Author: Matthew Baker

July 2, 2024
by Matthew Baker

How exclusive is the exclusive remedy in Oregon Workers’ Compensation?

At the core of the Oregon workers’ compensation system is a compromise between workers’ and employers. Employers must provide benefits for work-related injuries even when…

December 20, 2023
by Matthew Baker

Flare-Ups, Aggravation, and Combined Conditions: When is Arthritis Compensable in Oregon workers’ compensation?

If a worker with longstanding cervical arthritis injures her neck while lifting a box at work, can the arthritis itself be a compensable condition under…

June 27, 2023
by Matthew Baker

Oregon Legislative Roundup

There was slightly more drama to the 2023 Oregon legislative session than in a typical year, but the session came to a close on June…

October 10, 2022
by Matthew Baker

What does the word “injury” mean in Oregon workers’ compensation law?

The definitions section of ORS 656 defines a “compensable injury” as an accident injury arising out of and in the course of employment requiring medical…

August 17, 2022
by Matthew Baker

When can time loss payments cease in Oregon?

Time-loss payments, penalties, and ambiguous medical opinions are hallmarks of the workers’ compensation system. The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board recently released an opinion implicating all…

April 13, 2022
by Matthew Baker

Oregon Supreme Court Affirms Narrow Construction of Exemption To Subject Worker Statute

Employee or contractor? The classification of a worker can impact what benefits a worker is entitled to, and the trucking industry has often been at…

December 8, 2021
by Matthew Baker

Federal OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard on vaccination and testing for employees is temporarily stayed by 5th Circuit Court of Appeals

Over the past 18 months, employers have learned to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The recent spate of vaccine…

July 28, 2021
by Matthew Baker

Washington Enacts Emergency Wildfire Smoke Rule

As Northwest summers get hotter and drier, state agencies have been forced to adapt to changing circumstances. Following the heatwave in June, both Oregon and…

March 31, 2021
by Matthew Baker

Washington Legislature Considers New Presumptions for COVID-19

In the past, the Washington legislature created presumptive workers’ compensation causation for firefighters and workers at the Hanford Site. The legislature is close to creating…