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Allen Scott Smith sued his former employer, Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., for retaliatory discharge after filing a worker's compensation claim and for failure to report the injury. Smith was discharged for allegedly leaving plant premises and falsifying a time card, though co-workers disputed his absence. He was later reinstated through a union grievance but denied back pay, which he accepted as a settlement. The trial court granted summary judgment to the defendant on all issues, including the retaliatory discharge and the accord and satisfaction. The appellate court reversed the summary judgment on the retaliatory discharge claim, finding that Smith presented enough evidence for a jury to find pretext under the permissive pretext standard. However, the court affirmed the summary judgment on the accord and satisfaction claim, ruling that Smith's voluntary settlement of the grievance precluded further action for the same relief.
Smith v. Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. is a workers' compensation case decided in Court of Appeals of Tennessee. This case addresses legal issues related to compensation claims, benefits, and court rulings.
It is commonly referenced in legal research involving workers' compensation laws in Court of Appeals of Tennessee.
Full Decision Text1 Pages
Allen Scott Smith sued his former employer, Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., for retaliatory discharge after filing a worker's compensation claim and for failure to report the injury. Smith was discharged for allegedly leaving plant premises and falsifying a time card, though co-workers disputed his absence. He was later reinstated through a union grievance but denied back pay, which he accepted as a settlement. The trial court granted summary judgment to the defendant on all issues, including the retaliatory discharge and the accord and satisfaction. The appellate court reversed the summary judgment on the retaliatory discharge claim, finding that Smith presented enough evidence for a jury to find pretext under the "permissive pretext" standard. However, the court affirmed the summary judgment on the accord and satisfaction claim, ruling that Smith's voluntary settlement of the grievance precluded further action for the same relief.
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