Workers’ Compensation

An Illinois appeals court overturned a $165,353 workers compensation medical award and more than $46,000 in legal fees and costs, ruling that an injured worker was entitled only to reimbursement for amounts actually paid to his medical providers. In Jenkins v. McLaughlin Body Co., the Appellate Court of Illinois, Fourth District, ruled Wednesday that a lower court improperly based its…

An Indiana appeals court ruled that a parks employee who was injured after losing consciousness while driving a work vehicle is entitled to workers compensation benefits. In Harrison County Parks & Recreation v. David Hussung, the Indiana Court of Appeals on Friday affirmed a Workers’ Compensation Board finding that Mr. Hussung’s injuries arose out of his employment, even though his…

A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers has introduced legislation that would significantly expand eligibility and benefits under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, including increasing certain payments to $150,000 and extending the program for 15 years. H.R. 10115, introduced Monday, would expand compensation for people exposed to radiation from atmospheric nuclear testing, Manhattan Project waste and other nuclear-related activities. The bill…

Comorbid health conditions are contributing to longer disability periods and substantially higher medical costs in workers compensation claims, yet the conditions often remain underreported in part due to communication gaps among patients, medical providers, and insurers and employers, according to experts. “We’re not asking, and they’re not telling us,” said Mark Williams, Scarborough, Maine-based medical director at The Hartford, during…

Companies that layer multiple contractor safety and risk management programs can substantially reduce serious injuries and fatalities, according to a white paper released Thursday by a company that manages supply chain risk. The findings point to the value of using several safety controls together rather than relying on a single contractor screening or compliance measure, with Avetta identifying the layered…

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation Friday that makes significant changes to workers compensation medical reviews, insurer assessments and penalties for licensed businesses that fail to maintain coverage. H.B. 5228, which took effect immediately and passed both chambers in April and May, requires that adverse utilization review determinations for services delivered or recommended by a physician be made by a…

An employee of High Performance Alloys, Inc. died while working at the company’s facility. The deceased employee’s estate sued the company for wrongful death, alleging gross negligence, willful and wanton conduct, disregard of safety regulations, and actual intent to cause injury. The complaint referenced prior safety violations, knowledge of hazardous conditions, failure to implement available safety measures, and a claim…

Injured workers’ prescriptions filled outside pharmacy networks cost an average of 67% more than comparable in-network medications, according to an analysis released Friday by Enlyte. The report analyzed calendar-year 2025 retail pharmacy, mail-order and paper medical bill prescription transactions across workers compensation and auto casualty claims, comparing utilization and spending between in-network and out-of-network channels to provide a broader picture…

An Illinois appeals court has thrown open a new avenue for personal injury lawyers and others to claim potentially massively enhanced verdicts, as the court upheld a $45 million verdict awarded by a Cook County jury to the family of a woman who died of mesothelioma, allegedly caused by exposure to talc in Johnson & Johnson baby powder — a…