250,000 for punitive damages.

In New Jersey a discrimination complaint may be filed with the Division of Workers' Compensation as an administrative remedy, which is separate from any common law action which might be instituted against the employer. The Division of Workers' Compensation shall conduct an investigation and forward the complaint and the results of the investigation to the Commissioner of the Department of Labor within 30 days of filing. The Commissioner will then act in accordance with the statutory provisions to determine whether or not there has been an unlawful discharge of, or discrimination against, the employee as a result of an application for workers' compensation benefits or as a result of the employee's testimony in a workers' compensation claim. An employee who has been discriminated against will be restored to his employment and will be compensated by his employer for any loss of wages arising out of the discrimination, as long as he is still qualified to perform his job duties.

For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman  1.973.696.7900  jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
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Friday, May 6, 2011

Bilateral Carpal Tunnel Results in Workers' Compensation Total Disability

A NJ Court of Appeals has affirmed a decision awarding total disability workers' compensation benefits to an injured worker who suffers from bilateral carpal tunnel injuries. The 61 year old punch press operator was deemed unable to work as a result of the repetitive motion injury.

The trial court, on remand, found that that the injured worker was unemployable taking into consideration this injuries, and personal factors under the Odd Lot Doctrine, a law law that was adopted from the British common law. Additionally, the trial court , in accordance with NJ State statues, deemed that the loss of use of two major (hands) members, made the worker totally disabled.

The Appellate Division approved the award which also include additional fee to be assessed against the employer. The injured worker is eligible to receive benefits for the his entire life.

Rambough v. C.V. Hill Refrigeration, 2011 WL 1675195 (N.J.Super. A.D.) Decided May 5, 2011.

For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman  1.973.696.7900  jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.




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Ignoring The Doctor Orders is OK in Workers' Compensation

An employee who decided to ignore his doctor's orders and continue to do welding work was permitted to receive workers' compensation benefits. The Court held that the employee's action in disregarding his physician did not constitute a wilful self-exposure.


The Court reasoned..."Here, Worker possessed knowledge of his special sensitivity to fumes and received generalized warnings regarding the dangers of continued employment as a welder. There is no evidence he was ever definitively advised to end his career as a welder prior to October 2002, and it is similarly clear that he had sometimes worked as a welder without the occurrence of a fume exposure or a flare-up of his lung condition. Worker's choice in continuing to weld therefore does not present the type of situation in which he wilfully faced almost certain injury. His actions, though they may fall below a standard of ordinary care, are at most negligent."


Pearson v. Johnson Controls, Northern N.M., LLC __P3d___ (N.M. App. Div. 2011 ) 2001 WL 1660631



For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman  1.973.696.7900  jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.

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Thursday, May 5, 2011

New Facebook Address for Injured Workers Law and Advocacy Group

Keeping up with the times is important. Facebook has changed its group services and the Injured Workers Law and Advocacy Group is moving forward with them. Please make note of our new address and join us to keep updated on new developments, exchange information and observe and participate in discussions.


Click here to join us to our new address. http://tinyurl.com/4xzdbrh
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Zadroga Health Fund Benefits Scheduled to Begin in October

Charles Schumer, United States Senator from Ne...Image via Wikipedia

Senator Charles Schumer has announced that Zadroga Health Fund benefits will be paid out to survivors of the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, beginning in October. Schumer received this invitation from US Attorney General Eric Holder.The announcement comes on the eve of visit to New York City by President Barack Obama.

On January 2, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act establishing the World Trade Health Program and extends and expands eligibility for compensation under the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001.

It is probable that cancers resulting from the exposures will be covered under the legislation. Historically, occupational and environmental exposures to carcinogens, such as asbestos, may take many years to progress and manifest into conditions as asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Additionally, various respiratory and digestive diseases are being reported including:1. Interstitial lung diseases.
2. Chronic respiratory disorder--fumes/vapors.
3. Asthma.
4. Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS).
5. WTC-exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
6. Chronic cough syndrome.
7. Upper airway hyperreactivity.
8. Chronic rhinosinusitis.
9. Chronic nasopharyngitis.
10. Chronic laryngitis.
11. Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD).

For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman  1.973.696.7900  jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered asbestos related disease. Please contact our office if you require assistance in filing a claim under the newly enacted James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.


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Wednesday, May 4, 2011

OSHA Announces Photo Contest


What's Your Image of Workplace Safety and Health?

In celebration of our 40th anniversary, OSHA announces the Picture It!: Safe Workplaces for Everyone photo contest. The contest challenges anyone with a passion for photography to capture an image of workplace safety and health and share it with OSHA. The goal of the contest is to kick off a national collaboration that relies on your talent, imagination and creativity to raise awareness of workplace safety and health. You can interpret "image of workplace safety and health" in any way you choose; you are not restricted to particular subjects or themes.

Judging Criteria

Prizes will be awarded for the most outstanding portrayals of occupational safety and health in terms of artistic value and ability to raise awareness of safety and health to the general public. Specifically, photographs will be judged against the following criteria:
  • Quality of photograph
  • Suitability for possible use in OSHA publications
  • Clarity of the safety and health information (or "message") conveyed
  • Originality
  • Creativity
  • Inclusion of worker, employer, or workplace imagery
The open submission period for the OSHA Picture It! Safe Workplaces for Everyone photo contest will run from May 2, 2011, until 11:59 p.m. Friday, August 12, 2011.


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