Ohio Appeals Ruling That Employers Were Overcharged

The state is appealing a court ruling that says Ohio’s state insurance fund for injured workers set up an illegal rating system that resulted in employers being overcharged nearly $860 million over several years.

The unanimous decision by the 8th Ohio District Court of Appeals in May affects about 270,000 mostly small-business owners who were allegedly charged unfair premiums from July 2001 to June 2009.

The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation announced Friday it is appealing to the Ohio Supreme Court, saying it looks forward to presenting its case.

The appeals court returned the case to a Cleveland judge to recalculate the exact amount owed employers, a process that can run parallel to the Supreme Court appeal.