The North Carolina Court of Appeals recently issued several workers’ compensation opinions, though they were all unpublished and did not break any new ground. In Pope v. Johns Manville, the Court upheld the Industrial Commission’s decision that the plaintiff had developed asbestosis from asbestos exposure during the 50’s and 60’s, that the testimony of plaintiff’s rebuttal expert was properly considered, and that the plaintiff was disabled due to his asbestosis under N.C.G.S. 97-54. In Bricker v. Rhoney Furniture House, the Court upheld the Commission’s conclusion that the plaintiff had shown that she had a compensable change of condition under N.C.G.S. 97-47, and that she was now totally disabled instead of partially disabled due to her back pain and depression.
In Sperry v. Koury Corp, the Court upheld the Commission’s conclusion that the plaintiff had failed to show that she was totally disabled. Finally, in Acre v. Mt. Wood Forestry, the Court concluded that the plaintiff — a paraplegic due to a car accident — was entitled to retroactive and prospective payment for attendant care provided by his family, handicapped accessible housing if his landlord will not agree to modification of his current housing, and other elements of a life care plan prepared by a certified life care planner.
Author Bio
Valerie Johnson
Founder
Valerie Johnson is a North Carolina personal injury and workers’ compensation attorney dedicated to helping injured and working people across the state. A board-certified specialist since 2000, she is the Immediate Past President of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and author of North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Law: A Practical Guide to Success at Every Stage of a Claim.
