Supreme Court of Louisiana
Authement v. Shappert Engineering
February 25, 2003840 So. 2d 1181
Summary
The court held that an employer's or insurer's unjustified failure to authorize recommended medical treatment may constitute a failure to furnish workers' compensation benefits, supporting penalties and attorney fees unless the claim was reasonably controverted. It further held that, under the circumstances, refusing to prepay the authorized specialist's required examination fee constituted a failure to provide payment. The court reversed the court of appeal and reinstated the workers' compensation hearing officer's award.