Swinson v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

**Worker Loses Case After Refusing Most of His Physical Therapy** A worker named Swinson sued his employer C&G Welding, Inc. and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission over what appears to be a workplace injury dispute. Swinson was seeking "maintenance and cure" benefits, which typically cover medical expenses and basic living costs while a worker recovers from a job-related injury. The court sided with the employer and dismissed Swinson's claim for these benefits. The reason was straightforward: Swinson had skipped more than 75% of his prescribed physical therapy sessions. The court ruled that by refusing to follow his medical treatment plan, Swinson had acted unreasonably and forfeited his right to these benefits. **What This Means for Workers:** This case shows that injured workers have responsibilities too. If you're hurt on the job and receiving benefits for medical care, you generally need to follow your doctor's treatment recommendations. Skipping most of your physical therapy or other prescribed treatments can be grounds for losing your benefits entirely. Workers should take their recovery seriously and attend scheduled medical appointments, as failing to do so can hurt both their health and their legal rights to compensation.