Washington Trust Advisors, Inc. v. Arnold

This case involved multiple workplace injury lawsuits where workers sued their employers after getting hurt on the job. The workers claimed their employers were negligent or strictly liable for their injuries, and some also claimed wrongful termination. The employers included labor brokers, temporary staffing companies, and a hockey team. The court made different decisions for different types of employers. For the labor broker and temporary staffing cases, the court ruled that workers' compensation insurance was the only remedy available to injured workers. This meant the workers could not sue their employers in regular court for additional money beyond what workers' compensation provided. The court either upheld or reversed lower court decisions that favored the employers. However, for the hockey team case, the court made an exception. It allowed the lawsuit against the hockey team to move forward in regular court, reversing an earlier decision that would have blocked it. This ruling matters for workers because it clarifies when you can sue your employer beyond workers' compensation. Most workers are limited to workers' compensation benefits, but certain industries or circumstances may allow additional legal action for workplace injuries.