Henzerling v. Environmental Ents., Inc.

**What Happened** An employee at Environmental Enterprises died in a workplace accident while cutting metal casings on air filters. The worker's family sued the company, claiming the employer intentionally harmed their loved one by failing to require the use of a submersion tank, which would have made the work safer. Under Ohio law, employees can sometimes sue their employers for intentional harm beyond what workers' compensation covers. **What the Court Decided** The Ohio appeals court sided with the employer. The court ruled that failing to require the submersion tank was not the same as deliberately removing safety equipment or intentionally trying to harm the employee. The judges found no evidence that the company acted with deliberate intent to injure the worker, which is required under Ohio's intentional tort law. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling shows how difficult it can be for workers or their families to win intentional tort cases against employers in Ohio. Simply proving that an employer failed to provide or require certain safety measures isn't enough – you must show the employer deliberately intended to cause harm. Workers should understand that most workplace injury cases will be handled through workers' compensation rather than personal injury lawsuits.