To be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in North Carolina for an arm injury, an injured worker needs to show that the injury was caused by an “accident”. If an employee injures his arm because of something that is an ordinary event, part of life for everyone, he is ordinarily not entitled to benefits. Sometimes, […]
Workers' Compensation
All NC workers’ comp judges could be fired
Workers in North Carolina are about to be dealt another blow. Hidden in the budget bill being debated by the NC Legislature is a part that allows judges (called deputy commissioners) to be fired without any reason. Seven could lose their jobs in February, seven in August, and the rest six months later. Why should […]
Group honors Valerie Johnson for helping injured workers in North Carolina
Valerie was honored for her tireless efforts on behalf of workers’ rights in North Carolina by the North Carolina A. Philip Randolph Institute at its 40th Annual Awards Banquet and Birthday Celebration. She also spoke at the banquet on the topic of labor and the changing political climate impacting injured workers in the state. Clayola Brown, the national president […]
Ask the expert: what do I do when I get sent to a doctor I don’t think is helping?
Answer: What you should definitely NOT do is to get treatment from another doctor. Treating with a different doctor without the permission of the employer or its insurance company makes it look like you are not cooperating with the workers’ compensation process and can cause your payments to stop. There is no guarantee that your employer […]
Ask an expert: Should I report getting hurt at work, even if I was injured while playing around?
Answer: Yes. You should report the injury AND tell the truth about how it occurred – even if you know the injury is totally your fault. In North Carolina, the workers’ comp rules require you to have an injury by accident during a break in a worker’s normal routine in order for you to qualify for benefits. It […]
New rules would further burden injured workers
Getting benefits after you are injured at work may get a lot harder thanks to some new rules written by the North Carolina Industrial Commission. One significant and unfortunate proposal is that workers may be asked to pay for the right to get their benefits under the law. Most of the cost burden fell on […]
Valerie co-chairs Workers’ Comp Roundtable
CJG Partner Valerie Johnson is co-chairing the 19th Annual Workers’ Comp Roundtable held today at the North Carolina Advocates for Justice Headquarters in Raleigh. The session will include discussion of a wide array of legal issues that injured workers can face as well as updates about recent changes made to North Carolina’s workers’ comp laws. […]
Hearing on new workers’ compensation rules for NC
A public hearing to determine new rules for the North Carolina Industrial Commission is scheduled for February 24 at 9 am in the Dobbs Building in Raleigh. The session was supposed to occur last week but was postponed because of bad weather. For the same reason, officials have extended the public comment period regarding the rules […]
Workers with side jobs may risk workers’ compensation coverage
In these tough economic times, even the folks out there who are lucky enough to have jobs are often underpaid. And being the hard workers that they are, in order to make ends meet, those folks often seek out second jobs or side jobs related to their full-time employment. If you’re one of those people, you should […]
Time running out for ERISA claims
Workers who have been denied retirement or disability benefits from their employers and who want to appeal should be aware that a recent Supreme Court ruling has shortened the statute of limitations for filing suit on these claims. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) sets minimum standards for pension plans provided by […]