Court: State's Sovereign Immunity Defeats Retaliation Claim

A Missouri appellate court said the state is immune from the law that prohibits retaliating against employees for filing workers' compensation claims. Case: Ellis Woodrum v. Missouri Department of Social Services, SD38940, 11/26/2025, published. Facts: Ellis Woodrum alleged that the Missouri Department of Social Services retaliated against him by constructively terminating his employment after he filed a workers' compensation claim. Procedural history: The Circuit Court of Lawrence County granted summary judgment in favor of the state, finding that sovereign immunity barred the clai...