PA - Worker's Procedural, Constitutional Challenges to Act 111 Rejected by Court
09/08/2026 | 0
The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania rejects procedural challenge to Act 111, as well as repetitive challenges to the constitutionality of the state's new impairment rating evaluation process.
Sherri M. Connelly worked for Keystone Home Health Service. She suffered injuries at work in January 1994.
Keystone accepted liability for Connelly’s injuries. After paying 104 weeks of temporary total disability benefits, Keystone filed a request for Connelly to undergo an impairment rating evaluation in March 2023.
Dr. David Weiss conducted the IRE in May 2023 and opined Connelly had a 5
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The New Hampshire Insurance Department approved a filing by the National Council on Compensation Insurance that will reduce voluntary workers' compensation loss costs by an average of 2.9% in 2027.
The department also approved a recommendation to lower assigned risk rates by an average of 3.4%.
The department said this is the 15th consecutive rate cut, and loss costs have declined a cumulative 68% over the last 15 years.
Loss costs represent the portion of workers’ compensation rates associated with the expected cost of claims for work-related injuries.
Deputy Insurance Com
The Illinois Appellate Court ordered publication of its split decision finding that a worker did not exceed his allowable selection of two physicians to treat his compensable injury.
Case: Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Co. v. IWCC, No. 5-25-0964WC, released 08/13/2026, published 08/28/2026.
Facts: Brian McClanahan worked for Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Co. He reported an injury to his arm from pulling a dolly while working in June 2022.
McClanahan went on a previously scheduled vacation the two weeks following the alleged accident. He sought medical treatment when he returned.
A nurse prac
Jacksonville, FL – July 10, 2026 – PhysNet welcomes Michelle Despres, PT, EMBA as Chief Operating Officer, strengthening its leadership team as the company enters its next stage of national growth.
A licensed physical therapist and seasoned healthcare executive, Michelle brings a strong blend of clinical insight, operational leadership, and people-centered strategy. S
We have all had experience with primary treating physicians who operate a little bit on the lazy side with respect to their PR-2 reporting.
Oftentimes, this laziness takes the form of “cut-and-paste” reporting where it’s difficult to decipher what the details are from this latest visit, versus those of prior visits. Other times, there are no changes to the report at all other than a recommendation to refill prescription medications. But what about when the PR-2 report fails to address something significant, specifically work status and work restrictions?
Under Labor Cod
In a case of first impression, West Virginia’s Intermediate Court of Appeals ruled that exposure to the saliva of a potentially rabid animal is sufficient to establish an injury for workers’ compensation purposes.
Case: South Huntington Animal Hospital PLLC v. Sullivan, No. 26-ICA-69, South Huntington Animal Hospital PLLC v. Newman, No. 26-ICA-70, South Huntington Animal Hospital PLLC v. Fulks, No. 26-ICA-105, 08/27/2026, published.
Facts: Shayne Sullivan, Alisha Newman and Laura Fulks all worked for South Huntington Animal Hospital PLLC. They separately filed workers’ comp
The Kentucky Court of Appeals overturned a $22.5 million award of damages for a group of employees injured by the collapse of a concrete form during a road construction project against the engineers
Case: Scotty’s Contracting and Stone LLC v. Graves, No. 2024-CA-0287-MR, 08/28/2026, published.
Facts: In 2011, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet awarded a contract to Scotty’s Contracting and Stone LLC for a road construction project.
Scotty’s subcontracted with VanMeter Contracting Inc. to build retaining walls using large premanufactured forms.
VanMeter employees su
The Colorado Court of Appeals ruled that an independent contractor who suffered an on-the-job injury must have any recovery capped at $15,000.
Case: Williams v. Blanca Forestry Products Inc., No. 25CA1444, 08/27/2026, unpublished.
Facts: Norman Williams owns a welding and fabrication business as a sole proprietor.
Blanca Forestry Products Inc. hired Williams as an independent contractor to either build a new staircase outside of a sawmill or to repurpose a steel staircase located inside the sawmill and move it outside.
While onsite at the sawmill, Williams fell from the staircase and
A Louisiana appellate court upheld an award of benefits, fees and penalties for a worker injured in a ladder accident.
Case: Miranda v. Ryder Services Corp., No. 2025 CA 1291, 08/25/2026, published.
Facts: Lajoal Miranda worked for Ryder Truck Rental Inc. as a technician. He allegedly suffered injuries on April 22, 2024, when he lost his balance while standing on a ladder and braced himself with his right arm.
According to Miranda, the accident happened near the end of his shift, and he reported it to his supervisor a few minutes after it happened. Miranda left work at the end of his shift
The Illinois Appellate Court upheld a determination that an insurance carrier owed no coverage to an employer for a worker’s fatal accident at a construction site.
Case: Mt. Hawley Insurance Co. v. Stone Development Group Inc., No. 1-25-0465, 08/27/2027, unpublished.
Facts and procedural history: According to a complained filed by the estate of Ramiro Godinez, Godinez was an “invitee” on a construction site in Waukegan in September 2017.
He was allegedly directed to the third floor of the building to perform certain carpentry work. While he was unloading tools and material
The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania upheld the expansion of a worker’s claim to include complex regional pain syndrome, but not a lumbar spine condition.
Case: Prism Contractors Inc. v. Attwood (WCAB), No. 1484 C.D. 2024, 08/28/2026, unpublished.
Facts: Roger Attwood worked for Prism Contractors Inc. as a roofer and mason. He lost his footing while transitioning between roof pitches on a residential jobsite in March 2020.
Prism accepted liability for a left lower-leg strain/tear.
Over time, Attwood developed persistent symptoms including temperature asymmetry, skin color changes,
The Idaho Supreme Court said there was no evidence to support the Industrial Commission's finding that a worker's requested 34% permanent partial disability rating was "overinflated" or its decision to substitute a 20% rating instead.
Nellie M. Whiteley, a certified nurse assistant at Life Care Centers of America's Bridgeview Estates nursing facility, slipped on ice and fell in the parking lot in November.
Her treating physician performed three surgeries on her ankle, but she continued to experience pain.
In December 2021, she assumed her current role as ac
The board of directors for Oregon workers' compensation carrier SAIF declared a $50 million dividend for policyholders whose terms ended in 2025.
SAIF said in a statement this is its 17th consecutive dividend and the 29th dividend issued since 1990.
"This year's dividend was supported in part by favorable reserve development recognized in 2025, reflecting a continued decline in claim frequency, among other factors," the carrier said. "At the same time, SAIF considered ongoing pressures from rising medical costs, investment uncertainty, and future capital needs.&q
The Maryland Appellate Court ruled that a professional football player who has not physically completed any of his job duties in Maryland may still be a covered by the state comp system if he expected to be “regularly employed” within the state.
Curtis Brooks played as a defensive tackle for the University of Cincinnati football team until 2021. He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth of seven rounds of the 2022 National Football League draft.
He moved to the Tennessee Titans in January 2023, but was cut from the squad during preseason. Brooks then joined the Washi
The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that a worker’s challenge to a judge’s decision not to recuse herself was not immediately appealable.
Case: Lonjuin v. Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania (WCAB), No. 334 C.D. 2025, 08/25/2026, unpublished.
Facts: Donnette Lonjuin worked for the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania. She injured her left shoulder at work in January 2023.
Procedural history: A workers’ compensation judge granted Lonjuin indemnity and medical benefits related to the injury.
The university appealed, and the Workers’ Compensation
West Virginia’s Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld an award of benefits to a hospital employee for her injury from a fall as she was walking into her workplace.
Case: West Virginia United Health System Inc. v. Best, No. 26-ICA-63, 08/27/2026, published.
Facts: Tina Best worked for the West Virginia United Health System Inc. She filed a workers’ compensation claim asserting she had injured her left knee when she fell while walking into work at Potomac Valley Hospital in September 2025.
Best went to the emergency department, where she was diagnosed with an occupational injury to