workers’ compensation News

As Demand Sinks Amid Pandemic, Texas Shale Producers Ask State to Cut Oil Output

Two Texas oil companies with large footprints in the West Texas oil patch have sent a letter to state regulators formally requesting an emergency meeting to consider reducing oil production as demand for oil around the world has collapsed during …

Man Dies in Accident at Tyson Meats Plant in Kansas

A 30-year-old Garden City man died at a Tyson Fresh Meats plant in western Kansas, authorities said. Kendrick Gregory was doing maintenance work on an assembly line early Monday at the plant in Garden City when he was injured, the …

Pinnacol Assurance Distributing $70M in Dividends to Colorado Companies

Pinnacol Assurance announced it is distributing general dividend checks to its customers totaling $70 million. This is the fifth straight year Colorado’s largest workers’ compensation provider has distributed dividends. Most (95%) of Pinnacol’s policyholders are eligible to receive a dividend, …

NCCI Moves Workers’ Compensation Issues Symposium Online for May 12

The workers’ compensation rating and information organization National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) said it is converting its Annual Issues Symposium from a live to a virtual event due to the coronavirus pandemic. NCCI said it will hold its AIS …

Workers’ Comp Dockets Temporarily Closed in Oklahoma; Louisiana WC Court Appearances Still On

The Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC) said it is striking all commission dockets in Oklahoma City and Tulsa set during the week of March 16, and has closed the administrative offices in both Oklahoma City and Tulsa for two days …

Virus Impact on Workers’ Compensation Limited But Some Workers May Be Covered

The outbreak of coronavirus has already resulted in some workers’ compensation claims and more are expected. But whether those claims are going to succeed depends on the individual circumstances and the state where the infection occurred. While compensability issues will …

New York Woman Sentenced for Defrauding Workers’ Comp System of More Than $5K

New York State Inspector General Letizia Tagliafierro has announced the sentencing of a Rochester, N.Y., woman who defrauded the workers’ compensation system of more than $5,000 by endorsing and cashing wage reimbursement checks intended for her deceased grandmother. Brandy Sheppard …

Driver Injured in Accident Not Eligible for Workers’ Comp After Failing to Wear Seat Belt

The Court of Appeals of Virginia has upheld a Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission decision that workers’ comp benefits cannot be awarded to a truck driver injured in an accident after failing to wear a seat belt. This decision comes after …

Washington Providing Workers’ Comp to Quarantined Health Providers

The state of Washington has made the decision to provide workers’ compensation benefits to healthcare workers and first responders who are quarantined after being exposed to COVID-19 while on the job. Gov. Jay Inslee and Joel Sacks, director of the …

Louisiana Doctor Sentenced to Prison in $500K Workers’ Comp Fraud Case

A Baton Rouge, Louisiana, doctor has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after being convicted of participating in a workers’ compensation fraud scheme in which he submitted more than $500,000 in false claims, according to the U.S. Attorney’s …