Advocates seek clarity on Iowa workers’ compensation laws
Members of the Iowa Association for Justice recently wrote an amicus brief to the Iowa Supreme Court asking them for more clarity on shoulder injuries in workers’ compensation law. The law was changed four years ago to provide less compensation for this type of injury. KCRG [with video]
Federal appeals court issues ruling under LHWCA
A shipyard employee who worked 264 days in the 52 weeks before suffering a job-related injury was not unduly prejudiced by a statutory benefit formula that is based on a 260-day year, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held last week, in a case of first impression under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act. The claimant, who suffered a work-related knee injury in 2004, was awarded a range of benefits but argued that the amount was unfairly reduced because the statutory formula strips away the value of overtime. Reuters
Kentucky governor announces special legislative session on COVID-19
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear late Saturday afternoon called the Kentucky General Assembly to a special legislative session scheduled for Tuesday morning, focused on COVID-19 measures. The legislature has until next Friday to extend the state of emergency before it expires. Its expiration would mean an end to workers’ compensation for frontline employees who get COVID-19 or have to quarantine, allowing healthcare employees from outside the state to practice in Kentucky, and allowing pharmacies to refill prescriptions without customers having to go to the doctor first. WKYU
Five charged with manslaughter in death of man at Washington wind farm
Authorities have charged five people with manslaughter in connection with the death of a 24-year-old man who died in January 2020 when a trench that had not been reinforced collapsed during construction of a Washington wind farm. The victim had entered the trench to attempt to free a co-employee who was trapped as the crew dug a trench to install a conduit under a culvert, when a second collapse of the trench walls occurred. The Chronicle