Pabst Brews a Legal Storm

On April 15, 2026, the Wisconsin Supreme Court handed down a landmark ruling that will reverberate through asbestos litigation, workers’ compensation law, and premises liability for years to come. In Estate of Carol Lorbiecki v. Pabst Brewing Co., 2026 WI 12, the court held that a brewery owner could be found liable under Wisconsin’s Safe Place Statute for a steamfitter’s fatal mesothelioma, even though the worker was employed by an independent contractor, not by Pabst. The decision affirms a $6.9 million judgment, including punitive damages, and clarifies important principles governing the rights of workers exposed to occupational hazards on third-party premises.

EPA Sued Over Asbestos

On April 21, 2026, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its Administrator Lee Zeldin in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The complaint, filed as Case No. 1:26-cv-01350, seeks to compel the EPA to fulfill a mandatory, non-discretionary duty under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), a duty that has gone unfulfilled for over a year, leaving millions of workers and their families exposed to the continuing hazard of legacy asbestos.

Gig Workers Without a Safety Net

How the Platform Economy Is Reshaping Workers’ Compensation Claims

CCIP Coverage: Enrollment Isn't Enough

A construction subcontractor in New Jersey learned a hard lesson in March 2026: a certificate of insurance confirming wrap-up enrollment does not guarantee actual coverage. 

New Jersey's AI Workforce Crisis

New Jersey's labor market is sounding alarms. In just the first ten weeks of 2026, WARN filings reveal that 3,857 workers across the state have been affected by mass layoff notices — an 83% surge compared to the same period in 2025. 

Badges Don't Make Employees

Sanger v. Next Level Business Services — A Cautionary Tale for Gig-Economy Workers

Flames That Forged Justice

 The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and the Birth of American Labor Rights