A BOSS GONE BAD,
and
2 of the Strangest 2017 Workers’ Comp Claims
A FALLING CLIPBOARD THROWS A HELICOPTER OUT OF CONTROL This example is anything but funny, but it still is one of the strangest workers’ compensation cases we’ve heard of. When the Idaho Department of Fish and Game hired a pilot from a local aviation company to fly two employees to a remote fishing survey site, it was supposed to be a simple trip. But when one of the passengers became nauseated and opened the door for some fresh air, a clipboard flew out and struck the tail rotor. The helicopter spun out of control and crashed, killing all three passengers. The father of the pilot filed a wrongful death action against Fish and Game. It was eventually rejected by the court, which determined that Fish and Game was the statutory employer of the pilot and therefore immune to any liability.
Workers’ compensation claims may seem dry and convoluted, but they’re not always as tame as you might think. Sometimes, as you’ll see in the following examples, they’re downright outlandish. A BOSS’ ‘JOKE’ RESULTS IN GENITAL SURGERY It seems that pretty much everybody complains about their boss from time to time, but it’s worth remembering that they could always be worse. Take the manager of a New York country club, for instance, who struck a locker room attendant in the groin with the shaft of a golf club while they were waiting around. In court, the manager stated that he didn’t think the attendant had been injured — possibly the best “I barely even hit him!” claim made in 2017. Unfortunately, the injury was all too real, and the attendant’s left testicle had to be surgically removed. The court ruled that the attendant could proceed with a civil action against his boss, and the case is still ongoing.
Have a Laugh!
Colcannon
Ingredients •
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1 pound cooked bacon, chopped into small pieces
3 pounds potatoes
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2 sticks butter
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4 scallions, finely chopped
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1 1/4 cups hot milk
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Parsley, for garnish
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1 head cabbage, cored and shredded
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Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions 1. Steam potatoes for 30 minutes. Peel skins and mash flesh thoroughly. 2. Chop 1 stick of butter into small cubes and add to warm potatoes. Once melted, slowly add milk, stirring constantly.
3. Boil cabbage in water. Add 2
tablespoons of butter to tenderize. 4. Add cabbage, bacon, and scallions to mashed potatoes, gently stirring to combine. 5. Serve garnished with parsley and a pat of butter.
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