Category Archives: Workers’ Compensation Blog
Covid-19 Cases On The Rise; Jury Trials Suspended, Workers’ Compensation Hearings Still Up and Running
As predicted, but earlier than expected, the third wave of the pandemic is upon us. Many states, cities, and municipalities are taking action and this includes the State of Maryland Court System. Last week, Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera ordered that all Maryland courts take a step back to phase 3 protocols. We had… Read More »
Maryland’s Highest Court Delivers Victory for Fire Fighter’s Widow
In a case of first impression, Ken Berman was successful in representing a widow of a fire fighter in a landmark decision before the Court of Appeals, the highest court in Maryland. Two years before the fire fighter’s untimely death due to work-related heart disease, he had settled his workers’ compensation claims against his… Read More »
Should There be a Presumptive Law to Protect Essential Workers Who Develop COVID-19?
Maryland’s Essential employees have spent the last several months going to work wondering if they will get sick and inadvertently pass COVID-19 to their family and friends. In many cases, they are forced to take off work for weeks at a time because of possible COVID-19 exposure. Too often this leaves their families in… Read More »
On the Hot Seat; What In-Person Hearings Look Like for Injured Workers’ During COVID19
Beginning on June 8, 2020, the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission reinstituted In-Person hearings at all hearing sites. For many who recall attending hearings in the past, all the cases scheduled on a docket would arrive for a 9:30 a.m. start time. The Commissioner would take the bench, call the docket and then the cases… Read More »
Hearings on the Horizon!
Covid-19 has changed the way we communicate as a community and a culture. This is also true for businesses and governments; these entities have had to quickly adapt into the age of virtual communications. When the pandemic hit, the Workers’ Compensation Commission was in the process of dramatically upgrading their online portal, and in… Read More »
Great News; The Ban On Medical Treatment Has Lifted!
It has been over six weeks since Governor Hogan banned elective and non-urgent medical procedures in the State of Maryland. However, the question which remained was, “Is it elective to have an epidural shot or surgery if I am in a tremendous amount of pain?” Well, no need to answer this question any longer,… Read More »
Do I have a workers’ compensation case if I get injured while working from home due to COVID-19?
We at Berman, Sobin, Gross, Feldman & Darby LLP are thinking about all our clients during this unprecedented time! A vast majority of the public (including the attorneys and staff at BSGFD) are having to work from home. With so many people trading in their commutes and business attire for teleworking and pajamas, we… Read More »
Workers’ Compensation Hearings Update as of April 17, 2020; Covid-19
True to their mission, the Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC) is continually trying to balance the interests of the injured worker with that of the health and safety of the community at large. Therefore, in response to the recent extension of court closings by Chief Judge Barbera of the Maryland Court of Appeals, the WCC… Read More »
Workers’ Compensation Hearings and the Maryland Courts Update as of April 15, 2020; Covid-19
Unfortunately, since our last court update, two weeks ago, COVID-19 cases have risen significantly in Maryland. This information reaffirms our states’ decision to social distance and work from home, wherever possible. Our online legal work is bustling between virtual mediations, depositions and motion writing. Thankfully, we have learned to navigate virtually because another extension… Read More »
What to do if you are Exposed to the Coronavirus at Work
If you contract or become exposed to an individual who tests positive for COVID-19, the following actions should be taken: File a First Report of injury immediately documenting as many details as possible about the specific call/exposure with the infected individual(s). This is very important early on since the likelihood of the virus spreading… Read More »