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Article: Court Voids A D.C. Rule On Benefits; Health Insurance Coverage Limited
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- December 15, 1992
- Author:
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The Supreme Court yesterday struck down a District law that
required employers to pay health benefits for up to a year to
injured employees receiving workers' compensation.
By an 8 to 1 vote, the court said the local law was preempted
by a federal statute, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974 (ERISA), which comprehensively regulates private employee
benefit plans.
Charles L. Reischel, deputy corporation counsel for the
District, said the court's ruling in District of Columbia v. the
Greater Washington Board of Trade makes workers vulnerable exactly
when they most need a safety net: when they are off the job because
of an injury.
"The purpose of the {District} law was to ...