Yearly Archives: <span>2011</span>

Illinois AG: Workers’ Comp Bill Doesn’t Go Far Enough

Illinois’ attorney general has praised parts of the recently approved workers’ compensation overhaul, but she says it would be a “gross overstatement” to call the system reformed. Lisa Madigan said even with the overhaul, the standard for proving that taxpayer …

Missouri Health Care Organization: Smokers Need Not Apply

A St. Louis-based health care organization will no longer hire smokers to work at any of its seven area hospitals, starting next month. Job applicants at SSM Health Care will be asked if they have used tobacco in the last …

Ohio Man Guilty of Fraud, Illegally Collected $30,000 in Workers’ Comp

Frank Fogle, a Barnesville, Ohio, (Belmont County) truck driver, has been sentenced for fraud after he concealed his employment in order to continue receiving workers’ compensation benefits. Fogle was found guilty in a Franklin County courtroom of a fifth degree …

Illinois Seeking Applications for Workers’ Comp Arbitrators

Recently passed Illinois House Bill 1698 provides that the governor will appoint all arbitrator positions for the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. The governor has not yet signed the bill, but the Governor’s Office has set up a Web page for …

Illinois Workers’ Comp Commission Welcomes New Administrator

Bob Devereaux has joined the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission as Fraud Prevention and Efficiency Controller. He comes to the Commission from the private sector where he has held a variety of positions in accounting, finance, operations, internal audit and internal …

Freund Named Chief Financial Officer at Accident Fund

Michigan-based workers’ compensation firm Accident Fund Holdings, Inc. has appointed Frank Freund as chief financial officer. Freund is replacing Ron Schoen, who served as chief financial officer for the company for the past 23 years. As chief financial officer, Freund …

Banks Lose Bid to Limit ‘Hot News’ Republication of Analysts’ Research

A federal appeals court handed a major defeat to Wall Street banks in ruling that a financial news service did not misappropriate their analyst research for its website. Reversing a lower court ruling, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals …

Advocates Say Mass. Temp Agencies Need Oversight

Blue collar workers hired through temporary staffing agencies often aren’t paid fairly and have difficulties filing workers’ compensation, according to a new study by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Workers advocates say the problems are caused by documentation deficiencies …

Maine Jury Awards $6.7M in Malpractice Case

A Maine jury has awarded $6.7 million to a woman whose husband died at Eastern Maine Medical Center following an all-terrain vehicle accident. A Penobscot County jury on Monday granted the award to 49-year-old Paula Braley, of Lee, for the …

Supreme Court Denies Huge Sex Bias Class Action Against Wal-Mart

The Supreme Court rejected a mammoth class-action lawsuit charging sex discrimination at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Monday in a ruling that could affect major cases in other industries. The justices unanimously overturned a U.S. appeals court ruling that more than …