Exploding Glue and Mermaid Dresses: When Workers’ Comp Gets Weird

It’s never funny when a worker is injured on the job, but some cases do raise eyebrows. In their annual look into some “unusual” Workers’ Comp cases, Jud and Alan uncover some incidents that challenged the system, some by just being so weird. Where did my ladder go? A worker on a rooftop was stuck when others removed the ladder and left the job. Desperate to get down, he jumped, suffering back and foot injuries. Is the worker to be blamed for intentionally jumping, or was he left with no choice?  The falling clipboard case. From the Supreme Court of Idaho, a helicopter pilot died in a crash when a passenger dropped a clipboard that struck the tail rotor and damaged it. Who’s liable? What’s an accident, and where does civil liability intersect with Workers’ Comp? A tryst in France, during a work trip, and the ensuing heart attack? Squeezing an oversized customer into a tiny mermaid-style wedding dress? Messing around with a flammable can of tire glue (at work)? Just as workers do unusual things, the courts also rule in unexpected ways. We can all learn from cases like these. If you have thoughts on Workers’ Comp law or an idea for a topic or guest you’d like to hear, contact us at [email protected] or [email protected].  Mentioned in This Episode: Thomas A. Robinson, WorkCompWriter.com “Krinitt v. Dept of Fish and Game,” Justia.com “The Surprisingly Broad Scope Definition of Workplace Accidents in France,” Proskauer “Lea v. David Bridal of Greensboro, Inc. (2019)” Findlaw “Zerofski's Case,” Massachusetts, 1982 “Employee Loses Testicle to Boss's Golf Swing: Court Affirms Boss's Liability,” FindLaw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices