Mississippi Supreme Court Finds Assault at Job Covered by Workers’ Comp

A person will get assaulted at work by two co-workers. Is the person’s recourse for his accidents restricted solely to the unique treatment of the employees’ compensation system?

The Mississippi Supreme Courtroom this month mentioned, “sure,” regardless of the worker’s claims of negligent hiring and vicarious legal responsibility towards the employer. In Schaffner Manufacturing Co. vs. Darius Powell, the court docket reversed a decrease court docket and located that the Mississippi’s Staff’ Compensation Act governs the claims.

And though the legislation defines a office damage as one arising from an accident, the justices mentioned that acts of gross negligence and recklessness fall into that class.

Powell had claimed that the 2 different staff on the Jackson, Mississippi, manufacturing website assaulted him in 2017. Eighteen months later, he filed a lawsuit towards the lads and the producer, a maker of cleaning soap and mineral merchandise.

The trial court docket discovered that the claims towards the co-workers had been barred by a one-year statute of limitations. However the claims towards Schaffner, for negligent hiring and supervision and vicarious legal responsibility, had been allowed and weren’t ruled by the employees’ comp grand discount, the trial court docket discovered.

Schaffner, which has workplaces in Pittsburgh, appealed. The Mississippi Supreme Courtroom agreed with the employer and concluded that the employees’ compensation system was the unique venue for all claims towards the producer.

“Making use of Mississippi legislation to the face of the criticism, Powell’s claims of negligent hiring, retention, supervision, and basic negligence for failing to offer a secure work surroundings are all claims of direct negligence towards Schaffner,” Chief Justice Michael Randolph wrote for the court docket. “These claims correctly fall inside the scope of the (Staff’ Comp) Act. Subsequently, the Act is Powell’s unique treatment for these claims, and people claims ought to have been dismissed.”

Subjects
Workers’ Compensation
Talent
Mississippi