Res Judicata Bars Police Officer's COVID Claim

The Commonwealth Court ruled that a police officer’s claim for benefits based on his contraction of COVID-19 was barred by res judicata. Case: Bolds v. City of Philadelphia (WCAB), No. 179 C.D. 2025, 08/04/2026, unpublished. Facts: William Bolds worked as a police officer for the City of Philadelphia. He tested positive for COVID-19 in March 2020. The city designated the time Bolds missed from work as “E-time,” or excused time. The city created the E-time designation during the pandemic to provide its employees full pay without depleting sick or vacation time. In January...