Bobby Saarinen and Chris Williams, supervisory employees at Williams Manufacturing, Inc., sought an appeal after the Franklin Circuit Court denied their motion for a summary judgment regarding a personal-injury action filed against them by Louis Hall. In 2014, Hall was injured while using a power saw at Williams Manufacturing. He originally sued the company and its supervisory employees for negligence, willfulness, and recklessness. Williams Manufacturing was dismissed from the suit, claiming that the Alabama Workers' Compensation Act covered Hall's injury.
Hall then alleged that the supervisors had removed a safety guard from the saw, which led to his injury. Saarinen and Williams, in their defense, invoked a section of the Alabama Code which stated that co-employees could only be liable for willful conduct causing injury. The main contention arose around whether the failure to replace an older saw with a newer, safer saw (which was already present on the premises but not in operation) equaled the removal of a safety guard.
Past case law had interpreted "removal" liberally, equating "failure to install" or "bypassing" a safety device to its removal. However, the Court found no such negligence by the co-employees in this case and ruled that simply not installing a safer saw present on the premises did not equate to willful conduct as per the Alabama Code. Therefore, the trial court's judgment was reversed, and the case was remanded.
"Special Employee" Status Shields Midsouth from Negligence Claims: Court Validates Exclusive-Remedy Provisions
Court Sides with Defendant in Workplace Injury Case, Granting Immunity Under Workers' Compensation Act
Court Upholds Dismissal of Plaintiff's Claims against Employer on Grounds of Expiry and Lack of Evidence
Defendant's Petition for Dismissal of Plaintiff's Claims Denied by Court
Court Reverses Ruling on Defendant's Status as Employer's Agent in Plaintiff's Accident Case
Interpretation of "Employer" under the Workers' Compensation Act Challenges Defendant's Claim to Immunity
Defendant's Mandamus Petition Denied: Alleged Post-Accident Negligence Not Covered by Workers' Compensation Exclusivity Provisions
Court Upholds City of Muscle Shoals' Claim to Immunity Over Gattman Park Injury
Tenax Granted Immunity in Worker's Injury Lawsuit due to Alabama Workers' Compensation Act
Rock Wool Asserts Worker's Injury Claims Barred by Workers' Compensation Act, Countering Casons' Suit under Employer's Liability Ac
Court Rules on Dismissal and Jury Trial Issues in Workplace Assault Case
TDY Employee's Injury Lawsuit Faces Jurisdiction Challenge on Appeal After Key Counts Dismissed by Trial Court.
Court Debates Enforceability of Unapproved Workers' Compensation Settlement After Employee's Death
Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals Limited to Workers' Compensation Remedies
Plaintiff Appealed a Summary Judgment in Favor of APCo on Claims of Negligence and Wantonness
Tort Claims Against Special Employer are Barred by Exclusive-Remedy Provision of the Act
No Evidence of Toxicity Exposure or Work-Related Disease
Procedural Dispute of Proper Court to review Exclusivity Provisions
Administrative Rule deemed Willful Conduct: Claim Allowed under Exclusive Remedy Provisions
Release of Claims Under Workers' Compensation Act does not include Claims Based on Willful Removal of Safety Devicee
"Special Employee" Status Shields Midsouth from Negligence Claims: Court Validates Exclusive-Remedy Provisions
Court Reverses Dismissal of Injured Worker's Tort Claims Related to Post-Accident Care
Tenax Granted Immunity in Worker's Injury Lawsuit due to Alabama Workers' Compensation Act
Rock Wool Asserts Worker's Injury Claims Barred by Workers' Compensation Act, Countering Casons' Suit under Employer's Liability Ac
Court Rules on Dismissal and Jury Trial Issues in Workplace Assault Case
TDY Employee's Injury Lawsuit Faces Jurisdiction Challenge on Appeal After Key Counts Dismissed by Trial Court.
A Prolonged Battle Over Workers' Compensation and Negligence Claims
Plaintiff Appealed a Summary Judgment in Favor of APCo on Claims of Negligence and Wantonness
Tort Claims Against Special Employer are Barred by Exclusive-Remedy Provision of the Act
Procedural Dispute of Proper Court to review Exclusivity Provisions
Release of Claims Under Workers' Compensation Act does not include Claims Based on Willful Removal of Safety Devicee