Edward Bros. v. Labor & Industry Review Commission

**Edward Bros. v. Labor & Industry Review Commission: Court Protects Family Benefits** This case involved a worker who died before his workers' compensation claim for permanent disability was officially approved. The worker's family applied for death benefits, but the employer (Edward Bros.) argued they weren't entitled to these benefits since the permanent disability hadn't been formally established before the worker's death. The Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the worker's family. The court decided that dependents can still receive death benefits even when a worker dies before their permanent partial disability claim is officially processed and approved. The court reversed a lower court decision and upheld the Labor and Industry Review Commission's original ruling supporting the family. This decision is important for workers and their families because it ensures that death benefits won't be denied simply due to timing issues with paperwork or administrative delays. If a worker has a valid workers' compensation claim for permanent disability but dies before it's officially approved, their dependents can still receive the death benefits they deserve. This provides crucial financial protection for families during an already difficult time and prevents employers from avoiding responsibility based on procedural technicalities.