Teague Campbell: Two-Year Limit on Occupational Disease Claims

Ervin Rainey worked as an automotive mechanic assistant for the City of Charlotte, N.C., where he had worked for 18 years. This job required frequent, strenuous use of both his arms and shoulders.  On May 9, 2000, Rainey’s doctor advised him that he had severe osteoarthritis in the right shoulder and that he would likely need a right total shoulder arthroplasty in the near future.  Rainey testified that his doctor advised that he would need replacements done in both his shoulders, even though the medical record only mentioned the right shoulder.  Rainey declined sur...