Alabama Workers' Comp Blawg

  • 27
  • Jun
  • 2015

Alabama Employer not Responsible for Medical Treatment of Injuries not Specified in Settlement Agreement

On June 26, 2015, the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals released its opinion in Todd Entrekin, Etowah County Sheriff v. Jerry Frederic Lasseter. At the trial court level, the employee petitioned the court for an order compelling the employer to provide medical treatment for his lower back. Treatment for the lower back had been provided by the employer prior to the settlement. When the parties settled, however, the settlement agreement specified that future medical was to remain available for the T-11 and T-8 levels of his back. Despite this language, the trial court granted the petition and issued an order compelling the treatment. On appeal, the Court of Appeals reversed the trial judge because the language in the settlement agreement specifically limited the employee's right to future medical benefits to the two specified levels of his spine.

About the Author This blog submission was prepared by Mike Fish, an attorney with Fish, Nelson & Holden, LLC, a law firm dedicated to representing self-insured employers, insurance carriers, and third party administrators in all matters related to workers' compensation. Fish Nelson & Holden is a member of the National Workers' Compensation Defense Network. If you have any questions about this submission or Alabama workers' compensation in general, please contact Fish by e-mailing him atmfish@fishnelson.com or by calling him directly at 205-332-1448.




Follow and connect with us!