A Capehart Scatchard Blog

Claims

The Amazing Rise of Medical Claim Petitions in New Jersey Workers’ Compensation

By on November 29, 2018 in Claims, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

Just six years ago, former Governor Chris Christie signed into law a bill which vested exclusive jurisdiction within the Division of Workers’ Compensation over any disputed medical charge arising from any claim for compensation for a work-related injury or illness.  That was the beginning of what we now call “Medical Claim Petitions” or MCPs filed […]

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Appellate Division Bars Civil Claim by DPW Worker Who Planned to Leave Work Early But Was In A Car Accident on the Way Back to DPW Office To Fill Out Paperwork for Supervisor to Sign

By on July 16, 2018 in Claims, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

Victor Campos worked for the Department of Public Works for the City of Passaic.  On December 23, 2013, he was performing maintenance work at City Hall when he began to feel ill.  He made the decision to go home early, but first he had to notify his employer that he was finished for the day […]

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Widow Loses Dependency Claim Based on Failure to Prove That Her Husband Was Exposed to Asbestos

By on July 12, 2018 in Claims, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

Dennis Lomet worked for Lawes Coal Company from 1987 to 2012 when he died of lung cancer at the age of 47.  He installed, removed, or repaired heating and air conditioning equipment.  He never smoked cigarettes.  Before he died, he told one of his treating physicians that he thought he had been exposed to chemicals, […]

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Employer Has Lien Rights on High/Low Agreement In Medical Malpractice Case Arising From Workers’ Compensation Claim

By on June 25, 2018 in Claims, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

In Marano v. Clifford J. Schob, M.D., A-33915-16T2 (App. Div. June 20, 2018), the Appellate Division held that New Jersey’s lien provision does apply to funds that an injured worker received in a medical malpractice suit pursuant to the terms of a “high/low” agreement.  The case affirmed a prior ruling in Pool v. Morristown Memorial […]

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Why Prompt Reporting Policies Are Crucial Even If New Jersey’s Notice Statute Remains Weak

By on May 25, 2018 in Claims, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

The failure to report a claim in a timely manner generally leads to powerful defenses that help employers prevail in workers’ compensation court.  But lack of timely notice is seldom one of those defenses in New Jersey.  That sounds like a conundrum.  Shouldn’t lack of timely notice be the first defense that jumps to one’s […]

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Coverage During Drives to Job Sites Under New Jersey Law

By on March 9, 2018 in Claims, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

We all know the rules for coverage in New Jersey under the “premises rule,” the rule that replaced the former going-and-coming rule.  N.J.S.A. 34:15-36 states that one is covered for workers’ compensation purposes when he or she arrives at a place of employment owned or controlled by the employer.  That is easy enough, but what […]

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An Adjuster’s View of Making Good Claim Notes in New Jersey Workers’ Compensation

By on February 1, 2018 in Claims, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

By: Michael Weiner, Workers’ Compensation Claims Examiner Editor: John H. Geaney, Esq. As adjusters we are constantly being reminded to document our files: specifically, keep good log notes. We have all heard managers and supervisors repeat this mantra: “If it is not in the notes, it did not happen!” Good claim notes should “tell the […]

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Hartford Insurance As Workers’ Compensation Carrier Loses Claim Against NJM For Subrogation

By on December 5, 2017 in Claims, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments
Hartford Insurance As Workers’ Compensation Carrier Loses Claim Against NJM For Subrogation

New Jersey law has very strict procedures for workers’ compensation carriers to follow in subrogation, and failure to comply with those strict rules can mean loss of subrogation rights, as noted in Pino v. Polanco and New Jersey Manufacturers, A-5027-15T4 (App. Div. November 22, 2017). Ms. Pino was injured in a work-related car accident on […]

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Retaliation Claim in Workers’ Compensation Is Not Barred Because Plaintiff Also Filed a Discrimination Claim under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination

By on November 7, 2017 in Claims, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments
Retaliation Claim in Workers’ Compensation Is Not Barred Because Plaintiff Also Filed a Discrimination Claim under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination

Can an employee maintain both a workers’ compensation retaliation claim at the same time as he alleges discrimination under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD)? That was one issue answered in Larson v. City of Paterson, A-2526-15T4 (App. Div. October 26, 2017). Carl Larson worked as a firefighter for the City of Paterson from […]

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Federal Court Allows Sheriff’s Deputies to Proceed to Jury Trial On Their Claim that County Ignored Their Requests for Light Duty Assignments While Recovering from Work Injuries

By on September 14, 2017 in Claims, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments
Federal Court Allows Sheriff’s Deputies to Proceed to Jury Trial On Their Claim that County Ignored Their Requests for Light Duty Assignments While Recovering from Work Injuries

Light duty was the issue in Smith v. DuPage Cnty. Sheriff, 33 AD Cases 789 (N.D. Ill. June 5, 2017).  Four Sheriff’s Deputies suffered work injuries in 2013 and 2014 and received full salary for one year while on leave from their injuries.  After the one-year period, the officers received the statutory amount for temporary […]

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Township Prevails in Dismissing Occupational Psychiatric Claim of Former Police Officer

By on September 7, 2017 in Claims, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments
Township Prevails in Dismissing Occupational Psychiatric Claim of Former Police Officer

Occupational psychiatric claims, like all occupational claims, must be filed within time or be subject to the statute of limitations defense.  The challenge is always whether the employer can prove that the employee knew the nature of his condition and its relationship to work.  That was the issue in Bender v. Township of North Bergen, […]

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Court Rejects Argument that Level I and II Trauma Centers Deserve Special Fee Schedules in Comp

By on August 24, 2017 in Claims, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

In University Physicians Associates v. Transport Drivers, Inc., A-3350-15T2 (App. Div. August 22, 2017), the Appellate Division considered an argument that Level I and II Trauma Centers should be given different treatment when it comes to billing along the lines that they receive under the fee schedule for No-Fault automobile policies. The case stemmed from […]

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Carrier Which Failed To Provide 10-Day Statutory Notice Letter Was Permitted To Bring Suit

By on February 13, 2017 in Claims, NJ Workers' Comp with 0 Comments

New Jersey employers know that they have a right to subrogate against the party who caused injury to their employee to recover workers’ compensation benefits paid, but they must wait one year before taking any action.  After one year, if the injured worker has not pursued a third party action, the employer must make a […]

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Basic Considerations in New Jersey Reopener Claims

By on February 2, 2017 in Claims, NJ Workers' Comp with 3 Comments

Most aspects of the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Act are considered favorably by employers since the law gives employers the right to control medical care and allows termination of temporary disability benefits and medical benefits at maximal medical improvement. One aspect, however, of New Jersey law invariably frustrates employers:  reopener claim petitions. These kinds of […]

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Hospital Defeats Occupational Claim By Filing Motion To Dismiss After Petitioner’s Case

Diana Vernacchia worked as a housekeeper for Warren Hospital performing vacuuming and cleaning duties in the radiology department and hallways, dusting and cleaning the x-ray machines and diagnostic devices, and lifting and discarding biohazardous waste and linen bags weighing an average of 50 pounds each.  She filed an occupational disease claim alleging that she developed […]

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