THOMAS VAN ARTSDALEN VS. FRED M. SCHIAVONE CONSTRUCTION(DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, DIVISIONOF WORKERS' COMPENSATION)

**What Happened** Thomas Van Artsdalen, a construction worker, was injured on the job while working for Fred M. Schiavone Construction. After his workplace injury, Van Artsdalen filed for workers' compensation benefits. A workers' compensation judge determined that Van Artsdalen had suffered a significant permanent disability from his work-related injury, rating it at 47.5% permanent partial disability. The construction company disagreed with this decision and appealed to a higher court, arguing that the disability rating was incorrect. **The Court's Decision** The appellate court sided with Van Artsdalen and upheld the original judge's decision. The court confirmed that Van Artsdalen's injury was indeed work-related and that the 47.5% permanent partial disability rating was appropriate based on the evidence presented. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling reinforces that workers have strong protections under workers' compensation laws when they're injured on the job. Even when employers challenge disability ratings in court, workers can prevail if the medical evidence supports their claim. The decision shows that courts will carefully review workplace injury cases and uphold appropriate compensation for workers who suffer permanent disabilities due to job-related accidents.