At the NCCI Annual Issues Symposium last week, I had the pleasure of hearing one of my favorite columnists, Charles Krauthammer, as he delivered the Keynote presentation for the event. I owe many thanks to the folks at NCCI, as they also afforded me the opportunity to meet the man briefly after the session was…
Transformational Transformations of the Transforming World of Workers' Comp
It was the “word” from NCCI during their Annual Issues Symposium last week: Transforming. Newly ensconced CEO Bill Donnell announced it as the latest edition in a long running tradition at NCCI, the word best describing the current state of the workers' compensation industry. None of the almost 1,000 people in attendance was likely prepared…
Some Final Thoughts on the Best Blogs Experience
As most of you know, we announced the 2016 Best Blogs list yesterday. Before I proceed with some final thoughts on that experience, I have a few acknowledgements to attend to. First, I want to thank our seven judges, Pam Ferrandino, Mark Walls, Mark Pew, Tom Robinson, Jennifer Wolf Horejsh, Jonathan Mast and Sandy Blunt.…
Best Blogs to Be Announced on Monday
Well, the tabulations are complete, the results are in, and the first “Best Blogs” competition is now under our belt with the winners scheduled to be announced on the site Monday. It has been a great experience, and we've learned a thing or two along the way. Over 50 blogs were nominated. Some of the…
BeautifulPeople.com Reportedly Hacked – I Hope My Data is Safe
It was revealed this week that the website BeautifulPeople.com, a dating service dedicated to the mutual pairing of only the world's most beautiful people, has apparently been hacked and the private data of more than one million gorgeous users leaked. I sure hope my data is safe. It's Home Depot and Target all over again.…
Does OK AG Motion to Delay Opt Out Case Signal Losing Hand?
Sometimes actions speak louder than words. I think this would definitely hold true for recent developments in Vasquez vs. Dillard's, the case in which Oklahoma Opt Out has been ruled unconstitutional. On April 15, 2016, Oklahoma's Attorney General filed a Motion for Stay of Proceedings with the OK Supreme Court attempting to delay the hearing…
A SAIF/Plotkin Non-Update Update
It has been quite some time since I've written about the termination of John Plotkin. In fact, it has been just over a year since we've shared any new information regarding the Oregon insurers rendition of the Salem Witch Trials, where the vaporware backed canning occurred. People still ask me about Mr. Plotkin, and are…
Oklahoma Supremes Uphold Commissions Ability To Determine Constitutionality
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission and its administrative law judges have the power to determine whether a provision of that states workers’ compensation law is being unconstitutionally applied to a particular party in a Commission proceeding. This means the Commission can decide the constitutionality of any part of…
RIMS Offers Explosive Lesson On Risk Management
I missed the opening reception of RIMS in San Diego this year. From what I hear it was quite the event. They had closed a couple blocks on a street in San Diego's fabled Gas Lamp District, and brought in thousands of attendees to kick off the annual conference this year. Then they inadvertently launched…
In A Kids' Chance State of Mind
While the next few weeks are extremely busy from a travel perspective, there has been no doubt that this week has been and will continue to be largely about Kids’ Chance. The non-profit organization, now known to many in our industry for making scholarships available to children whose parents have been seriously injured or killed…