La. Ct: Worker Can't Bring Action on Doctor's Behalf

A doctor seeking payment -- and not the injured worker -- is the proper person to bring legal action, a Louisiana appeals court ruled. A workers' compensation judge found that Brenda Wallace was entitled to supplementary earnings benefits at a rate of $61.34 per week, a reduction from the previous temporary total disability payments of $217.33 per week that she was receiving since the injury. The 3rd District Louisiana Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal based on penalties and attorney fees in the case, because it determined the judge only ruled on the disability issue. On remand, the judg...