Tennessee Supreme Court Upholds State’s Workers’ Compensation Injury Definition

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of Tennessee upheld the state’s definition of "injury" under workers’ compensation law, which requires that employment contribute more than 50% to the injury. The case, Worrell v. Obion County School District, involved a school district worker who suffered a shoulder injury and later sought coverage for shoulder replacement surgery. The worker’s claim was denied, and the denial was upheld by the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, which found that the injury did not meet the state’s stringent causation requirements.

The worker challenged the constitutionality of this definition, arguing that it violated state principles of substantive due process, equal protection, and open courts. However, the court found that the law served a legitimate government interest, such as reducing workers’ compensation premiums for employers, and did not unfairly discriminate against workers with preexisting conditions. The court also ruled that the law was consistent with prior state precedent, further solidifying Tennessee’s approach to workers’ compensation claims.

This decision reaffirms the state’s stringent requirements for proving work-related injuries, impacting how similar cases will be adjudicated in Tennessee moving forward.