Court Clarifies Burden of Proof for Worker Asserting Occupational Disease Claim

The North Carolina Court of Appeals clarified that an employee pursuing benefits for an occupational disease is required to present expert medical evidence in order to establish that the conditions of his employment placed him at a greater risk than members of the general public. Case: Briggs v. Debbie’s Staffing, No. COA17-778, 03/06/2018, published. Facts: Willard Briggs worked for Permatech from June 2010 through April 2012. He then began working for two temporary employment companies, Debbie’s Staffing and Employment Plus. Permatech is a refractory manufacturer, making trou...