Catherine Lyons v. Chittenden Central Supervisory Union

Student Teacher Wins Workers' Compensation Case

Catherine Lyons was a student teacher doing her required internship at a school in Vermont's Chittenden Central Supervisory Union when she was injured on the job. When she tried to claim workers' compensation benefits, the school district argued she wasn't actually an "employee" because she wasn't paid wages - she was just a student completing her education requirements.

The case went through the state's workers' compensation system, where officials initially sided with the school district. However, the Vermont Supreme Court disagreed and ruled in Lyons' favor. The court determined that student teachers and interns can be considered employees for workers' compensation purposes, even if they don't receive monetary payment for their work.

This ruling is significant for workers because it expands protection to unpaid interns and student workers who might get hurt while performing job duties. Many people work without wages as part of training programs, internships, or educational requirements. This decision establishes that in Vermont, these workers may still be entitled to workers' compensation benefits if they're injured, regardless of whether they receive a paycheck. The case was sent back to lower courts to proceed with Lyons' workers' compensation claim.