California brain injury case results in largest workers’ compensation settlement in state history

The largest known settlement in California workers’ compensation insurance has just been secured by attorney Christopher Asvar, totaling $8.9 million for his client who suffered a traumatic brain injury while in the workplace. According to well-known specialist in structured settlements, Steve Chapman, who was involved in the case, “This settlement is the highest anyone is aware of for a California workers’ compensation award”. Asvar is a specialist in the area of brain injury litigation, both civil and workplace, and was substituted into this case three years ago. The client in…

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Construction subcontractors in California applaud announcement by insurance commissioner Jones

California insurance commissioner Dave Jones has made an announcement regarding the 57 felony charges that were laid against a business owner in Millbrae, including workers’ compensation insurance fraud and payroll theft. The California Professional Association of Specialty Contractors (CALPASC) has worked along with the Painting and Decorating Contractors of California (PDCC) and other allied associations, as an element of the LEVEL Program, in order to assist state agencies in the targeting and identification of deceitful construction industry employers who are scamming the state and costing Californians millions of dollars, as…

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Employers in California pay slightly more into premiums for workers’ compensation insurance

According to Dave Jones, the California insurance commissioner, the top 100 companies in the state, which make up 96.7 percent of its market, have increased the rates that they have filed by an 2.8 percent average so far this year. The average increase will impact the majority of businesses that are legally required to purchase plans that pay for an injured employee’s medical expenses when the injury occurred while on the job, and that offers compensation for work related disabilities both temporary and permanent. The majority of the policies held…

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New task force launched in California to fight against insurance fraud and an underground economy

The California Department of Insurance has announced that it will be joining the Department of Industrial Relations to fight against the state’s emerging underground economy. The two agencies have formed the Labor Enforcement Task Force in order to crack down on the violations against the state’s insurance and labor regulations that are rampant in this offshoot economy. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones notes that this economy is mostly comprised of businesses who hire employees that are not fit for certain types of work. These businesses often fabricate documents concerning their employees…

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A.M. Best report highlights the problems facing the nation’s workers’ compensation insurance market

The U.S. workers’ compensation insurance market is in dire straits according to a new report from A.M. Best, an international rating agency. Agency analysts have been examining the effects of competition, rate decreases, economic turmoil and other factors throughout 2010 and have concluded that the market faces challenges times in the coming years. The report highlights the continuation of these trends for some time, but analysts note that the market may see modest growth for the first time since 2005 this year. The problems facing the workers’ compensation sector mirror…

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