Studies/Reports |
Report: Bastrop Officials Underestimated Hidden Pines Fire by 400% |
A report by Bastrop County property owners affected by the Hidden Pines fire last year says that officials underestimated the fire's size by 400% and reduced resources needed to fight the blaze during the first 24 hours. A group of about 20 property owners took it upon themselves to investigate the fire, forming the Lost Pines Property Owners Fire Protection Task Force. Instead of waiting for the county-authorized study, which was released in March, they conducted their own inquiry. In the past six months, they interviewed officials and submitted open records requests to compile a 70-page report, which focuses primarily on fire response within the first 24 hours — when, the report says, it all went wrong. Mary Huber, Austin American Statesman 05/19/2016 |
Read Article: Austin American Statesman |
Issues |
'Darker Possibility' For Workers When Employers Opt Out of Workers' Comp |
Injured workers face "inherent conflict of interest," barriers to benefits, "unequal treatment," limited appeals and little to no independent oversight when employers opt out of state-regulated workers' compensation, according to a new study. The report from the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions is the first independent assessment of an emerging "opt out" alternative to workers' comp since NPR and ProPublica began reporting on the phenomenon last year. The study comes amid growing debate among employers, insurers, service providers and worker advocates about the nation's century-old workers' comp system. NPR and ProPublica have documented what critics call a "race to the bottom" as more and more states reduce benefits, give employers more control over benefits decisions and make it more difficult for injured workers to qualify for medical care and payments for lost wages. HOWARD BERKES, National Public Radio 05/19/2016 |
Read Article: National Public Radio |
Laws/Cases |
Old Dominion University Wrestler Files Brain Injury Lawsuit |
A former wrestler for Old Dominion University has filed a lawsuit alleging that he suffered permanent brain injury as a result of coaches' treatment of his concussions. According to the lawsuit, which seeks $4 million, the plaintiff sustained three concussions as a student athlete but was told to continue wrestling by coaches. The lawsuit alleges that the plaintiff sustained "serious and permanent injury in the form of traumatic brain injury, and concussion and brain injury syndrome and symptoms, and other physical and psychological injuries." The plaintiff contends that coaches at the university "encouraged and directed" him to continue wrestling despite his concussion symptoms. Ed Miller, Virginian Pilot 05/17/2016 |
Read Article: Virginian Pilot |
Class Action |
Penn State Named in Ex-Players' Class Action Concussion Lawsuit |
Penn State has been named in a recent lawsuit over head injuries suffered by football players. Three former players have filed a class action lawsuit against the university, the Big Ten conference, and the NCAA. Penn State and Vanderbilt are the only two universities named in a total of six head injury lawsuits currently pending in U.S. courts. Former athletes from Auburn, Georgia, Oregon, and Utah have filed suit against their school conferences and the NCAA. Penn State has not commented on the lawsuit but did announce a concussion research partnership with the Head Health Network in Oct. 2015. Greg Pickel, PennLive.com 05/17/2016 |
Read Article: PennLive.com |
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