Landon v. Kroll Laboratory Specialists, Inc.

Landon v. Kroll Laboratory Specialists: Court Protects Workers from Faulty Drug Tests

This case involved a worker who sued Kroll Laboratory Specialists, a drug testing company, claiming the lab made errors when processing their drug test. The worker argued that these mistakes harmed them, even though they never had a direct contract with the lab - their employer had hired the company to conduct the testing.

Initially, a lower court dismissed the case, saying the worker couldn't sue the lab because they didn't have a direct business relationship. However, an appeals court reversed this decision. The court ruled that drug testing laboratories can be held legally responsible for negligently performing tests, even when they don't have a direct contract with the person being tested.

This ruling matters significantly for workers because it establishes that you may have legal options if a drug testing lab makes mistakes that harm you. Even though your employer contracts with the lab, you could potentially sue the testing company directly if their errors cause you damage. This creates accountability for labs to perform tests carefully and accurately, knowing they could face lawsuits from affected workers, not just from the employers who hired them.