Effective January 1, 2017, the mileage reimbursement rate for travel of injured workers to and from medical appointments was reduced from 54 cents per mile to 53.5 cents per mile. The maximum weekly compensation benefit rate increased from $785.00 to $817.00 effective that same date.
On December 8, 2016, Governor Pete Ricketts announced his appointment of Dirk V. Block to the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court. Judge Block, 55, is the former managing partner for the firm Marks, Clare, and Richards, LLC in Omaha. Judge Block holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and a Juris Doctor from Creighton University School of Law. He has received the Martindale Hubbell “AV” peer review rating since 2005.
The vacancy filled by Judge Block is due to the retirement of Judge Laureen K. Van Norman. Judge Block was sworn in to serve on the bench of the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court on Jan. 13, 2017.