Call Us 919-240-4054On December 21, 2009, President Obama signed a Defense Appropriations Bill, which also included two-month extensions for unemployment benefits and the 65% COBRA subsidy that was in the stimulus package. Specifically, the act extended the COBRA premium reduction eligibility period for two months until February 28, 2010, and increased the maximum period for receiving the subsidy […]
Law Blog
Supreme Court affirms COA on employment at will case
In Franco v. Lipposcience, Inc., the North Carolina Supreme Court affirmed per curiam an NC Court of Appeals decision regarding employment at will. The COA had issued a split-decision earlier this year, with Judge Wynn writing for the majority and Judge Erwin dissenting. The plaintiff, who had been the VP of Marketing, was terminated and sought to […]
New workers’ compensation decisions from Court of Appeals
On December 8, the North Carolina Court of Appeals published a couple of workers’ compensation decisions. In the first, Heflin v. G.R. Hammonds Roofing, the Court faced an unusual situation involving Florida’s workers’ comp laws and a plaintiff’s efforts to delay her own case. Plaintiff’s husband was killed while working in Florida in 2004. Because […]
Advice for workers losing COBRA subsidy
One part of the President’s stimulus package early this year provided a 65% subsidy for COBRA health insurance benefits. The subsidy, however, only lasts nine months, so it expiring for many people soon. Unfortunately, Congress has failed to extend the benefit yet, though it may still do so early next year. This NY Times article has very […]
Valerie speaking at 2009 workers’ compensation CLE on benefits for state employees
Valerie Johnson is speaking at tomorrow’s NCAJ 2009 Workplace Torts and Workers’ Compensation CLE, to be held in Chapel Hill. Valerie’s presentation topic and paper are entitled State Employee Benefits and Workers’ Comp: 2009 Update. One of the significant changes to be discussed is that Corvel Corporation is now the administrator of workers’ comp benefits on behalf […]
Report finds both workers and doctors pressured to avoid reporting workplace injuries
The new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that both workers and health care professionals are often pressured not to report workplace injuries. The GAO surveyed more than 1,000 occupational health practitioners and found (1) more than two-thirds observed worker fear for reporting an injury or illness, (2) a third said they were pressured […]