News

BWC settles class action lawsuit

July 25, 2014

A year and a half after a ruling by a Cleveland judge ordering the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) to pay Ohio employers $860 million, the BWC has reached a settlement for roughly half that amount.

As part of the agreement, a $420 million fund will be created to pay for claims to employers participating in the lawsuit, the attorney fees, court costs and the costs of administering the fund. Employers should receive instructions on how to make their claims sometime in the near future.

It’s important to remember, eligible employers are those not participating in BWC Group Experience Rating during any of the rating years from 7/1/2001 to 6/30/2009. Only a portion of the premium paid during the years NOT in Group Rating will be considered for a refund, and amounts previously quoted on various websites are likely to be overstated as the settlement has since cut the award in half.