Quote of the day
“Unfortunately, workers’ compensation insurance within the municipal and fire district marketplace has become increasingly volatile and difficult to properly assess – which is why most private insurance carriers stopped covering these customers years ago. “CopperPoint had hoped to continue this service, but it is clear that is no longer possible due to policy changes that continue to destabilize the marketplace.”
CopperPoint Insurance Companies, in a statement
Coronavirus: WHO raises global risk to maximum
The World Health Organization laste last week raised its global risk assessment of the new coronavirus to its highest level. It has killed more than 2,800 people and infected over 84,000 worldwide since it emerged apparently from an animal market in Wuhan, China in late December. In Italy, the virus has killed 29 and infected more than 1,000 people. Israel Hayom
Arizona: CopperPoint leaves firefighters’ workers’ comp market
CopperPoint Insurance Companies has notified policyholders including those in cities and fire districts across Arizona that it is leaving the workers’ compensation market. The company referred to policy changes that would fix what some call a loophole in a 2017 law covering occupational cancer for firefighters. KTAR (Phoenix) [with audio]
Arizona appellate court rules for deputy in workers’ comp case
A Gila County, Arizona sheriff’s deputy dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder after fatally shooting a PTSD-stricken veteran, has won an appeal for workers’ compensation. The officer, who retired after 15 years with the department in February 2018, says he struggles day-to-day to deal with what happened. Payson Roundup
Milwaukee mass shooting had workers’ comp angle, says neighbor
The electrician who shot five of his co-workers to death at Molson Coors before killing himself in Milwaukee last week reportedly believed his company was spying on him to avoid paying him workers’ compensation. WDJT (Milwaukee)
Iowa court drastically cuts payment to disabled man despite insurer’s ‘reprehensible’ conduct
The Iowa Supreme Court on Friday dramatically reduced the workers’ compensation a 42-year-old paralyzed man received from a jury in a lawsuit against a Louisiana-based insurance company, despite finding the company’s actions were “reprehensible.” The court’s final judgment allowed him just over $558,000, down from $25 million awarded by one jury and more than $7 million awarded by another after an appeal. The Tribune