Millions Unclaimed in Ohio Workers’ Comp Overcharge Case

The law firm handling a $420 million state settlement over Ohio employers being overcharged for workers’ compensation premiums says millions of dollars weren’t claimed by the deadline.

The Bricker & Eckler law firm tells The Columbus Dispatch that 35,000 claims seeking $250 million were filed by the deadline a week ago. The total sought probably will increase as claims are tallied.

The settlement to be paid by the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation ends a class-action lawsuit that dragged on for years. A court found that Ohio’s state insurance fund for injured workers set up an illegal rating system that resulted in businesses being overcharged.

Hundreds of employers were eligible to get at least $100,000. Lawyer Christopher Ernst says 40 percent of those eligible employers haven’t filed a claim.