State News : Delaware

NWCDN is a network of law firms dedicated to protecting employers in workers’ compensation claims.


NWCDN Members regularly post articles and summary judgements in workers’ compensations law in your state.  


Select a state from the dropdown menu below to scroll through the state specific archives for updates and opinions on various workers’ compensation laws in your state.


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Delaware

HECKLER & FRABIZZIO

  302-573-4806

Claimant was involved in a compensable 2003 work accident with an accepted L4-S1 fusion performed in 2005, by Dr. Eppley. Following the surgery, claimant was discharged by her surgeon and referred to pain management. Claimant remained in continuous pain management to the present, with narcotic medications, injections, and various other conservative care. In 2017, Claimant returned to Dr. Eppley, who recommended adding L2-4 to her original fusion, citing suspected adjacent segment disease. Claimant filed a Petition seeking approval of the surgery. Employer filed a Petition seeking to discontinue ongoing narcotic medications.

The Board found that the recommended surgery was not reasonable and necessary treatment, accepting the opinion of defense expert Dr. Fedder over Dr. Eppley. The Board noted that contrary to the rosy picture painted by Dr. Eppley in his deposition as to the outcome of the first surgery, the medical records showed “at best” this procedure caused 30% improvement in claimant’s subjective complaints only. The procedure did not allow claimant to return to work, or reduce her treatment, narcotic medications, and the like. To the contrary, pain management treatment increased and was uninterrupted for years following the surgery. The Board also noted that the proposed surgery would not fix claimant’s multiple unrelated comorbid conditions that significantly impacted her function, such as the need for bilateral knee replacements, rheumatoid arthritis, and morbid obesity. The Board further opined, based upon the testimony of defense expert Dr. Nathan Schwartz, that claimant’s narcotic medications should be discontinued due to lack of functional improvement.

Should you have any questions regarding this Decision, please contact Greg Skolnik, or any other attorney in our Workers’ Compensation Department.

Carmen Kelley v. First Student, IAB Hrg. No. 1238448 (Apr. 6, 2020).

302-573-4800 www.hfddel.com.