Quote of the day
"I do not send chart notes ... because they are all handwritten and probably if they were copied and faxed you would end up with a bunch of black spaghetti on a white piece of paper and it would serve only to start your barbecues at home on your patio."
Dr. Lance Christiansen, who is accused of overbilling the state of Washington for workers' comp cases, in a 2003 letter responding to the state Department of Labor & Industries' request for proof that he performed billed services
Go to the full story in the Daily News (Longview, Wash.)
Ridgecrest to Cover Volunteers at City Events
The Ridgecrest, Calif. city council passes a resolution declaring certain volunteers at city-sponsored events city employees who are thus eligible for workers’ compensation coverage. By John V. Ciani, Ridgecrest Daily Independent
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Bay Area Hotel Workers Stage Protest March Through City
Hotel workers marched through San Francisco recently, halting before boycotted hotels, to bring attention to their demands for new union contracts. Some housekeepers say their “terrible” workload causes back injuries that require them to file workers’ compensation claims. By Marilyn Bechtel, Peoples Weekly World [With Photos] Go to the Full Story…
Washington Doc Overbilled State More Than a Quarter-Mil: Audit
A Toledo, Wash. osteopath who relinquish his license amid allegations of incompetence and patient deaths overbilled the state of Washington around $283,000 during six years in workers compensation cases, according to a 2005 state audit. By Barbara LaBoe, Daily News (Longview, Wash.)
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Florida Workers’ Comp Attorney Discusses His Work
Florida attorney and adjunct law professor Rafael Gonzalez, who recently was named entrepreneur of the year by the Tampa Bay Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, says “the satisfaction is immense” from his workers’ compensation and Social Security law practice. By Ernest Hooper, St. Petersburg Times/Brandon Times
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Pataki Taps Former Assemblywoman for N.Y. Workers’ Comp Board
Gov. George Pataki appoints Donna Ferrara, a former state assemblywoman, chairwoman of the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. While in the Legislature, Ferrara was the ranking Republican on the Assembly Insurance Committee. The Business Review (Albany)
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Empire State Candidate Makes Workers’ Comp Costs an Issue
New York Republican gubernatorial candidate John Faso contends that ever-increasing workers compensation and health care costs are partially responsible for driving businesses and workers out of the state, reducing population and its clout in Congress. By Tom Wrobleski, Staten Island Advance
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Wastewater Plant Blast Victim’s Family Sues Daytona Beach
Relatives of a 40-year-old worker who died as a result of an explosion at a wastewater treatment plant file a $5 million wrongful death suit against the city of Daytona Beach, alleging that the company failed to properly train workers in dangerous chemicals or implement appropriate safety precautions.
Go to the full story by AP via Lakeland Ledger
Go to the full story by AP via WESH-TV (Winter Park, Fla.) [With Photos]
A.M. Best Assigns A- Rating to Eastern Re Ltd.
Ratings bureau A.M. Best has assigned a financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and an issuer credit rating of “a-” to Eastern Re Ltd. SPC. Both ratings have a stable outlook. Workers’ Comp Executive
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Delinquent Employers Placed in West Virginia’s Uninsured Fund
Mountain State employers who failed to pay their workers’ compensation premiums by the July 13 grace period are now uninsured. BrickStreet Mutual cancelled their policies and placed them in the state’s Uninsured Fund, where they can be held personally liable for claims. By George Hohmann, Charleston Daily Mail
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