Split Court Says Estate Can't Get Worker's Loss-of-Use Benefits After Her Death

A divided Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that the employer of a worker who died of her compensable injuries without any heirs was liable only for the payment of her reasonable funeral expenses to her estate. Case: Steets v. Celebration Fireworks Inc. (WCAB), No. 512 C.D. 2022, 05/08/2023, published. Facts and procedural history: Kristina Steets worked for Celebration Fireworks Inc. She suffered injuries in an explosion at work in June 2017. Steets filed petitions seeking to define the nature and extent of her injuries. A workers’ compensation judge determined that Steets&rs...