Quote of the day
"He notes generally that he tries to be fair and unbiased in every matter and that he would be surprised to see that his overall record of rulings favors the defense."
Florida Chief Administrative Hearings Judge Robert Cohen, about Duval County workers' comp judge William Dane
Report Finds Possible Bias of Florida Workers’ Comp Judge
A recent report by the chief of Florida’s Division of Administrative Hearings finds that the actions of a Duval County workers’ comp judge create the appearance of prejudice against workers. The report includes information from four Jacksonville workers’ comp lawyers who took the unusual step of filing formal complaints against the judge, citing a phenomenon in which court mediators tell workers that settlement is the only viable option for them because they have no chance in the judge’s court. By Paul Pinkham, Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville) [with photo] Go to the Full Story…
Connecticut Worker Nabbed for Suspected Fraud
A 39-year-old Naugatuck, Conn., man may face as many as 20 years in prison after being charged with felony workers’ compensation fraud. He reportedly was observed conducting daily activities that were inconsistent with his claimed disability. WTNH-TV (New Haven)
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WSI Board Suggests Raise for Interim Director
The performance evaluation committee of the Workforce Safety and Insurance board suggests that the interim director of North Dakota’s workers compensation agency should get a 3.4 percent pay raise when he returns to his former job.
Go to the full story by AP via KXNet.com (Minot) [with photo] Go to the full story by AP via Dickinson Press
Iowan Pleads Guilty to Insurance Fraud
A 24-year-old Iowa woman accused of racking up at least $22,000 in charges on another person’s credit card and using false doctors’ documents tells a judge that she created doctors’ notes to file a workers’ compensation claim and made purchases and deposits into her bank account with another woman’s credit card and credit card checks. By AP via Des Moines Register
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A Look at Workers’ Comp Insurance and the Construction Industry
In the construction industry, being the low bidder is commonly the difference between working or going home. To win bids, money has to be saved anywhere it can be, including one of the biggest costs for many businesses, especially small ones: workers’ compensation insurance. Sentinel Source (New Hampshire)
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‘Well Note’ Plan Garners Mixed Reaction
The U.K. health secretary’s plan to replace sick notes with so-called “well notes,” which lists tasks that sick or injured employees may be able to perform, meets a hostile reaction from occupational health professionals, general practitioners and at least one prominent physician. Personnel Today (U.K.)
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