Can an injured worker receive workers’ compensation benefits while attending an alcohol treatment program? That question was first addressed in Massachusetts in Kevin MacDonnell’s Case, a 2012 decision by the Massachusetts Appeals Court. This was a case of “first impression,” meaning that the Massachusetts courts had not had an opportunity to examine and decide this… Read More
Doctors from Massachusetts General Hospital to Pay $4.5 Million in Malpractice Case
Two doctors from Massachusetts General Hospital have agreed to pay $4.5 million to the family of a woman who died after the doctors failed to take reasonable measures to prevent her death. Geraldine Moran, age 62, was cleaning around her house when she fell off of a ladder and broke several ribs. She was initially… Read More
CNS Injuries Are the Most Costly Type of Workers’ Compensation Claim
The National Safety Council (NSC) recently published its 2014 edition of Injury Facts, a publication detailing national and global safety statistics and trends. Injury Facts has been published for over ninety years. One of the more surprising statistics is that poisoning, including that from unintentional opioid-based prescription painkiller overdoses, was the leading cause of death in… Read More
More OSHA Oversight Needed After Combustible-Dust Explosions
In February 2008, an explosion and fire occurred at the Imperial Sugar refinery outside of Savannah, Georgia. The industrial accident caused a total of 14 deaths and 36 injuries, some of which were serious and even life-threatening. A subsequent investigation revealed that the accident was caused by the accumulation of combustible sugar dust throughout the building…. Read More
Jurisdiction in Workers’ Compensation Cases
In our increasingly mobile society, it is not uncommon for employees to need to travel out-of-state on work-related business. For example, a driver for a Massachusetts-based trucking company may travel to Connecticut or New York in order to deliver goods. Or a construction company headquartered in Boston may routinely bid on jobs in neighboring states… Read More
Illinois Doctor Sued for Negligence
Seven women from Freeport, Illinois sued Dr. Farouk Y. Khan and the Freeport Health Network (FHN) with which he was affiliated for medical negligence. The women ranged from 39 years to 66 years in age and claimed the doctor misdiagnosed them with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2011 and 2012. According to the lawsuit, Dr. Khan… Read More
Doctor’s Family Sues Hospital for Medical Malpractice
When one thinks about the typical plaintiff or injured party in a medical malpractice case, a doctor is not likely the image that comes to mind. Yet sometimes even a doctor becomes ill, and when they seek medical treatment, they too should expect their healthcare workers to provide reasonable and competent care. Thus, when 26-year-old… Read More
Train Accident in Chester Takes a Life
One person was killed on Saturday in a train accident near the town of Chester, Massachusetts. The Massachusetts State Police troopers were dispatched to the scene of the accident shortly after 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 29. The Massachusetts State Police are still investigating the cause of the collision. This comes on the heels of… Read More
Massachusetts Business Owner Charged with Workers Comp Fraud
A Lowell, Massachusetts business owner was recently indicted on charges in connection with a workers’ compensation fraud scheme. A recent blog post discussed the various types of workers’ compensation fraud as well as how the various types of fraudulent schemes impact workers and other employers. Kruy Kroch, owner of MK Environmental, Inc., is accused of… Read More
Ironworkers in Philadelphia Highlight Reality of Workplace Violence
Last month, ten ironworkers from Philadelphia’s Ironworkers Local 401 were indicted in federal court for engaging in acts of workplace violence in an attempt to protect union jobs. The ten ironworkers union members were charged with various conspiracy charges for what was described as a “campaign of sabotage and extortion” targeting contractors who chose to… Read More