In 1994, an employee suffered a neck injury while on the job and later settled with her employer, which included ongoing medical benefits. Over the years, she had several physicians, with Dr. Laura Gray being the most recent until 2015. That year, the employer questioned, via a motion, whether the employee still necessitated additional medical care. By 2016, the employer claimed the employee had both used up her right to pick a doctor from the provided panel and had breached a narcotics agreement with Dr. Gray.
Contrarily, in 2017, the court ruled the employee retained the right to choose a new physician from an employer-offered panel. Between 2017 and 2019, multiple physicians from the panels provided by the employer refused to treat the employee after reviewing her records. This led the employer to seek further guidance on the process.
In 2019, post-hearing, the court directed the employer to either present another physician panel or negotiate a closure of the medicals with the employee. Dissatisfied, the employer filed a motion to amend the judgment, which was denied, prompting an appeal. The appellate court upheld the trial court's decision. It emphasized that the employer did not challenge the 2017 ruling and rejected the employer's invocation of the clean-hands doctrine. Moreover, the appellate court disregarded the claim regarding unnecessary medical treatment due to its absence at the trial level and deemed the lack of explicit findings in the 2019 judgment irrelevant.
Court Partially Upholds Employee's Compensation Claim for Injuries Sustained from Lifting Garbage Can
Preexisting Condition Prevents Recovery of Permanent Total Disability Award
Appellate Court Reverses Order Directing Employer to Provide Pain Management Treatment
Employer's Appeal Over Termination of Medical Benefits Denied; Lack of Detailed Findings Results in Reversal and Remand
Court Orders Vacating of Mandate Requiring Sears to Approve Medical Treatment for Employee Due to Absence of Evidentiary Hearing on Injury Compensability.
Court Dismisses Employer's Petition Seeking to Avoid Providing Panel of Physicians for Work-Related Injury
Appeal Dismissed Due to Nonfinal Judgment on Worker's Compensation Case
Court Holds Augmentation, Inc. in Contempt over Medical Benefits, Augmentation Appeals.
Employee Appeals Over Denial of Physician Selection Rights Under Alabama Workers' Compensation Act
Fairhope Health & Rehab Challenges Compensation for Employee's Knee Replacement Due to Preexisting Condition
Court Rules in Favor of Employee's Compensation for Erectile Dysfunction Medication Stemming from Work-Related Injury
Sheriff Appeals Court's Expansion of Medical Expense Liability Beyond Initial Agreement
Breach of Contract Claim Relating to a Disputed Settlement Agreement for Future Medical Benefits.
Court Upholds Ruling for Employer to Provide Surgery for Injured Workers' Work-Related Injuries
Employer is Obligated to Cover Treatment from a Specialist Referred by the Employee's Chosen Doctor
Staph Infection Work-Related, Benefits Awarded
Defendant's Appeal Dismissed: Cannot Appeal a Non-Final Judgment