Appeals Decision in Occupational Disease Lawsuit Shakes Employers

By Bill Kidd, Central Bureau ChiefAn appeals court ruling last week that occupational diseases aren’t covered by Missouri’s workers’ compensation law – meaning workers who contract job-related illnesses can file civil actions against their employers – is raising alarms with employers.The decision was no surprise to many workers’ compensation system participants – particularly those who had raised the issue with lawmakers earlier this year.On Sept. 13, Missouri's Western District Court of Appeals ruled in a 7-2 decision that workers' compensatio...