Reform Bill Triggers Avalanche of New Petitions for Benefits

Claimants’ attorneys flooded the Iowa Division of Workers’ Compensation with an “extraordinary number” of filings of original notices and petitions after a bill that would cut benefits was filed in the state legislature last month,  the agency says. From March 1-13, there were 854 new filings, compared to an average of 400 per month, said Assistant Commissioner Janna Martin, the agency's No. 2 official. “The effect of this is going to continue now that all the petitions are going to have to have answers filed, and there’s going to be diff...