Bangor Daily News - As lawmakers began work on a proposal to revamp Maine’s workers’ compensation system Wednesday in Augusta, some Democrats were skeptical about plans to cap how long injured workers can collect benefits in some cases. The Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee’s work session followed a Feb. 17 public hearing that ran for almost seven hours and saw a number of disabled workers testifying against the proposal.

Insurance Networking News - Over a two-year timeframe, from 2009 to 2011, there was a 19-percent increase in questionable claims referred to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), according to an NICB report released today. NICB member insurance companies forward claims for closer review and investigation as to possible fraud to the not-for-profit organization, which focuses on preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through data analytics, investigations, training, legislative advocacy and public awareness. A single claim may contain up to seven referral reasons.

Reuters - A passenger train derailed near Burlington in southern Ontario on Sunday, killing at least three people, according to the train operator VIA Rail. "There were 75 passengers on board the train at the time of the accident. There are reports of several injuries to passengers and three fatalities," VIA Rail said in a statement. The six-carriage train, which was travelling from Niagara Falls, Ontario, to Toronto, derailed at 1530 EST (2030 GMT).

The Times-Picayune - A former New Orleans lawyer pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal mail fraud charge related to his theft of workers’ compensation claims that rightfully belonged to four professional athletes who suffered "career-ending injuries." Robert Leo Hackett, 67, stole a total of $462,615 from the former hockey and football players from 1997 to 2007, according to a news release by U.S. Attorney Jim Letten’s office.

Business Insurance - A court bailiff who went home during his shift to change his tie cannot receive workers compensation for a car crash that happened as he returned to work, a Maryland appellate court has ruled. Scott Garrity was a part-time bailiff at the Baltimore City District Court. He arrived at work one day in June 2006, and "realized he was wearing a Christmas tie," according to court records. The court’s dress code requires bailiffs to wear a light or dark blue tie at work, according to Mr. Garrity’s testimony.

Business Insurance - A Lowe’s Home Centers Inc. employee can receive workers compensation benefits for a misdiagnosed hip injury, even though it falls outside a two-year statute of limitations for his initial claim, a New York appellate court has ruled. Richard Searchfield was injured while lifting a water heater at a Lowe’s store in 2005, according to court records. Soon after, he was diagnosed with a hip and thigh sprain, and a workers comp law judge awarded benefits to Mr. Searchfield in 2006 based on a lower back injury and groin strain.

Insurance Journal - Florida lawmakers are looking to give regulators and law enforcement officials more flexibility to investigate check cashing companies that may be facilitating fraud in the construction industry. The House Subcommittee on Insurance and Banking yesterday approved HB 1277, sponsored by Rep. Daniel Davis (R-Jacksonville), which is designed to rein-in the use of checking cashing companies by individuals seeking to avoid paying workers’ compensation premiums.

Business Insurance - A temporary employee who died on the job can’t be excluded from an employer’s workers compensation policy, the Texas Supreme Court said in a ruling that reversed a $2.7 million liability judgment for the worker’s family. In a unanimous decision Friday, the state’s high court said companies that provide workers comp coverage generally cannot “split (their) workforce” by excluding different classes of workers from their policies.

Insurance Journal - After declining for four consecutive years, California workers’ compensation insurers’ return on net worth showed signs of improvement in 2010. That’s according to the data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which was compiled, analyzed and released by the California Workers’ Compensation Institute on Tuesday.

Business Insurance - The National Football League is expected to use an exclusive remedy defense in liability litigation filed by hundreds of former pro football players who suffer from concussion-related injuries and cognitive disorders. The NFL is named as a defendant in 21 suits that allege the league negligently misled at least several hundred players about the dangers of concussions and other head injuries. Riddell Inc., the league’s official helmet maker, also is named as a defendant in some of the suits.