Quote of the day
“Out of respect for the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance, we decline to comment on New Mexico’s Form A approval process. As with all states, New Mexico has its own process and standards for reviewing insurance transactions subject to its jurisdiction. However, to be clear, at no time did California agree that the proposed merger presented no risk to California policyholders or that the prior approval for the merger by California was not required.”
California Department of Insurance
Flash: CDI: Applied Merger Needed Prior Approval
Like all things Applied, clarity is at best opaque and perhaps obscure. And the present situation is no different. Was there a sale or not? Was there a merger or not? As the 1940s radio program The Shadow’s tagline used to say: “Who knows what evil lurks within the hearts of men?” Get what we know so far here …. Workers’ Comp Executive
Florida workers’ compensation rates to drop 7.5 percent
Florida’s insurance commissioner last week ordered an average 7.5 percent reduction in workers’ compensation insurance rates effective January 1. The average 7.5 percent reduction is greater than a 5.4 percent cut the National Council on Compensation Insurance recommended earlier this year. News4Jax (Jacksonville)
Downstate Illinois laborer alleges unlawful firing after workers’ comp claim
An employee of a St. Clair County pump distribution company alleges he was fired in violation of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act after being injured at work and applying for benefits. Madison-St. Clair Record
New York: Albany-area city to pay former mayor to avoid future lawsuits
The City of Cohoes, New York has agreed to pay a former mayor $5,000 to protect the city from potential future lawsuits, after he reportedly filed a workers’ compensation claim for $170,000. The deal includes the former mayor agreeing to not file suit against the city for his removal from office, after pleading guilty to wire fraud in August. WRGB (Albany, N.Y.) [with video]
Will landmark Australia ruling spur other workers’ comp claims?
A case before Australia’s New South Wales Compensation Commission filed by a reality television show contestant, who claimed post-traumatic stress disorder related to her experience on the show, raises the prospect of potential common law claims by other reality TV “stars” who have been treated badly. The prospect for these kinds of claims has long been recognized in the US, where claims by contestants or surviving family have been brought against television production companies, although rarely successfully. The Conversation