Former Major League Baseball Umpire Loses Comp Appeal Seeking Continuing Benefits

Mark Hirschbeck, a former Major League Baseball umpire ultimately sidelined following a hip replacement and subsequent complications, lost his bid to receive continuing workers’ compensation benefits before the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department.

Hirschbeck retired part-way into the 2003 season when it was determined that he needed a hip replacement as a result of a 2002 injury. He received benefits through the New York workers’ compensation system and was subsequently deemed permanently partially disabled. Hirschbeck commenced a separate action alleging medical …

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CFL Adding Additional Concussion Testing Protocol to Sideline Reviews

Like many other professional sports leagues, the Canadian Football League (CFL) is currently facing litigation over concussion-related injuries as previously addressed in this post

Potentially as a response to both litigation and increasing public awareness of the long-term effects of concussions, the CFL has recently announced that it will be adding the King-Devick test to its sideline testing protocols for suspected concussions.  The King-Devick test is touted as a two-minute test that can be administered by non-medical personnel and measures a potentially-concussed player’s response …

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Rochester Lancers Disband Over Concerns of Inflated Workers’ Compensation Costs

New York, frequently pointed to as one of the most expensive states for workers’ compensation costs and claims, has recently claimed victim to a professional soccer team due to rising insurance costs.  The Rochester Lancers, an indoor soccer team in the Major Arena Soccer League, disbanded due to a sharp rise in workers’ compensation insurance costs.

In an impassioned open letter to fans, Lancers owner Salvatore “SoccerSam” Fantauzzo cited an 800% increase by the New York State Insurance Fund as reason for the team’s folding …

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Canadian Football League Concussion Suit Decision Reserved

As concussions continue to be a hot-button topic in the world of sports (as has been written on several times in Sports and Entertainment Insider), the Canadian Football League (“CFL”) awaits decision in the CFL’s iteration of this ongoing battle.

Arland Bruce, a former wide receiver and veteran of five different CFL teams filed suit in 2014 which is believed to be the first of its kind brought in the CFL.  The lawsuit maintained that in September 2012 he sustained a concussion but was inappropriately …

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Workers’ Compensation Benefits Granted to Exotic Club Dancer Shot at Club in South Carolina

In a March 18, 2015 decision, the Supreme Court of South Carolina granted workers’ compensation benefits to an exotic dancer who was shot and injured during the course of her work activities.

Although the legal conclusion was contested, the facts were not in dispute. Claimant LeAndra Lewis worked as an exotic dancer at multiple establishments in North and South Carolina.  On July 23, 2008, claimant was working at the Boom Boom Room Studio 54 when she was struck by a bullet fired during an altercation, …

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Ex-Steeler Entitled to Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Pennsylvania

In a March 4, 2015 decision, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania awarded former center Chukwunweze Sonume (“Chukky”) Okobi $779 per week in workers’ compensation benefits, along with awarding over $22,000 in attorney’s fees and costs, due to multiple injuries sustained during his time in the National Football League.

Okobi played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2001 to 2007, and then was signed by the Arizona Cardinals in 2007 and Houston Texans in 2008.  In 2009, Okobi filed a claim for workers’ compensation benefits against the …

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Former NFL Defensive Tackle Accused of Workers’ Compensation Fraud

Brad Culpepper, a former tackle for multiple National Football League teams, including the Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Chicago Bears, has recently found himself in hot water over a reality-TV show appearance which an insurance carrier claims is evidence of fraud.

Culpepper, who is now a personal-injury attorney in the State of Florida, took part in the “Survivor” reality series in 2013 engaging in physically-demanding tasks.  However, he also reportedly settled a workers’ compensation claim for $175,000 based on a rating of an 89% …

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Reality TV Star “Bridezilla” Charged with Workers’ Compensation Fraud

Anita Maxwell, a guest on Season 4 of the reality television show “Bridezillas” in 2007, was recently arraigned in California on multiple felony charges stemming from allegations of workers’ compensation fraud resulting in improper receipt of over $40,000 in benefits.

Maxwell, who also was left at the altar during her appearance on the popular show, was employed by the Cedars-Sinai Health System and came under investigation in 2012 after a claim for a neck, back, and shoulder injury.  Reportedly, Maxwell denied pre-existing conditions although she …

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Darren Sharper Loses Workers’ Compensation Claim Bid Against the New Orleans Saints

Although likely paling in comparison to his recent criminal investigation concerns, former NFL safety Darren Sharper’s legal woes continued as he had a workers’ compensation claim partially-dismissed by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal of Louisiana.

Sharper, a former player for the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings prior to retiring after a stint with New Orleans Saints in 2011, sustained a left knee injury during a November 8, 2009 football game that was subsequently aggravated in December 2009.  Sharper missed the last game of …

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Red Carpet Makeup Mobile Owner Arrested for Violation of Workers’ Compensation Fraud

Fashion meets fraud in a bizarre workers’ compensation investigation in New York.

Ms. Nneka Ingram was previously featured in a June 2014 news article on CBS New York and is a former MTA bus driver who reportedly spent $20,000 on a “bling and makeup mobile.”  A short commercial posted in July 2014 is available on YouTube detailing the origins and services of Ms. Ingram’s business, the Celebrities Mobile Boutique.

However, CBS New York has reported that Ms. Ingram was recently arrested on charges of grand …

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