Napier Ruling Could Mean More Claims, Higher Rates, Attorneys Say

Coal miners and other workers are now more likely to file hearing-loss claims after a Kentucky court struck down part of the state's workers' compensation law, said attorneys who have studied the case. Tim Feld "My fear is that as soon as someone retires, they'll claim hearing loss that may or may not be related to a work injury," said Timothy Feld of Lexington, who represented a Kentucky coal company in the case. "It scares insurance carriers and employers." In Napier v. Enterprise Mining Co., the Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled March 23 that sta...