Workers’ compensation laws generally prohibit workers from suing their employers, but three pipeline workers tried to circumvent this and supplement their workers’ compensation payments by suing their employer’s owner, a holding company. A trial court judge allowed the suit to proceed, and a jury awarded $122 million in 2000; the Corpus Christi appeals court has now reversed. (“El Paso wins appeal in plant blast”, Houston Chronicle, Apr. 7; Coastal Corp. v. Torres, Mar. 25).
Texas court stops workers comp end-around
Workers’ compensation laws generally prohibit workers from suing their employers, but three pipeline workers tried to circumvent this and supplement their workers’ compensation payments by suing their employer’s owner, a holding company. A trial court judge allowed the suit to proceed, and a jury awarded $122 million in 2000; the Corpus Christi appeals court has […]
Comments are closed.