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The statute that governs occupational death claims in North Carolina, Section 97-38, sets a time limit for allowing such claims to proceed. An injured worker’s dependents are eligible for death benefits if her death occurs within (a) 6 years of the injury or occupational disease or (b) 2 years of […]

Two scholars from the University of Georgia recently performed a study of workplace conditions that contribute to workplace injuries, and the findings are eye-opening. According to the article, an employer’s management, organization, and work-life balance have an effect on injury rates. An employer that runs a ‘smooth and effective’ operation […]

Would you pay the same amount for a car that has been in a wreck as one that has not been in a wreck? If your vehicle requires repair at 25 percent of its value or more, the wreck must be reported on the title. For example, if you own […]

Many people have medical payments coverage under their automobile insurance policy. Medical payments coverage is referred to as medpay. Most people do not even know that they have medpay coverage. Those who do know about medpay coverage do not know what it is for. Medpay coverage reimburses you for healthcare […]

On January 3, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered manufacturers of vaginal mesh implants, such as Johnson & Johnson, Boston Scientific, Bard and American Medical, to study the number and kind of side effects reported with the use of the mesh implants. Following the FDA Order and […]

On December 14, 2011, Arthur A. Elkins, Jr., the Inspector General of the EPA, issued an Early Warning Report concerning the use of unapproved and potentially unsafe asbestos demolition methods. The EPA itself had been using a quicker and less expensive method for asbestos removal than was allowed in its […]

In 2011, the North Carolina legislature passed so-called medical malpractice “reform,” which gives near legal immunity to emergency room medical providers and takes away a North Carolinian’s constitutional right to a jury trial, and substitutes damages caps determined by politicians in Raleigh instead of by 12 citizens in a community. […]

Representative Brad Miller of North Carolina recently introduced the Freedom and Mobility in Banking Act. The purpose of the act is to make it easier for consumers to close their account with one bank and move to another bank or credit union. The act follows recent announcements of fee increases […]

Recently, Bank of America announced that it would charge customers a fee of $5.00 per month in any month that the customer uses a debit card to make a purchase. The move created a firestorm among Bank of America customers, who launched a barrage of email complaints and an Internet […]

Prior to the 2011 amendments, the employer and its insurance company did have access to information about the injured worker’s medical treatment. They were entitled to receive copies of the worker’s medical records for treatment of the workplace injury. Moreover, they could also hire a nurse case manager to attend […]