Three Dead in Fiery Rocky Hill Crash

Three persons perished and three more were injured in firey car crash in Rocky Hill on Sunday marring an otherwise beautiful day. The loss of any life in situation such as this is a tragedy of the highest order.

In any accident in which you or a loved one sustain serious injury, it is imperative that you contact an experienced Connecticut personal injury Attorney to protect your rights. Your attorney will work hard to ensure evidence is preserved and that an investigation is conducted properly. Should litigation become necessary, your Connecticut Attorney can guide you through the process with experience and compassion.

Lunch Break Walks: You're On Your Own

Our Appellate Court has recently held that if a Connecticut Worker injury occurs while the employee is taking a walk on his or her lunch break, then the case is not compensable under Connecticut worker's compensation law. The case in question is that of Brown vs.United Technologies which is published at 112 Conn. App. 492 and an appeal to the Connecticut Supreme Court is pending.

The Appellate Court concluded that the employee's injury which occured while "power walking" on a lunch break, although occuring on the employer's property, was excluded as a recreational activity purusant to CGS Section 31-275(16)(b)(1). It is unknown at present whether or not the Supreme Court will reach a different result or whether they will even hear the case.

Contact an experienced Connecticut worker's compensation Attorney if you have been injured on the job.

The New Comp Books are Here, The New Comp Books are Here"

Bulletin 48 is out---in a delightful shade of blue. Get your copy at any District office.

New Practitioner Fee Guidelines Available

The Chairman's office has released a new edition of the Connecticut Practitioner's Fee Guidelines setting out the allowable costs for procedures performed in worker's comp cases.

Supremes Take Up Expert Witness Testimony and Rule for the Good Guys

Sullivan v. Metro North will be released on Monday. The decision is significant in that it reminds civil trial courts that the scope of expert testimony can be quite broad and that the trial judge that excludes such testimony does so at their peril. I consider this a "win" for the Plaintiff's bar.

Reminder to the Wise: There Are Limits on Your Medical Treatment in Accepted Comp Cases

In Caverno vs. Mory's Association the CRB has upheld the Trial Commissioner's denial of disc replacement surgery sought by the claimant. This case involves an accepted low back injury of long standing involving a waitress at the venerable Mory's in New Haven. After what appears to have been significant treatment/evaluations by various orthopedists and neurolgists, the claimant made her way to Dr. Yue at Yale who opined that he felt the claimant was an appropriate candidate for disc replacement surgery. The Commissioner, as is his right, ordered a Commissioner's exam with Dr. Druckemiller, a Hartford neurosugeon.

Dr. Druckemiller rendered an opinion which, following a formal hearing, the trial commissioner relied upon and denied the surgery proposed by Dr. Yue. The CRB has affirmed this denial.

I will refrain from editorializing on this decision and let the reader review the case and draw their own conclusions.

Forgive Me if I Blow My own Horn for a Second

Your humble scribe was enrolled in the Pro Bono honor roll for 2008 by the Connecticut Bar Association. I try hard to give back to the community by accepting cases on behalf of the indigent whom I then represent without cost.

This is an expensive country to live in, and legal services are an exceptionally expensive commodity. I am happy I have been lucky enough to make enough money to support my family and pay my bills and still help out those less fortunate by providing them with no cost legal services.