COVID-19 AFFECTS THE NEBRASKA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COURT

Recently, the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court issued an edict noting that any and all trials or hearings scheduled in April, 2020, before the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court will only be conducted by video or telephonic conference unless special permission is granted by the trial judge upon written motion of the parties.  Given the same, any […]

2020 NEBRASKA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION LEGISLATION

NEW BILL INTRODUCTIONS – HEARINGS Committee hearings began January 21st and will continue through the latter part of February.  As discussed below, note that three workers’ compensation bills—LB 846, LB 926 and LB 963—will be heard by the Business and Labor Committee on Monday, January 27th. Floor debate on bills “carried over” from last session […]

POTENTIAL SEA CHANGE IN WHAT CONSTITUTES NOTICE OF AN INJURY “AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE” IN NEBRASKA

Recently, the Nebraska Court of Appeals affirmed a trial court’s finding that an employee did not give notice to his employer ‘as soon as practicable’ in Bauer v. Genesis Healthcare Group. The employee was hurt on September 15, 2017, and informed his employer on October 23, 2017. This represented a delay of just over 30 […]

CHANGES TO NEBRASKA LAW REGARDING DEBT COLLECTION DURING WORKERS’ COMPENSATION ACTION

Changes to Nebraska Workers Compensation Act come into effect on September 1, 2019. In the last session, the Nebraska Legislature adopted Nebraska Revised Statute § 48-148.02 governing debt collection and workers’ compensation. This bill was supported by the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys. The new law prevents collection by any “provider of services, supplier of […]

CHANGE IN PRESIDING JUDGE OF NEBRASKA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COURT

Recently, the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court judges elected Judge Daniel Fridrich to be the Presiding Judge of the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court. Judge Fridrich’s term runs from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2021. Although the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court is composed of seven judges appointed by the Governor, every two years one of the […]

WHAT TO DO WITH THE EMPLOYEE WHO REFUSES TO COMPLY WITH MEDICAL RECOMMENDATIONS?

Often times, our office will get calls from claims handlers inquiring what their options are when they have an employee/Plaintiff with an accepted work injury who refuses to undergo the care being recommended by the authorized physicians. Nebraska Revised Statutes §48-120(2)(c) and 48-162.01 allow a judge to suspend, reduce or limit compensation or benefits an […]
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