MARISA HENDERSON VS. BOARD OF TRUSTEES (PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM)

**Henderson vs. Board of Trustees (Public Employees' Retirement System)** **What Happened** Marisa Henderson, a public employee, applied for accidental disability retirement benefits after being exposed to cleaning product fumes at work. She argued that this exposure caused her disability and should qualify her for special retirement benefits reserved for workers injured in traumatic workplace accidents. **What the Court Decided** The appellate court ruled against Henderson and upheld the retirement board's decision to deny her benefits. The court found that exposure to cleaning product fumes did not meet the legal definition of a "traumatic event" required for accidental disability benefits. According to the court, the incidents were not "unexpected or undesigned" enough to qualify as traumatic workplace accidents under the law. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling clarifies that not all workplace injuries qualify for accidental disability retirement benefits in the public sector. Workers seeking these special benefits must prove their injury resulted from a truly unexpected, traumatic event rather than routine workplace exposures. Public employees should understand that gradual or repeated exposures to workplace hazards may not meet the strict legal standards for accidental disability benefits, even if they cause genuine health problems.