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Workers' Compensation

Woman’s Lawsuit Says She Was Fired Over Comp Claim

A former employee of an Illinois automobile dealership has filed a lawsuit alleging she was fired after she considered filing a workers' compensation claim for carpel tunnel syndrome. Chelsea Marinacci contends she was fired after telling her superiors at Tri Ford in Highland, Illinois, about her diagnosis and that she may have to file for benefits, according to an Illinois…
Etzler Lawhead Legal Group, PC
August 13, 2019
Workers' Compensation

Injured workers more likely to die from suicide, drug overdose: Study

Occupational injuries have been linked to a higher occurrence of drug-related deaths and suicide, according to data posted Thursday by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The study, published in July’s American Journal of Industrial Medicine, examined New Mexico’s workers compensation data for 100,806 workers injured from 1994 to 2000 and Social Security Administration earnings and mortality data…
Etzler Lawhead Legal Group, PC
August 12, 2019
Personal InjuryWorkers' Compensation

Lakeside Roofing worker alleges he was fired due to national origin, disability

An employee of a roofing company alleges he was terminated from the job for requesting workers' compensation benefits, alleging discrimination because of his disability and because he is of Mexican origin. Homero Serrano-Cardenas filed suit in Madison County Circuit Court against his former employer, Collinsville-based Lakeside Roofing, accusing the company of violating rules around workers' compensation as well as provisions…
Etzler Lawhead Legal Group, PC
August 12, 2019
Workers' Compensation

Injured workers using opioids may struggle to find willing doctors

Individuals using opioids have difficulty finding a physician willing to take them on as a patient, and workers comp patients likely face similar barriers to care, experts say. A University of Michigan study released in mid-July found that 40% of individuals taking an opioid for chronic pain were rejected as potential patients in group health. Opioid-using patients in the workers…
Etzler Lawhead Legal Group, PC
August 6, 2019
Workers' Compensation

Fewer Injured Workers Receiving Opioids Under Workers’ Compensation But States Vary

Fewer injured workers are receiving opioids to treat pain than in previous years, as medical providers are turning more to non-opioid medications and physical therapies. A new study of injured worker claims from 27 states by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) finds that both treatments using non-opioid pain medications such as NSAIDs and non-pharmacologic treatments such as physical therapy…
Etzler Lawhead Legal Group, PC
August 5, 2019
Personal Injury

Indiana Fines ArcelorMittal $14K After Worker Dies in Train Accident

ArcelorMittal has been fined $14,000 after a steelworker died in an April train accident at the company’s Indiana Harbor steel mill in northwestern Indiana. The (Northwest Indiana) Times reports the Indiana Department of Labor Occupational Health and Safety Administration found two serious safety violations at the East Chicago mill, including failing to “establish and maintain conditions of work which were…
Etzler Lawhead Legal Group, PC
July 30, 2019
Workers' Compensation

Split appeals panel: Worker waited too long to sue contractor that installed switch for machine that injured his hand

A divided Illinois appeals court has ruled a man injured in a Chicago area workplace accident dawdled too long before suing the contractor who installed allegedly faulty machinery. However, the dissenting justice said the majority "penalized" the worker by unreasonably expecting him to have immediately known the contractor had done the installation. The July 16 ruling was written by Justice…
Etzler Lawhead Legal Group, PC
July 29, 2019
Workers' Compensation

Man alleges lawyer mishandled his workers’ compensation claim

A client is suing his lawyer, alleging the defendant failed to properly represent him in a workers' compensation claim. Peter Medor filed a complaint July 15 in Cook County Circuit Court against The Deratany Firm LLC and Greg Olmstead, alleging legal malpractice. According to the complaint, Medor entered into an agreement with Olmstead on Feb. 15, 2013, for legal representation…
Etzler Lawhead Legal Group, PC
July 29, 2019

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