One of the remedies available to injured workers who have been discharged in retaliation for filing a workers’ compensation claim is a common law action. The failure to adequately plead a retaliation action in the complaint will result in the dismissal of the action.
FACTS
A 63-year-old female employee was physically assaulted by a male co-worker while waiting to push out of work. The injured worker was. She was employed for 20 years as a line worker in a window manufacturing factory; she had no negative performance reviews.
The assault occurred when the male worker, employed for three years with the company, grabbed her arm and called her a “fresh old woman.” The woman yelled, and he released her, and she suffered injuries to her neck, shoulder, and back, including multiple disc herniations. Complaints filed with Human Resources of the Copland resulted in the injured worker being discharged and terminated.
The injured worker filed an action in Federal Court alleging: 1. Age discrimination; 2. disability discrimination; and 3. workers’ compensation retaliation. The court dismissed all three counts without prejudice.
COMPLAINT DEFICIENT
Specifically focussing on the workers’ compensation discrimination cost, the court found the complaint fatally flawed. Two elements must be proven to adequately plead a. common law action for discharge for retaliatory discrimination flowing from a workers’ compensation claim. First, the employee must have made or attempted to claim benefits under the NJ Workers’ Compensation Act. Second, the employee was discharged for making a claim.
DISMISSED
The court held that neither of the above elements was alleged, and the complaint filed in Federal Court did not mention workers’ compensation law.
ANALYSIS
“A common law action for wrongful discrimination based upon an alleged retaliatory firing attributed to the filing of a workers' compensation claim is also available to an employee. N.J.S.A. 34:15-39.1 and 34:15-39.2 provide the basis upon which judicial remedies may be sought. The judicial remedies would include loss of wages and reinstatement of employment, as well as other compensatory and punitive damages.” Lally v. Copygraphics, 173 N.J.Super. 162, 413 A.2d 960 (App.Div.1980), aff'd 85 N.J. 668, 428 A.2d 1317 (1981). Gelman, Jon L, Workers’ Compensation Law, 38 NJPRAC 32.1 (Thomson-Reuters 2022).
CONCEPCION v. SILVER LINE BUILDING PRODUCTS, Civil Action No. 21-17920 (MAS)(TJB) (D.N.Y. May 31, 2022). NOT FOR PUBLICATION
No unpublished opinion shall be cited to any court by counsel unless the court and all other parties are served with a copy of the opinion and of all contrary unpublished opinions known to counsel. NJ Rule 1-36
Recommended Citation: Gelman, Jon L., Common Law Discrimination Complaint Fatally Flawed, Workers' Compensation Blog, June 8, 2022), https://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/2022/06/common-law-discrimination-complaint.html
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Jon L. Gelman of Wayne, NJ, is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (Thomson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (Thomson-Reuters). For over five decades, the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have represented injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
Blog: Workers ' Compensation
Twitter: jongelman
LinkedIn: JonGelman
LinkedIn Group: Injured Workers Law & Advocacy Group
Author: "Workers' Compensation Law" Thomson-Reuters
