Ohio Court Finds Harassment Allegations Do Not Bar Comp Benefits

Even through a hospital worker was fired because of sexual harassment allegations, he is not barred from collecting workers’ compensation benefits, an Ohio appeals court ruled.

The decision Tuesday, August 17, in State of Ohio ex rel. State University Cancer Research Hospital v. Industrial Commission of Ohio addresses a “sprain lumbosacral” the male claimant suffered in January 2009.

While performing transitional work duty in March 2009, the hospital notified the claimant he was being fired because of “conduct unbecoming of a medical center employee and violation of university policy,” court records show.

The claimant had been under investigation concerning “numerous” sexual harassment allegations for acts allegedly occurring between 2004 and 2008, the records state. 

 Filed by Roberto Ceniceros of Business Insurance, a sister publication of Workforce Management. To comment, e-mail editors@workforce.com.

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