Creveling v. Lakepark Industries, Inc.

**Worker Loses Appeal in Retaliation and Discrimination Case** An employee named Creveling sued Lakepark Industries, claiming the company fired him illegally after he filed a workers' compensation claim for a workplace injury. He also argued that the company discriminated against him because of his disability and violated public policy by retaliating against him for using workers' compensation benefits. Both the trial court and appeals court ruled completely in favor of the employer. The courts granted "summary judgment," meaning they decided the case without a trial because they found the employee didn't have enough evidence to prove his claims. The appeals court upheld this decision, rejecting all of Creveling's arguments about retaliation, discrimination, and wrongful termination. **What this means for workers:** This case highlights how difficult it can be to win retaliation and discrimination lawsuits, even when you believe your employer treated you unfairly after a workplace injury. Workers need strong evidence to prove their employer's actions were illegal rather than legitimate business decisions. If you face similar situations, document everything carefully and consider consulting with an employment attorney early to understand whether you have a viable case before proceeding with expensive litigation.