Quote of the day
"Many lawyers with 20 years of experience that applied for this job were passed over. Cheryl Jacques is nothing more than a fundraiser for this administration."
Mary-Ellen Manning, Salem, Mass., lawyer, about the appointment of a former state senator and political supporter of the governor, as state workers' comp judge
Cronyism Alleged in Mass. Workers’ Comp Judgeship
The Massachusetts Governor’s Council confirms a former state senator and political supporter of Gov. Deval Patrick as a judge at the Department of Industrial Accidents, only a week after her nomination was held up over questions about her qualifications and fundraising for Patrick. “There’s no quid pro quo,” contends Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray, who presided over the confirmation hearing.
Go to the full story by Edward Mason, Salem News
Go to the full story by Glen Johnson, AP via Worcester Telegram & Gazette [with photo]
Illinois City Demands Answers
The mayor of Danville, Ill., says that many purported work-related injuries the city pays for have nothing to do with workers doing their jobs. Those include a $63,000 payout for a worker who strained a shoulder lifting weights and another $30,000 for a worker who sprained his knee playing basketball. By Amanda Evans, WCIA-TV (Champaign) via IllinoisHomePage.net [with video] Go to the Full Story…
Toronto Transit Union Chief Holds Little Hope for Mediation
In Toronto, a transit union chief says that it’s unlikely that a provincial mediator will be able to resolve the issue of compensation for transportation workers’ job-related injuries, the deal-breaker that caused the union to walk away from bargaining Monday. Workers may strike in a week. By Tess Kalinowski, Toronto Star
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Cornhusker State Bill Would Compensate Witnesses to Violence
In Nebraska, employees who witness violent acts, and suffer mental illnesses as a result, could be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. By AP via NTV
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West Virginian Claims He Was Fired for Filing Claim
Kanawha County, W.V., man sues a local coal company, claiming he was fired after he filed a workers’ compensation claim in connection with injuries he suffered when a truck he was driving overturned and caught fire. By Cara Bailey, West Virginia Record
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