I’ve been fairly critical of the Florida Legislature and its initial attempts to “fix” the states workers’ compensation system. This year I’ve described their initial considerations this way: If Florida workers’ comp were a house, it would be on fire. Smoke would be billowing from every crack and opening, and flames would be shooting out…
When The Colon Weighs Heavy on Your Heart
Personally, I blame the Oxford Comma. Rather, I blame the Oxford Comma, and Judge David Langham for his extensive analysis of this little thought about punctuation practice. Judge Langham wrote a rather extensive review of a legal case recently, discussing the confusion and controversy surrounding the absence of an “Oxford Comma”. He explained that an…
Untruthful RIMS Response Should Disturb Risk Managers
I can tolerate many things, but not being misled. When the untruth is blatantly obvious and patently insulting, it tends to really piss me off. And the whopper I received from the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) last week was a truly fine example of this. RIMS, as everybody knows, operates the biggest risk…
Let's All Drink to the Bad Decision
Our industry owes a lot to poor judgement and bad decisions. In fact, we prosper and thrive on them. Think about it for a moment. Most accidents can trace their roots directly back to a bad decision. The employee who thinks they can jump off the loading dock without shattering their ankle? Bad Decision. The…
And Who Covered The Traumatized Raccoon?
It appears another high profile mental trauma case has hit the international stage, only this time, there is a twist. The injured employee in this case is a raccoon. And he was allegedly traumatized by the female breast. A petting zoo in Moscow is suing a video production company over the treatment it says its…
Looking at the Future Through a Glass Half Empty
I’m headed to Phoenix Wednesday, where I will have the honor of being the Keynote speaker at the American Bar Association LEL & TIPS Sections Mid-Winter Conference on Workers’ Compensation. I’ve been to numerous of these ABA events, but this will be the first time I will have spoken at one. I only have a…
A Lawyer, A Liar and Pants on Fire
I suppose the phrase “liar, liar, pants on fire” could be considered prejudicial in this case, but it is possible that is the way the jury saw it. A Miami lawyer defending his client last week ran into a little trouble with his closing argument in the case. His client had been charged with arson…
A Guide and Compassion for Uninsured Employers
There are not many in our industry who speak with true compassion for the uninsured employer. Los Angeles attorney Zachary Sacks is the exception. While he doesn’t give much credence to those who intentionally and flagrantly violate the law, he sounds somewhat sympathetic to those, who through their own ignorance about workers’ compensation and their…
A Best Blog Message to my Fellow Workers' Comp Bloggers
Editors Note: This missive ran last year to encourage involvement in the Best Blogs Contest. Because it worked so well then, and because Bob is essentially a lazy good-for-nothing sloth, it runs again this year. It has been updated to reflect current statistics. Greetings, fellow bloggers. I do not know if you are aware of…
Dwight Johnson, Heart and Soule
The workers’ comp world was saddened last week when we heard of the passing of Dwight Johnson. Dwight had become a bit of celebrity within our industry, and was widely respected as an inspirational force defining positive outcomes despite physical impairments. Dwight is best known to most for the brightly colored shoes he created; shoes…