Mike Bliley Argues Workers’ Compensation Appeal Before Supreme Court of Virginia

Mike Bliley argued an appeal in a workers’ compensation case before the Supreme Court of Virginia on September 17, 2020.  The Supreme Court of Virginia is the highest court in the Commonwealth.

Mike argued on behalf of Alexandria City Public Schools in Alexandria City Public Schools, et al. v. Handel, 2020 Va. LEXIS 17. In the case, a teacher slipped on hand sanitizer and fell, sustaining injuries to her neck, hip, knee, and ankle. However, she also claimed lifetime medical benefits for the right shoulder, even though there was minimal medical evidence supporting that she suffered a true right shoulder injury as a result of the accident. Virginia’s intermediate appellate, the Court of Appeals, held that a claimant must only prove a mechanical or structural change to one body part in an accident, and then all injuries are included as compensable. Mike’s appeal before the Supreme Court of Virginia seeks to reverse this holding, as it would greatly expand liability for carriers and self-insured employers if left standing.

The audio from the oral argument can be found here.

Mike is an attorney in Thomas, Thomas & Hafer, LLP’s Virginia office, where he leads the firm’s workers’ compensation practice.  Mike can be reached at 571-464-0435 or mbliley@tthlaw.com.

Thomas, Thomas & Hafer, LLP is an insurance defense firm with approximately 80 lawyers in 10 offices throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.