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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Rates for Florida workers’ compensation to increase by 8.9 percent by 2012

According to Kevin McCarty, the Florida Insurance Commissioner, the insurance rates for workers’ compensation are slated to increase by 8.9 percent, and will do so beginning on January 1, 2012.  By giving his approval for the rise in rates, McCarty has simultaneously refused the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) rate request, stating that there was a flaw in the council’s methodology.  Equally, McCarty has denied another increase proposal by the NCCI regarding minimum premiums.  Should the NCCI wish to continue to pursue its request, it will need to re-file. …

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New report shows cost of workers’ compensation dropped during global economic crisis

In 2009, at the start of the global economic crisis, there was a decrease of 4.4 percent in the number of employees who had workers’ compensation coverage. According to a National Academy of Social Insurance report, this drop was the largest in twenty years. The result was that the cost to employers for providing the benefits decreased by 7.6 percent, reaching $73.9 billion that year; which is the most recent year with complete data. This drop closely mirrors the overall decline in employment in the country. According to the chair…

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Florida court rules that illegal immigrants are eligible for worker’s compensation benefits

The Florida First District Court of Appeals has released its ruling on the case of HDV Construction Systems v. Luis Aragon. The case stems from a worker’s compensation dispute levied against HDV construction by Luis Aragon. According to the suit, Aragon fell from a roof while working, suffering from serious injuries that prevented him from working during the extent of his recovery. Normally, such a dispute would have been settled without bringing the issue to court, but one issue makes this case court-worthy: Aragon is an undocumented immigrant. Aragon was…

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Workers’ compensation exposure on the rise with more mobile workers

A clear growth of workers’ compensation exposure is now causing alarm among employers and risk managers with the remarkable rise in the number of mobile workers. This was discussed in this year’s meeting of Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) held recently in Vancouver. In the said forum experts advised both employers and risk managers to formulate stable and concrete rules pertinent with workers’ use of any types of mobile devices at work. According to Maureen McCarthy, Liberty Mutual, manager of Workers’ Compensation and Managed Care it is a must…

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