Employee Without Valid Settlement Can't Pursue Breach-of-Contract Claim

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that no valid compromise and release agreement existed between an employee and her employer, so she could not pursue a contract action to force a settlement to which the employer had not agreed. Brenda Searfoss worked for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She filed a workers’ compensation claim in 2016, and the state offered her a lump-sum payment of $125,000 to settle the wage loss portion. Searfoss alleged that she was told she needed to apply for a disability pension before a compromise and release hearing could be held, so she sough...