State News : Texas

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.


Contact information for NWCDN members is also located on the state specific links in the event you have additional questions or your company is seeking a workers’ compensation lawyer in your state.


Texas

STONE LOUGHLIN & SWANSON, LLP

  512-343-1385

Earlier this month, we at SLS experienced a first in appellate jurisprudence when our own Robert Greenlaw was tasked with responding to an appeal in which the claimant requested the Division Appeals Panel reverse a CCH Decision in his favor on issues of extent of injury, MMI, impairment rating and disability.  Yes, you read that correctly – despite the fact that the Carrier had accepted all conditions previously in dispute, and the fact that the designated doctor and post-DD RME doctor agreed (as did the Carrier) that the claimant reached MMI on the statutory date, rather than an earlier clinical date – the claimant insisted on a CCH.  Not surprisingly – at least to the Carrier – the ALJ found that all of the claimed conditions were compensable, pushed the MMI date out to the latest dated allowable by law, assigned the impairment rating agreed upon by both the designated doctor and the RME doctor, and awarded almost 10 months of disability.  

Incredibly, for reasons known only to the Claimant, he asked the Appeals Panel to reverse that decision.  As Mr. Greenlaw pointed out in his response to this novel appeal, the claimant expended extraordinary efforts throughout the life of his claim in complaints about his adjusters, doctors, ombudsmen and, of course, the Carrier’s attorney.   While the Carrier did not appeal the D&O, Rob found himself agreeing with the claimant on appeal and joining in his request that the Appeals Panel reverse the CCH D&O in his favor on all of the issues. 
 


 

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