Circuit Court Can't Grant Declaratory Judgment Outside of Jurisdiction

The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that a state circuit court had no authority to issue a declaratory judgment for claims that fell within the jurisdiction of the Workers' Compensation Commission. Case: Esterline Technologies Corp. v. Brownlee, No. CV-20-315, 02/18/2021. Facts and procedural history: Aaron Brownlee and Charles King worked for the Armtec Countermeasures Co., a subsidiary of Esterline Technologies Corp. Brownlee suffered injuries in an explosion at an Armtec facility, and he began receiving workers’ compensation benefits. Brownlee also filed a petition for declaratory...