Clayton v. Pizza Hut, Inc.
Angela Clayton, a waitress at Pizza Hut, was severely burned during her employment. She filed a tort action against her employer, Pizza Hut, and a coffee equipment distributor, alleging negligence. Pizza Hut argued the Worker's Compensation Act provided the sole remedy. The trial court denied Pizza Hut's motion for summary judgment, believing a 1977 amendment limited the Act's exclusivity to injuries causing disablement or death. The Chief Justice reversed the trial court's order, ruling that the Worker's Compensation Act's exclusive remedy provision applies even if the injury causes disfigurement but not disablement, as long as the worker is entitled to temporary disability benefits or medical expenses.