Bill would pave way for injured worker lawsuits

Under a bill filed in Mississippi, injured workers or surviving family members of those killed while at work would be able to sue the employers if certain criteria are met.

S.B. 2863 would add an exception to the state’s exclusive remedy provision in workers compensation law “(w)hen an injured employee, or his legal representative in case death results from the injury, can demonstrate that the employee's injury or death on the job was caused by the employer's gross negligence where injury was substantially certain to occur.”

The bill, filed on Jan. 16, was referred to a judiciary committee.