Magnifying Glass

Did Lab Have to Swallow Bitter Pill of $10 million Punitive Damages Award?
Did Lab Have to Swallow Bitter Pill of $10 million Punitive Damages Award?

What Do You Think? An employer can get sued for failing to reasonably accommodate an employee with a disability. But did you know that courts may award punitive damages to a worker who wins her […]
Could Electrician who Fell through Unmarked Mezzanine Hole Sue Employer?
Could Electrician who Fell through Unmarked Mezzanine Hole Sue Employer?

What Do You Think? Employees generally can’t sue employers for monetary damages in court. Workers’ compensation is the exclusive remedy, in most cases, and tends to zap those cases right out of court. But consider […]
Did Hospital’s Discouragement of FMLA use Amount to Interference?
Did Hospital’s Discouragement of FMLA use Amount to Interference?

What Do You Think? Employers can engage in FMLA interference by taking adverse action, or threatening to do so, in response to an employee’s use of FMLA leave.  That was a laboratory technician’s claim in […]
Could Widow Get Survivor Benefits after Officer Shot Himself at Work?
Could Widow Get Survivor Benefits after Officer Shot Himself at Work?

What Do You Think? To be compensable, an injury must be caused by the job in some way. A case involving the suicide of a police officer shows how critical expert testimony can be to […]
Could Widow of Prison Guard Killed after Meeting Receive Benefits?
Could Widow of Prison Guard Killed after Meeting Receive Benefits?

What Do You Think? The special mission exception can make an injury compensable even when it occurs while the employee is travelling. This can include travel to a company meeting. But what if the meeting […]
Was Home Healthcare Worker an Employee for Va. Workers’ Comp Purposes?
Was Home Healthcare Worker an Employee for Va. Workers’ Comp Purposes?

What Do You Think? A worker is generally considered an employee, not an independent contractor, if the company has the power to control her work. But what if she does all her work in a […]
Did ‘Repugnant’ Smells of Acetone, Alloys Show Claimant’s Job Damaged her Lungs?
Did ‘Repugnant’ Smells of Acetone, Alloys Show Claimant’s Job Damaged her Lungs?

What Do You Think? A claimant doesn’t have to provide expert medical testimony to show that her work caused her injury if it’s obvious that it did under the circumstances. But is it enough that […]
Was Worker in Car that Flipped on Way to Jobsite ‘In Course Of’ Employment?
Was Worker in Car that Flipped on Way to Jobsite ‘In Course Of’ Employment?

What Do You Think? Employees injured on the way to or from work are generally not entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for their injuries. There’s an exception to that rule where the employer provides the […]