From Bob's Cluttered Desk

Our friends at the Alabama Workers Comp Blawg have reported on a case that will certainly raise your attention, if nothing else. An employer in the Yellowhammer State recently filed a Petition for Writ of Mandamus asking that a decision by the Circuit Court of Mobile County be overturned. That court had granted a request…

My father in law has been a widower for many years, and since he lives alone my wife and I try to meet him for a meal out a couple times a week. One of those meals has turned in to a regular event, and we meet him early every Sunday morning for breakfast before…

There is a war occurring in this country, and the body count is growing. It is a conflict borne of racial and societal strife; sown in the depths of economic and class disparity, and, quite frankly in my opinion, tacitly encouraged by the highest offices in the land. It is misguided and irresponsible, and tears…

This year, for the first time, the sponsorship organization “Kids' Chance” will be holding the “Kids' Chance Awareness Week” to help spread the word about the good work they do. It is scheduled for November 2 – 6, 2015.  The goal is to make sure that Kids' Chance is virtually everywhere you look and on…

Last week, I wrote about, among other things, the problem with people intent on proving the theory of Darwinism by taking “Selfies” with wild animals. As I indicated in that article, I possessed another #BearSelfie; one taken with a judge from the New Mexico Workers' Compensation system.  Now, this isn't just any workers' compensation judge.…

It's been quiet here in the Cluttered Desk this week, and today you will have to forgive this somewhat meandering post. I have just returned from the 70th Annual WCI WCEC (conference) in Orlando, FL, and I am still trying to dig out from the onslaught of activity there. Therefore, this article is merely a…

There can be little doubt that robots are coming. We see automation and robotics popping up everywhere, from self serve fast food kiosks to warehouse product management. It is said that by 2025 fully 50% of jobs that exist today will be automated. This, along with rapidly changing demographics, will have huge economic effects, and…

I was on the website LinkedIn last week when a users update caught my eye. I don’t know why it did; I was connected to the LinkedIn Member, but did not know her. The post was simply titled “Quilter surprised to receive photo of Marine amputee years later“, and it was written by Susie Wright,…

I've written a fair amount about Sandy Blunt. When I first started writing about him, the former Director of North Dakota's Workforce Safety & Insurance had experienced an incredible injustice at the hands of the state who employed him. I had only met him once, but felt strongly about the terrible way he had been…

You would think a judge would know better. But then again, since he was also the local cemetery Sexton, perhaps he was too busy to educate himself to the finer points of law regarding workers’ compensation fraud. And since he has been convicted of one crime related to the former position and is under indictment…