Court Says Saif Doesn't Need to Pay Benefits for Worker who Died

By Sherri OkamotoLegal ReporterThe Oregon Court of Appeals on Wednesday let insurance carriers off the hook for the payment of benefits if the injured worker dies from causes unrelated to his injury while his claim is pending, without a surviving spouse or dependent. Sather v. Saif Corp. presented the first opportunity for the court to consider whether a worker's claim can proceed posthumously since the Legislature amended Oregon Revised Statute Section 656.218 in 2009. The Sather case was one of three workers' compensation matters decided by the Court of Appeals on Wednesday. The...