News

SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE UPDATES Maryland Legislative Update Attorney’s fees now allows payment of counsel fees (Claimant counsel) in exceptional circumstances when there is no compensation due to the Claimant in a WCC Award. This existing COMAR regulation was modified, effective 4/3/23 in answer to the WCC’s recent concerns that counsel for claimants were not regularly representing… read more

SIGNIFICANT CASE SUMMARIES Washington, DC Case Summary Schwechter v. DC. Dept. of Empl. Svcs. District of Columbia Court of Appeals No. 22-AA-007 Decided: January 5, 2023 D.C. Code § 32-1508(8), which deems settlements as final binding dispositions, does not permit modifying WCA lump-sum settlements. Background Claimant was injured while riding a bicycle during a work… read more

SIGNIFICANT CASE SUMMARIES Virginia Case Summary Tyreese Haynes v. Food Lion #1451 Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission VA00001526899 Decided March 14, 2023 A CRPS diagnosis was upheld as compensable even without objective symptoms. Background Claimant sustained an injury when a 300 pound pallet jack crushed his right foot. After years of treatment and “odd neuralgia like… read more

SIGNIFICANT CASE SUMMARIES Washington, DC Case Summary Hughes-Turner v. Supercuts, Inc. DC Compensation Review Board CRB no. 20-025(R) February 3, 2023 The plain meaning of D.C. Code § 32-1505(b), which caps TTD and PPD benefits at 500 weeks, unambiguously applies in aggregate to both TTD and Non-Schedule PPD benefits. Background Claimant was paid 117.5 weeks… read more

SIGNIFICANT CASE SUMMARIES Virginia Case Summary Kegley v. Hot-Rock Haulers, LLC Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission VA02000037886 Decided January 25, 2023 A truck driver was not in the course and scope of employment when he was assaulted by other drivers in a road rage incident. Background Claimant drove a tractor trailer, which had a large blind… read more