MD - Court Publishes Decision Finding Out-of-State NFL Player Can Pursue Comp Claim
09/03/2026 | 0
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
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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Case: Lonjuin v. Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania (WCAB), No. 334 C.D. 2025, 08/25/2026, unpublished.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
A New York appellate court upheld the denial of a worker’s request for reconsideration or full board review of the denial of his claim for a shoulder injury.
Case: Matter of Langworthy v. C. Mckenna Property Management LLC, No. CV-25-1288, 08/27/2026, published.
Facts and procedural history: Lonnie Langworthy worked for C. Mckenna Property Management LLC. He filed a workers’ compensation claim alleging he had injured his left shoulder in a fall at work.
A workers’ compensation judge denied the claim and the Workers' Compensation Board affirmed.
Langworthy then applied
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
The New York State Workers' Compensation Board is moving forward with an overhaul of medical fee schedules that haven't been revised in more than six years.
While the pending updates will not include adjustments for inflation or cost-of-living increases, the board said in a notice published Wednesday in the New York State Register that it would take a broader look at fee structures as part its plans to update fee schedules more frequently in the future.
The board in January proposed updates to the Official New York Workers' Compensation Medical Fee Schedule; the Official New York
The classification code for storage warehouse work remains one of the most frequently reclassified codes, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance.
NCCI reported code 8292 — "storage warehouse NOC" — returned to the top position on its list of the Top 10 reclassified codes in 2025 after ranking second last year. The most frequently assigned replacement code is 8018 — "store-wholesale-NOC."
Inspection data indicates operations that initially appear to be storage companies often support a broader mercantile business. Work being performed
The Connecticut Appellate Court upheld the denial of a certified nursing assistant’s claims, as her alleged injuries did not constitute an occupational disease and were therefore time-barred.
Case: Callahan v. iCare Health Management LLC, No. AC 48286, 08/25/2026, published.
Facts and procedural history: Tachica Callahan worked for iCare Health Management LLC as a certified nursing assistant. She suffered injuries at work in June 2017 from a “lifting incident.”
Callahan filed a workers’ compensation claim in October 2017, which was settled in November 2019.
Between
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The Virginia Court of Appeals ruled that a worker was entitled to repair of his leg prosthesis that was damaged in an on-the-job accident, but he was not entitled to a replacement.
Case: Hill v. Regal Entertainment, No. 0962-25-4, 08/25/2026, unpublished.
Facts: Brien Hill worked at a movie theater for Regal Entertainment. He slipped at work in June 2023 and his leg prosthesis struck a rack, causing damage.
Hill left work two hours early that day, but he did not otherwise miss any time from work.
He later went to see Dr. Marc Chodos who completed a referral for the repair of his pros
West Virginia’s Intermediate Court of Appeals partially overturned the denial of a worker’s requests to expand his claim to include additional conditions and for referrals to a cardiologist, gastroenterologist and vascular surgeon.
Case: O’Neal v. Eastern Materials LLC, No. 25-ICA-499, 08/27/2026, published.
Facts: Ronnie O’Neal worked for Eastern Materials LLC. He was hospitalized with a left diabetic foot infection in May 2024 after reporting that he stepped on a piece of metal at work about three weeks prior, which punctured his foot.
His claim was accepted a
A New York appellate court upheld a decision to vacate a Labor Law defendant’s default and the denial of summary judgment against the co-defendant.
Case: Hernandez-Torres v. RJR Realty Associates LLC, Nos. 2024-11005 and 2025-02037, 08/26/2026, published.
Facts and procedural history: Jose Hernandez-Torres allegedly suffered injuries while working on a construction project in August 2021.
He filed suit against RJR Realty Associates LLC and the Cofire Asphalt Corp., asserting claims for violations of the Labor Law,
Hernandez-Torres later moved for leave to enter a default judgment aga
The National Council on Compensation Insurance on Tuesday announced that Chief External Relations Officer Mark Mileusnic plans to retire in the first quarter of 2027.
NCCI said Mileusnic's focus on building strong partnerships and developing high-performing teams has left a lasting impact on both NCCI and the broader industry.
He has played a central role in strengthening relationships with carriers, regulators and industry stakeholders, NCCI said.
"Throughout his tenure, he has been instrumental in advancing customer operations, enhancing engagement across the industry, and re
A federal appellate court upheld a black lung benefits award, finding a coal miner's employment caused legal pneumoconiosis that substantially contributed to his being totally disabled.
Richard Estudillo worked as an electrician in underground coal mines from 1973 until 1985.
He first experienced breathing problems in 1985 and a doctor diagnosed him with a 25% pulmonary impairment.
Estudillo filed a claim for black lung benefits in 2020.
An administrative law judge determined Estudillo had legal pneumoconiosis rather than clinical pneumoconiosis because his chest X-ray evidence did not
A Texas appellate court upheld the dismissal of a worker’s challenge to the calculation of his temporary income benefit rate as moot.
Case: Davis v. American Casualty Co. of Reading PA, No. 07-26-00005-CV, 08/26/2026, published.
Facts and procedural history: Donald Davis suffered an on-the-job injury in 2003 for which he received workers’ compensation benefits from the American Casualty Co. of Reading PA.
In 2008, Davis disputed the amount of his temporary income benefits, asserting that ACC had underpaid him. He initiated administrative proceedings to resolve the issue at the T
A New York appellate court ruled declined to dismiss a malpractice suit alleging a law firm mishandled a workers’ compensation claim.
Case: Puccio v. Hoffman, Wachtell & Rao LLP, No. 2025-00992, 08/26/2026, published.
Facts and procedural history: The law firm of Hoffman, Wachtell & Rao LLP represented Anthony Puccio in a workers’ compensation matter. Puccio later sued the firm for malpractice.
The firm moved for dismissal based upon documentary evidence.
Westchester County Supreme Court Justice Janet C. Malone denied the motion.
Analysis: The Appellate Division’