News

Recently, the Court of Appeals of Virginia decided City of Charlottesville v. Sclafani, Record No. 1815-19-2 (2020). Mr. Sclafani was a police officer with the City of Charlottesville. After participating in an eight-hour SWAT training session, he felt pain in his left shoulder and left arm. During the entire session, he was acting in the role of a “take down guy” – the suspect who was taken to the ground, handcuffed, and brought back up to his feet. There was a lunch hour between the four-hour morning session and the four-hour afternoon session. Mr. Sclafani testified that he experienced problems...

There have been several inquiries directed to the firm regarding the provisions of new addition to the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act, Va. Code §65.2-601.2. This update provides our guidance on several frequently asked questions regarding this new section. I. What does the new code section provide for? The new section provides a required response to new claims for benefits from claimants. The Commission is directed to issue an order to employers, and employers are required to respond to that order within 30 days, accepting the claim, denying the claim, or stating that it lacks necessary information to complete its review...

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic we have regrettably decided to postpone the 19th Annual Workers’ Compensation Seminar on September 17, 2020 and will be rescheduling for the fall of 2021. We are pleased to announce that we will be hosting a webinar on September 17, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. to review the most noteworthy legal cases for the year. The format will be a highly interactive review of those legal decisions that every Virginia adjuster should be aware of. Ford Richardson will continue to host interactive webinars to ensure our partners are kept apprised of noteworthy workers’ compensation issues....

Last year was an election year for all seats in the General Assembly, and it resulted in a significant power shift. Republicans had controlled both houses of the General Assembly since 2015, and at least one house of the legislature or the Governorship every year since 1994. The 2019 elections saw Democrats gain control of the General Assembly, and the party already held all of the statewide elected offices (Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General). As anticipated, this resulted in an active legislative session in which the vast majority of workers’ compensation bills that passed substantially favor the interests of...

A foundational principle of the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act is that, as long as necessary after an accident, “the employer shall furnish or cause to be furnished, free of charge to the injured employee, a physician and other necessary medical attention.” (Va. Code Section 65.2-603.) In cases where the injured employee sustains catastrophic injuries, other medical attention may include the employer and carrier being held responsible for 24-hour attendant care. In rare cases, the carrier may even be held responsible for compensating a member of the injured worker’s family for providing that attendant care. In a recent Opinion, the Commission...

As Virginia starts to ease public health restrictions amid COVID-19, businesses in the process of reopening will be confronted with new challenges. Specifically, employers will have to develop and implement appropriate policies in accordance with various federal, state and local regulations geared towards mitigating the spread of the virus. While each business’s strategy will be unique depending on the business type and the industry, we hope you can use the below steps as a starting point as you navigate this “new normal.” We also encourage insurance carriers to share the below suggestions with their employers as the economy gradually reopens....

To view a recording of this event, click here Short clip – Will a nurse’s claim RE: Coronavirus be accepted?  Experienced adjusters – stay current with an advanced course in the law as we explored often overlooked claim defenses and mitigation strategies. Training was led by Scott Ford, Brian Richardson, Kwabena Akowuah, Audrey Marcello and Brian McNamara. This was an interactive event with real-time questions answered via chat. Occurred – Friday, May 22, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM EDT We appreciate you taking the time to listen.

Last summer in my article— State of Oklahoma v. Purdue Pharma L.P., et al.— Is this a Tipping Point for a Wave of Larger Verdict Against Opioid Prescribers, Manufacturers, Distributors and Retailers?— I addressed likely future lawsuits stemming from the ongoing opioid crisis in this country. Earlier this month the Supreme Court of Virginia in a unanimous decision held that a trial court had erred when not permitting a jury to determine if punitive damages should be awarded against a doctor whose patient overdosed on prescribed opioids. The case is Curtis v. Highfill, Record No. 190117 (April 9, 2020). The...

The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission (VWC) will reopen its headquarters on April 21, 2020, with minimal occupancy of employees performing critical functions. The facility remains closed to the public to minimize the spread of COVID-19. The headquarters, located at 333 E. Franklin Street, Richmond, Virginia closed on April 7, 2020 after an agency employee exhibited symptoms for the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Commission, in close consultation with the Virginia Department of Health, executed extensive cleaning and disinfection protocols to ensure the health and safety of its employees and visitors, while also transitioning to an all agency telework mode to carry on...

For those who were unable to attend this webinar, we hope that this recording is beneficial to you. Get your new adjusters up to speed with a crash course in basic Virginia Workers’ Compensation law. Training led by Scott Ford, Brian Richardson, Audrey Marcello and Kwabena Akowuah. This was an interactive event with real-time questions answered via chat. Occurred – Wednesday, April 29, 2020 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM EDT We appreciate you taking the time to listen.