News & Insights

Practice Area: Workers’ Compensation

Order To Conduct Telephonic Benefit Review Conferences Extended Until July 29, 2021

On March 18, 2020, pursuant to §§ 12-2-30(b)(8) and 25-5-12, Ala. Code 1975, on March 18, 2020, Chief Justice Tom Parker issued “Administrative Order Concerning Workers’ Compensation Cases During the Period of Suspension of In-Person Proceedings”, authorizing circuit judges to conduct workers’ compensation settlement hearings telephonically or by videoconferencing.  This Order also authorized the use…
Read More

Alabama Supreme Court Extends Orders Pertaining To Workers’ Compensation Cases And Remote Testimony

On March 18, 2020, pursuant to §§ 12-2-30(b)(8) and 25-5-12, Ala. Code 1975, Chief Justice Tom Parker issued “Administrative Order Concerning Workers’ Compensation Cases During the Period of Suspension of In-Person Proceedings, authorizing circuit judges to conduct workers’ compensation settlement hearings telephonically or by videoconferencing.  This Order also authorized the use of the Alabama Department…
Read More

Physician Referrals And Panels Of Four

In Ex parte Kohler Company, Inc., 29 ALW 4-4 (2190081); 1/17/2020, the Employer, Kohler Company, Inc., (“Kohler Company”) petitioned the Alabama Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus directing the trial court to vacate its Order denying Kohler’s Motion to Vacate the Order granting the employee’s motion to provide a second opinion doctor.  The Alabama…
Read More

Alabama Supreme Court Authorizes Workers’ Compensation Settlement Approval Hearings Via Telephonic And Video Conferences

On March 18, 2020, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alabama Supreme Court entered its “Administrative Order Concerning Workers’ Compensation Cases During the Suspension of In-Person Proceedings”.  The Administrative Order allows circuit court judges and Ombudsmen of the Alabama Department of Labor to approve any worker’s compensation settlement via telephonic or video conferencing….
Read More

Alabama Department Of Labor Increases Maximum And Minimum Worker’s Compensation Rates

On May 6, 2020, the Alabama Secretary of Labor, Fitzgerald Washington, determined, pursuant to Alabama Code Section 25-5-68(c), that the State of Alabama’s average weekly wage for 2019 was $920.07. Based on this determination, Steve Garrett, Director of the Alabama Department of Labor Workers’ Compensation Division, issued a memorandum on May 11, 2020 stating the…
Read More

Alabama Court Of Civil Appeals Finds Employer Failed To Prove Employee Returned To Work Making The Same Or Greater Average Weekly Wage And The Return To Work Statute Did Not Apply

On October 4, 2019, the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals released AMEC Foster Wheeler Kamtech, Inc. v. Chandler, — So. 3d –, 2019 WL 4894327 (Ala. Civ. App. 2019), which found the employer, Defendant AMEC Foster Wheeler Kamtech, Inc., failed to prove the employee, Plaintiff Jimmy Chandler, returned to work making the same or greater…
Read More

Exclusivity Provisions Of The Workers’ Compensation Act Do Not Bar Claims Of Negligence And Wantonnes Against The Employer For Conduct Occuring After The Workplace Injury

In Ex parte Burkes Mechanical, Inc., 28 ALW 50-3 (1180402); 12/6/2019, 170-3 (2171022), 4/19/2019, the Employer, Burkes Mechanical, Inc., (Burkes Mechanical) petitioned the Alabama Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus directing the trial court to vacate its Order denying its Motion to Dismiss claims of negligence and wantonness asserted against it by Employee Alexsie…
Read More

Alabama Court Of Civil Appeals Finds Employee’s Fraud, Outrage And Conspiracy Claims Are Not Barred By Exclusive Remedy Provision Of Ala. Code Section 25 5 53

On October 18, 2019, the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals released an opinion holding that Plaintiff Orethaniel Swain’s (“Plaintiff”) outrage, fraud and conspiracy claims against Defendants AIG Claims, Inc., Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, Coventry Health Care Workers’ Compensation, Inc. and Jackie Angeles (“Defendants”), based on the handling of his worker’s compensation claim…
Read More

A Petition For Writ Of Mandamus Is Not The Proper Remedy For Requesting Review Of Discovery Orders

In Ex parte Farley, — So.3d —-, 2019 WL 2558824 (Ala. Civ. App. June 21, 2019), the Employee, Randy Farley (“Farley”) filed suit for workers’ compensation benefits against his Employer, Transport America, Inc. (“Transport America”) in Etowah County, Alabama.  As part of its discovery requests, Transport America asked that Farley execute releases for obtaining certain…
Read More

Attorneys Aaron Ashcraft And John C. Webb Prevailed On A Res Judicata Argument, Obtaining Summary Judgment In A Workers’ Compensation Case

Attorneys Aaron Ashcraft and John C. Webb recently obtained summary judgment in a workers’ compensation action pending in Bessemer Alabama. The summary judgment asserted a novel res judicata argument, and was based on the proposition that a Plaintiff cannot recover benefits after previously asserting, and settling, a claim for permanent total disability benefits against the…
Read More