Several years ago, we discussed the decision in Weney v. Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (Mac Sprinkler Systems, Inc.), wherein the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania precluded an injured worker from amending a description of injury, because the injured worker had previously filed a Petition to Review and did not address that…
As we have previously noted, undocumented workers in Pennsylvania are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, but such benefits can be stopped when the injured worker is no longer totally disabled. What a workers’ comp insurance carrier must prove to stop benefits in this situation was examined recently in the matter…
Last month, we mentioned that the Northeast Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Hearing Office was now closed, forcing all residents of Philadelphia to have their cases heard in Center City Philadelphia. This change forced the Workers’ Compensation Judges (WCJs) at this location, and their staffs, to relocate as well. Though we cannot…
When an injured worker in Pennsylvania goes back to modified duty work, and then loses that job through no fault of his own, typically the injured worker is entitled to a reinstatement of benefits, back to total disability benefits. Of course, as always, there are exceptions to the rule. One…
Once an injured worker in Pennsylvania establishes that he or she is disabled from work, due to the work injury, typically the workers’ compensation benefits continue (at the “temporary total disability” rate) until either the injured worker goes back to work, fully recovers, settles the case, or, loses litigation which…
Though we handle PA workers’ comp cases primarily in Southeastern and Central Pennsylvania, we still like to keep a watch on the entire PA workers’ compensation system. It was in this regard that we learned Workers’ Compensation Judge Nathan Cohen, who presided in Pittsburgh, retired from the bench yesterday. We…
Not long ago, we discussed our belief that the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce and PA workers’ comp insurance industry will soon be gearing up to have legislation introduced to curtail the rights of injured workers in PA. As we mentioned, the Utilization Review (UR) process is squarely on their radar…
A few months ago, we learned that the Northeast Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Hearing Office would be closing shortly. We were advised that all hearings for Philadelphia would then be held at the Center City Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Hearing Office located at 110 North 8th Street. Today, I had a hearing…
Too often in representing injured workers in Pennsylvania, we see lives deeply impacted by severe spinal cord injuries causing paraplegia. For this reason, we are extremely excited by the research being done in this area. A new study was published in the November 2012 issue of the American Journal of…
Granted, the decision is not from a Court in Pennsylvania, but, instead, one in Australia. At the same time though, a Court finding that a worker injured while having sex is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, is one which cries out to be explored. And, the result is not as…