June 16, 2025
by Kalina Lovell

Accuracy in job descriptions is critical to a successful claim closure in Oregon

In a recent Board decision, the Order on Reconsideration and Opinion & Order denying a penalty was set aside for failure to provide an accurate…

June 9, 2025
by Daisha Barnes

Oregon Workers’ Compensation: What Happens if Claimant Passes Away?

In Oregon, when a claimant passes away that may not mean immediate claim resolution. Sometimes additional work up of the claim may be necessary before…

May 22, 2025
by Kieran MacIntyre

Oregon Reminder – Update that IME Appointment Language!

Did the claimant not show up for an Independent Medical Examination (“IME”) appointment despite you sending a timely appointment notice? This can be a really…

May 19, 2025
by Hayley Porter

In Oregon, Medical Dispute Denials Are Now a Valid Basis for a WRME Request

In Cheri L. Goss, 77 Van Natta 159 (2025), the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board reversed an Administrative Law Judge’s (ALJ) decision to uphold the Workers’…

May 10, 2025
by Samantha Toda

Shhh… or You’ll Waive It: Confidentiality Pitfalls in Oregon Workplace Investigations

When an internal investigation kicks off in an Oregon workplace, confidentiality becomes the name of the game—but too often, no one knows the actual rules….

May 4, 2025
by Jessica Fox

Oregon Time Loss Refresher

In Oregon, time-loss benefits, also known as temporary disability or lost wages, are paid to workers who are unable to work due to a work-related…

April 23, 2025
by Joe Urbanski

WA BIIA 2024 Significant Decisions

Every year the Washington Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals designates several notable decisions each year as significant. A significant decision is one which the Board…

April 11, 2025
by Eric Berglund

Oregon Court of Appeals Gives Clarity to Complicated Pre-Existing Condition Cases

In an opinion issued on April 2, 2025, the Oregon Court of Appeals clarified the causation standard that applies when a new/omitted medical condition claim…

April 4, 2025
by TJ Bhullar

Combined Condition Compensability Ping Pong in Oregon

Combined condition processing can present a complicated challenge for employers and insurers. Once compensability has been challenged at the hearing level, and on review, employers…

March 28, 2025
by Nathan McFadden

Timeliness in Washington: Friend or Foe? Washington Courts say “Friend” . . . if you preserve your right

Employers are wise to keep track of deadlines—both their own and those of injured workers. In Washington workers’ compensation cases where a worker does not…

March 20, 2025
by Dee Akinbosade

Oregon Assessed Attorney Fees – The Vicious Circle

The Oregon’s Workers Compensation Board (“WCB”) recently issued an Order on Remand, awarding $68,300 for services litigating reasonableness of an initial attorney fee award. Karista…

March 12, 2025
by Allison Harper

Washington Hearing Loss Claims – Refresh Your Knowledge!

In Washington, hearing loss claims timeframes for filing are governed under RCW 51.28.055. If there is reported hearing loss resulting from a sudden single event,…

March 6, 2025
by Courtney Kreutz

Oregon Vocational Assistance – Authorization to Work in the US is No Longer a Requirement for Eligibility

An injured worker must meet certain conditions to be eligible for vocational assistance, typically the costliest aspect of a workers’ compensation claim. OAR 436-120-0145(2) lays…

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…

February 19, 2025
by Matthew Baker

Oregon WCB Confirms Initial Notice of Acceptance Does Not Set a “Theory of the Case”

What is the difference between an injury, a claim, and an accepted condition? The answer, frustratingly, is “it depends.” But the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Board…

February 12, 2025
by McKenzie Brooks

In Washington, Can a Worker Successfully Pursue an Occupational Disease Condition under an Open Industrial Injury Claim?

When a claim has been accepted, and compensation has been paid, the self-insurer is required to send the Department the SIF-2, the claim allowance request…

February 5, 2025
by Hannah Teig

New Medical Services Rules Proposed by the OR WCD

On February 19, 2025, the WCD is holding a hearing to propose amendments to several medical services rules in OAR 436-009, 436-010, and 436-015. Many…

January 29, 2025
by Madeline Mahugh

Washington Department of Labor & Industries Listening Sessions Signal Changes to Claim Process

On January 7 and 23, 2025 the Department held two listening sessions open to attendance by members of the self-insured community regarding The Claims Process…

January 22, 2025
by Stephen Verotsky

Oregon OSHA – Increased Penalties for 2025

In 2023, with the passage of Senate Bill 592, the Oregon Legislature dramatically augmented the range of civil penalties on employers who violate Oregon Safe…

January 16, 2025
by Sara Densmore

Washington L&I Self-Insurance Reminders About Employer Claim Closures

Happy 2025 from SBH Legal! Let’s start the year off with a refresh on self-insured employer closures in Washington. Self-insured employers have the authority to…

December 17, 2024
by Christine Olson

Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries Announces Mystery Listening Sessions

Listening sessions scheduled by the Department of Labor & Industries are nothing new. It is common practice for the Department to ask for feedback from…

December 10, 2024
by Katerina Wolfe

Oregon Workers’ Compensation End of Year Wrap Up: Let’s End on a High Note!

We welcomed 2024 with a slew of changes to the Oregon Revised Statutes and Oregon Administrative rules on Workers’ Compensation that impact and change how…

December 3, 2024
by Omeed Ghaffari

Navigating claim compensability for injuries outside the State of Washington

Under the Industrial Insurance Act, workers for Washington employers are entitled to benefits for injuries sustained in the course of employment. Under Washington’s extraterritorial statute,…

November 26, 2024
by Laurel Hensley

Important Changes to Oregon IME Appointment Notices in Effect as of October 1, 2024

Have you updated the bold language and formatting in your Oregon IME appointment notice template? In case you missed it, the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division…

November 20, 2024
by Kara Cogswell Kidder

Washington L&I Expands Coverage for Acupuncture Treatment

The Washington Department of Labor & Industries recently adopted a new policy approving acupuncture as a covered treatment for chronic migraine when accepted under a…

Recent Posts

Subscribe To Our Blog

Complete the form below and select the categories of interest to you and we will make sure you don't miss any of our attorney's timely posts regarding employment law and other matters of interest.

Lists*

Loading