Jarrett v. Director, Office of Workers Compensation Programs

**Court Rules Worker Entitled to Compensation Benefits** This case involved a dispute over whether William Jarrett, who worked for Navatek, Ltd., was entitled to workers' compensation benefits under federal law. The key issue was determining Jarrett's employment classification - whether he was a "seaman" (ship worker) or a "land-based employee." This distinction mattered because seamen are excluded from coverage under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, which provides benefits to certain maritime workers. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Jarrett. The court determined that he was a covered land-based employee rather than a seaman, making him eligible for benefits under the federal compensation program. The court ordered the case to be sent back to award Jarrett the benefits he deserved. This ruling matters for workers because it clarifies that employee classification determines which benefits and protections apply. Workers who believe they've been misclassified may have grounds to challenge their employer's designation. The decision also reinforces that courts will carefully examine the actual nature of someone's work duties rather than simply accepting an employer's job title or classification when determining benefit eligibility.