NC Focuses on Misclassification of Employees through Employee Classification Section of NCIC

Matt Marriott
Employment Law, Workers' Compensation

Starting on December 31, 2017, the North Carolina Industrial Commission will have a permanent Employee Classification Section charged with investigating and punishing employers who misclassify employees as independent contractors.  The Employee Classification Section was initially created through an executive order signed by former Governor Pat McCrory on December 18, 2015, Executive Order No. 83.  The…

Independent Contractor vs. Subcontractor – Two Different Analyses, Not Exclusive of the Other

Teague Campbell
Workers' Compensation

An independent contractor is an individual who generally falls outside of the structure of the Workers’ Compensation Act. Whether a person employed to perform specified work for another is to be regarded as an independent contractor or as an employee within meaning of Workers’ Compensation Act is determined by application of ordinary common-law tests.  Youngblood…

Matt Little Joins ABOTA

Teague Campbell
News and Announcements

Congratulations to Matt Little on his recent invitation to join the American Board of Trial Advocates!  ABOTA has chapters in every state, and their members constitute an elite group of trial lawyers, nationwide. The general purpose of ABOTA, as stated on their website, is to “foster improvement in the ethical and technical standards of practice…

Medicare to Deny Payment for Services Related to MSAs in Liability Settlements

Daniel Hayes
Litigation and Risk Management Services, Medicare Settlement Solutions

Although there is still no official procedure for submitting Liability Medicare Set-Aside Arrangements (LMSAs) to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for review and approval, CMS announced in a written release to physicians and medical providers/suppliers that, effective October 1, 2017, it intends to deny payment for services under diagnosis codes associated with…

Change in North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Procedure: Insurance Carriers No Longer Allowed to File Motion Pleadings at Commission

Courtney Britt and Bruce Hamilton
Workers' Compensation

Industrial Commission Executive Secretary Meredith Henderson announced this week that beginning Monday, September 18, 2017, the Commission will no longer accept motion filings or motion responses from adjusters or insurance carriers.  Documents the Commission will no longer accept from adjusters include Form 24s, and responses to Form 23s, Form 28Us and Form 18Ms, as well…