By JEFF AMY
Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – A worker is fighting one of Mississippi’s largest industries over who can be sued when employees suffer on-the-job injuries.
The Mississippi Supreme Court Tuesday heard arguments in a suit by Quindon Thomas against Chevron USA. Thomas was working for American Plant Services, which provided contract workers at Chevron’s Pascagoula refinery, when he was severely burned in 2012.
Business groups and trial lawyers are watching the case because it could allow contract employees to collect workers compensation, plus sue the ultimate business owner.
Typically, workers compensation means companies pay when employees are injured, but workers can’t sue employers. A lower court judge ruled Chevron was immune from lawsuits, and the oil giant asks the Supreme Court to agree.
Thomas argues Chevron wasn’t his employer, meaning he can sue over dangerous conditions.
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