JUDGE UPHOLDS JOINT, SEVERAL LIABILITY

Franklin Circuit Court Judge William L. Graham has ruled in Frankfort, Ky., that members of the failed workers’ compensation self-insured group AIK Comp are liable for the deficit in its fund.

The ruling affirms the enforcement by regulators of “joint and several liability” among members of self-insured groups. It also ensures continued payments for claims of injured workers.

“This is a major victory for the injured workers who rely on this fund,” explained Glenn Jennings, AIK Comp rehabilitator and executive director of the Kentucky Office of Insurance. “The goal of the rehabilitation always has been to ensure adequate funds exist to pay injured worker claims in a timely manner at the lowest possible cost to AIK Comp members. Now that this obstacle has been overcome, we can move forward to explore ways to achieve that goal.”

The order finds that accusations of fraud and misrepresentation by third parties do not release members from their obligations under the joint and several liability agreements.

AIK Comp entered into voluntary rehabilitation on Aug. 5, 2004. In November 2004, the rehabilitator assessed members for a $58.5 million deficit. In late 2004, the fund was forced to quit writing new business due to litigation over the assessments and uncertainty in the market. The deficit is now $97.3 million and AIK Comp has taken legal action against those members who have not paid the assessment amount. KOI is an agency of the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet.