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No. 14-0256
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IN RE CRAWFORD & COMPANY, CRAWFORD & COMPANY HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT, INC., PATSY HOGAN AND OLD REPUBLIC INSURANCE COMPANY

The Court requested full merits briefing on June 27, 2014. The Court issued an opinion resolving the case on February 27, 2015. It then denied rehearing on June 5, 2015 File Closed

In the news...

Tracking 1 article about this case.

February 27, 2015

High Court Ruling Protects Insurers From Lawsuits

from Texas Tribune

The Court has issued opinions:

Opinion

February 27, 2015

Percuriam.246722

Per Curiam OpinionView Electronic Briefs | Oral Argument N/A | Video N/A PDF

 

Court of Appeals

Appellate District:7th Court of Appeals
Outcome Below:Denied
COA Docket No.:07-14-00013-CV
Opinion Author:Honorable Brian P. Quinn

Trial Court

Trial Court:108th District Court
County:Potter
Trial Judge:Honorable Douglas R. Woodburn
Trial Docket:94745-E

Entries on SCOTX Orders Lists

Docket Entries

Date Event Outcome  
2015-06-05 Motion for Rehearing - Disposed Denied
2015-06-05 Certified cys of cost bill sent to attys of record  
2015-04-17 Letter Filed (Relator)  
2015-04-13 Motion for Rehearing - Filed  
2015-04-13 Case forwarded to Court
2015-03-06 Motion for Extension of Time to File Motion for Rehearing disposed (Real Parties in Interest)   Filing granted
2015-03-06 Motion for Extension of Time to File Motion for Rehearing (Real Parties in Interest)  
2015-02-27 Opinion issued   Writ of Mandamus conditionally granted
2015-02-27 MANDAMUS GRANT - 52.8
2015-02-27 Petition for Writ of Mandamus disposed Petition granted pursuant to TRAP 52.8(c)
  This case was pending on merits briefs between November 3, 2014 and February 27, 2015.  
2014-11-03 Reply brief filed (Relator)  
2014-10-22 Appendix Filed (Relator)  
2014-10-22 Miscellaneous motion disposed. See Remarks. (Real Parties in Interest)   Filing granted
2014-10-17 Miscellaneous motion filed. (Real Parties in Interest)  
2014-10-17 Brief filed (Real Parties in Interest)  
2014-09-16 Motion for Extension of Time disposed. (Real Parties in Interest)   Filing granted
2014-09-16 Motion for extension of time to file brief. (Real Parties in Interest)  
2014-08-11 Motion for extension of time to file brief. (Real Parties in Interest)  
2014-08-11 Motion for Extension of Time disposed. (Real Parties in Interest)   Filing granted
2014-07-28 Brief filed (Relator)  
2014-07-28 Supplemental appendix (Relator)  
2014-06-27 Brief on the Merits Requested  
2014-06-13 Reply to Petition for Writ of Mandamus (Relator)  
2014-06-11 Appendix Filed (Real Parties in Interest)  
2014-06-09 Response to Petition for Writ of Mandamus Filed (Real Parties in Interest)  
2014-05-28 Miscellaneous motion disposed. See Remarks.   Filing granted
2014-05-28 Miscellaneous motion filed. (Real Parties in Interest)  
2014-05-09 Supreme Court of Texas Requested Response  
2014-04-08 Case forwarded to Court
2014-04-07 Case Record Filed (Relator)  
2014-04-04 Miscellaneous motion filed. (Relator)  
2014-04-04 Case Record Filed (Relator)  
2014-04-04 Miscellaneous motion disposed. See Remarks. (Relator)   Filing granted
2014-04-04 Appendix to any instrument (Relator)  
2014-04-03 Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed (Relator)  

Parties

Party Counsel Role
Hogan, Patsy
Mr. Richard Lee 'Rick' Smith Jr.
Mr. Greg K. Winslett
Mr. Richard Lee 'Rick' Smith Jr.
Mr. Greg K. Winslett
Relator
Crawford & Company Healthcare Management, Inc.
Mr. Richard Lee 'Rick' Smith Jr.
Mr. Greg K. Winslett
Relator
Crawford & Company
Mr. Richard Lee 'Rick' Smith Jr.
Mr. Greg K. Winslett
Relator
Old Republic Insurance Company
Ms. Kristi R. Weaber
Mr. Robert D. Stokes
Mr. Tod Mayfield
Relator
Johnson, Edward Glenn
Mr. Bradley Dean McClellan
Mr. Casey Alcantar
Mr. Michael Keith Bradley
Real Party In Interest
Johnson, Natalie
Mr. Casey Alcantar
Mr. Michael Keith Bradley
Mr. Bradley Dean McClellan
Real Party In Interest

The Workers' Comp statute precludes courts from addressing causes of action related to claims handling, even if framed as tort or statutory claims

A claimant for workers' compensation benefits brought a separate lawsuit against the carrier and some of its employees, contending that the way they had handled his claims independently violated tort and statutory duties, for which he sought damages.

The Division of Workers' Compensation has exclusive jurisiction over the underlying claim for workers' compensation benefits. Does that exclusive grant of jurisdiction extend to these other claims, which might fall outside of its ability to grant relief?

The Court held that it does. It explained that its previous decision in TEXAS MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY v. TIMOTHY J. RUTTIGER, No. 08-0751 established a broad field of preemption for workers compensation, including challenges to the "investigation, handling, and settling" of claims for these benefits. The Court explained that Ruttiger was not to be read narrowly and, thus, that the claims here fell within the agency's exclusive jurisdiction.

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