Lump-Sum Retirement Benefits Can't Be Offset from Comp Award

The Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, in a case of first impression, ruled that an employer could not take an offset from an award of benefits to an injured worker based on the amount of retirement benefits the worker received as a lump-sum upon his retirement five years prior.  Case:  Baltimore County, Maryland v. Thiergartner, No. 2053, 03/26/2014, published.Facts: Carroll Thiergartner served Baltimore County as a firefighter for 33 years. During the course of his employment, Thiergartner participated in the county's Deferred Retirement Option Program.During his career, Thi...