CLEARING THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFIT HIGHWAY OF MEDICAL EXPENSE LAND MINES 
Medical expenses in contested workers’ compensation cases are now a significant and troublesome issue resulting in uncertainty, delay and potential future liability. The recent NJ Supreme Court decision, University of Mass. Memorial Hospital v. Christodoulou, 180 N.J. 334 (2004) has left the question of how to adjudicate medical benefits that were conditionally paid or paid in error. Presently there is no exclusively defined procedure to determine the allocation, apportionment of primary responsibility for unauthorized medical expenses and reimbursement. By John H. Geaney and Jon L. Gelman

FEDERAL LAWSUIT ALLEGES ABUSE OF MEDICARE SYSTEM BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA & SEEKS TO RECOVER $20 MILLION IN DAMAGES
Plaintiff claims cost-shifting of workers compensation obligations to Medicare created "work comp reform bubble" that is about to burst  

On February 22, 2006, a jury of Rhode Islanders delivered a decisive verdict in a
case that had been the source of significant political, social, and economic debate
since it was filed in 1999. On that day, a jury of six, who had devoted more than
four months of their lives hearing evidence in the longest civil jury trial in Rhode
Island's history,

RICO CLAIMS RESULTS IN AWARD OF $2.2 MILLION AGAINST INJURED WORKERS
Federal RICO action arising from WC claims results in $2,264,690. Award Against Workers
"The Complaint alleges that the defendants committed violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, 18 U.S.C. 1962, violations of the New Jersey State Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:41-2, violations of N.J.S.A. 34:15-57.4(b) (workers’ compensation fraud), common law fraud and conspiracy in connection with the filing and prosecution of fraudulent workers’ compensation petitions against Plaintiff...'
Bath Unlimited, Inc. v Ginarte O'Dwyer, et al., Case 2:04-cv-03919-SRC-RJH Filed 3.14.07 Civ Ac No 04-3919 (SRC) (USDCT NJ 2007)

 The Mercer County Bar Association will be sponsoring a seminar on workers' compensation at two locations this spring.Samuel Gaylord and Michael R. Paglione will join Jon Gelman for a seminar for workers' compensation attorneys.

STATE PREMIUM RANKINGS ANNOUNCED 
1. Alaska 
2. California 
6. Florida (down from 3) 
10. New York (up from 18) 
23 New Jersey (up from 29) 
51. North Dakota 
Source: State of Oregon 

 STATE PREMIUM RANKINGS ANNOUNCED  1. Alaska  2. California  6. Florida (down from 3)  10. New York (up from 18)  2...

Bankruptcy Court Approves Owens Corning’s Plan of Reorganization. Toledo, Ohio – September 26, 2006 – Owens Corning (OWENQ.OB) today announced
that Judge Judith Fitzgerald of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of
Delaware approved the company’s Plan of Reorganization. The Bankruptcy Court’s
approval of the plan paves the way for Owens Corning to emerge from bankruptcy by
the end of October 2006.

 City of Akron Sues Lead Manufacturers for Public Nuisance Caused by Lead Pigment  WAYNE, NJ., (October 4, 2006) - Jon Gelman, a prominent attorney representing plaintiffs in toxic exposure claims and Motley Rice LLC, one of the nation's largest plaintiffs' litigation firms, continues to pressure the lead pigment industry to remedy the health crisis caused by lead pigments contained in paints that they manufactured and distributed

NEW MEDICARE RECOVERY PROCEEDURE – Medicare Secondary Payer. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is consolidating all of the functions and workloads related to Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) post-payment recoveries into one MSP recovery contract. The contract for the new national MSP Recovery Contractor (MSPRC) will be implemented on October 2, 2006. 

Suits Filed on Behalf of Several Ohio Cities Allege Lead Manufacturers Created a Public Nuisance.  Jon L. Gelman, a prominent attorney representing plaintiffs as a result of toxic exposures, along with Motley Rice LLC, one of the nation's largest plaintiffs' litigation firms, today announced that it has filed two lawsuits against members of the lead paint industry on behalf East Cleveland, Ohio and Toledo, Ohio. The suits allege that lead pigment manufacturers, including Atlantic Ritchfield, Sherwin Williams, Millennium Holdings, DuPont, ConAgra, and others, helped to create an environmental hazard and significant public health crisis in the state of Ohio by manufacturing, distributing and promoting lead-based paint products long after they were aware of the significant health dangers associated with these products. 

PUTTING "FAULT" BACK INTO WORKERS' COMPENSATION. A bill has been introduced into the NJ Legislature in an attempt to legislatively reverse the recent NJ Supreme Court ruling in Tlumac v. High Bridge Stone which reaffirmed the long standing rule that intoxication must be the "sole cause" of an accident in order to deprive an employee of workers' compensation benefits. The proposed legislation, S2166, amends the workers' compensation law to provide that it in employee was intoxicated when the injury or death occurred, it is presumed that the injury or death was caused by the intoxication and the employee will be barred from receiving workers' compensation.

 Questions and Answers for Part D and Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-aside Arrangements. This memorandum supersedes the Part D and Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-aside Arrangements (WCMSA) memorandum that was published on December 30, 2005. It includes policy regarding the inclusion of future prescription drug treatment costs/expenses in WCMSAs. 

The proposed legislation is both conceptually flawed and substantively contrary to legislative intent of the workers’ compensation system established throughout the United States. The enactment of this legislation will strip injured workers of benefits that they have been entitled to since 1911.

 NJ GOVERNOR CLOSES WORKERS' COMPENSATION COURTS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO STATE BUDGETARY CRISIS Governor Jon S. Corzine today signed an Exec...

NJ WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS DECLINE
The NJ DWC reported a 5% decline in the filing of claims in 2005 (37,248) from 2004 (39,212). The statistic also represents a 31% decline from 1992 (54,164). This is consistent with the 25% decline in the number of indemnity claims paid in NJ from from 1992 to 2002 as reported by NJ CRIB. NJ Medical costs have soared 108% during the same period of time while indemnity has risen only 48%..

This unique program featured a panel including some of the most respected workers’ compensation attorneys in the state. They will review and explain procedures and techniques for successful motion practice.

 The NJ Institute for Continuing Legal Education recently presented the 3rd Annual seminar on hot topics and issues in workers' compensation law. A panel of State and national experts addressed important issues that have been identified over the last year.

 CMS RASIES THRESHOLD to $25,000 FOR REVIEW CMS' April 25, 2006 Memorandum regarding WCMSAs and Revision of the Low Dollar Threshold for Medicar...

3rd ANNUAL THIS YEAR IN WORKERS' COMPENSATION: Top Issues & Cases. May. 10, 2006 4p-8p, Pines Manor, Edison, NJ.