Category: Uncategorized
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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,…
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…
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)….
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)…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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,…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…