Swift Currie attorneys analyze legal developments, court decisions and industry updates and alert our clients to recent changes to ensure they stay abreast of issues affecting their businesses.
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06.29.2023The Georgia Supreme Court recently issued its opinion in three negligent security premises liability cases that were collectively argued and considered by the court.
- 05.24.2023
The Georgia Court of Appeals recently issued an opinion regarding a claimant’s challenge to the validity of an employer’s posted panel on the basis that the panel was not posted in a “prominent” location in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 34-9-201(c).
- 04.20.2023
The Alabama Department of Labor transitioned to Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) for all state workers’ compensation forms as of January 1, 2023. This transition aims to streamline the existing system, increasing overall efficiency, reducing errors and eliminating the need for mailing physical forms, which can incur costs.
- 04.11.2023
The Georgia Legislature recently passed House Bill 480, which includes several substantive changes to both the law and procedure regarding workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia. The bill now heads to the desk of Governor Kemp, where if signed, as it is presumed it will be, will take effect on July 1, 2023.
- 02.17.2023
The Alabama Supreme Court recently issued an opinion establishing that cell phone use in an automobile can constitute “substantial evidence” of wantonness in Alabama. While cell phone use has long been a factor in case evaluation, this opinion shows that phone use (distinguished from other types of distracted driving) can support a punitive award.
- 05.16.2022
Governor Brian Kemp has signed into law several changes which will have a direct impact on workers’ compensation claims in Georgia. House Bill 1409 provides for an increase in the maximum Temporary Total Disability (TTD), Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) and Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) rates.
- 09.03.2021
The Court of Appeals of Georgia recently addressed the definition of when the last payment of income benefits is “actually made” as it relates to the two-year statute of limitations defense in O.C.G.A. § 34-9-104(b), commonly known as the change of condition statute.
- 08.13.2021
On Aug. 13, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued updated guidance on mitigating and preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The guidance echoes and parallels the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) report on July 28, 2021, recommending that fully vaccinated people wear a mask in public indoor spaces of substantial or high transmission and that schools adopt universal indoor masking policies regardless of individual vaccination status.
- 08.10.2021
On Aug. 10, 2021, in Alston & Bird v. Hatcher Management Holdings, LLC, the Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that the portion of Georgia’s apportionment statute, O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, providing defendants the ability to reduce their damages through apportionment to nonparties does not apply in cases where there is only one defendant.
- 04.01.2021
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021, with several provisions to take effect on April 1, 2021. Featured in the alert are highlights and recommendations for employers.
- 10.07.2020
On Oct. 6, 2020, the Northern District of Georgia’s Judge Thrash held that an insurer was not obligated to cover losses two Georgia eateries sustained when they shuttered their dining rooms during the COVID-19 pandemic. The opinion is the first of its kind from any court in Georgia.
- 08.06.2020
The City of Atlanta Police Department (APD) is making a major temporary change to its accident response protocol in an effort “to protect the health and safety” of its staff and customers and to “mitigate the impact of COVID-19.” APD will no longer dispatch its officers to the scene of non-injury automobile accidents. Instead, APD has directed that individuals involved in a non-injury automobile accident should fill out a SR-13 form.
- 07.14.2020
Georgia and Alabama courts at the federal and state level have modified their operations in response to COVID-19. The latest updates regarding deadlines, openings and stays are reflected in this guide.
- 06.30.2020
As many employers begin re-opening, many child care facilities still have not. On June 26, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued guidance focusing on summer camp and summer enrichment program closures as a basis for paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).
- 05.26.2020
According to OSHA's revised guidance, effective May 26, 2020, COVID-19 is a recordable illness and employers are required to record cases if certain criteria are met.
- 04.23.2020
On April 23, 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) provided revised guidance regarding employers’ obligations with respect to anti-discrimination laws, amid the challenges posed at the workplace and to the workforce by the COVID-19 pandemic. While this guidance may not provide answers for every situation, it highlights issues employers will have to consider before making decisions that affect their employees.
- 03.31.2020
Congress passed, and President Trump signed into law, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) on March 27, 2020. Commonly referred to as the “coronavirus stimulus package,” the CARES Act contains numerous provisions aiding individuals, small businesses, big corporations, public systems and local governments. Several provisions for small businesses help offset the financial burden of the recently enacted Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).
- 03.31.2020
The battle between insurers and policyholders regarding coverage for business interruption losses due to COVID-19 is heating up.
- 03.23.2020
Insurers are already being called upon to respond to claims for business interruption due to business closures as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Most business interruption policies require “direct physical loss” to trigger coverage.
- 03.20.2020
The Court of Appeals of Georgia recently upheld a trial court’s decision to allow claims against a landlord under Georgia’s anti-gang statute to proceed, despite the fact that the landlord had no involvement in the underlying gang activity.
- 03.18.2020
On March 18, 2020, President Trump signed legislation affecting employees’ rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and paid sick leave. The two provisions, the Emergency Family & Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA) and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA), are a part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and will be effective on April 1, 2020, applying to leave taken between April 1 and Dec. 31, 2020.
- 03.16.2020
In the midst of these uncertain times, we assure you Swift Currie is taking the necessary steps and is fully prepared with a business continuity plan to ensure the legal and professional needs of both our business and clients are met.
- 03.12.2020
The Centers For Disease Control (CDC) has provided recommendations for responding to COVID-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus, which the World Health Organization has now classified as a pandemic. In addition to the CDC guidelines, employers should also consider guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) with respect to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), workplace safety and guidelines concerning any pandemic.
- 03.11.2020
In Shin, et al. v. Infinity Insurance Co., the Northern District of Georgia granted summary judgment in favor of Infinity Auto Insurance Company (Infinity) on claims in excess of $3.5 million for bad-faith failure to settle and breach of contract. The court focused on the bad faith claim and an insurer’s duty to settle claims against its insured.
- 12.11.2019
The State Board of Workers’ Compensation has expanded the use of filing a Petition for Medical Treatment (PMT) as it relates to an employee’s failure to attend a medical appointment. Pursuant to Rule 205(c), employers and insurers are now able to use a new form, PMT(b), to petition the Board for a telephone conference with an administrative law judge (ALJ) during which the employee must “show cause” why an order should not be issued directing the employee to attend an appointment with an authorized treating physician.
- 03.28.2019
On March 28, 2019, Senate Bill 135 passed the House of Representatives, after previously being passed in the Senate, and awaits Governor Brian Kemp’s signature before officially becoming law.
- 03.22.2019
In a closely watched case, the Supreme Court of Georgia recently held that an insurer’s duty to settle arises only when the injured party presents a valid offer to settle within the insured’s policy limits. In First Acceptance Insurance Co. of Georgia, Inc. v. Hughes, No. S18G0517, the court unanimously reversed the Georgia Court of Appeals and reinstated a summary judgment ruling in favor of First Acceptance, finding that the insurer did not act negligently or in bad faith as a matter of law.
- 03.01.2019
The Georgia Legislature is currently considering a bill that will have a substantial impact on workers’ compensation benefits in Georgia. The bill, if passed, would result in an increase in the temporary total disability rate to $675 per week and the temporary partial disability rate to $450 per week. Additionally, the bill proposes some limits to the 400-week cap in medical benefits to provide for replacement and maintenance of items such as prosthetics, spinal cord stimulators, pain pumps or certain types of durable medical equipment, provided that the item or service was furnished within 400 weeks of the date of the injury.
- 02.28.2019
The Georgia Court of Appeals has affirmed and relied upon the bright-line rule established in the recent case of Frett v. State Farm Employee Workers’ Compensation, which was litigated by Swift Currie partner Chad Harris through his representation of State Farm. In Frett, the Court of Appeals concluded the ingress/egress rule does not apply to accidents and injuries occurring on regularly scheduled breaks where the employee is free to pursue personal matters. In a decision rendered on Feb. 26, 2019, in Daniel v. Bremen-Bowdon Investment Co., the Court of Appeals applied the ruling in Frett and found the claimant’s injuries are not compensable under the Workers’ Compensation Act.
- 01.22.2019
A recent ruling by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals held a district court may dismiss a case with prejudice when a plaintiff improperly uses “shotgun pleadings.”
In Jackson v. Bank of America, N.A., 898 F.3d 1348 (11th Cir. 2018), the plaintiffs filed suit against their mortgage lender and loan servicer after the foreclosure of their home. The complaint included 14 causes of action which were vague and not defendant-specific.
- 11.28.2018
A recent ruling by the Georgia Court of Appeals clarified whether the ingress and egress rule applies to the scheduled break exception. The court previously determined an injury does not arise out of and in the course of an employee’s employment while on a scheduled break where the employee is free to use the time as he chooses even if he remains on the employer’s premises. However, the court also previously established the ingress and egress rule, which indicates an injury occurring within a reasonable period of time while the employee is on the employer’s premises preparing to begin or end work does arise out of and in the course of his employment.
- 11.15.2018
A recent ruling by the Georgia Court of Appeals reaffirmed a plaintiff’s burden in product liability cases that allege a design defect.
In Sheffield v. Conair, a woman fell asleep while lying on a new heating pad. She woke up with her bed in flames. The fire chief determined the fire started near the heating pad, but could not say what caused the fire. The trial court granted the heating pad manufacturer’s Motion for Summary Judgment, finding the plaintiff had not put forth evidence that the heating pad was defective.
- 10.22.2018
In a pending wrongful death lawsuit arising out of a recreational boat incident on Lake Burton (located in North Georgia), the Georgia Court of Appeals accepted an interlocutory appeal on the issue of the emotional distress claims of three children who witnessed the death of another child in their family. The appeal is captioned Malibu Boats, LLC v. Batchelder.
- 07.03.2018
FILE THE 1 IN EVERY ONE
Effective Jan. 1, 2019, the Board will require that a WC-1 be filed in all claims, regardless of whether income benefits are paid or not. Previously, a WC-1 was not required to be filed in “medical only” claims. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 34-9-12(a), the WC-1 must be filed within 10 days of the employer’s notice of the accident. While this change does not take effect for another six months, Swift Currie recommends getting into the habit of doing so now so that it is a regular practice by Jan. 1, 2019. Keep in mind that failure to file Board forms, including the WC-1, could subject you to attorney’s fees or civil penalties. Please see the link below to download a sample WC-1 form.
- 06.29.2018
In Bibbs v. Toyota Motor Corp., No. S18Q0075, 2018 Ga. LEXIS 443 (Ga. June 18, 2018), the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia certified two questions to the Georgia Supreme Court.
- 05.23.2018
The Alabama Supreme Court recently addressed a plaintiff’s standing to sue in Alabama wrongful death suits and held the personal representative of the decedent’s estate lacked standing because he had been legally discharged as personal representative prior to filing suit.
- 05.21.2018
The Georgia Court of Appeals recently determined the language in a lease agreement can shorten the time in which a tenant can bring a personal injury against the landlord. In Langley v. MP Spring Lake, LLC, No. A18A0193, 2018 Ga. App. LEXIS 258 (Ct. App. May 1, 2018), the plaintiff tenant filed a premises liability action against her landlord for injuries resulting from a fall that occurred on the apartment complex property. The tenant filed the suit exactly two years after the alleged incident. H
- 03.28.2018
Since first defining idiopathic injury, the Georgia appellate courts have refined and attempted to clarify the definition and legal framework for analyzing what has been coined the “idiopathic defense.”
- 03.23.2018
In its recent decision, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. v. Koch, No. S17G0654, 2018 Ga. LEXIS 176 (Mar. 15, 2018), the Supreme Court of Georgia further clarified the duties surrounding preservation of evidence rules in Georgia.
- 02.22.2018
The following client alert addresses three recent case decisions:
Haulers Insurance Company v. DavenportML Healthcare Services, LLC and Robin Houston v. Publix Super Markets, Inc.Wellstar Kennestone Hospital v. Roman
- 07.21.2017
The State Board of Workers’ Compensation periodically implements amendments to its procedural Rules. Effective July 1, 2017, the Board implemented a major change to Rule 205, which we anticipate will have a profound impact on how quickly employers and insurers must respond to disputes involving authorized medical treatment.
- 05.12.2017
This week, a Circuit Court judge in Jefferson County, Alabama, considering the legality of the $220.00 per week cap on permanent partial disability benefits and the statutory limitation on attorney fees, held the entire Alabama’s Workers’ Compensation Act is unconstitutional under both the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and multiple provisions of the Alabama Constitution. While finding constitutional problems with specific provisions of the Alabama Workers’ Compensation Act, the judge declared in Clower v. CVS Caremark Corp., CV13-904687, the entire Alabama Workers’ Compensation Act unconstitutional due to the non-severability provision in the Act.