Monthly Archives

August 2020

Outpatient services driving up comp costs: Report

By Workers' Compensation No Comments

Payments for outpatient facility services in workers compensation drove up the cost of medical payments per claim by 6.6% from 2014 through 2018, according to a report issued Thursday by the National Council for Compensation Insurance. Overall, the cost of medical payments per claim rose 7.5% during that period, NCCI reported. Comprising approximately one-fifth of medical costs, hospital outpatient payments…

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Ind. court determines which contractors can be sued for shower of metal studs

By Personal Injury No Comments

After hundreds of pounds of metal studs rained from the sky during a construction project, the Indiana Court of Appeals has decided which companies can be held responsible for the injuries that subsequently occurred. On Aug. 24, the court found the general contractor can’t be found liable but left open the chance of a subcontractor paying for the injuries of…

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Train engineer allegedly suffered injuries when cab seat collapsed

By Personal Injury No Comments

A locomotive engineer is suing Central Railroad Company, alleging the train’s cab seat collapsed and broke, causing him to sustain serious injuries. Joshua Ohmart filed a complaint July 28 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Illinois Central Railroad Company, alleging violation of federal law. According to the complaint, Ohmart was working as a locomotive engineer for Central Railroad…

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Indiana schools hoping to avoid lawsuits as they reopen

By Personal Injury No Comments

Within the first week of reopening schools and welcoming back students and staff, several Indiana districts reported their first coronavirus cases. In central Indiana alone, at least half a dozen districts saw a teacher or student test positive for the virus last week—a reality the state’s top health official said is unavoidable. State officials aren’t shutting down schools, but insist…

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COVID-19 legislative, regulatory changes affecting comp: report

By Workers' Compensation No Comments

More than one-third of states have accepted COVID-19 as an occupational illness for certain professionals, according to a report released Wednesday by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. Overall, 19 states have made changes to workers compensation compensability amid the pandemic, according to the Boca Raton, Florida-based ratings agency. Eleven states have issued executive orders, directives or emergency rules on…

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Family Sues Illinois Meatpacking Plant After Man’s Death from COVID-19

By Personal Injury No Comments

The family of a suburban Chicago woman who died of complications related to COVID-19 has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a meatpacking plant where her husband worked and contracted the virus. The family of Esperanza Ugalde alleges in their lawsuit that Aurora Packing Co. in North Aurora failed to take steps to limit the spread of the coronavirus, the…

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Motorist sues Metro East Transit District following rear end collision

By Personal Injury No Comments

A motorist claims he suffered injuries when his vehicle was rear-ended by a Metro-East Transit employee. Charlie Harris filed a complaint July 29 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Metro-East Transit District of St. Clair County, doing business as St. Clair County Transit District, the St. Clair County Transit District Board of Trustees, Southwestern Illinois College, the Board…

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U.S. insurers’ coronavirus costs are less than feared so far

By Workers' Compensation No Comments

The coronavirus pandemic dealt a relatively modest $2.5 billion blow to five insurers with large U.S. operations in the second quarter – a cost that was far less than feared and which the industry has absorbed without touching capital, analysts said. American International Group Inc. and Chubb Ltd. said payouts on claims related to the disease accounted for most of…

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Indiana Utility Facing $1.1M Safety Violations Fine

By Personal Injury No Comments

A northern Indiana utility is facing a $1.1 million fine, the largest in state history, after state regulators cited it for natural gas pipeline safety violations and specified that the company cannot pass that cost onto its ratepayers. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission cited the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. for instances of failing to locate or mark underground pipelines…

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