Focusing on Resilience or Renovation, the 2015 Workers Compensation Research Institute Annual Convention closed its seminar on March 6, 2015 with back-to-back sessions investigating reformed state workers' compensation systems over a 20-year span. In the first panel, "Resilience: Lessons From Two Decades of Reform," WCRI investigated how specific states have changed their workers' compensation systems over the previous 20 years. Reform in general was discussed by Dr. Richard A. Victor, WCRI's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The systems have adapted to enormous changes in what is considered fair and in economic conditions," Victor explained...read more.

New York: Secretary's PTSD Claim Connected With Patient's Suicide Established Since She Was Not Mere Bystander. A secretary at a medical facility, who claimed she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after she responded to the suicide of a patient, is entitled to workers' compensation benefits...read more.

Virginia: Injured Worker With Amnesia May Not Utilize Unexplained Accident Presumption. The presumption of compensability applies only when an injured worker is physically or mentally unable to testify...read more.

New York: To Support Apportionment, Prior Condition Must Be Disabling, Not Just Symptomatic. A New York appellate court held it was error to apportion an injured worker's permanent disability based on medical testimony...read more.

Pennsylvania: Waiver of Future Subrogation Rights Must Be Clear and Explicit. Where the employer joined into a third-party settlement agreement that stated the employer agreed to a payment of a sum certain "in full satisfaction of...read more.