Latest Workers' Compensation Headlines

All the headlines from our Workers' Compensation Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Washington lowers fine, penalties against self-insured contractor Skanska

May 22 2006 // Upon further review of more detailed audit information, and as a result of Skanska’s improved handling of workers’ compensation claims, the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), Tumwater, Wash., has,...

Florida officials make 80 arrests, kick off ‘operation spring cleaning’

May 22 2006 // A special statewide operation targeting the arrest of 80 suspects from Miami to Pensacola, Fla. for their roles in insurance fraud schemes, dubbed “operation spring cleaning,” was launched in early May by the...

Avian Flu and the Property Casualty Industry

May 22 2006 // Insurance buyers are taking a close look at their insurance and risk management programs, looking for possible financial recourse in the event of an outbreak. It is therefore worthwhile to examine each line of coverage in...

Nine Companies Approved to Self-Insure for Workers’ Comp in Texas

May 19 2006 // Texas Commissioner of Workers’ Compensation Albert Betts recently approved the reapplications for Certificates of Authority to Self-Insure covering a one-year period for nine private employers. Texas law allows...

Study: Mass. Workers’ Comp Cost Trend Slows; Average Claim Typical

May 18 2006 // The costs per workers’ compensation claim in Massachusetts rose 8 percent for claims evaluated mid 2004 with an average of 12 months’ maturity, according to a new study by the Cambridge, Mass-based Workers...

Washington Insurance Commissioner Seeks Legal Redress for Failed Insurer

May 18 2006 // Editor’s Note, March 2009: In response to a complaint that the Insurance Journal reported only one side of the preceding story, and as a means of resolving Anthony Huff’s claims against the Insurance...

Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Comp Looking to Sell Investments Worth $393 Million

May 18 2006 // Ohio’s embattled insurance program for on-the-job injuries is looking for a banker to sell investments worth about $393 million so it can put the money in less risky ventures. The Ohio Bureau of Workers’...

Eight Indicted by San Diego County Grand Jury for Fraud

May 18 2006 // Eight Massachusetts residents have been indicted for insurance premium fraud charges by a San Diego County grand jury. The eight owners and employees of Massachusetts-based National Independent Contractors Association...

Report Says Comp Costs per Claim in La. Higher Than in Median State

May 17 2006 // Louisiana’s average total cost per claim placed it among the group of states with higher average costs per claim when compared to the median study state, according to a new report by the Cambridge, Mass.-based...

R.I.’s Beacon Mutual Seeks to Withdraw 27.7% Workers’ Comp Rate Cut Bid

May 16 2006 // Policyholders of Beacon Mutual Insurance Co. hoping for quick approval of a proposed 27.7 percent rate cut will have to wait. The insurer has moved to withdraw its loss cost filing that seeks for a 27.7 percent decrease...

Father and Son Arrested in California for Workers Comp Fraud

May 16 2006 // Glendale, Calif., car wash owners Shagen Galstanyan, 51, and his son, Vahe Tergalstanyan, 23, have been arrested for workers’ compensation insurance fraud. Both suspects were booked into the Riverside County Jail...

Texas Workers’ Comp Educational Session Offered in Lubbock on May 30

May 16 2006 // The Lubbock Field Office of the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) is hosting a brown bag educational session for health care providers, employers, human resource managers, claims...

Texas Workers’ Comp Division Posts Newsletter Online

May 15 2006 // The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) announced it has posted the Spring issue of the DWC Workers’ CompUpdate newsletter on the agency Web site at...

Upstate N.Y. Stone Mason Under-Reported Workers’ Comp, Says Fund

May 14 2006 // An upstate New York employer’s alleged attempt to pay lower premium than required for his workers’ compensation policy with The New York State Insurance Fund began to unravel after he filed a claim for an...

W.Va. Spouses Ask High Court for Assurance of Lifetime Benefits

May 13 2006 // West Virginia lawyers for spouses of people who died from work-related injuries and illnesses, including four victims of January’s Sago mine disaster, have asked the state Supreme Court in Charleston, W.Va. to ensure...

2005 Workers’ Comp Stats Positive, But Expert Advises Caution

May 12 2006 // Singer Bob Dylan’s song, “The Times, They Are a Changin’,” was cited as a cautionary reminder by Steve Klingel, NCCI Holdings Inc.’s president and CEO, as he gave a positive report on 2005...

United Wisconsin Insurance Receives Upgraded Rating by A.M. Best

May 12 2006 // A.M. Best recently announced that it has upgraded United Wisconsin Insurance Company (dba) United Heartland’s rating to a secure A (excellent) rating. This upgrade comes as part of a pooled rating with Accident Fund...

La. Kids’ Chance Golf Tournament Raises $27K for Children of Injured Workers

May 11 2006 // Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation (LWCC) reported that LWCC Chairman Aubrey Temple and president/CEO Kristin Wall presented a check in the amount of $27,000 to the Louisiana Bar Foundation to support its...

Alaska Legislature Ends Session; Rejects Self-Insurance Bill

May 11 2006 // Alaska legislators concluded the 2006 regular session this week and in the final hours rejected a bill opposed by insurers that would have encouraged more employers to self-insure for workers’...

Cypress Care Names Three VPs

May 11 2006 // Michael Stuart has been named vice president of strategic initiatives and implementation, Mark Pergolini has been haired as vice president of medical services, and John Cash has been hired as vice president of marketing...