Budget Bill Includes Last-Minute Amendment to Address Gardner Decision

Connecticut lawmakers on Monday adopted amendments to a budget bill to address a high court decision from March allowing judges to award temporary disability benefits after a worker reaches maximum medical improvement. The high court in Gardner v. Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services said the "clear and unambiguous language of Section 31-308(b) gives an administrative law judge the discretion to award a claimant, after he or she reaches maximum medical improvement, ongoing temporary partial incapacity benefits under Section 31-308(a) in lieu of permanent partial disability ...