Court Upholds Increase in Worker's Permanent Impairment

The New Jersey Superior Court’s Appellate Division upheld a 24% increase in a worker’s permanent impairment from the second of two back injuries. Case: Lawhon v. County of Monmouth, No. A-3070-24, 10/14/2026, unpublished. Facts: Jason Lawhon worked for the County of Monmouth as a heavy equipment operator. He injured his back at work in October 2021. Lawhon worked for the county full time, and starting in 2023, he began working an additional 20 hours each week at Home Depot. According to Lawhon, he began working part time at Home Depot to make ends meet because his wife lost her ...