Latest Workers' Compensation Headlines

IIASA Luncheon to Focus on Workers’ Comp

Oct 27 2005 // The Independent Insurance Agents of San Antonio announced that Amy Lee, with the Workers’ Compensation Division of the Texas Department of Insurance, will provide an update of developments in Texas’ workers...

Delaware Hears Proposed 10% Workers’ Comp Hike Today

Oct 26 2005 // The First State’s Insurance Commissioner Matthew Denn is today holding what he thinks may be the state’s first true public hearing on workers’ compensation rates. The subject of today’s hearing will...

Employer Guilty of Providing False Information to W.V. Workers Compensation Commission

Oct 25 2005 // West Virginia Insurance Commissioner, Jane L. Cline, announced Tuesday that Richard Custer Jr., was sentenced Oct. 12 on one felony charge of making a false statement to the Workers’ Compensation Commission. Custer,...

Specialty Risk Services Adds Director of Fraud Management

Oct 25 2005 // Specialty Risk Services LLC, a third-party property-casualty third administrator for workers’ compensation and general liability claims, has appointed Timothy Barry to director of Special Investigative Unit and Fraud...

Md. Workers Comp Insurer Retains CEO Bromwell Despite Indictments

Oct 23 2005 // Former State Sen. Thomas Bromwell will retain his position as president and chief executive officer of Maryland’s largest workers’ compensation insurer despite his indictment in an alleged racketeering scheme...

Calif. Court Rules Illegal Immigrants Can Get Workers’ Comp

Oct 20 2005 // Illegal immigrants injured on the job are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits despite their legal status, a California state appeals court ruled. The 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled in a case involving...

Tip Helps Texas Mutual Bust Workers’ Comp Fraud Scam

Oct 20 2005 // Texas Mutual Insurance Company reported that Thomas Whited of Bastrop pleaded guilty to workers’ compensation fraud-related charges. The Travis County 167th District Court sentenced Whited to a one-year suspended...

Former Md. Senator, Workers Comp Fund CEO Facing Federal Charges

Oct 20 2005 // A once-powerful former Maryland state senator and head of the state’s largest workers’ compensation provider was indicted this week on federal charges of influence-peddling in exchange for free contracting work...

RemedyTemp Gains the Upper Hand in CIGA Workers’ Comp Case

Oct 20 2005 // RemedyTemp Inc., which operates as Remedy Intelligent Staffing and RemX Specialty Staffing, on Thursday said the California Supreme Court has decided not to hear an appeal by the California Insurance Guarantee Association...

N.Y. Gov. Hopeful Weld ‘s Insurance Chief in Massachusetts Stirred Controversy

Oct 19 2005 // As governor of Massachusetts, William Weld, a Republican who has said he wants to be governor of New York, helped turn around the state’s workers’ compensation system and introduce some competition into the...

FIC Says Irresponsible Workers’ Compensation Rate Reductions Could Reverse Reform Progress

Oct 18 2005 // The Florida Insurance Council, (FIC) is warning regulators against steep, politically-motivated cuts in workers’ compensation insurance rates. FIC said the reforms resulting from the massive workers’ comp bill...

Hawaii Insurance Division Approves 18.2 Percent Workers’ Comp Decrease

Oct 18 2005 // The state of Hawaii Insurance Division has approved an 18.2 percent decrease in the cost of workers’ compensation claims, which likely will lower premiums for Hawaii companies beginning Jan. 1. According to the...

Gubernatorial Hopefuls in New York: Spitzer vs. Weld

Oct 17 2005 // Part 2: Spitzer Stresses Enforcement as Key to Fair Competition New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has made a name for himself exposing fraudulent and anti-competitive business practices in the securities, mutual fund...

WORKERS’ COMP CUT WEIGHED:

Oct 17 2005 // Workers’ compensation carriers have filed for a slight 2.3 percent reduction in loss costs in Rhode Island beginning in January. The Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation has scheduled a hearing for Nov. 16...

WCIRB Survey Indicates California Workers’ Comp Reform is Working

Oct 17 2005 // State workers’ compensation claims and disability costs have dropped significantly since California’s workers’ compensation system was overhauled in 2003 and 2004, according to the Workers’...

OSHA, HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION SIGN HOME SAFE PARTNERSHIP

Oct 17 2005 // A partnership between the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Metro Denver will reportedly identify and abate home construction site hazards and prevent hazards...

Gubernatorial Hopefuls in New York: Spitzer vs. Weld

Oct 17 2005 // New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has made a name for himself exposing fraudulent and anti-competitive business practices in the securities, mutual fund and insurance industries. Now he is running for governor in New...

Oct 17 2005 // Willis Group Holdings has appointed Vincent D. Liotta as executive vice president and production director of the Willis Re U.S. Specialty Practice. Earlier this year Willis Re merged its Global Marine, Aviation, Retro and...

News Briefs

Oct 17 2005 // MASSACHUSETTS All Signs Point Down: Massachusetts auto rates will be going down in 2006, although by how much is not yet known. Insurance Commissioner Julianne Bowler received her third recommendation, this one calling for...

OSHA Hits Mo. Manufacturer with $159,000 Fine

Oct 17 2005 // The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations to Industrial Steel Fabrication Inc., Hazelwood, Mo., proposing penalties totaling $159,200 for alleged failure...