1998 Ohio Workers' Compensation News

The Ohio Workers' Compensation Bulletin provides updates on what is happening in the Ohio workers' compensation system -- whether in the Ohio legislature, the Ohio Industrial Commission, the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, or the courts.  Subscription information is available here.

The following news was posted in 1998:

1. Administrative: 1999 compensation rates. (December, 1998)
   
   
2. Court: A third Court of Appeals declares intentional tort statute unconstitutional. (December, 1998)
   
   
3. Court: Supreme Court rules fire fighter with R.C. 4123.68(W) occupational disease not entitled to wage loss. (November, 1998)
   
   
4. Court: Common Pleas judge upholds MCO program. (October, 1998)
   
   
5. Administrative: Commission issues new resolution applying Russell decision, which declared Commission temporary total overpayment policy invalid. (August, 1998)
   
   
6. Court: Supreme Court declares commission temporary total overpayment policy invalid. (August, 1998)
   
   
7. Court: Supreme Court permits injured worker with psychiatric only claim to sue employer for negligence. (August, 1998)
   
   
8. Court: Another Court of Appeals declares intentional tort statute unconstitutional. (August, 1998)
   
   
9. Court: New Supreme Court decision practice for workers' compensation cases. (July, 1998)
   
   
10. Administrative: Permanent total update: permanent total statistics for the first quarter of 1998.(July, 1998)
    
    
11. Administrative: Employers receive $2 billion in BWC rebates. (July, 1998)
    
    
12. Administrative: The BWC has new medical "treatment plan approval guidelines", which will be effective on June 1, 1998. (May, 1998)
    
    
13.  Administrative: The Industrial Commission's web site now has the Commission's resolutions. (May, 1998)
    
    
14. Administrative: Industrial Commission adopts Resolution R98-1-3, revising guidelines for Commission determination to grant reconsideration. (May, 1998)
    
    
15. Court: In State, ex rel. Nicholls v. Indus. Comm. (1998), 81 Ohio St.3d 454, the Supreme Court held that the Industrial Commission's authority to grant reconsideration from a Staff Hearing Officer's order awarding permanent total disability compensation is limited. (May, 1998)
    
    
16. Court: A case has been filed in the Ohio Supreme Court challenging the practice of permitting Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) to terminate medical treatment in workers' compensation claims. (May, 1998)
    
    
17. Court: Supreme Court decision in Ruckman v. Cubby Drilling involving an injury while traveling to work, holds that injury is compensable. (March, 1998)
    
    
18. Administrative: Industrial Commission Resolution R98-1-02, adopted February 12, 1998, instructs its hearing officers how to apply Greene v. Conrad (8/21/97), Franklin Co. App. No. 96APE12-1780. The resolution applies to situations where an injured worker has had a claim denied by the Bureau and then refiles a claim. (March, 1998)
    
    
19. Administrative: Wage loss page posted. Page includes text of wage loss rule, an index to the rule, and a revised summary of the rule. (February, 1998)
    
    
20. Court: Supreme Court decision in the Stivison case that an injury which occurred due to work is not compensable under workers' compensation. (February, 1998)
    
    
21. Court: Supreme Court decision in the Williams-Laker case that an injured worker is entitled to wage loss compensation for time missed from work to receive medical treatment for the injury. (February, 1998)
    
    
22. Administrative: 1998 rates of compensation. (January, 1998)
    
    
23. Administrative: Permanent total statistics, 1997. (January, 1998)
    
    
24. Election: The amount spent on Issue 2 by both sides. (January, 1998)