Providers Bringing Civil Collections Claims under Theory of Assigned-Right, Defense Attorneys Say

Defense attorneys in Illinois say they're starting to see a disturbing trend developing: Medical providers are filing civil suits against employers, demanding payment for services they rendered to workers' comp patients who have already settled their comp claims.  The Illinois Workers' Compensation Act expressly prohibits workers from assigning their rights, but these providers are claiming that their patients have done just that. And at least some judges are allowing the providers to proceed with suits under this assignment theory, the attorneys report. "It makes no se...