Top Story: Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Okla. - AG: Lawmakers Can Decide How to Spend Nearly $500K in Defunct Opt-Out Guaranty Funds

The Oklahoma Attorney General said state lawmakers can decide how to spend nearly $500,000 held in a pair of funds created as part of the failed bid to bring a Texas-style opt-out option to employers. Attorney General Gentner Drummond on Wednesday opined that the $201,697 held in the Oklahoma Option Insured Guaranty Fund and the $277,723 in the Option Self-Insured Guaranty Fund are no longer being held in trust following the… Read more »

N.J. - Court Upholds Increase in Worker's Permanent Impairment

The New Jersey Superior Court’s Appellate Division upheld a 24% increase in a worker’s permanent impairment from the second of two back injuries. Case: Lawhon v. County of Monmouth, No. A-3070-24, 10/14/2026, unpublished. Facts: Jason Lawhon worked for the County of Monmouth as a heavy equipment operator. He injured his back at work in October 2021. Lawhon… Read more »

Ill. - Split Court Upholds Denial of Claim for Injury Sustained While Participating in Costume Contest

A divided Illinois Appellate Court ruled that a university employee’s injury that happened during a costume contest at a mandatory work meeting was not compensable. Case: Mirretti v. IWCC, No. 3-26-0126WC, 10/13/2026, unpublished. Facts: Armaline Mirretti worked for Elmhurst University in the Office of Admissions.… Read more »

News: WEST

News: NORTH

News: Top

OK AG: Lawmakers Can Decide How to Spend Nearly $500K in Defunct Opt-Out Guaranty Funds

N.Y. - Worker Gets Summary Judgment on Labor Law Claim for Fall From Ladder

A New York appellate court ruled that a worker should have been granted summary judgment on his Labor Law claim for his fall from a ladder. Case: De Souza v. 4720 Third Ave LLC, 10/13/2026, published. Facts: Osmair Sebastio De Souza fell from an unsecured, 8-foot A-frame ladder while working on a construction project. He… Read more »

N.Y. - Worker Injured Trying to Prevent Beam From Falling Gets Summary Judgment

A New York appellate court upheld a grant of summary judgment for a worker on his Labor Law claim for his injury from trying to prevent a beam from falling. Case: Mitchell v. Pullman SST Inc., No. 30447/19, 10/13/2026, published. Facts: Paul Mitchell was the foreman of a five-man crew tasked with lifting large metal beams from the ground to the top of a… Read more »

Calif. - DWC Posts Standards for 2027 Audits

The California Division of Workers' Compensation on Monday announced the standards it will use for profile audit review of adjusting locations throughout the state in 2027. The DWC said the PAR performance standard for 2027 audits is 1.67327. Audit subjects with scores equal to or lower than the performance standard will be required to pay any unpaid… Read more »

Ore. - WCD Posts 2027 Assessment Bulletin

The Oregon Workers' Compensation Division posted a bulletin announcing 2027 assessment rates, which are unchanged from 2026. The division announced that the premium assessment rate for 2027 will remain at 9.8%. The premium assessment funds operations of the division, the Workers' Compensation Board, most of the state's Division of Occupational… Read more »

Conn. - State Fraud Unit Arrests Three Business Owners

Inspectors from the Office of the Chief State's Attorney arrested three business owners Friday on suspicion of workers' compensation fraud. Luis Pomaquiza, 42, of Southington; Jordan Tyler, 36, of Marlborough; and Solomon Sade, age 47, of Westport, were processed on warrants and released on $10,000 surety bonds, the… Read more »

Calif. - CAAA: Cal/OSHA Manager Accused of Ignoring Major Safety Rules

by CAAA Communications Team

A 37-year-old worker known as Lalo says he asked for a safety harness before climbing onto a roof for a job overseen by Ujitha “AJ” Perera. According to an investigation by The Sacramento Bee, Perera told him to buy one himself. Lalo fell and suffered injuries that… Read more »

Top Story: Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Okla. - AG: Lawmakers Can Decide How to Spend Nearly $500K in Defunct Opt-Out Guaranty Funds

N.J. - Court Upholds Increase in Worker's Permanent Impairment

Ill. - Split Court Upholds Denial of Claim for Injury Sustained While Participating in Costume Contest

News: WEST

News: NORTH

News: Top

N.Y. - Worker Gets Summary Judgment on Labor Law Claim for Fall From Ladder

N.Y. - Worker Injured Trying to Prevent Beam From Falling Gets Summary Judgment

Calif. - DWC Posts Standards for 2027 Audits

Ore. - WCD Posts 2027 Assessment Bulletin

Conn. - State Fraud Unit Arrests Three Business Owners

Calif. - CAAA: Cal/OSHA Manager Accused of Ignoring Major Safety Rules

Advertisements

Now Trending

Jobs

Press Releases

Upcoming Events

AWCP�s 26th Annual Fall Educat

Texas Legislative Update

Albert & Mackenzie Charity Gol

Social Media Links