text: The settlement involving Wal-Mart's claims administration unit and Concentra Health Services Inc. in Colorado also is troubling since it is believed to be the first payout resulting from recent suits alleging that employers' and workers comp service providers' claims management practices violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, several observers say (see related story).
  In winning the settlement of Josephine Gianzero et al. v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the 13,521 plaintiffs circumvented the exclusive remedy provision typical in state laws that limits employers' liability for injured employees to workers comp payments, observers said.