Court Upholds PTD Award for Worker Hit by Falling Tree

A Missouri appellate court upheld an award of permanent total disability benefits for a worker who suffered a severe back injury after a tree fell on him. Case: Jackson County v. Earnest, No. WD81083, 02/27/2018, published. Facts: Marc Earnest began working as a laborer for Jackson County in February 2014. In March 2014, his supervisor assigned him the task of chopping down a large tree. When the tree fell, it struck Earnest, knocking him unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he discovered the tree had landed on his leg and torso. Earnest’s coworkers helped pull him free, and...