Attorneys Debate Impact of Courts Ruling on Civil Liability for Statutory Employers

A Missouri appellate court last week put businesses in the state on notice: If they wish to defend against a tort claim by raising the exclusive remedy provisions of the state Workers' Compensation Act, they better be prepared to show they have comp insurance. Dean L. Christianson, a claimants' attorney with Schuchat, Cook & Werner, said Monday that he found the court's decision in Harman v. Manheim Remarketing Inc. noteworthy, with wide potential impact on any employer with statutory employees. "This is the sort of case the Supreme Court would take," he opined...