Quote of the day
"Every time I have to go to a compensation hearing and listen to the negative reports by the city, I'm angry, disgusted, hurt (and) my husband is not here to defend himself. Basically, they attack his lifestyle."
Mary Miller, who says her late husband, a 24-year veteran Stamford, Conn., firefighter who died in 2001, contracted hepatitis C on the job; the city claims her husband contracted it while off-duty
Stamford Firefighters Want Illness Presumption Bill Passed
The widow of a Stamford, Conn., firefighter joins a chorus of city firefighters to urge state legislators to make it easier for emergency personnel to collect workers’ compensation. The legislation would force municipalities to presume a firefighter or police diagnosed with hepatitis, meningitis, tuberculosis or some cancers became infected on the job. By Brian Lockhart, Stamford Advocate
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Employers Holdings Sees Rise in Trading Debut
Shares of Reno-based workers compensation insurer Employers Holdings Inc., formerly known as EIG Mutual, climb in their trading debut Wednesday. The company is transforming from a mutual insurance holding company into a stock corporation. By AP via MSN Money
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Tip Proves Downfall of Workers’ Comp Fraudster
An anonymous tip leads to the successful prosecution of a New Lexington, Ohio man for collecting workers’ comp while receiving wages for pest control work. He must now pay back more than $9,500 in ill-gotten benefits to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. By Kathy Thompson, Zanesville Times Recorder
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President Unveils Funds for Ailing WTC Rescue, Recovery Workers
President George W. Bush was scheduled to be in New York City one day after the White House disclosed that it will include $25 million in next year’s federal budget to pay for medical programs for sick Ground Zero workers. By Jill Gardiner, New York Sun
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Agency: Alberta WCB’s Disclosure Violated Privacy Laws
The Alberta Workers’ Compensation Board violated privacy laws when it repeatedly gave personal information about a former day care owner to the new proprietor, the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner rules. Edmonton Sun
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Pittsburgh, Allegheny County May Jointly Administer Workers’ Comp
The president of the Pittsburgh, Pa., city council introduces a bill directing the mayor to talk with Allegheny County about jointly providing employee health insurance and administering workers’ compensation claims. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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Keystone State County’s Program a ‘Stunning Success’
The cost of workers’ compensation for Centre County, Pa., government has dropped by more than half in the past two years under a program started in 2005. There are fewer, generally less severe injuries among county workers, who return to work faster. By Anne Danahy, Centre Daily Times (State College, Pa.)
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Australia May Limit Commuting Accident Benefits
Drawing the ire of unions and a mental health council, the Australian federal government moves to limit workers’ compensation claims for commuting accidents and mental illnesses. The government says it is addressing concerns about increased cost pressures on Comcare, the federal insurance scheme. By Michael Madigan, Courier-Mail (Queensland)
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Tasmania Jockeys’ Comp Battle Escalates
The Tasmanian Jockeys Association, which is seeking full workers’ compensation coverage for its members, blames the state-owned racing regulator TOTE Tasmania for deliberately delaying progress and blowing off at least one meeting. Industrial action is now a possibility during the Hobart Cup carnival. By Sean Stevenson, Mercury (Tasmania)
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