Comments on: Miner killed in cave-in; company fights family’s workers’ comp claim

By: NRich

NRich — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:37:55 +0000

Gotcha’s are the best ! We paid out $373,000. plus lifetime medical for what was determined to be cumulative trauma for a ‘flair up’ of an injury originally from an auto accident 5 years prior to employee working for our company. To top it all off, the workers comp claim was reported 3 years AFTER he voluntarily terminated his employment with the company. So for those at FAULT in injury or death of employee – pay your responsiblity and maybe the work comp boards will be kinder on those that truly try to follow the rules.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:52:16 +0000

I agree with Connie. A copy of his tax returns seems as though it would clear the whole matter up.

By: Connie

Connie — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:23:37 +0000

Wouldn’t a person who supposedly is supporting someone have filed taxes claiming these exemptions?

By: P Johnson

P Johnson — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:43:30 +0000

Why can’t his family members support themselves? We, US citizens, support ourselves. They need to get their own jobs and not rely on someone else. I hope they lose their case.

By: Deb

Deb — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:00:15 +0000

Heck, in California, workers comp will pay out $172,800 for a splinter in a finger.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:42:13 +0000

Larry is right. We cannot start stepping outside comp law because of circumstances or sympathy, or the entire system falls apart. He is entitled to statutory benefits, period. If Utah has intentional tort provisions that are outside the exclusive remedy, the family can use them to try and get additional compensation. If there is enough of an outcry, then try and get the system changed but don’t try to change the fundamentals of the program case by case.

By: Ann

Ann — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:37:18 +0000

Whoops – I meant $480 a month for 6 years, not sixth months!

By: Ann

Ann — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:36:15 +0000

Hmm… $172,800 for a human life? I would have trouble disputing that from a moral angle. What the company offered, a fifth of that ($480 a month for sixth months) is shameful, in my opinion. Most of us would have trouble supporting just one person on that amount of money.

By: Larry

Larry — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:45:23 +0000

Doesn’t matter. WC has exclusive remedy and it’s spelled out in the state law for compensation. They should get no more than that amount.