Quote of the day
"He was unable to work for reasons other than his injury, namely, the fact he was illegally in this country."
Hanover Insurance Co. spokesman Michael Buckley, stating that an injured worker's illegal status voided his insurance coverage
Go to the full story in the Gary Post-Tribune (Merrillville, Ind.)
Note to our subscribers:
In the Friday, Feb. 2, 2007 edition of the Workers’ Comp Executive News Digest, we included an item linking subscribers to content discussing the impact of California’s reforms on workers’ comp rates. WCIRB California promptly informed the Workers’ Comp Executive that WCIRB had created this material and that the linked site was incorrectly attributing it to another author. In response, we have broken all remaining links to this content. The Workers’ Comp Executive thanks WCIRB California for bringing this matter to our attention.
Illegal Immigrant Case May Set Precedent in Hoosier State
An illegal immigrant’s work-related back injury and subsequent battle to receive workers’ compensation could set legal precedent in Indiana. In filings before the Indiana Workers’ Compensation Board, Hanover has argued that the worker fraudulently presented himself as legal by giving the company a Social Security card that was not his. By John Byrne, Gary Post Tribune (Merrillville, Ind.)
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Hardie Needs to Perform for Asbestos Compensation Fund to Work
Building products manufacturer James Hardie Industries chief executive Louis Gries says the company needs to remain profitable in order to meet its asbestos compensation obligations. By AAP via the Australian
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Editorial: Ohio Desperately Needs a Fix
The way Ohio administers workers’ compensation has spawned a system rife with premium inequalities, potential conflicts of interest and artificial manipulation of workers’ compensation insurance rates by third-party administrators. It has a long way to go before the system is driven by the needs of injured workers and their employers. Cleveland Plain Dealer
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S.C. Chamber Official Notes Symbiotic Business Relationship
The president of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce discusses his group’s Competitiveness Agenda which, not surprisingly, singles out the increasing cost of workers’ compensation even as claims have gone down. A reform bill currently is in play in the state senate. By S. Hunter Howard, Jr., Herald-Journal
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Tennessee Board May Offer Workers’ Comp to Teachers Union
Knox County, Tenn., school board members may authorize their bargaining team to put a workers’ compensation offer to the teachers’ union this year. Currently, only non-certified district employees get workers’ compensation. By Lola Alapo, Knoxville News Sentinel
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Limitations Ruling Decided in Arkansas Worker’s Favor
The Arkansas Supreme Court resolves in a former Wal-Mart employee’s favor a long-running workers’ compensation lawsuit regarding whether the statute of limitations for filing a claim expired on her claim. But the ruling likely will have a narrow scope and little effect on other workers’ comp claims. By Rob Luke, Legal Newsline
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Niagara County Sues Former Pool Members
After years of threats, Niagara County, N.Y. sues five former members of the county-run workers’ compensation insurance pool for more than $5 million, which the county asserts is its share of premiums and old claims. The suits culminate a long-running dispute over the fees members had to pay for pulling out of the pool in 2001. By Thomas J. Prohaska, Buffalo News
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