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Plaintiffs, employees of St. Thomas Hospital, sued their employer for common law negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress after being exposed to hazardous levels of carbon monoxide at their workplace, the St. Thomas Hospital Employees Credit Union. The employer filed a motion for summary judgment, asserting that workers' compensation law provided the exclusive remedy, but the trial court denied it, concluding the injuries did not 'arise out of' employment. On extraordinary appeal, the court reversed this decision, finding that despite carbon monoxide not being a typical hazard for a credit union, the specific physical environment of their workplace (above an improperly vented water heater) made it a risk inherent to their employment. Therefore, the injuries had a causal connection to the employment, and the workers' compensation law barred the tort claims.
Coleman v. St. Thomas Hospital is a workers' compensation case decided in Court of Appeals of Tennessee. This case addresses legal issues related to compensation claims, benefits, and court rulings.
It is commonly referenced in legal research involving workers' compensation laws in Court of Appeals of Tennessee.
Full Decision Text1 Pages
Plaintiffs, employees of St. Thomas Hospital, sued their employer for common law negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress after being exposed to hazardous levels of carbon monoxide at their workplace, the St. Thomas Hospital Employees Credit Union. The employer filed a motion for summary judgment, asserting that workers' compensation law provided the exclusive remedy, but the trial court denied it, concluding the injuries did not 'arise out of' employment. On extraordinary appeal, the court reversed this decision, finding that despite carbon monoxide not being a typical hazard for a credit union, the specific physical environment of their workplace (above an improperly vented water heater) made it a risk inherent to their employment. Therefore, the injuries had a causal connection to the employment, and the workers' compensation law barred the tort claims.
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