Adams v. Kline & Kavali Mechanical Contrs., L.L.C.

**Worker Sues Employer Over Equipment Safety Guard Removal** Adams sued his employer, Kline & Kavali Mechanical Contractors, claiming the company intentionally caused him harm by removing or disabling safety guards on work equipment. Adams argued this was an intentional tort - meaning his employer deliberately acted to hurt him, not just through negligence or an accident. The court issued a mixed ruling on the employer's request for summary judgment (a decision without a full trial). Under Ohio law, workers can only sue their employers for intentional torts in very limited circumstances. The employer must have specifically intended to injure the worker and actively participated in creating the dangerous situation. The court had to determine whether Adams provided enough evidence to show his employer acted with intent to cause harm and was actively involved in removing the safety equipment. **What This Means for Workers:** This case highlights that workers in Ohio face significant legal hurdles when trying to sue employers for workplace injuries, even when safety equipment is deliberately removed. Workers generally must rely on workers' compensation benefits rather than lawsuits, unless they can prove their employer specifically intended to cause harm - a very difficult standard to meet.