Court Upholds Verdict for Injured Miner

A Kentucky jury found Lazarus Coal liable for retaliating against miner Abram Scott Adkins after a falling rock injured his arm.
Adkins filed a lawsuit alleging the company unlawfully punished him for exercising his workers’ compensation rights under state law.
The Kentucky Court of Appeals officially upheld this initial liability verdict against the employer.
However, the appellate court ordered a recalculation of Adkins’ court-awarded attorney fees.

Following a workers’ compensation denial, Pamela Rousseau filed an airport injury lawsuit against the City of Houston.
The municipality moved for a summary judgment dismissal based on its governmental immunity.
However, the Texas Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of the city’s motion.
This appellate decision permits the employee’s negligence lawsuit to proceed.

Court Reverses Board’s Denial of Injured Worker’s Appeal Cover Sheet Flaws

A New York appellate court reversed a Workers’ Compensation Board decision that denied an injured retail store assistant manager’s application for review.
The Board initially rejected the worker’s appeal because her application form contained omissions regarding the date and method of filing and service.
The court ruled that denying an application based on minor mistakes on a cover sheet violates workers’ compensation law.
Because the claimant met actual deadline requirements and her employer faced no prejudice, the court deemed the Board’s denial an abuse of discretion.