Workers’ compensation subrogation was never intended to be a windfall for insurance carriers. It was, and remains, a carefully constructed legislative mechanism designed to serve broader economic and societal goals. At its core, subrogation ensures that the ultimate cost of an injury is borne by the party responsible for causing it, rather than by employers,…
The Hawai‘i Supreme Court has now definitively closed the door left slightly ajar after its 2025 wildfire decision. In Burnes v. Hawaiian Electric Co., the court held that property insurers whose insureds are part of a class action settlement have no independent equitable subrogation rights against the settling defendants and no right to intervene in…
There is far more to aggressively pursuing subrogation than persuasive advocacy alone. Behind every successful recovery stands a coordinated team whose expertise and innovation distinguish MWL as a national leader in subrogation law. Attorneys, paralegals, and support professionals work in concert to develop forward-thinking solutions that strengthen accuracy, improve turnaround times, and provide greater visibility…
Texas workers’ compensation subrogation is governed by a comprehensive statutory framework that leaves little room for judicial discretion. A workers’ compensation carrier’s right to reimbursement is firmly established as a “first money” right, meaning that any recovery obtained from a third party must first be applied to reimburse the carrier for benefits paid before the…
The recent decision in Estes v. Palm Beach County School District, issued by the Florida First District Court of Appeal, highlights a growing and dangerous disconnect within Florida’s workers’ compensation system. At first glance, the case simply reaffirms the statutory framework governing the timing of workers’ compensation claims under Fla. Stat. § 440.19. But when…