How to Properly Cancel a Workers’ Compensation Policy
Often cases are referred to this insurance defense attorney where the policy was cancelled prior to the alleged date of loss. The claimant-petitioner has retained an attorney and has filed a Claim Petition in the Division of Workers’ Compensation. The petitioner’s counsel has reviewed the New Jersey Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau website and found […]
What Does The Rebuttable Presumption Mean In A COVID-19 Claim?
The concept of legal presumptions in workers’ compensation is not new in New Jersey. The first presumption legislation in New Jersey was passed in 1964 concerning volunteer firefighters who contract respiratory disease in certain circumstances. The second presumption legislation was passed in 1988 in regarding to firefighters with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular injuries or death in […]
Advice To Employers In Dealing With Complex TTD Scenarios
Practical Advice in New Jersey Workers’ Compensation The general rule is that an injured worker is entitled to TTD for the time frame that the authorized treating doctor placed the employee out of work. Pursuant to Monaco v. Albert Maund, Inc., 17 N.J. Super. 425 (App. Div.), 21 N.J. Super. 443 (App. Div. 1952), generally, […]
Proposed PTSD First Responder Bill A2886 Raises Questions
NJ Workers’ Comp Legislative Update The New Jersey Assembly recently introduced legislation, A2886, which would provide employment protections for paid first responders diagnosed with work-related post-traumatic stress disorder. The bill states as follows: An employer shall not discharge, harass, or otherwise discriminate or retaliate or threaten to discharge, harass, or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against […]
Book Review Of “Workers’ Compensation Emerging Issues Analysis”
For those readers who are interested in learning about current issues in workers’ compensation, I highly recommend the 2021 LexisNexis book entitled “Workers Compensation Emerging Issues Analysis.” I was asked to review this book and found it to be chock full of cutting-edge articles written for attorneys, employers, physicians, adjusters, carriers and third party administrators. […]
Proposed Cannabis Bill A3511 Raises Serious Legal Issues
NJ Workers’ Comp Legislative Update The New Jersey Assembly recently introduced legislation, A3511, which would force every workers’ compensation, PIP and health insurance carrier writing insurance in New Jersey to provide coverage for medical cannabis. This legislation overreaches into the contractual bargaining between consumers and insurance companies and will no doubt drive premium costs higher. […]
FCE Supported County’s Decision To Terminate Employee Following Workers’ Comp Injury
Functional capacity examinations (FCEs) can be very useful in determining the ability of a worker to perform essential job functions by removing the guesswork and instead providing accurate data on an employee’s physical abilities. In The Matter of Thalia Tretsis Middlesex County, Sheriff’s Office, No. A-3682-19 (App. Div. February 15, 2022) provides some important guidance […]
Superior Court Could Not Compel A Plaintiff Who Filed In Civil Court To Also File A Claim Petition In The Division of Workers’ Compensation
The case of Brian Smith v. Township of South Hackensack, No. A-3258-20 (App. Div. February 18, 2022), addressed an unusual procedural question seldom, if ever, seen before. The Appellate Division decision provides hardly any factual background at all other than this brief summary: “Plaintiff, a volunteer firefighter, was struck by a South Hackensack fire truck […]
Understanding The Deviation From Employment Defense
Workers’ compensation practitioners have all heard of the defense of deviation from employment. But where does the defense come from? The New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Act has well over 100 sections to it, but nowhere will you find any reference to the defense of deviation from employment. Yet the defense does exist. We know that […]
New Jersey Supreme Court Finds Parking Lot Accident Compensable
On January 18, 2022, the New Jersey Supreme Court concluded round three of Diane Lapsley v. Township of Sparta, a case that dates back to February 3, 2014. On that date Mrs. Lapsley, a librarian for the Township, left work early when the Township closed the library due to a snowfall. Her husband picked her […]
Key New Jersey Legislation In 2022: Expansion Of Compensability Of Parking Lot Injuries And Resumption Of Public Health Emergency
In the first few days of 2022, two major legislative developments have significantly impacted workers’ compensation law. The legislation effectively repealing the Supreme Court decision in Hersh v. County of Morris, 217 N.J. 236 (2014) will have a long-term impact on workers’ compensation in New Jersey; the resumption of the public health emergency will likely […]
New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Benefit Rates Are Skyrocketing
It is not widely known but the new 2022 workers’ compensation benefit rates are 10% higher than those in 2021! Yes, you read that correctly – 10% higher than in 2021. That is the highest jump in benefit rates since the early 1980s. The annual percentage increase in maximum and minimum benefits from 1990 to […]
Back Injury To School Nurse Found Not Compensable Where She Participated in Cardio Club Activity Before School
On December 8, 2021, the New Jersey Appellate Division affirmed the dismissal of a claim for serious back injuries filed by Meghan Ryan-Wirth, a school nurse, against the Hoboken Board of Education and the Pooled Insurance Program Joint Insurance Fund. Petitioner, a school nurse, was injured participating in a morning Cardio Club activity with teachers […]
Practical Advice In Defending COVID-19 Claim Petitions
Many claim petitions have been filed in the Division of Workers’ Compensation seeking awards of permanent partial and total disability as well as dependency benefits arising from exposure to COVID-19. The high number of COVID claim petitions reflects the fact that well over 1.2 million cases have been confirmed as COVID positive in New Jersey, […]
Why Good Adjusters Are Crucial To Success In Workers’ Compensation Court
Every defense lawyer knows that success in workers’ compensation court is the ultimate team sport. There are many key participants: employers, supervisors, adjusters, counsel, account managers, brokers, experts, IME doctors, physicians, nurse case managers and vendors such as investigators. All play important roles but more often than not, the adjuster is the quarterback. It has […]
Connect with Capehart Scatchard