workers’ compensation News

Texas Chemical Plant Workers Died from Accidental Asphyxiation

Four workers who died on Nov. 15 at a DuPont and Co. plant in Texas were accidentally asphyxiated by chemicals, the coroner’s office said, another finding that suggests the victims were not wearing full safety equipment. The workers were overcome …

Michigan Court: Agents May Not Be ‘Professionals’ Under Malpractice Definition

Is an insurance agent a “professional” when it comes to whether or not he or she may be charged with malpractice? Not necessarily, a Michigan state appeals court has said. The Michigan Court of Appeals made that determination in a …

New Jersey Approves 2.9% Increase in Workers’ Comp Rates, Rating Values

New Jersey’s Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau announced that the commissioner of banking and insurance has approved a 2.9 percent increase in rates and rating values applicable to New Jersey workers’ compensation and employers liability insurance effective Jan. 1, 2015 …

Utah Workers’ Comp Fund Distributes Second Dividend in 2014

Workers Compensation Fund in Utah has declared a second dividend in 2014. The $9 million dividend represents 5 percent of premium collected from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014. With this second dividend, WCF will have paid 10 percent …

Recreation Safety Group Dividends Texas Mutual Reach $1M-Plus

Texas Mutual Insurance Co. recently paid a dividend of $163,691 to the Texas Recreation Safety Group, bringing the total dividend payout for this group to $1,160,945 since 2009. The dividends earned are based largely on the group members’ dedication to …

Largest Dividend Paid by Montana Workers’ Comp Fund

Many Montana businesses will share a $20 million windfall from the state workers’ compensation fund. The Montana State Fund’s board on Friday approved its largest dividend ever for most of its 27,000 business customers in the state. The dividend equates …

California Commissioner Wants Lower Workers’ Comp Rate Than Board

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones on Friday adopted an advisory average pure premium rate of $2.74 per $100 of employer payroll for workers’ compensation rates effective Jan. 1, 2015. The adopted amount is lower than that proposed by the Workers’ …

Johnson Named Vice President of Claim Operations at Texas Mutual

Workers’ compensation carrier, Texas Mutual Insurance Co., announced that Curtis Johnson Jr. has been appointed vice president of claim operations. In this role he oversees all claim operations, including special claim services, employers’ liability, subrogation, regional claim operations, medical bill …

Ohio Home Healthcare Firm Owner Failed to Report Employees; Owes $124K

An Ohio woman was sentenced Oct. 16 in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay $124,573.07 in restitution to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) after operating a home healthcare agency …

‘Coffee Burns’ Lead to Fraud Charges Against California McDonald’s Customer

Selena Edwards, 38, of Victorville, Calif., was arrested and faces 21 felony counts of insurance and workers’ compensation fraud associated with an alleged fraudulent claim against McDonald’s for second-degree burns to her hand from spilled coffee The charges also include …