High Court: Exclusivity Applies Despite Dismissed Comp Claim

A unanimous Oklahoma Supreme Court held that exclusivity prohibits a man from suing his employer for negligence even after he dismissed his workers' compensation claim. James B. Faulkner suffered a traumatic brain injury when a 30-pound piece of machinery fell from about 40 feet and hit his hard hat while he worked on a drill line at an oil rig in 2019. He initiated a workers' compensation action and ultimately received about $265,000 in combined medical and indemnity benefits. He also sued his employer, Cactus Drilling Co., for negligence and gross negligence. Cactus moved to ...