Quote of the day
"They have very limited grounds for appeal. You never say never, but hopefully this award will be upheld."
Wayne Wilson, executive director of the California Insurance Guarantee Association, which pays the claims of insurers that have been seized.
Go to the full story in the Workers' Comp Executive
Contractors Do the Splits
As if dancing their way through payroll reporting, some California contractors tiptoe through choosing which payroll classifications to use, regardless, apparently, of which apply. Premium subscribers can find out who is doing the tango to stop it and when it might come about. All you have to do is click here
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Legal Soft Shoe in Reinsurance Two-Step
It’s another dance of the legal soft shoe in the case of the Superior National Cal Comp debacle. Premium subscribers can flash back to 1988 when Superior bought Cal Comp to generally uproarious laughter. Not much later the duo slipped and fell and now the reinsurer US Life, owned by AIG, is resisting paying for getting caught in the reinsurance two-step. Oh well, play with the big dogs, step in the big dogs’ doo-doo. Premium subscribers can get the whole story by clicking here and, really, it’s not so funny.
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SCIF Lawyer Wins Case
Injuring his back while on jury duty, a SCIF lawyer fought and beat back an attempt to pay him disability based upon the $5 per day stipend he earned and not the $7,900 a month he earned as a SCIF lawyer. Premium subscribers can read the whole story by clicking here.
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Boot Scootin’ Boogie Sends CIGA to the Legislative Ball
The California Insurance Guarantee Association is off to the legislature to do the Little Doggie Waltz because a small-claims court judge in L.A. performed the Barn Stomp. The legislature dancing Hors’n Around is likely to help. Premium subscribers can do the Tush Push or read all about it by clicking here.
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Recent Pivotal WCAB Decisions May Hinge on Appointment
The losing side in two en banc decisions may file appeals and the fate of the case rests on who will be the seventh commissioner to hear the case. Find out what is likely to happen if the newly appointed commissioner Al Moresi assumes his new post in time or if he doesn’t. Millions of dollars in reserves are at stake for the industry and self-insured employers.
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Keep It Simple, S—–
Publius asserts that data should drive the debate on a possible permanent disability benefit increase this year. The key is for two stakeholder parties to sit down and work out a solution. Read all about it in this week’s issue.
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Spitzer Signs Empire State Reform Legislation
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer signs landmark legislation that reforms New York’s low-payout workers’ compensation system, calling the new laws critical to restoring the state’s competitiveness. Budget analysts from Spitzer’s office say the new package will bring estimated annual savings of $600 million to $800 million per year for businesses.
Go to the full story in Business First of Buffalo
Go to the full story by Jay Gallagher, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
County Adjust Budget’s in Wake of Reform
In the wake of the state’s workers’ compensation system reform, Cayuga County, N.Y., adjusts its budget to allot for increases in workers’ compensation. “(State lawmakers) institute the rules and we wind up paying the consequences,” complains the county manager. By Kristina Martino, Auburn Citizen
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BrickStreet Directors’ Pay Revealed
The directors of exclusive West Virginia workers’ compensation insurer BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Co. were paid between $21,000 and about $37,000 last year, according to a report filed with the state insurance commissioner. By George Hohmann, Charleston Daily Mail
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