A Question of Ethics Beverly Tull had worked for Atchison Leather Products, Inc., in Kansas for ten years when, in 1999, she began to complain of hand, wrist, and shoulder pain.

Atchison recommended that she contact a certain physician, who in April 2000 diagnosed the condition as carpal tunnel syndrome “severe enough” for surgery. In August, Tull fi led a claim with the state workers’

compensation board. Because Atchison changed workers’ compensation insurance companies every year, a dispute arose as to which company should pay Tull’s claim. Fearing liability, no insurer would authorize treatment, and Tull was forced to delay surgery until December. The board granted her temporary total disability benefi ts for the subsequent six weeks that she missed work. On April 23, 2002, Berger Co. bought Atchison. The new employer adjusted Tull’s work to be less demanding and stressful, but she continued to suffer pain. In July, a physician diagnosed her condition as permanent. The board granted her permanent partial disability benefi ts. By May 2005, the bickering over the fi nancial responsibility for Tull’s claim involved fi ve insurers—four of which had each covered Atchison for a single year and one of which covered Berger. [Tull v. Atchison Leather Products, Inc., 37 Kan.App.2d 87, 150 P.3d 316 (2007)]

1 When an injured employee fi les a claim for workers’ compensation, there is a proceeding to assess the injury and determine the amount of compensation. Should a dispute between insurers over the payment of the claim be resolved in the same proceeding? Why or why not?

2 The board designated April 23, 2002, as the date of Tull’s injury. What is the reason for determining the date of a worker’s injury? Should the board in this case have selected this date or a different date? Why?

3 How should the board assess liability for the payment of Tull’s medical expenses and disability benefi ts? Would it be appropriate to impose joint and several liability on the insurers, or should the individual liability of each of them be determined? Explain.