Blog

Section 20 Versus Percentage of Disability Settlements August 15, 2024

In this article, we look at Section 20 settlements which define lump sum payments without any right to reopen cases. 

What Kinds of Activities Can Employees Engage in While Out of Work Receiving Temporary Disability Benefits in Workers’ Compensation? April 15, 2024

In this article, we discuss the types of activities employees can engage in while receiving temporary disability and those that can eliminate an employee from receiving benefits.

Why Double Recoveries Help Employers Recover Workers’ Compensation Payments October 09, 2023

What is a double recovery and how can it help an employer recover Workers' Compensation payments? Read more in this article.

Legislative Changes Are Adding Workers’ Comp Costs On Employers August 22, 2023

A recently approved amendment will add Workers' Compensation costs employers pay.

Cost Drivers In Workers’ Compensation May 31, 2023

What key drivers are resposible for growing Workers' Compensation costs? Learn more in this article.

Everything Municipal Officials Need to Know About Permanency Awards and How to Reduce Awards March 28, 2023

This Q&A article was developed based on questions commonly asked to the author, John H. Geaney, Esq. of Capehart Scatchard, P.A.

5 Factors Driving Higher Costs in New Jersey Workers’ Compensation December 12, 2022

What has contributed to New Jersey's workers' compensation costs being the highest in the nation? Here are 5 factors that are escalating workers' compensation costs in the state.

New NJ Bill Requires Certain Public Venues and Places of Worship to Develop Emergency Plans December 02, 2022

A new NJ bill will require public venues and places of workship to submit emergency plans pertaining to potential mass casualty or active shooter events to local law enforcement.

Issues Pertaining To Marijuana and Workers’ Compensation October 03, 2022

Where do New Jersey employers and municipalities stand today with respect to marijuana and workers’ compensation? In this article, we examine New Jersey's mariajana laws and where employers are responsible to provide workers' compensation.

Settlements in New Jersey Workers’ Compensation And What Municipalities Can Do To Reduce Costs July 11, 2022

In his article, we address what municipal managers need to know about settlements of permanency claims and what can be done to reduce awards.

Key Questions and Answers Regarding New Jersey Workers’ Compensation May 16, 2022

​Here are some key questions that defense counsels receive in the handling of claims against public employers.

New Jersey Legislature and Supreme Court Face Off on Compensability of Accidents in Parking Lots March 14, 2022

The recent passing of the New Jersey Legislature's S771 ruling has some employers questioning whether or not accidents that occur in parking lots are considered work related. Read more in this article.

NIP Group Receives National Recognition for Its Innovative Body Camera Pilot Program December 15, 2021

NIP Group is proud to announce the launch of a new video management pilot program for their police departments members of the Garden State Municipal Joint Insurance Fund (GSMJIF) and Public Entity Joint Insurance Fund (PEJIF).

Municipal Volunteers and New Jersey Workers’ Compensation  October 11, 2021

There are many issues pertaining to volunteers in New Jersey and most of them center on municipal workers.  Any discussion of the topic of volunteers must begin with the definitions of employee and volunteer.

Rules on Compensability of Injuries During Travel in New Jersey Workers’ Compensation July 26, 2021

Does workers' compensation apply to injuries that occur during travel? In this article we examine some questions surrounding the Workers' Compensation laws in New Jersey and how they apply to travel.

NJ DOH Pool Guidance Update June 23, 2021

On May 28th, 2021, the New Jersey Department of Health updated its guidelines for how municipal and private pool clubs can maintain safe COVID practices. Pool owners/management must follow the guidelines listed as follows.

Key Developments In New Jersey Workers’ Compensation For Public Employers June 17, 2021

There are a number of important developments affecting public employers in workers’ compensation. Two of them concern COVID-19 claims, and one involves a rather alarming piece of legislation that, if passed, will affect all New Jersey employers in respect to the ability to terminate employees who reach maximal medical improvement.

New Jersey Supreme Court Rules Employers May Be Required to Pay Costs Of Medical Marijuana in Workers’ Compensation Cases April 29, 2021

​The New Jersey Supreme Court decision on April 13, 2021 in Hager v. M&K Construction will have a significant impact on public employers in the state, potentially increasing the cost of medical care by requiring reimbursement of medical marijuana expenses.

Issues Pertaining To COVID-19 Vaccines For Municipalities March 25, 2021

As COVID-19 continues to infect millions of Americans and vaccines begin to be offered to certain employees and residents of New Jersey, municipalities are facing some novel and challenging issues involving workers’ compensation and a variety of other laws. This blog focuses on several cutting-edge issues facing municipalities.

Director of Division of Workers' Compensation Orders to End Practice Of Offsetting Comp Awards Against Accidental Disability Pensions & Entering Medical Monitoring Awards for Future Medical Treatment March 18, 2021

When a traumatic work event occurs with severe employment consequences, the public employee who applies for an accidental disability pension (ADP) almost always also applies for workes’ compensation benefits.  The law is clear that the employee cannot keep both awards, but who gets the offset?