Worker's Compensation

Having experienced substantial legislative changes in 1990, the workers' compensation pendulum swung back to the appellate courts during the most recent survey period, resulting in equally far-reaching developments. The flurry of appellate decisions is notable for the efforts of Georgia's appellate courts to strike a balance between the humane purposes of the Workers' Compensation Act (the "Act") and the ever-increasing economic burdens placed upon society by both the workers' compensation system and health care in general. The decisions concerning the parameters of suitable employment, the all-issues statute of limitations, and the exclusive remedy doctrine typify the ebb and flow of the judicial reasoning demonstrated over the last survey period. For this reason, these three areas are considered first in the Article, followed by a survey of the remaining cases that significantly affect Georgia workers' compensation law.