The Ohio Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment denying workers' compensation benefits to a flight attendant who was injured walking back from dinner during a layover, finding she was on a personal errand not sufficiently connected to her employment.
Excerpt
The trial court did not err in concluding that Appellant, a traveling employee, was on a personal errand at the time of her injury and was not entitled to receive workers' compensation benefits. Affirmed.
What This Ruling Means
# Osten v. Bureau of Workers' Compensation
**What Happened**
A traveling employee was injured while running a personal errand and filed a claim for workers' compensation benefits—insurance that typically covers employees injured on the job. The Bureau of Workers' Compensation denied her claim, arguing that because she was doing a personal task at the time, she wasn't actually working and therefore wasn't eligible for benefits.
**What the Court Decided**
The appeals court sided with the Bureau of Workers' Compensation. The court agreed that the employee was on a personal errand when injured, not performing work duties. Therefore, she was not entitled to receive workers' compensation benefits.
**Why This Matters for Workers**
This ruling clarifies that workers' compensation coverage has limits. If you're injured while on a personal errand—even if you're generally a traveling employee—you may not qualify for benefits. The distinction matters: you must be engaged in actual work-related tasks to receive protection. Workers should understand that stepping away from work duties, even briefly, could affect their eligibility for compensation if injured during that time.
This summary was generated to explain the ruling in plain English and is not legal advice.
Court rulings like this one are useful, but every situation is different. Take 2 minutes to see which laws may protect you — it's free, private, and no account is required to start.
This ruling information is sourced from public court records via CourtListener.com. It is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.