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The firm of Jon L. Gelman is a specialty law office concentrating its practice in the litigation of catastrophic and serious injuries resulting from work-related exposures and traumatic events. Our clients are located throughout the United States. We
Recent Posts Tagged With 'workers compensation'
AIG Declines on Questionable Workers Compensation Reserves
A CNBC analyst has estimated that AIG's workers' compensation reserves may fall short this year contributing to an $11 Billion loss for the company. Shares of AIG were down 12% on the news of the possible deficiet. To read more about AIG and wo...
Proposed System in Oklahoma to Bifurcate Medical
Legislation has been proposed in Oklahoma to dismantle the present workers' compensation system and replace it with an administrative system designed to reduce costs and litigation. The medical component would removed entirely from the workers' comp...
Policy Holders at NJM Get Dividends
New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company announced that it is continuing its tradition, as it has done since 1918, of paying dividends to policyholders. "Workers' Compensation policies issued by NJM are receiving a Regular Dividend of ...
WC Attorney Liable for $359M+ in Legal Malpractice Claim
A NJ workers' compensation attorney who failed to pursue a medical malpractice claim and allowed it to be dismissed was held liable for legal malpractice. The client was injured when a physician punctured the workers' kidney while administering an ep...
California the Epicenter of Workers Compensation Faces Political Gloom
Workers’ Compensation reform was the central political theme that brought Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger into power. After dramatically deforming that system by reducing access and benefits, compounded by other economic woes, California ...
High Unemployment Rates & The Future of Workers Compensation
Soaring unemployment rates will continue to have a critical impact upon the nation's workers' compensation system. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics released numbers revealing that The unemployment rate rose from 9.8 to 10.2 percent in October. "In...
Compensating Adverse Flu Vaccine Reaction Victims
As the US flu vaccination program rolls out, the numbers are also growing for those who have reported adverse consequences from the H1N1 vaccine. The victims and their families are also lining up for benefits available in the workers’ compensation ...
Nebraska Adopts Workers Compensation Lump-Sum Settlements Without Court Review
The State of Nebraska has moved forward administratively and now permits the settlement of workers’ compensation claims without Court approval. The parties need only file a release with the Court. The injured workers must be represented by counsel ...
Are Driving Distractions Within the Course of the Employment?
The US Department of Transportation recently held a national summit on the issues arising from distracted driving. The facts presented were certainly convincing that distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents. Distr...
Bus Driver Assaulted by Gun Denied Benefits
A Pennsylvania Appeals Board has ruled that a bus driver who was assaulted by a passenger with gun did not suffer a compensable accident. The driver alleged that he suffered several medical conditions including: post-traumatic stress diso...
NY Opens 1 Year Window for 9/11 Claims
NY Governor David A. Patterson has signed into law a bill that permits otherwise time-barred claims against NY municipalities arising out of terrorist activities that occurred on September 11, 2001. The City of NY just released the 2009 Annual Report...
Medical Costs Soar in the US $55.4 Billion Workers’ Compensation Business
Medical costs continue to soar as a cost in Workers’ Compensation insurance costs nationally. Despite the nations economic downturn a recent report issued by the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) reveals that medical spending increased 3....
Industry Spokesperson Declares Need for a National Workers' Compensation Law
At an industry based conference in Florida, Terry Fleming, Risk and Management Society's vice president, spoke for the need of a national workers' compensation program with a foundation of a unified benefit structure. Fleming declared that the worker...
Major Insurance Companies Still In A Downward Spiral
Two major insurance carriers have shown continued losses. AIG and Travelers are both facing difficult situations economic issues..On Friday Moody's Investors Services downgraded two American International Group Inc. (AIG) lending united to near "junk...
Jury Awards $70,000 to Injured Employee For Discrimination & Retaliation
A corrections officer in Hudson County NJ was awarded $70,000 by a jury for violation of her workers' compensation rights and discrimination charges flowing from her accident at work. The employee, who had suffered an injury to her knee and subseque...
Injured Workers Assert Class Action Claiming Wal-Mart Violated RICO Act
Several injured Wal-Mart workers' have claimed that the company, in defending their workers' compensation claims, violated the Federal RICO Act. The employees of Wal-Mart have alleged that the company conspired with the insurance carrier and claims...
NJ Proposes Informal Process for Medical Bill Disputes
The number of disputes concerning the payment/reimbursement of medical bills have increased in workers’ compensation claims in New Jersey. The State has proposed converting the Informal Hearing procedure into a new Informal Process to hear such...
Hot Topics in Workers' Compensation 2009 Seminar
Wednesday, October 07, 20095:00 PM to 9:00 PMNew Jersey Law Center, New BrunswickThis seminar will provide practitioners with new strategies and techniques to handle workers' compensation cases in the changing economy.This fast-paced program features...
NJ Budgetary Chaos Opens Court Without Cases
NJ is the mist of budgetary chaos and it continues to escalate. NJ decided at the last moment to cancel yet another furlough for state employees at the last moment resulting in the inability to list cases for hearing before the NJ Division of Workers...
Massive Coalition Seeks National Workers' Compensation Health Reform
Workers' Compensation reform is being urged by a large national coalition. The group has launched a new website "www.protectingworkers.org and is seeking a direct and immediate change in the delivery of health benefits for injured workers."GOAL 6...
OMB Launches Updated Right To Know Website
OMB Watch launched a redesigned and expanded website for the Right-to-Know Network (RTK NET) at www.rtknet.org. The website serves as a source for information about environmental and public health threats and opportunities for public engagement w...
Homeland Security Takes Lead in Flu Pandemic Pointing to Compensation Programs
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) has emerged as the lead agency in directing a response to the potential swine flu pandemic. The agency is following a well defined plan published in September 2006 to respond to the threat in an effor...
The Compensability of a Swine Flu Pandemic
The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued an alert for the spread of human swine flu virus. Employers and employees will now need to be alerted to preparations and the reactions that may occur.In preparation for a Smallpox epidemic, the US ...
Settlement Barring Future Workers' Compensation Claims Void
The Idaho Supreme Court ruled that of a the resolution of a pending workers' compensation for a lump sum dollar value could not act as a bar to future claims. Wernecke v. St. Maries Joint School Dist. No. 401, --- P.3d ----, 2009 WL 982690 (Idaho...
Failures at OSHA Put Workers at Risk
A recently released report from the US Department of Labor reports that the past failures of OSHA under the Bush Administration placed workers at risk. The Labor Department's Office of Inspector General released a repot on March 31, 2009 indicating t...
Color X-Rays to Beam in on Asbestos Disease
A new radiography technique has been announced to diagnose asbestos related disease. Dr. Michael Harbut, co-director of the National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos-Related Cancers at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, Michigan...
Nationalizing Workers’ Compensation Medical Delivery
Recently the Obama Administration invited the medical insurance industry to the White House to discuss possible future scenarios on the delivery of health care. A planted floated at the meeting was one that President Obama advocated in h campaign. ...
Administration in California Requests Judges to Vacate Their Decision Against AMA Guides
California Administration officials have written to the California Appellate Judges and requested that they vacate their decision setting aside the AMA Guides. The letter, an unprecedented action, has not yet received a response from the Califor...
WR Grace Officials on Trial
The focus of litigation against WR Grace has now shifted to the civil courts in a trial against 5 former company officials for damages resulting from the death and harm caused its former workers. In Libby Montana, WR Grace mined asbestos (vemiculite)...
Medical Costs in Comp Higher Than Group Health
A report issued by NCCI concludes that medical costs in Workers' Compensation were higher in some instances than in Group Health Plans.The main findings were: For comparable injuries, when WC pays higher prices than GH for specific services, ...
