Thursday, July 12th, 2001 — Fearful it will drive up the costs of workers' compensation insurance, insurer groups have verbally blasted an Oregon Supreme Court ruling overturning portions of the state’s workers’ comp law that limited employer liability.
The high court’s May 10 decision, voiding key amendments to the state’s worker compensation statute, has compromised the workers’ comp system in Oregon, leaders of industry organizations said. They expressed fears that rates will increase as a result.
The groups’ leaders criticized the high court’s decision reversing a lower court ruling rejecting a plaintiff’s request to pursue additional legal action after being denied coverage despite language in the workers’ comp law that prevents such lawsuits.