Quote of the day
"I dissent from the majority's opinion because it is an affront to police officers, sheriff's deputies, paramedics, firemen, school bus drivers, sanitation workers—and all other government employees who regularly drive for a living."
West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Larry Starcher, regarding the appeal of a school bus driver who was injured in a collision with an underinsured driver
Market Managers Plead No Contest to Workers’ Comp Fraud
Two managers of Roseville’s Bel Air supermarket receive jail sentences and must pay restitution after pleading no contest to trying to defraud the state’s workers’ comp insurance system. Prosecutors say they discouraged injured employees from filing claims in order to keep the store record injury-free and earn special management bonuses. Central Valley Business Times
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Two Self-Insurance Funds to Combine in Show Me State
In Missouri, two workers’ compensation self-insurance funds will convert into a single, new mutual fund insurer called Builders’ Mutual Casualty Co. Combined, the two funds have a surplus of more than $38 million, supporting premium writings of $28 million. Kansas City Business Journal
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N.D. House Chair Wants Review of Benefit Denials
The chairman of the House committee that oversees North Dakota’s workers’ comp system suggests a review of some benefit denials, a movie some critics of Workforce Safety and Insurance say is mere “damage control.” By Dave Thompson, NDPR (Radio)
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Empire State Moves to Pool Self-Insured Employer Risks
The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board proposes a new funding method to secure self-insurance claims that would release nearly $2 billion in letters of credit and surety bonds to self-insured employers. The state currently has a “silo” approach, in which each employer posts a security deposit equal to its outstanding claims. By Roberto Ceniceros, Business Insurance
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Mountain State Justice Blasts Ruling Against Bus Driver
A West Virginia Supreme Court decision in an insurance case involving a school bus driver draws sharp criticism from one justice, who calls the decision an “affront” to public employees who drive for their jobs. The injured worker was unable to collect more than $25,000 from the other, underinsured driver, because she had also received workers’ comp. By Justin D. Anderson Charleston Daily Mail
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City to Join Hoosier State Plan After Slashing Claims
Crown Point, Ind.’s fewer workers’ compensation claims, which resulted in the lowest amount the city has paid in at least four years, spur city officials to approve a contract with the state’s Public Employer’s Plan workers’ comp plan. By Marisa Kwiatkowski, the Times (Munster, Ind.)
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