Latest Workers' Compensation Headlines

Workers’ Comp Fraud Leads to Jail Time for Hatchery Owner

Oct 18 2010 // The owner of an upstate New York fish hatchery has been sentenced to 60 days in jail for worker’s comp fraud, the New York State Insurance Department said. Edward Panus, was also ordered to repay $4,500 in benefits...

Court: Michigan Workers’ Comp Law Blocks Anti-Racketeering Suit

Oct 18 2010 // Michigan’s workers’ compensation statute blocks employee lawsuits against employers brought under federal anti-racketeering law, a federal judge has ruled. Federal Judge Paul D. Boren for the second time has...

Kentucky Auditor Clears League Over Workers’ Comp

Oct 18 2010 // Kentucky’s state auditor has found no fraud in the insurance buying practices of the Lexington-Fayette County Urban Government. Auditor Crit Luallen said her agency found no evidence to conclude that the city’s...

How a Smaller Georgia Agency Plays with the Big Boys

Oct 18 2010 // This is the David versus Goliath story of how the Mallory Agency, a small independent insurance agency in LaGrange, Georgia, has faced off against bigger agencies and won. Its weapons: “face time,” professional...

Oct 18 2010 // 100 Number of days past a July deadline the California Legislature took to pass a budget. Legislative action was stalled when Democrats and Republicans couldn’t agree on areas to reduce spending to close the $19...

California’s Commissioner Hopefuls

Oct 18 2010 // Unlike many voters, the hundreds and thousands of independent insurance agents and brokers in California know the November 2 election will be a pivotal one. After all, on that day, Californians will select a new insurance...

Assemblyman Mike Villines

Oct 18 2010 // Republican Mike Villines was elected to the California Assembly in 2004 to represent the counties of Fresno and Madera. He serves on the board of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation, a nonprofit organization that...

Workers’ Compensation Results Spiral Down

Oct 18 2010 // The nation’s workers’ compensation insurance industry’s underwriting performance has continued to weaken as the composite combined ratio deteriorated 8.8 percentage points to 120.0 in 2009, representing...

Florida Approves 7.8% Workers’ Compensation Rate Increase

Oct 15 2010 // Florida workers’ compensation insurers have been given the green light to raise rates an average 7.8 percent starting Jan. 1, 2011. Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has told the insurers’ rating...

Employers Should Consider ‘Increased Risk Test’ When Evaluating Workers’ Comp Benefits

Oct 14 2010 // The Nevada Supreme Court has ruled that although employers are not “absolutely liable” when employees are injured “on the job,” companies should apply the “increased risk test” to...

Schwarzenegger Vetoes Workers’ Comp Bill

Oct 8 2010 // Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a workers’ compensation insurance measure that would have required an employer and insurer to resolve disputes that arise in California to be resolved in the state, and...

California Legislature Passes New Budget

Oct 8 2010 // The California Legislature has approved a new budget for its 2010-2011 fiscal year, passing it a record 100 days after its deadline. The budget includes major reforms in the state’s pension systemand projects to save...

Kentucky Auditor Clears League Over Workers’ Compensation Purchase

Oct 7 2010 // Kentucky’s state auditor has found no fraud in the insurance buying practices of the Lexington-Fayette County Urban Government. Auditor Crit Luallen said her agency found no evidence to conclude that the city’s...

Oklahoma Updates License, CE Requirements for Work Comp Adjusters

Oct 7 2010 // The Oklahoma Department of Insurance issued a bulletin reminding workers’ compensation insurance adjusters they must be licensed to operate in the state. Licensed workers’ comp claims adjusters also must...

Florida Weighs 8.3% Workers’ Compensation Rate Increase Today

Oct 5 2010 // Workers’ compensation insurers in Florida will be asked to explain their request for an average 8.3 percent rate hike today before the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR). The OIR is holding a public hearing...

Feds Say North, South Carolina Programs Weak on Workplace Safety

Oct 4 2010 // Workplace safety programs in North and South Carolina downplay serious safety problems and levy weak fines, according to an audit released by the U.S. Labor Department. The audit showed that both states impose weak...

Workers’ Compensation Results Continue in Downward Spiral

Oct 4 2010 // The nation’s workers’ compensation insurance industry’s underwriting performance has continued to weaken as the composite combined ratio deteriorated 8.8 percentage points to 120.0 in 2009, representing...

Saved From Death Suits in Florida

Oct 4 2010 // How Florida Workers’ Comp Law Shields Disney World, SeaWorld from Liability In 2003, lawmakers approved a 182-page rewrite of the state’s laws for workers’ compensation. They are two of Central...

Washington Workers’ Comp Rate Proposal Delayed

Oct 4 2010 // Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) announced that it will propose workers’ compensation rates for 2011 in November after the results of the fall election and the outcome of Initiative...

Agents to Calif. State Fund: Please Pay Commissions

Oct 4 2010 // Insurance agents and brokers want the California State Compensation Insurance Fund to change its broker of service policy and instead recognize broker of record (BOR) letters. While the policy not to recognize BOR letters...