Posted on April 9th, 2010
A new study released by the University of illinois at Chicago shows that wage theft is rampant among low income workers in the nation’s most populous county.
Wage theft has been a problem for a long time in Cook County, which encompasses Chicago. Experts say illegal immigrants, women, and minorities are particularly susceptible to wage theft. Employers often do not pay minimum wage, and deny workers’ compensation benefits.
The new study from University of Illinois at Chicago studied more than 1,000 workers. It shows the count loses $7.3 million each week in numerous industries because of violations of minimum wage and workers’ compensation laws. The study is called “Unregulated Work in Chicago.”
Researchers say wage theft affects at least 145,000 people in Cook County in industries like retail employees, child care, and housekeeping.
If you or someone you love has been injured at your job, you may be entitled to compensation from your employer to help cover the costs of your losses. To learn more, contact the Raleigh workers’ compensation lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC at 919-851-3311.
Posted on April 2nd, 2010
A former bio-technical scientist for Pfizer was awarded $1.37 million after being infected by a virus while working at the company and being refused workers’ compensation.
The former Pfizer employee contracted a experimental virus in the company’s laboratories. After the drug manufacturer denied workers’ compensation claims filed by the employee, the case went to court.
An intentional tort claim was dismissed by the presiding judge, and the injured worker was forced to proceed under the theory that the company had violated whistleblower laws. The ex-sceintist also alleged, in the lawsuit, that The Occupational Safety and Health Administration failed to throughly investigate the matter and take action.
If you or someone you love has been injured at your job, you may be entitled to compensation from your employer to help cover the costs of your losses. To learn more, contact the Raleigh workers’ compensation lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC at 919-851-3311.
Posted on March 11th, 2010
A workers’ compensation bill spurred by a chimp attack on a police officer is moving to the Senate floor.
The bill, which passed the Public Safety and Security Committee on Thursday, stems for the highly publicized case of Frank Chiafar, a Stamford Police Officer who was forced to shoot a rampaging chimp last year. Chiafari claims he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder because of the incident, but his claim for workers’ compensation coverage was denied because he shot an animal and not a person.
The bill, if passed, would allow police officers to seek workers’ compensation coverage for stress after using deadly force on animals. Current law provides coverage only for officers who use deadly force on humans.
Committee members said they expect the bill to be amended in the Senate to tighten the language and ensure the provision cannot be abused.
In North Carolina our workers’ compensation program is based on the belief that employees should be able to receive full medical treatment for their injuries. If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, the Raleigh workers’ comp lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC can help. Please call our offices at 919-851-3311.
Posted on March 1st, 2010
Vermont Governor Jim Douglas said Monday that business owners in his state will soon be paying less for workers’ compensation insurance.
Insurance rates and premiums will change on April 1, marking the fourth consecutive year in which rates have decreased. The new rates were approved by the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration.
The new rates will vary from industry to industry. There were significant reductions in the ski industry; rates will go down by 13 percent. Dairy farms will also see substantially lower rates, almost a 19 percent decrease.
In North Carolina our workers’ compensation program is based on the belief that employees should be able to receive full medical treatment for their injuries. If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, the Raleigh workers’ comp lawyers of Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC can help. Please call our offices at 919-851-3311.
Posted on February 25th, 2010
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has lost a bid to deny workers compensation benefits to an employee who received a $900,000 award in a civil lawsuit.
Donald Greg Wells filed a lawsuit against Wal-Mart after suffering injuries from exposure to carbon monoxide while working in a freezer for the Wal-Mart Distribution Center. Wells was awarded benefits and Wal-Mart subrogation credit in the ruling, but the company appealed the decision. The company’s stance was that the hired contractors who renovated the freezer, Atlas and Unarco, were at fault.
Wells filed civil actions against Atlas and Uarco which resulted in $900,000 settlements.
Wal-Mart claimed that Wells should only be allowed to collect from the civil suits or a workers’ compensation claim, not both. The Administrative Law Judge presiding over the case stated that Kentucky law requires that an employee’s legal expenses be deducted from the employer’s or insurer’s portion of any recovery. Wells received $126,811 Wal-Mart subrogation credit.
If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, please contact a Raleigh workers’ compensation lawyer of Scudder & Hedrick by calling 919-851-3311.
Posted on February 19th, 2010
A police officer in Connecticut who survived a chimp attack last year has been denied workers’ compensation.
According to the Stamford Police Department, officer Frank Chiafari responded to a call last year about a loose chimpanzee. When Chiafari arrived at the scene the chimp, named Travis, charged at his vehicle, breaking the side view mirror off, and tried to pull the officer outside through the window.
Chiafari was forced to shoot the chimp four times before it finally backed down.
The police officer says he now suffers from nightmares, mood swings, and flashbacks.
Chiafari applied for workers’ compensation to help pay for treatment of the post traumatic stress disorder, but was denied. The state said it can only cover cases where an officer shoots a person, not an animal.
Chafari plans to testify next week in an attempt to change the law.
If you or someone you know has been injured on the job, please contact a Raleigh workers’ compensation lawyer of Scudder & Hedrick by calling 919-851-3311.
Posted on February 12th, 2010
The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has settled a workers’ compensation lawsuit against Sears, Roebuck & Co for $6,200,000.
In the lawsuit the EEOC claimed that Sears maintained an inflexible workers’ compensation leave exhaustion policy and opted to terminate employees instead of providing them with reasonable accommodations for their disabilities. The settlement is the largest in the EEOC’s history dealing with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The terms of the consent decree provide claim forms to certain Sears employees who had been terminated under the company’s old policy. The EEOC found that 235 employees were entitled to a share in the settlement. The average award per person was around $26,300.
Following court approval of the settlement, EEOC Acting Chairman Stuart Ishimaru said “It is a satisfying day indeed when victims finally receive compensation for the wrongful discrimination they have endured.”
If you or someone you know has been injured on the job contact a Raleigh workplace injury lawyer to help you obtain the full compensation you deserve. Please call a Raleigh workers’ compensation attorney of Scudder & Hedrick at 919-851-3311.
Posted on February 25th, 2009
President Obama had promised reform and change to Social Security while on the 2008 Presidential Campaign trail. With his first 30 days in office complete, it seems that his plans for Social Security are being stalled.
According to many reports, President Obama was looking to seek a bipartisan solution to improving the current flaws in the Social Security system. With the economy in its current recession, many democrats are urging Obama that now is not the time. Democrat lawmakers believe that to overhaul the system would require a massive political push that would use up too much political capital. They believe that it would be fiercely contested between Republicans and Democrats, and are urging reform in other areas like healthcare instead of Social Security.
It is unfortunate that Social Security can been seen as a political game, whenever many people rely on it to get by.
To speak with an experienced Raleigh Social Security attorney about your case, contact Scudder & Hedrick, PLLC at 919-851-3311.
