Court Not Likely to Favor Drug Users

• An Iowa court rules that an employee is not entitled to benefits, after testing positive for meth.
• An injured truck driver admitted to using methamphetamine, but said he wasn’t high when he was injured. The company denied the claim based on a urine test.
• The worker argued that the employer violated the drug testing laws for its expert report, including using urine instead of blood.
• The court agrees with earlier rulings that there is no mention of regulations for drug testing in the overhaul of the state’s workers’ comp statutes. However, legal experts warn employers should still follow drug testing protocols.
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Liberty Mutual Rebounds

• Liberty Gains in Q1 of 2024, turning things around.
• Liberty Mutual’s combined ratio was 95.8% in Q1, an improvement from last year’s 104.2%.
• The insurance carrier, a major writer of workers’ comp, went up in all six metrics, including revenues and pre-tax operating income.
• Underwriting gains continue with a 2.8 point improvement in the underwriting loss ratio to 62.1%.
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Idaho Court Finds in Favor of Spouse

• The Idaho Supreme Court rules that the spouse of a Walmart employee is entitled to death benefits.
• Jeffrey Jordan suffered a stroke after returning from work at Walmart. His wife filed a claim saying that his death was due to work related stress.
• The pandemic interfered with ability of Jordan’s spouse to timely respond to deadlines. Walmart tried to get the claim dismissed.
• The court rules rules the statute protects injured workers and their dependents, if they cannot advocate for themselves. The employer must also rebut evidence that shows the injury arose of out the course of employment.
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CT Costly Legislation Dies

• Businesses report that several worker’ comp bills that would have increased workers’ comp premiums have crashed and burned.
• One bill would have increased the neck cervical rating for permanent partial disability from 117 to 208.
• Another bill would have required additional notices pertaining to medications, dragging out the adjudication process.
• According to a Connecticut business group, workers’ comp premiums have declined continuously over the last 10 years.
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Workers’ Comp Carrier Expands Reach

• ICW Group has expanded its coverage into New York.
• Agents and brokers can now submit New York business effective July 1.
• The expansion is part of an overall growth strategy, executives say.
• ICW provides preventive risk management to companies nationwide.
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