Injured Benjamin Franklin Bridge Worker Case Not Actionable in Pennsylvania
A workers’ compensation case involving a man who was injured while working as a painter on the Ben Franklin Bridge cannot be litigated in Pennsylvania, says Commonwealth Court panel. The man sustained injuries to his wrist after he fell while painting the bridge. Pennsylvania and New Jersey jointly own the bridge. Because the man was […]
Liability of employee for an on-the-job prank that injures a co-worker
Some horseplay can be expected at work. Usually, pranks are harmless, but what are the consequences if an employee suffers an injury? A firefighter for the City of Linden was on duty at a firehouse. As he sat down on a toilet in the men’s restroom, he felt an explosion beneath him. Remnants of an […]
Employer’s idiopathic defense against workers’ compensation claim in New Jersey
An employer may try to defeat a workers’ compensation claim on the ground that the injury was idiopathic. The theory behind the defense is that the job did not cause the injury because the same injury would have resulted if the employee had not been on the job. A recent decision of the Appellate Division […]
Determining when an employee is within the scope of employment proves challenging
When is an employee within the scope of employment? The question arises when an employee files a workers’ compensation claim. The same question is asked when an employee files a negligence or personal injury action against an employer. Recently, a worker for the Department of Public Works (DPW) for the City of Passaic, New Jersey […]
Worker’s injury in explosion leads to large settlement
A worker, an electrician’s assistant, who was injured in an explosion at a warehouse in Middlesex, New Jersey, settled his lawsuit for over $3 million. The case illustrates principles that workers on construction or other projects should keep in mind. You can file a workers’ compensation claim against your employer for an injury you suffer […]
Workers’ compensation and carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a painful condition of the wrist that is caused by repetitive movements. It is common and can be considered a work-related injury in some cases. If those who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome can prove that job duties indeed caused the condition, they may be eligible for compensation. Carpal tunnel syndrome […]
New Jersey’s “Premises Rule” and Workers’ Compensation
When a worker is hurt on the job and files a workers’ compensation claim, does it matter where the injury occurs? Of course, yes, it does. In New Jersey, the “premises rule” protects workers wherever they are performing their required duties or on employer-owned or controlled properties and areas. Before the premises rule existed, New […]
New Jersey woman awarded $1.6 million for spinal surgery caused by rear end crash
In 2013, a New Jersey woman was rear ended by a negligent driver. Although the damage to both vehicles were minor, the woman nonetheless suffered from neck and back injuries. The injury to the her cervical (neck) spine was more severe and required a significant amount of treatment. Cervical spine injuries, or more commonly known […]
Robots or cobots causing injuries to workers
Workers and robots – or cobots – work side-by-side in some factories and distribution centers. Accidents will inevitably happen. A robot in an Amazon warehouse in Robbinsville, New Jersey, punctured a can of bear repellant, exposing over 50 employees to fumes. Workers experienced difficulty breathing and burning throats and eyes. Two dozen of the workers […]
Petrillo and Goldberg attorneys named “Awesome Attorneys” by South Jersey magazine
Attorneys Steven Petrillo and Scott Goldberg of Pennsauken, New Jersey law firm Petrillo and Goldberg have been named to South Jersey magazine’s list of “Awesome Attorneys” for 2018 in the Personal Injury Law category. This is a particularly high honor as it is based on the nominations and votes of South Jersey magazine readers. As […]