Category: Uncategorized

October 4, 2017
by Sarah Ewing

Join Sarah Ewing in WSIA’s Webinar Discussing the New Paid Family & Medical Leave Law

Please join me on October 6, 2017 as I present with other panelists in a live webinar to discuss Washington’s new Paid Family & Medical…

September 26, 2017
by Evan Novotny

Oregon’s Distracted Driving Law Goes into Effect October 1

As of October 1, 2017 any use of mobile devices will be prohibited while driving in Oregon. Like the law in Washington, which went into…

May 19, 2017
by Megan Vaniman

Washington passes strict distracted driving law

Hopefully you are reading this blog post from the safety of your computer and not while driving. If you are using your cell phone to…

March 17, 2017
by Lauren Oda

Join SBH Attorney Lauren Oda at WSIA Region Meetings

Lauren Oda will be presenting with orthopaedic surgeon Scott Kitchel, M.D. at four WSIA Region Meetings in April. Lauren and Dr. Kitchel will discuss common…

October 14, 2016
by Megan Vaniman

Board’s new attorney fee rules go into effect on November 1.

The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board passed revised attorney fee rules on October 13, 2016.  The most significant changes involve increased attorney fees for disputed claims…

March 18, 2016
by Rebecca Watkins

Join SBH at the DMEC ADAAA/Family Leave Roundtable

Please join me on Wednesday April 6, 2016 at the DMEC ADAAA/Family Leave Roundtable. This is a great opportunity for employers to bring questions and…

January 7, 2016
by Megan Vaniman

New Bill Alters Timeline for Initial Time Loss Payment

On January 1, 2016, House Bill 2797 went into effect, modifying when initial temporary disability payments must be made. Prior to January 1, 2016, if…

August 3, 2015
by Rebecca Watkins

Registration now open for OEC fall conference.

The Fall OEC conference will take place October 5th & 6th at Spirit Mountain Casino.  Programming includes training on wage and hour, safety rules, employee retention,…

July 7, 2015
by Norman Cole

LHWCA Caselaw Update

Over the last three months there have been several noteworthy decisions under the Longshore and Harbors Workers’ Compensation Act. In M.K. v. California United Terminals,…

June 29, 2015
by Andrew Evenson

Up in smoke? What Measure 91 means for your Employment Policy

On July 1, 2015, Measure 91 goes into effect in Oregon, signifying recreational marijuana’s legality statewide.  Of course, its “legality” comes with several limitations.  Measure…

May 29, 2015
by Rebecca Watkins

Court of Appeals clarifies compensability analysis for medical services.

By: Rebecca Watkins This month, SBH received favorable decisions from the Court of Appeals in two cases addressing compensability of medical services under ORS 656.245(1)….

May 19, 2015
by Lauren Oda

Large Increase in Oregon Average Weekly Wage

By: Lauren Oda The Workers’ Compensation Division issued the revised Bulletin 111 May 18, 2015.  According to the Bulletin, Oregon’s State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW)…

May 13, 2015
by Megan Vaniman

Oregon Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Brown v. SAIF

By: Megan Vaniman In May 2014, the Oregon Court of Appeals issued Brown v. SAIF, 262 Or App 640 (2014).  The case changed the test…

May 8, 2015
by Stephen Verotsky

Supreme Court allows personal estate to pursue Workers’ Compensation Claims

By: Steve Verotsky Recently, the Oregon Supreme Court reversed the Workers’ Compensation Board and Court of Appeals and determined that a worker’s estate is authorized…

April 30, 2015
by Rebecca Watkins

Highest State Court finds PERS reform unconstitutional

By: Rebecca Watkins In a decision issued April 30th, the Oregon Supreme Court struck down a key provision of 2013 legislation concerning the Public Employees…

April 28, 2015
by Krishna Balasubramani

Federal Court ruling suggests that every disabling Workers’ Compensation claim should trigger ADA interactive process

By: Krishna Balasubramani Judge Michael Simon issued a decision in Dunlap v. Liberty Natural Products, Inc. (April 20, 2015) addressing the overlap between the ADA…

April 22, 2015
by Megan Vaniman

Could an Increase in Assessed Attorney Fees be Coming?

By: Megan Vaniman House Bill 2764 was introduced to the House Floor on April 20, 2015.  HB 2764, spearheaded by the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association,…

April 16, 2015
by Kevin Anderson

SBH Attorneys Present at WCCA Spring Conference

By Kevin Anderson I had the pleasure of presenting with my colleague Rebecca Watkins and Sheri Sundstrom from Hoffman Construction at the WCCA conference regarding…

April 7, 2015
by Kevin Anderson

Why are Claimant’s Attorneys receiving a Fee when the ALJ affirms a Denial?

 By: Kevin Anderson A claimant’s attorney received a fee for unsuccessfully challenging a new/omitted claim for “arthralgia.”  Even though the de facto denial was ultimately upheld,…

April 6, 2015
by Rebecca Watkins

Join SBH at the WCCA Spring Education Conference

By: Rebecca Watkins Come join us Tuesday April 14, 2015 in Wilsonville for the WCCA Spring Education Conference.  Presenters will cover topics such as investigations,…

April 2, 2015
by Sarah Ewing

Pregnancy and Work: Young v. UPS

By: Sarah Ewing Pregnancy discrimination is protected under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA).  Courts often struggle with how to handle pregnancy issues because it is…

March 30, 2015
by Norman Cole

Longshore Recent Caselaw Update

By:  Norman Cole There have not been many noteworthy cases issued during the last several months. Jackson v. Ceres Marine Terminals, Inc, 2014 WL 749188…

March 25, 2015
by Megan Vaniman

Managing Chiropractic Care in Oregon

By: Megan Vaniman Chiropractic care is often frequent and long-lasting.  Oregon Workers’ Compensation laws limit the time a chiropractic doctor can act as an attending…

February 16, 2015
by Kevin Anderson

New Administrative Rules Regarding Claim Closure effective March 1, 2015

By:  Kevin Anderson The WCD has published new administrative rules responding to two recent court cases (Brown v. SAIF, 262 Or App 640 (2014); Schleiss…

January 13, 2015
by Rebecca Watkins

DMEC Quarterly Roundtable Tomorrow

By:  Rebecca Watkins Do FMLA & ADA issues frustrate you?  DMEC hosts quarterly roundtables for employers and HR professionals to come together and discuss the…