Vocational Issues

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Line between a job and an occupation

In Weiss v. Prudential Ins.Co. of America, 2007 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 56357 (D.N.J. Aug. 2), the plaintiff, who worked for a country vocational board of education as a food services instructor for special education students was injured when he slipped and fell in a freezer at work and herniated a disk in his back. Weiss had disability […]

Work ability more than just physical

The plaintiff, a 55-year-old night cleaner, filed for total and permanent disability benefits due to osteoarthritis of her right knee. The case is Demirovic v. Building Service 32B-J Pension Fund, 2006 U.S.App.LEXIS 25891, from the 2d U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Oct. 19, 2006. Accompanying her application was a notice of award from the Social […]

Opinion aberrational on work definition

In deciding whether an insurer properly terminated the plaintiff’s benefits, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Osborne v. Hartford Life & Accident Insur. Co., 2006 U.S.App.LEXIS 24640 (Oct. 3), first noted the issue turned on the meaning of the insured’s ”own occupation” as used in the policy. The plaintiff was the chairman and […]