Scheynost Law Offices, P.S.C.

03/25/2024

Why we have OSHA.

03/09/2024

In Jefferson County, Kentucky, you can find a will admitted to Probate Court here if you know the name of the decedent:
https://search.jeffersondeeds.com/

If you’re listed as a beneficiary in the will, your sister as the executor is required to ensure you receive your inheritance.

03/07/2024

A workplace fatality is a tragic situation. No family should have to go through this. However, if it happens, there are death and survivorship benefits provided by workers' compensation. In Episode 27, I'll explain what's involved.

If your loved one suffered a workplace fatality, there are death and survivorship benefits from workers' comp. In Episode 27 Scott Scheynost explains.

03/06/2024

Since its flood and storm season:
"Renters insurance will generally pay for water damage caused by snow and ice melting on the roof and seeping into your apartment, a sudden and unexpected broken pipe, and rain drenching your belongings after a storm tears off part of the building’s roof."

Whether renters insurance covers water damage depends on the cause of the damage. For instance, renters insurance will pay for damage caused by a sudden burst pipe but you likely won't get money if a flood from a storm floods your apartment. When Does Renters Insurance Cover Water Damage? R

02/28/2024

Are Workers Compensation benefits taxable as income?

This time of year clients ask if their WC benefits are taxable. The IRS considers benefits paid under the workers compensation system for lost wages as exempt. If there is a SSDI offset, that could be taxable as income.

IRS Publication 525 reads:
Workers' Compensation
Amounts you receive as workers' compensation for an occupational sickness or injury are fully exempt from tax if they're paid under a workers' compensation act or a statute in the nature of a workers' compensation act. The exemption also applies to your survivors. The exemption, however, doesn't apply to retirement plan benefits you receive based on your age, length of service, or prior contributions to the plan, even if you retired because of an occupational sickness or injury.

Part of your workers' compensation reduces your social security or equivalent railroad retirement benefits received, that part is considered social security (or equivalent railroad retirement) benefits and may be taxable. See Pub. 554 and Pub. 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits, for more information.

Return to work. If you return to work after qualifying for workers' compensation, salary payments you receive for performing light duties are taxable as wages.

Disability pension. If your disability pension is paid under a statute that provides benefits only to employees with service-connected disabilities, part of it may be workers' compensation. That part is exempt from tax. The rest of your pension, based on years of service, is taxable as pension or annuity income. If you die, the part of your survivors' benefit that is a continuation of the workers' compensation is exempt from tax.

02/22/2024

After a workplace injury, you might learn that a nurse case manager has been assigned to your claim. He/she might show up at your doctor's appointment. Don't be confused as to WHY they are there. I'll explain in Episode 26. Click below to listen.

Louisville workers' compensation attorney Scott Scheynost explains what a nurse case manager does that you need to consider, in Episode 26.

01/14/2024

Courts don’t ask for money over the phone.

Protect Yourself Against Jury Scams including calls from those claiming to be court officials/law enforcement. Kentucky Court of Justice never asks for payment, credit card numbers or SSNs. https://kcoj.info/JuryService

01/08/2024

The U.S. Department of Labor found 1,994 Kentucky workers are owed about $1 million in back pay. Here's how to see if you qualify and claim your wages

01/02/2024

An injury at work usually qualifies for workers' comp benefits. However, did you know you may also qualify for money and benefits from other types of claims? I'll explain in Episode 25.

Hurt at work? Your workers' comp claim can lead to other claims. Louisville workers' comp attorney Scott Scheynost explains in Episode 25.

01/01/2024

Happy PUBLIC DOMAIN DAY, for those who celebrate it:
'This year in the United States, the earliest incarnation of Mickey Mouse enters the public domain through “Steamboat Willie,” . . . accompanied by literary works “The House at Pooh Corner,” which introduced the character Tigger, “Lady Chatterley’s Lover,” “An American in Paris,” and more.'

Today is Public Domain Day.

When a creative work’s copyright expires, it enters the public domain – meaning anyone can legally use or reference that work without permission. The legal transition of copyright works into the public domain usually happens every year on 1 January based on the individual copyright laws of each country.

This year in the United States, the earliest incarnation of Mickey Mouse enters the public domain through “Steamboat Willie,” an animated short film that served as the character’s debut. “Steamboat Willie” is accompanied by literary works “The House at Pooh Corner,” which introduced the character Tigger, “Lady Chatterley’s Lover,” “An American in Paris,” and more.

Around the world, other creations also enter the public domain, including the poem “Do not go gentle into that good night,” by Dylan Thomas, and the compositions of Romani-French jazz icon Django Reinhardt, most famous for the 1937 tune “Minor Swing”.

See a longer list of what is entering the public domain and read more: https://w.wiki/8TiF

1️⃣ Steamboat Willie, Public domain.