Court clarifies workers' comp law
State ruling involves subcontracted jobs
By Bill Wolfe, Courier-Journal
When James David Rehm of Louisville died in 2002 of cancer caused by asbestos, it appeared that his lawsuit against various work sites where he may have been exposed to the harmful substance might never get a full hearing.
The claims against the 16 companies were considered to be prohibited under the Kentucky Workers' Compensation Act -- though none had ever directly employed Rehm.
But a unanimous Kentucky Supreme Court ruling last week opened the door for the Rehm family to continue legal action against seven of the companies and, perhaps more significantly, aimed to clarify for workers and businesses which cases fall under the workers' comp exemption and which can be considered in court.
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