Workers Comp Matters

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Workers Comp Matters is hosted by Attorney Alan S. Pierce, the only Legal Talk Network program that focuses entirely on the people and the law in workers compensation cases. Nationally recognized Trial Attorney, expert and author, Alan S. Pierce is a leader committed to making a difference when workers comp matters.

  1. 11/25/2025

    “Many ills may strike, but one must answer.” Medical Causation Standards in Workers' Compensation Claims

    Causation and Workers’ Compensation? It’s complicated, and it varies by state. The concept is that to qualify for Workers’ Comp there must be a direct link between the injury (or illness) and the workplace. But how do you prove what’s a direct result of the workplace and what was the result of a prior injury or condition?  Here’s where it gets confusing. Every state has its own rules. There are varying degrees of required proof, pre-existing conditions, mental trauma, contributing causes, and it can be a challenge to sift through each jurisdiction’s standards.  Hosts Judson and Alan Pierce dissect how pre-existing conditions complicate work-related injury claims. It’s not always as clear as it seems, and state-by-state regulations create even more confusion. Add in workplace psychological stresses and it goes even deeper. If you have thoughts on Workers’ Comp law or an idea for a topic or guest you’d like to hear, contact us at JPierce@ppnlaw.com or APierce@ppnlaw.com.  Mentioned in This Episode: “AMA Guides® to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment: An Overview”  “AMA Guides to Disease and Injury Causation,” by J. Mark Melhorn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    33 min

  2. 10/21/2025

    Workers’ Comp, Politics, and the Economy: A Concerning Mix

    It’s not you, the Workers’ Compensation system has changed over time, and not always for the best. Guest Christopher Godfrey, with a long career in Workers’ Comp, including his current role as research director at the Workers'​ Injury Law & Advocacy Group (WILAG) and a lengthy stint running the office of Compensation Programs at the U.S. Department of Labor, offers some insights.  Where a non-adversarial atmosphere used to prevail within Workers’ Comp, Godfrey worries it has been driven toward a confrontational system with a struggle for unilateral control. That isn’t how a program aimed at making injured workers whole and getting them back to work started out.  Also concerning Godfrey is a lack of funding for the Federal Employees’ Compensation Program, making it difficult for injured federal workers to even find a doctor willing to accept them as patients.  In both state and federal systems, Workers’ Comp is being buffeted by politics. Godfrey notes the government shutdown, a slowing employment environment, and even the potential for a stock market bubble threaten the system. Economics and politics can build hurdles that trickle down to how insurance companies and Workers’ Comp plans operate. Godfrey shares his personal concerns and describes what WILAG is doing today to protect the rights of injured workers. If you have thoughts on Workers’ Comp law or an idea for a topic or guest you’d like to hear, contact us at JPierce@ppnlaw.com or APierce@ppnlaw.com.  Mentioned in This Episode: Previously on Workers’ Comp Matters, guest Kenneth Feinberg, “’A Patriotic Obligation;” Kenneth Feinberg and the 9/11 Fund” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    34 min

  3. 09/23/2025

    A Teacher Injured in a School Shooting: When Is the School Responsible?

    Workers’ Compensation has traditionally been a bargain, a “deal” workers and employers agree to. Workers injured on the job are compensated quickly and in exchange they don’t sue their employers. But when it came to a Virginia school teacher shot and seriously injured by a young student, was there an exception to the rule?  Recent law graduate Katie Jean won the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers John F. Burton Jr. Law Student Writing Competition with her entry “Rethinking the Intent Exception in the Case of Teacher Violence in Our Public Schools Modifying to Include Willful and Wanton Misconduct.” In it, she examines the case of teacher Abby Zwerner, shot by a 6-year-old with a documented pattern of disciplinary issues and had been seen at school with a gun. Jean questions whether every school shooting can be ruled an accident for the purpose of Workers’ Compensation or if a known threat, with lack of corresponding action, entitles the injured teacher to sue for damages.  It’s an interesting issue, and at least one prior case involving a teacher injured by a student the school knew about was unsuccessful. Does a teacher “assume risk” by taking a job? This is a timely discussion and a sign of our times. Listeners who would like a copy of Jean’s award-winning paper to review may email the hosts at the addresses below. If you have thoughts on Workers’ Comp law or an idea for a topic or guest you’d like to hear, contact us at JPierce@ppnlaw.com or APierce@ppnlaw.com.  Mentioned in This Episode: “Virginia Teacher Shot by 6-Year-Old Student Can Proceed With $40M Lawsuit, Judge Rules,” NBC News “Charge in Abby Zwerner's $40M Lawsuit Will Go to Jury Trial,” 13NewsNow “Vallandigham V. Clover Park Sch. Dist.,” Casemine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    30 min

  4. 08/29/2025

    When You’re Hot, You’re Hot: The Impact of Heat on Workplace Injuries

    Hot enough for ya? Guest Sebastian Negrusa Ph.D. is a researcher at the Workers’ Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) and the co-author of the recent WCRI study “Impact of Excessive Heat on the Frequency of Work-Related Injuries.” What role does excessive heat in the workplace play in employee injuries? Turns out, it’s a lot. In temperatures of more than 90 degrees, the risk of injury on the job increases by a significant 5%-6%. Excessive heat, the study finds, impairs both cognitive and physical abilities, leaving workers more likely to make mental and physical errors and suffer injuries at work.  Part of an employer’s duty is to prevent injuries at the workplace, and Negrusa’s study aims to help employers better understand the added risk in high-temperature environments. Some states and the federal government are currently looking at workplace heat standards and safeguards.  Hear what occupations and employee groups are most vulnerable to these stressors and how employers can protect workers on the job (and what Workers’ Comp attorneys need to look for when representing injured workers).  If you have thoughts on Workers’ Comp law or an idea for a topic or guest you’d like to hear, contact us at JPierce@ppnlaw.com or APierce@ppnlaw.com.  Mentioned in This Episode “Impact of Excessive Heat on the Frequency of Work-Related Injuries,” WCRI, by Sebastian Negrusa, Olesya Fomenko, Vennela Thumula “Heat-Related Illnesses in the Workplace—A WCRI FlashReport,” WCRI, by Vennela Thumula, Olesya Fomenko “Florida Blocks Heat Protections for Workers Right Before Summer,” NPR “‘It’s Getting Hotter’: Bill Aims to Implement Strategies to Protect Outdoor Workers in High Temps,” Boston 25 News Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    25 min

  5. 07/29/2025

    First Responders and Workers’ Comp, Understanding Workplace Injuries and PTSD

    What happens when a first responder is hurt on the job or suffers from job-related post-traumatic stress? We depend on these heroes among us, always there when we need them most. But many must depend on Workers’ Comp professionals to help them when they are injured. Guest Paolo Longo is a partner with the law firm Bichler & Longo PLLC in Orlando, Florida. He specializes not only in helping injured workers, but also those injured workers who happen to be first responders.  While physical threats are ever-present, PTSD is more common than many know. The hard part is getting victims and doctors to open up and talk about it. Police, fire, and corrections professionals are tough people. But the stress and injuries they suffer are real. How do first responder Workers’ Comp cases differ by state? Where do some issues fall under the so-called “presumption law?” First responders today are exposed to hazardous materials, toxic smoke, and traumatizing situations. As advocates push awareness of the physical and mental challenge they face, it’s up to Workers’ Comp attorneys to stay current.  If you have thoughts on Workers’ Comp law or an idea for a topic or guest you’d like to hear, contact us at JPierce@ppnlaw.com or APierce@ppnlaw.com.  Mentioned in This Episode: “Is PTSD Covered Under Workers’ Comp?” Bichler & Longo blog Pulse nightclub shooting, Wikipedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    40 min

  6. 06/02/2025

    Exclusive Remedy: The “Great Bargain” (and the Exceptions)

    Let’s talk about the “exclusive remedy,” what it means, why Workers’ Comp matters, and the exceptions. The concept of exclusive remedy is based on the principle that in exchange for care and benefits, a worker injured on the job may surrender some options for additional remedies.  If you’re covered by Workers’ Comp, the ability to challenge the employer in court for injuries and pain and suffering may be limited. Workers’ Comp is the remedy. We are covered by Workers’ Compensation because that can be a good thing, but we may give up the right to sue. Ideally, it’s a fair deal for workers and employers. “The Great Bargain.” But there are twists and turns. Negligence, bad faith, family medical leave needs, disabilities, “double compensation,” and third-party interests all add to the puzzle. When does an injured worker get the “green light” to seek compensation outside of the exclusive remedy?  And what about non-injury damages like defamation, malicious prosecution, slander, or mental anguish? Or what if a “leased” employee (think temp agencies) is hurt? While the exclusive remedy simplifies the management of workplace injuries in many cases, it’s not always as clear as it seems, and it’s important to know where the exceptions lurk. The goal is always to make injured workers whole. Every case matters.  If you have thoughts on Workers’ Comp law or an idea for a topic or guest you’d like to hear, contact us at JPierce@ppnlaw.com or APierce@ppnlaw.com.  Mentioned in This Episode: Green v. Wyman-Gordon Foley v. Polaroid Longever v. Revere Copper & Brass Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    34 min

  7. 04/29/2025

    When Undocumented Immigrants Are Hurt at Work

    These are unprecedented times for the rights of immigrant workers in the United States. The current political climate has thrown a wrench into the Workers’ Compensation system when it comes to workers without documentation. Understanding the system can help.    Guest Enrique Flores is the founder of the Flores Law Group in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a leader in immigrant workers’ rights. The son of immigrant parents, he says immigrant workers have always sought to live and work unnoticed, “invisible.” But in today’s charged political climate, the fear is real.    When an undocumented worker contacts you for legal assistance, understanding the Workers’ Comp laws in your state is vital. Times may change, but the law and protections haven’t. The law provides benefits for people who are injured at work. What’s changed for workers is the importance of living a lawful life. Clients should stay out of legal trouble, ensure their car is legally registered and in working order, and avoid giving anyone a reason to question them.   At the workplace, if immigration services show up (ICE), clients should know to stay calm and carry what are called “red cards” detailing their rights along with the card of an attorney they can call. The law still works for injured workers, no matter their immigration status. For attorneys, a little proactive outreach to the community could go a long way.    If you have thoughts on Workers’ Comp law or an idea for a topic or guest you’d like to hear, contact us at JPierce@ppnlaw.com or APierce@ppnlaw.com.  Mentioned in This Episode: Red Card/Tarjeta Rojas Print your own Red Card, Immigrant Legal Resources Center American Immigration Lawyer’s Association National Immigrant Justice Association phone (800) 954-0254 National Immigration Law Center Northwest Justice Project Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    29 min

  8. 03/31/2025

    More “Strange but True” Workers’ Comp Cases (and What They Teach Us)

    Hosts Alan and Judson Pierce reflect on nearly two decades of the Workers Comp Matters podcast with an examination of unusual or bizarre claims and cases.  A reminder, while some of these cases may have puzzling or humorous elements on their face, it’s never funny when a person is hurt. We may wonder what people were thinking when these incidents happened, but we can learn from each case. For starters, always expect the unexpected. An employee who thought her boss provided gluten-free pizza was actually fed pizza with gluten in it (what followed after her Workers’ Comp claim was denied is educational and clever). Or an octogenarian, part-time attorney who slipped and fell when he was summoned from his home office to a workplace office and claimed it was an exception to the “going and coming” rule? How about the “personal comfort doctrine” and the breakfast sandwich incident?  These and other unusual cases spotlight both employee behavior and how Workers’ Comp rules vary by state. They may challenge the way you view your own cases. This episode is well worth your time.  If you have thoughts on Workers’ Comp law or an idea for a topic or guest you’d like to hear, contact us at JPierce@ppnlaw.com or APierce@ppnlaw.com.  Referenced Links: Thomas A. Robinson blog, WorkCompWriter.com Walter A. Zerofski's Case, Masscases.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    36 min
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Workers Comp Matters is hosted by Attorney Alan S. Pierce, the only Legal Talk Network program that focuses entirely on the people and the law in workers compensation cases. Nationally recognized Trial Attorney, expert and author, Alan S. Pierce is a leader committed to making a difference when workers comp matters.

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