Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, S.C. continues to serve as the sentinel of subrogation rights throughout the country. We regularly take on appeals and subrogation issues involving matters of first impression, landmark subrogation appeals, sensitive issues significant for the subrogation industry, and generally, any cases which tend to erode subrogation rights in America. We also keep a close watch for new and significant developments in subrogation law, and try to bring the most significant developments to your attention via this link. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about any of these matters.

05\24\10 Made Whole Doctrine Irrelevant In Deductible Reimbursement Issues: Jones v. Nationwide Property and Casualty Insurance Company, 2010 WL 2030301 (Pa. Super. 2010)

4\26\2010 Eleventh Circuit Finally Weighs In On Common Fund Doctrine In ERISA Subrogation: Zurich American Ins. Co. v. O'Hara, 2010 WL 1641369 (11th Cir. 2010)

03\23\10 Ryan L. Woody Wins Summary Judgment In Wrongful Death Case: Court Finds Estate Misallocated Funds In An Attempt To Avoid Health Plans Lien: Diamond Crystal Brands, Inc. v. Wallis, et al., 2010 WL 1525536 (Ga. 2010)

03\15\2010 Washington Modifies Deductible Reimbursement Law: Averill v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Washington, 2010 WL 891889 (Wash. App. 2010)

02\19\2010 Alaska Hospital Lien Procedure Is Exclusive: Supreme Court Says Statutory Procedure Must Be Followed: Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, LLC v. Burkhead, 2010 WL 572522 (Alaska 2010)

01\04\2010 Equity Invades Hospital Lien Law: Common Fund Doctrine Held Applicable To Hospital Liens: Howell v. Dunaway, 2010 WL 763918 (Ill. App. 2010)

11\20\2009 Anti-Subrogation Bill Passes In New York

10\23\09 Proposed Ohio Anti-Subrogation Legislation Marches On: Nary A Peep From The Insurance Industry

8\24\09 The Changing Face of Made Whole In California: 21st Century Ins. Co. v. Superior Court, 2009 WL 2584765 (Cal. 2009)

7\9\09 Six Year Ohio Workers Compensation Subrogation Statute of Limitations Announced: Corn v. Whitmere, 2009 WL 1636601 (Ohio App. 2009)

6\19\09 - Movement Grows To Undercut The Made Whole Doctrine: Allen v. Binckett, 2009 WL1744494, at *3 (Ohio App. 5 Dist. 2009)

5\7\09 - West Virginia Amends Workers' Compensation Subrogation Statute: State Limits Subrogation Opportunities In Construction Settings and Enters World of Statutory Employer Litigation

3\13\09 - More Confusion on Deductible Reimbursements: Pennsylvania Federal Court Dismisses Class Action Deductible Reimbursement Suit: Harnick, et al. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 2009 WL 579378 (E.D. Pa. 2009)

02\25\09 - Indiana Court Clarifies Workers' Compensation Future Credit: Smith v. Champion Trucking Company, Inc., 901 N.E.2d 620 (Ind. App. 2009)

02\24\09 - New York Court of Appeals Issues Favorable Made Whole Opinion: Paul Fasso Independent Health Ass'n, Inc. v. Doerr, 2009 WL 435322 (N.Y. 2009)

2\23\09 - Wisconsin Governor Hides Radical Changes to Insurance Law Within Budget Bill

9\24\08 - Tennessee Federal Court Applies Tennessee Law in Workers' Compensation Third Party Action Involving Texas Accident: Scott v. AMEC Kamtech, Inc., 2008 WL 4415496 (E.D. Tenn. 2008)

10\22\08 - Florida Court Prohibits Subrogation Recovery from Legal Malpractice Lawsuit: Columbia v. Brewer, 2008 WL 4643815 (Fla. App. 2008)

11\5\08 - South Dakota Finally Takes Position on Landlord/Tenant Subrogation and Sutton Rule: American Family Mut. Ins. Co. v. Auto-Owners Ins. Co., 2008 WL 4816666 (S.D. 2008)

7/2/2008 - Too Clever By Half? 10th Circuit Issues Important Choice-of-Law Decision In Case Argued by MWL Attorney, Ryan L. Woody: Anderson, Shon v. Commerce Construction Services, Inc., 2008 WL 2599823, 07-3128 (10th Cir., July 2, 2008)

6/6/2008 - Made Whole Doctrine Dealt A Blow: Wisconsin Supreme Court Limits Application of Doctrine - Muller v. Society Ins. Co., 2008 WL 2221771 (Wis. Sup. Ct., May 31, 2008) - SPECIAL SUBROGATION ALERT

6/6/2008 - Complete copy of case decision in Muller v. Society Ins. Co., 2008 WL 2221771 (Wis. Sup. Ct., May 31, 2008), courtesy of Westlaw, in connection with above Special Subrogation Alert

6/5/2008 - Colorado No-Fault Shuffle

5/15/2008 - Attorney's Allocation of Tort Settlement Violates Terms of Plan: Judge Reconsiders Decision, Rules in Favor of ERISA Plan - Diamond Crystal Brands, Inc. v. Wallace, 531 F.Supp.2d 1366, 2008 WL 2608158 (N.D. Ga., May 15, 2008)

4/4/2008 - Texas Supreme Court Spanks Parties for Attempting to Settle Around Compensation Carrier: Texas Mutual Ins. Co. v. Ledbetter, 2008 WL 918575 (Tex. 2008).

2/21/2008 - New York Anti-Subrogation Bill Would Destroy Non-Statutory Subrogation Rights

2/21/2008 - Ohio Supreme Court Finally Gets It Right: Workers' Compensation Statute Declared Constitutional - Groch v. General Motors Corp., 883 N.E.2d 377 (Ohio 2008)

1/15/2008 - 11th Circuit Holds That ERISA Plan Can Pursue Reimbursement Claim Even Where Funds Are Being Held By A Third Party: Administrative Committee for the Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Health and Welfare Plan v. Horton, 07-10012 (11th Cir., Jan. 15, 2008)

12/28/2007 - Pennsylvania Supreme Court Takes Stand Against Gerrymandering Workers' Compensation Third-Party Recoveries: Gillette v. Wurst, 2007 WL 4555287 (Pa. 2007)

9/1/2007 - Kansas Legislature Considers Allowing Health Insurance Subrogation

7/13/2007 - Houston Chronicle Reports On Trial Lawyers' Anger Over Fortis Decision

7/2/2007 - The Texas Supreme Court Hands Significant Victory to Subrogation Over the Made Whole Doctrine: Fortis Benefits v. Vanessa Cantu and Ford Motor Co., 05-0791, In The Supreme Court of Texas

8/29/2006 - Plan Language Takes Center Stage In Reimbursement Case

8/29/2006 - Fortis Benefits v. Vanessa Cantu and Ford Motor Company, 05-0791, In the Supreme Court of Texas, Texas Supreme Court Grants Petition for Review - NASP Amicus Brief Filed - Oral Argument Set for November 16, 2006 at 9:00 A.M.

8/25/2006 - Pennsylvania High Court Exempts HMO's From Anti-Subrogation Statute (PDF)

5/15/2006 - Pension Protection Act of 2005 in Conference Committee

5/15/2006 - A Supreme Victory For ERISA Subrogation

5/15/2006 - Sereboff v. Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Inc. Decision (PDF)

1/9/06 House of Representatives Amends ERISA