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UPS Prevails By Means of Occupational Statute of Limitations Defense on Claim for Bilateral Knee Replacement Surgery

By on August 10, 2017 in Key Defenses, NJ Workers' Comp with 1 Comment

The best defense against an occupational disease claim is often the statute of limitations.  That is how the employer won in Mara v. United Parcel Service, A-3691-15T4 (App. Div. August 4, 2017).

The case involved a package car driver named Craig Mara who began working for UPS in 1983.  He filed a claim petition in 2011 contending that his bilateral knee replacement surgery in 2010 was caused by decades of physical stressors on the job.  He argued that he did not realize his knee condition was work related until after he had his surgery, and since he filed within two years of the surgery date, he argued that his filing was timely.

UPS countered with evidence that Mara knew his condition was related to his work in 2006.  Mara had long-standing knee problems, including prior left knee surgery 10 years before he testified.  His personal chiropractor, Dr. Ruth, had been treating Mara for knee pain since 2003 and told him that his condition was work related in 2006.  He admitted in his testimony that he revealed to Dr. Ruth that driving at work and moving around at work caused him knee pain.  He also told Dr. Ruth that his right knee was hurting due to work activities.

The Judge of Compensation found that petitioner’s claim was not timely filed, and the Appellate Division affirmed.  The Court said, “Considerably more than two years prior to his 2011 petition, Mara was well aware that the problems in both his knees were work-related.  Long before the 2010 knee replacements, the problem with at least one knee was sufficiently severe as to require surgery to repair a torn meniscus.”

The Court also rejected petitioner’s alternative argument that his employer lulled him into believing that his knee condition was work related by having the surgery paid for by employer sponsored health insurance.  The Judge of Compensation correctly pointed out that the employer’s health insurance was separate and distinct from its workers’ compensation policy.

The case makes sense because it directly falls within the language of N.J.S.A. 34:15-34, which requires that a compensation petition must be filed “within 2 years after the date on which the claimant first knew the nature of the disability and its relation to the employment.”  The defense was able to show both elements:  that the petitioner knew the nature of his disability and thought the condition was work related.  UPS was able to prove the defense through prior medical records, particularly prior chiropractic records.  It is absolutely essential in occupational orthopedic claims that employers obtain prior chiropractic, family doctor and prior orthopedic treatment records because those records often build the entire defense to the claim, just as in this matter.

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About the Author

About the Author:

John H. Geaney, Esq. is a Shareholder and Co-Chair of Capehart Scatchard's Workers' Compensation Group. Mr. Geaney began an email newsletter entitled “Currents in Workers’ Compensation, ADA and FMLA” in 2001 in order to keep clients and readers informed on leading developments in these three areas of law. Since that time he has written over 500 newsletter updates.

Mr. Geaney is the author of Geaney’s New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Manual for Practitioners, Adjusters & Employers. The Manual is distributed by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education (NJICLE). He also authored an ADA and FMLA Manual also distributed by NJICLE. If you are interested in purchasing “Geaney’s New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Manual for Practitioners, Adjusters & Employers,” please contact NJICLE at 732-214-8500 or visit their website at www.njicle.com.

Mr. Geaney represents employers in the defense of workers’ compensation, ADA and FMLA matters. He is a Fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers of the American Bar Association. He is one of two firm representatives to the National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network.

A graduate of Holy Cross College summa cum laude, Mr. Geaney obtained his law degree from Boston College Law School.

Mr. Geaney was selected to the “New Jersey Super Lawyer” list (2005-2017, 2021 in the area of Workers’ Compensation). Only 5% of attorneys are selected to “Super Lawyers” through a peer nominated process based on independent research and peer evaluation. The Super Lawyers list is issued by Thomson Reuters. For a description of the “Super Lawyers” selection methodology, please visit https://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html

For the years 2022-2024 Mr. Geaney was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® list in the practice area of Workers’ Compensation Law - Employers. The attorneys on this list are selected based upon the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area. A complete description of The Best Lawyers in America® methodology can be viewed via their website at https://www.bestlawyers.com/methodology.

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Capehart Scatchard is a full service law firm with offices in Mt. Laurel and Hamilton, New Jersey. The firm represents employers and businesses in a wide variety of areas, including workers’ compensation, civil litigation, labor, environmental, business, estates and governmental affairs.

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There is 1 Brilliant Comment

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  1. Hey..!
    Nice blog thanks for sharing, that was a fascinating and informative article.
    Joint replacement surgery

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