New legislation will affect return-to-work procedures following an industrial injury or occupational disease. Once an industrial insurance claim is allowed, the State of Washington will now provide an incentive to employers to return the worker to work as quickly as possible to a light duty or transitional job. The State can reimburse employers up to 50% of the wages paid […]
Read MoreThe Social Security Administration, in an effort to cut it’s costs, has again taken away significant rights of disabled persons applying for Social Security Disability benefits. Just a few months ago, the Administration enacted Social Security Rule 11-1p. Which says that if a Social Security Claimant has an application on appeal, they may not file a new application until they […]
Read MoreThe Washington State Senate passed landmark state workers compensation reform legislation on March 5, 2011. It was embodied in SB 5566. The Senate-approved measure would drastically change Washington State’s workers’ compensation system by establishing an option for lump-sum settlements for claimants who are looking at long-term disability (pension benefits). Under the Senate version of the SB 5566, any worker who […]
Read MoreSplattstoesser v. Scott, P.3d, 2011 WL 91040 (Div. III, 2011) Those persons injured in an automobile crash in Washington have yet one more reason to be concerned, with a recent opinion that is being published by Division III of the Court of Appeals, Splattstoesser v. Scott, P.3d, 2011 WL 91040 (Div. III, 2011).¹ In this case, Ms. Splattstoesser was injured […]
Read MoreIn November of 2009, the Washington State Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding Tobin v. Dep’t of Labor & Indus., 145 Wn. App. 607; 187 P.3d 780; 2008 Wash. App. Jim Tobin, a Washington State worker, was permanently disabled after being hit by a crane boom. He sued the crane operator, settling for 1.4 million in damages. The majority of […]
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