The death of a loved one brings on a world of grief that can only be understood by those left behind. There is a flurry of personal emotions of fear, anger, guilt, sadness, and despair to cope with. And all while dealing with the confusing personal emotions of a great loss, one is also faced with dealing with the people around them, calling, sending cards, asking how you’re doing, curious about the events surrounding the final days, hearing “I’m sorry for your loss” over and over again. Wondering if you should be contacting an estate administration lawyer in WV to determine if or how you will have to go through the probate process is probably not what you want to be thinking about during such a difficult time. 

An issue that has recently become prevalent in West Virginia (WV) workers’ compensation litigation is whether a claimant has a right to compel deposition testimony of the claims adjuster. The WV Workers’ Compensation Office of Judges (OJ) recently issued a decision that bears directly on the issue of workers’ compensation claims adjuster testimony.

Last month, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia (WV) issued an exciting new memorandum decision in an appeal from a permanent partial disability (PPD) award. In summary, the WV Office of Judges issued a PPD award reduction after a claimant appealed from the decision of the claims administrator, dropping the PPD award from 4% to 1%.

Most people don’t want to think about what will happen to them if they are in an accident or become very ill and incapacitated. Unfortunately, not preparing for such unthinkable situations can lead to untimely medical care and more stress than necessary on loved ones. Whether you live in West Virginia (WV), Kentucky (KY), or Ohio (OH), having a medical power of attorney (MPOA) in place can help alleviate such a tragic situation.

Can an inmate get workers’ compensation if he or she is injured while on work release? In West Virginia (WV), as in most states, the typical legal answer applies: It depends. In fact, the WV Supreme Court of Appeals has specifically addressed the compensability of an inmate workers' compensation claim for a work release prisoner who was performing work for a state agency when he was injured. The case is Crawford v. West Virginia Department of Corrections. This case is important because it clarifies the rules that apply to inmate workers’ comp claims in the Mountain State, but the issues it raises might be argued in any state in the U.S.