Posted on May 26th, 2009
Being injured on the job is always a terrible thing. Unfortunately, these injuries can lead to an inability to work for extended periods of time, causing the worker to miss out on time that he or she could have been paid for. This is why workers' compensation exists.
If you are injured while performing any of your job functions, you are entitled to workers' compensation benefits. This is especially true if you suffer an injury that prevents you from doing your job.
If you are trying to obtain workers' compensation benefits, contact the Raleigh workers' compensation attorneys of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC at 919-851-3311.
Posted on May 21st, 2009
A Hartford, Connecticut man who works for the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services has been charged with forging medical documents to collect workers' compensation benefits.
The one count of workers' compensation fraud and two counts of forgery could lead to up to 30 years in prison. He is expected to be arraigned on June 2 in Hartford Superior Court.
If you need workers' compensation benefits, contact the Raleigh workers' compensation attorneys of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC at 919-851-3311.
Posted on May 19th, 2009
In 2007, workers' compensation pharmacy costs increased by 3.3% from the year before. In 2008, those costs increased another 5.4% from 2007. Today, pharmacy costs are accounting for about 14% of all workers' compensation costs.
These increases in costs have come from a variety of factors. In large part, however, the increases have been caused by the rising cost of drugs and the decreased availability of generic drugs.
If you need workers' compensation, contact the Raleigh workers' compensation attorneys of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC at 919-851-3311.
Posted on May 13th, 2009
Michigan risk managers are concerned that their self-insured programs would face an emergency assessment to make up for a security fund shortfall should Chrysler LLC fail to meet it's obligations to the state's workers.
Chrysler filed Chapter 11 on April 30th, and there are worries that the filing could allow Chrysler to get out of paying workers' comp claims. Leigh Stepaniak, director of risk management for the Wayne County Airport Authority at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and member of the board of managers for the Michigan Self-Insurers' Association said an emergency assessment would be difficult given the current economic conditions. "We are all looking at our budgets, which are extremely tight, and we are looking at our own losses, and if they do any emergency assessment it is going to impact us." Stepaniak said.
According to the attorney general's motion, even if emergency assessments were levied, the fund's "maximum possible balance would be approximately $9 million – substantially less than needed to cover the debtor's statutory obligations."
Chrysler's workers' comp liability could possibly exceed $150 million and requires the company to expend more than $25 million annually. Officials in other states where Chrysler self-insures workers' comp liabilities are reviewing the Michigan filing to see if any action may be appropriate.
If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, please contact the Raleigh workers' compensation attorneys of Scudder and Hedrick, PLLC by calling 919-851-3311.
Posted on May 13th, 2009
As Chrysler LLC files for bankruptcy, states are carefully monitoring the case for its possible impact on workers' compensation fund.
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox stated that Michigan's Self-Insurers' Security Fund could face insolvency as a result of Chrysler's April 30th Chapter 11 filing. Michigan's workers' compensation guaranty fund for self insured employees would be exhausted if Chrysler reneges on its promise to keep paying workers' comp claims despite selling it's assets to Italian automaker Fiat S.p.A.
In other states where Chrysler self-insures its comp liabilities are also keeping a close eye on the proceedings despite assurances from Chrysler that it will continue to pay. A spokesman for the company said the automaker has court authority to keep paying workers' comp liabilities owed to injured employees across the country.
Cox filed a motion in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York which is handling the Chrysler case. The filing objected to some language in the Chrysler papers. Cox says the filings show there is potential for Chrysler and a buyer of its assets to disregard the auto manufacturer's existing workers' comp obligations.
If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, please contact the Raleigh workers' compensation attorneys of Scudder and Hedrick, PLLC by calling 919-851-3311.
Posted on May 6th, 2009
The state of Michigan is objecting to the sales of Chrysler LLC assets to Italian automaker Fiat. The state claims that the new company won’t meet obligations to a state workers’ compensation fund.
Papers were filed in bankruptcy court in New York on Tuesday by State Attorney General Mike Cox, filing on behalf of the State of Michigan Workers’ Compensation Fund and Funds Administration.
The filing says the sales could leave Chrysler unable to make yearly $25 million payments. The state is worried that its Self-Insurers’ Security Fund could become insolvent and leave all eligible injured workers at larger companies without any benefits. Judge Arthur Gonzales said the objection could be resolved at a later date if and when he is asked to rule on a safe, final motion. The filing also states that Chrysler cannot avoid regulatory requirements that apply to all Michigan employers.
If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, please contact the Raleigh workers' compensation lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick at 919-851-3311.
