Worker Who Lost Tip of Thumb Can't Get Statutory Award for Loss of Phalanx

The West Virginia Supreme Court ruled that a worker who lost the tip of his thumb was not entitled to the statutory 12% permanent partial disability award for the loss of a phalanx. Case: Waugh v. APG Polytech LLC, No. 21-0988, 09/14/2023, published. Facts: Bruce E. Waugh worked for APG Polytech LLC. He suffered a work-related crush injury to his right thumb while he was inspecting a device used to thread polymer materials. Dr. Bruce A. Guberman saw Waugh in May 2019 and noted that Waugh’s right thumb was 1 centimeter shorter than his left thumb. Guberman declined to give an imp...