workers’ compensation News

Probe Finds Indiana Company Partly Responsible for Employee’s Death

A state agency says a northern Indiana company was partly responsible for the death of a 43-year-old employee who was killed when welding equipment fell from a forklift. The Elkhart Truth reports that the investigation by Indiana’s workplace safety agency …

Insurer Not Responsible for Workers’ Comp Claim Due to Overdose Death

The New Hampshire Supreme Court has affirmed a decision by the New Hampshire Compensation Appeals Board (CAB) denying an estate’s request that its insurer pay workers’ compensation benefits to the estate as a result of an overdose death. The petitioner, …

Union Pacific Worker In Texas Dies, Pinned Between Tankers

Investigators say a Union Pacific worker has died after being pinned between two railway tanker cars in Southeast Texas. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says 39-year-old Travis Andrepont of Louisiana was killed before dawn Tuesday in Beaumont. Officials didn’t immediately …

California State Fund Declares $105M Dividend for Workers’ Comp Policyholders

The board of California’s State Compensation Insurance Fund announced plans to distribute a $105 million dividend to qualifying policyholders with policies that took effect between Jan. 1 and Aug. 19. This dividend equals roughly 15% of the estimated annual premium …

Lawsuit Alleges Louisiana Restaurant Pressured Servers to Perform Unpaid Work

Three former table servers are suing owners and managers of an iconic Louisiana restaurant, claiming managers pressured them to work for no pay. The Advocate reported the lawsuit against The Chimes was filed last week in federal court in Baton …

Pennsylvania Makes Changes to Reduce Chances of Workers’ Comp Rate Filing Errors

Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman and Labor & Industry Secretary Jerry Oleksiak announced agreements with two insurers and the Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau (PCRB) to protect Pennsylvania businesses and lessen the chances of errors in the filing of loss costs, …

New Louisiana Injured Worker Compensation Weekly Amounts Effective Sept. 1

The Louisiana Workforce Commission’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration has published the new weekly minimum and maximum compensation rates for injured workers that are effective Sept. 1. The new maximum amount is $688 a week and the new minimum is …

Missouri Barrel Maker Cited for Multiple Workplace Hazards; Fined $413.3K

Federal workplace safety regulators have proposed more than $413,000 in penalties after citing a Missouri-based barrel maker for multiple workplace safety hazards. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said it cited Missouri Cooperage Company LLC …

Low Unemployment Rates a Problem for San Antonio Hotels

With San Antonio’s unemployment rate hitting historic lows, hoteliers in the city’s $15.2 billion tourism industry are struggling to find housekeepers, dishwashers and waiters. The San Antonio Express-News reports it’s never been easy recruiting for jobs that involve hard work …

Connecticut Worker Charged with Workers’ Compensation Fraud, Larceny

A Connecticut Department of Developmental Services (DDS) employee was has been arrested and charged with fraudulently collecting more than $4,000 in workers’ compensation benefits. Elizabeth Torres, age 58, of Oakville, Conn., was arrested by inspectors from the Workers’ Compensation Fraud …