News: E-Blast

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.    

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the labor market is continually evolving, possibly impacting workers’ compensation claims. We have received inquiries regarding the pandemic’s effect on marketing requirements, due to the temporary shuttering of certain aspects of our economy. While the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security”) Act has effectively waived the requirement that individuals be actively seeking work in order to qualify for unemployment benefits, no similar directive has been issued by the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission. Thus, partially-disabled claimants continue to have a duty to make reasonable, good-faith efforts to market their residual capacity in order...

On March 18, 2020, H.R. 6201, The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“the Act”), was enacted into law. The Act requires the expansion of paid sick leave and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in response to the sweeping coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States. The changes are in effect through December 31, 2020, with the expectation that if the pandemic continues, further extensions will be considered. Who is Covered by the Expansion? The Act applies to certain public employers, and private employers with less than 500 employees, subject to several exemptions. If an employee is a healthcare provider...

All: We have received the following question from many clients over the last several weeks and thought it would be beneficial to share our answer more broadly: Question: As a result of Governor Northam’s March 30 ‘Stay at Home’ Order for all non-essential employees, many employers have furloughed employees. What should the Virginia adjuster do with injured workers that were working light duty receiving temporary partial disability benefits and were laid off with other employees because of this current situation? Answer: The Virginia adjuster should file an Application to terminate benefits alleging that wage loss is no longer related to...

VWC Video Hearing Orders VIRGINIA: IN THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COMMISSION ORDER In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the declaration of a State of Emergency by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Commission will conduct all evidentiary hearings via video conference until such time as in-person hearings can resume. With respect to all such video hearings, it is hereby ORDERED: Video Hearings: Evidentiary hearings will be conducted by video conferencing, where available, until further notice. Deputy Commissioners retain the discretion to grant continuances upon a showing of good cause, including, but not limited to, requests of the parties....

For those who were unable to attend this webinar, we hope that this recording is beneficial to you along with a copy of the presentation. Shorter webinar video clips: What is the Coronavirus? With Dr. James Shepherd Coronavirus: Vaccine Timeline (with Dr. James Shepherd) Coronavirus: How long are we immune? (with Dr. James Shepherd) Coronavirus: Future Pandemics (with Dr. James Shepherd) Learn about the Coronavirus from Yale Infectious Disease Specialist, James Shepherd, M.D., Ph.D. This interactive webinar will be followed by a discussion of the legal implications to employers and carriers by Scott Ford, Esq. and Brian Richardson, Esq. When: ...

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared a public health emergency due to the continued spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on January 31, 2020, and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak an international pandemic on March 11, 2020. As a consequence of the recent governmental travel advisories/restrictions and increasing government action restricting “normal” life for the indefinite future, many businesses will experience significant disruptions to their economic activities. Coronavirus is disrupting the global supply chains and trade, businesses are losing income and incurring additional expense a result of this emergent and evolving situation. These recent disruptions can...

Ford Richardson has received numerous inquiries pertaining to potential liability connected with COVID-19 (coronavirus) and offers this guidance. Exclusivity Provision To the extent that an employee is diagnosed, the employee’s remedy will likely be limited to workers’ compensation benefits under Virginia’s exclusivity provision set forth in Va. Code §65.2-307. This provision of the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act (“the Act”) provides that “the rights and remedies herein granted to an employee when his employer and he have accepted the provisions of this title respectively to pay and accept compensation on account of injury or death by accident shall exclude all other...