Divided Supreme Court Reinstates Occupational Disease Claim for COVID-19

A divided Nebraska Supreme Court revived a health care worker’s occupational disease claim based on her COVID-19 infection in the early days of the pandemic. Christine Thiele worked as a nurse liaison for Select Medical Corp., which operates a critical care recovery hospital adjacent to Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha. In March 2020, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Select designated Thiele, who normally worked remotely, as an essential health care worker and required her to report to the hospital. From March 16 to April 6, 2020, other than going to or conducting duties for work...