Author: Christina Joseph

February 27, 2025
by Christina Joseph

Oregon WCB Confirms, No Compensable Claim: No Rule Violation, No Unreasonable Delay

In a recent legal decision, Rosita E. Peery, 77 Van Natta 15 (January 10, 2025), the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board affirmed an Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) ruling, upholding the denial of a worker’s injury and occupational disease claim for a right shoulder condition. The case also addressed whether the worker…

August 29, 2024
by Christina Joseph

Federal Judge Strikes Down FTC’s Ban on Worker Noncompete Agreements: What It Means for Employers

In January 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed a sweeping federal ban on noncompete agreements in nearly all employment contracts—a move poised to significantly reshape the American labor landscape. Here’s what you need to know about the proposed ban, the recent federal decision, and its implications. Understanding Noncompete Agreements…

November 22, 2023
by Christina Joseph

Beware of Fees on Fees in Oregon Workers’ Compensation Cases

In the case of Taylor v. SAIF, 329 Or App 135 (2023) (Taylor II), the Court of Appeals overturned the decision of the Workers’ Compensation Board, which had initially ruled that the claimant’s attorney should not receive a reasonable fee for time spent exclusively contesting the Board’s attorney fee award….

June 2, 2023
by Christina Joseph

There’s a fee for that! The Oregon Court of Appeals authorized the award of attorney fees incurred while litigating the reasonableness of an attorney fee award.

In the case of Peabody v. SAIF, 326 Or App 132 (2023), the Oregon Court of Appeals addressed appeals brought by Ms. Peabody regarding entitlement to attorney fees. The Court of Appeals ultimately reversed the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board’s decision denying the award of an attorney fee to claimant’s attorney…

December 9, 2022
by Christina Joseph

Oregon Paid Family Leave Starts in 2023

The Oregon Paid Family & Medical Leave (OR PFML) program was enacted in August 2019, and beginning January 1, 2023, Oregon employers and employees will begin paying into the program. While much of the OR PFML requirements mirror parts of the Federal Family Medical Leave Act and Washington’s PFML, there…