Applying Kentucky’s “up-the-ladder immunity” doctrine, a state appellate court vacated a trial court’s refusal to grant summary judgment in favor of a defendant corporation that had been sued in tort...
Kentucky Contractor Immune From Suit Filed by Employee of Subcontractor Kentucky Contractor Immune From Suit Filed by Employee of SubcontractorTwo Injured Workers File Petition With Oklahoma Supreme Court Two Oklahoma workers who were denied benefits under Injury Benefit Plans set up by their respective employers after the effective date...
Injured Workers Challenge Constitutionality of Oklahoma Opt Out Law Injured Workers Challenge Constitutionality of Oklahoma Opt Out LawSenate Bill 721 On Wednesday, state senator Mark Green (Republican from Clarksville), introduced Senate Bill 721 to the Tennessee legislature. If enacted, many Tennessee employers would be allowed to opt-out...
Workers’ Comp “Opt-Out” Bill Introduced in Tennessee Legislature Workers’ Comp “Opt-Out” Bill Introduced in Tennessee LegislatureA Federal District Court in Texas has refused to grant a motion for summary judgment filed by Defendant BP Products North America, Inc. (“BP Products”) in a civil action arising...
For Now, Exclusivity Does Not Bar Workers’ Tort Cases Against BP Products Following 2011 Chemical Release at Refinery For Now, Exclusivity Does Not Bar Workers’ Tort Cases Against BP Products Following 2011 Chemical Release at RefineryIn a decision handed down last Thursday [Morales v. Zenith Ins. Co., 2014 Fla. LEXIS 3555 (Dec. 4, 2014)], the Supreme Court of Florida may well have tipped its hand...
Commentary: Florida Supreme Court Hints at How It May Decide Constitutionality of Florida Comp Act Commentary: Florida Supreme Court Hints at How It May Decide Constitutionality of Florida Comp ActIn a 6–1 decision, the Supreme Court of Michigan has reversed a 2013 decision of a special panel of the state’s Court of Appeals, finding that a landscape worker was...
Michigan Supreme Court Clarifies Independent Contractor-Employee Distinction Michigan Supreme Court Clarifies Independent Contractor-Employee DistinctionA civil action filed by one equestrian exercise rider against another for injuries sustained when an anvil owned by the defendant fell from defendant’s vehicle and crushed plaintiff’s foot is...
NY: Co-employee Immunity Bars Exercise Rider’s Suit For Crushed Foot From Falling Anvil NY: Co-employee Immunity Bars Exercise Rider’s Suit For Crushed Foot From Falling AnvilDisruption Caused by Growth in Number of Temporary/Contingent Workers A few days ago, my close colleague, Robin Kobayashi, and I put the final touches on a new book, Workers’ Compensation...
Commentary: For Whom Are You Working? Ohio Court Creates Twilight Zone For Temporary Workers Commentary: For Whom Are You Working? Ohio Court Creates Twilight Zone For Temporary WorkersThe Wyoming Supreme Court, construing the statutory provision within the state’s Workers’ Compensation Act (“the Act”) defining “employee,” recently held that an an undocumented worker might be able to take...
Wyoming Court Says Undocumented Worker Might Be Able to Employ Ingenious Argument to Avoid Exclusive Remedy Defense Wyoming Court Says Undocumented Worker Might Be Able to Employ Ingenious Argument to Avoid Exclusive Remedy DefenseA California appellate court has sustained a demurrer to a complaint alleging, among other things, intentional infliction of emotional distress filed by a former employee of a car dealership against...
California Court Says Plaintiff’s IIED Claim is Barred by Exclusivity California Court Says Plaintiff’s IIED Claim is Barred by ExclusivityIn a case of first impression, an Illinois appellate court, reversing a decision by a state trial court, has ruled that neither the exclusive remedy provisions of the Illinois Workers’...
Illinois: Tort Action Against Employer Not Barred Where Workers’ Comp Claim Was Time-Barred Before Employee Ever Learned of It Illinois: Tort Action Against Employer Not Barred Where Workers’ Comp Claim Was Time-Barred Before Employee Ever Learned of ItIn what is likely the last few days of the current term of the United States Supreme Court, an army of prognosticators are looking up from their tea leaves into...
Oooops! In Ruling on Collateral Estoppel Issue, What Does a Court Do if Its Earlier Decision Was Actually Wrong? Oooops! In Ruling on Collateral Estoppel Issue, What Does a Court Do if Its Earlier Decision Was Actually Wrong?