Unpaid Volunteer Driver Didn't Qualify as Transit Authority 'Employee'

The Vermont Supreme Court last week lent some truth to the adage that “no good deed goes unpunished,” ruling that an unpaid volunteer cannot recover benefits for injuries she suffered while providing public transportation services for Chittenden County residents in need of a lift. Since Joanne Perrault received no wages for her work, the court unanimously concluded that she could not be considered a Chittenden County Transportation Authority “employee” for workers’ compensation purposes. The CCTA runs a program that provides transportation to medical, social ser...