A Pennsylvania Court has ruled that the Philadelphia Eagles must pay workers’ compensation benefits for the career-ending injury of a former player.
The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court found that the Eagles didn't follow the rules and ordered the team to pay workers' compensation benefits to former Eagle, Victor Abiamiri.
Abiamiri wasn't able to play during the 2011 season because he suffered a right Achilles tendon rupture during practice in August of that year. In April 2012, a month after leaving the Eagles, he suffered an identical injury to his left Achilles tendon.
The Eagles had appealed to the Commonwealth Court after an administrative judge and the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board ruled that the team violated state regulations by not reporting Abiamiri's first injury as a workers' compensation case.
The Eagles argued that Abiamiri's second injury wasn't work-related. They noted the team had paid for his medical treatment, including surgery, and paid him his regular salary after the August 2011 rupture.
The Court found that the workers' comp board was correct in awarding him compensation. Further, because of their initial failure to report Abiamiri's case, the Eagles were ordered to pay an additional 50 percent penalty on the awarded compensation.
Source: Pennlive.com
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