The Division of Workers’ Compensation billed its update to California’s med-legal fee schedule (MLFS) as a 25% boost to payments for qualified medical evaluators (QMEs). But when reality set in, med-legal costs spiked by 39% in the first year and continued to climb into the second year. The overall result is a 50% increase in …
Property owners and general contractors are usually protected under the Privette Doctrine from negligence lawsuits if a subcontractor’s employee is injured on the job. A trial court concluded as much when it granted summary judgment in a recent case. But the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco says there are triable issues of …
The Orange County District Attorney’s office secured a conviction against an applicant attorney linked to a workers’ comp capping scheme that generated hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal billings. A jury found Jon Woods (see photo) guilty on 37 counts, including felony counts for conspiracy and illegal referrals (for past coverage, see Providers…). Woods …
One thing is clear about marijuana in the workplace: “It is unsafe to be under the influence of cannabis while working in a safety-sensitive position,” says the National Safety Council. NSC found – what common sense tells us – that such impairment can lead to injury or death for both operators under the influence and …
Does Beehive State Law Target Illegal Immigrants? To some it is an anti-illegal immigration measure aimed at denying workers’ compensation to illegal workers. For its supporters, “Morley’s Law” will prevent …
Controversial Beehive State Law Hinges Benefits on Behavior Only law-abiding injured workers may collect worker’s compensation benefits in Utah, as a result of a new law that took effect this …
Biz Groups Oppose Ma’s Sick Leave Law California Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, is backing legislation that would guarantee employees as many as nine days of paid sick leave a …
‘Should Workers’ Comp Cover Mental Trauma?’ Nebraska lawmakers debate whether state law should allow workers’ compensation to cover mental injuries independent of physical injuries. Critics argue that the bill could …