Supreme Court Pesticide Case Could Limit Injured Employees to Workers’ Comp as Exclusive Remedy
- The Supreme Court will determine if federal pesticide law preempts state-level failure-to-warn lawsuits related to occupational chemical exposure.
- The case involves a worker who claims to have developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after using Roundup while on the job for several years.
- The Court’s decision will impact whether workers can seek damages beyond workers’ compensation through third-party lawsuits against manufacturers.
- State-based claims are currently the main legal route for employees pursuing compensation for toxic workplace exposures.
Austin Firefighter Denied Workers’ Comp for Cancer Cites Gender Gap in Texas Law
- Austin firefighter Suzanne La Follette, a 19-year veteran, was denied workers’ compensation benefits after being diagnosed with Stage 4 endometrial cancer in May 2025.
- The city’s denial letter categorized her illness as a “disease of life” rather than a job-related condition.
- Current Texas statutes provide presumptive coverage for several cancers primarily affecting men but exclude female reproductive cancers.
- La Follette is currently appealing the decision to secure medical coverage and line-of-duty death benefits.
Why Secondary Stress is the New Hidden Cost in American Workers’ Comp Claims
- New research shows that workers often deal with extra stress and mental health issues after getting hurt on the job.
- Things like slow paperwork or unsupportive bosses make it harder for people to get back to work.
- In the U.S., these secondary mental health problems are usually covered by workers’ comp, which makes claims much more expensive.
- Because of this, American insurance companies are now trying to spot these risks early to save money.