August 7, 2014

Ohio Supreme Court Requires Industrial Commission to Address Employers’ Defenses in Permanent Total Disability Applications

In the case of Sheppard v. Industrial Commission, (2014), 139 Ohio St.3d 229, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the Industrial Commission must address all legal […]
June 5, 2014

Court of Appeals Clarifies Statute of Limitations for Occupational Disease Claims

Where there is a specific incident at work causing an injury, calculating the statute of limitations to file a workers’ compensation claim is relatively straightforward. However, […]
May 27, 2014

Understanding Eligibility for Social Security Benefits

When someone tells you they are totally disabled and are now eligible or are receiving Social Security disability benefits, does that mean they are incapable of […]
March 11, 2014

Ohio Supreme Court Strengthens Voluntary Abandonment Defense in the Workers’ Compensation Area

If an employee fails to fulfill some of the fundamental requirements and duties of their job and they are terminated for those deficiencies, shouldn’t that be […]
February 14, 2014

Court of Appeals Overturns Jury Award of Over $700,000 Based on Fellow Employee Immunity

Recently, the Fourth District Court of Appeals overturned a jury award of more than $700,000 to a plaintiff involved in a car accident at work.  Bungard […]
January 13, 2014

Charles Smith and Ryan Bonina Again Included in Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine Lists

  Charles D. Smith & Associates is pleased to announce that Charles D. Smith has again been named to the Ohio Super Lawyers list by Ohio Super […]
November 20, 2013

Trio of Ohio Supreme Court Cases Illuminate Abandonment of Workforce as Bar to Disability Compensation

Three recent Ohio Supreme Court cases have addressed the effect of voluntary retirement or job market abandonment on eligibility for disability compensation.  State ex rel. Hoffman v. […]
November 20, 2013

Inconsistent Application of Company Policies Can Lead to Trouble and Discrimination Litigation

In a recent opinion, the Tenth District Court of Appeals emphasized again how important it is for employers to make sure that their company policies and […]
October 16, 2013

Termination for Criminal Conduct May Not Bar Recovery of Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Under the defense of voluntary abandonment, an employer can block a claimant’s eligibility for future temporary total disability benefits if the employer can show that the […]