Employer's Investigation Justified Late Payments, Court Concludes

An injured worker is not entitled to penalties for late payment of benefits because the employer showed that it had good reason to still investigate the claim, the Iowa Court of Appeals concluded. Case: Podgorniak v. Asplundh Tree Expert Company, No. 2-943, 1/24/13, published. Facts: John Podgorniak injured his left shoulder, neck and head while working for Asplundh Tree Expert Co. He filed several workers' compensation petitions, and a commissioner awarded alternate medical care and payment of "running healing period benefits."Asplundh referred Podgorniak to several physicians, who stated...