New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division has ruled in favor of the relatives of two married hospital workers who died from Covid-19. The court considered the behavior of the Bergen defendants to be so egregious that it nullified the usual protections for employers in such cases. This decision reverses a lower court ruling that dismissed the case.
The families of the deceased workers will now have the opportunity to seek justice for the actions that they believe contributed to their loved ones’ tragic deaths. The ruling sets an important precedent for cases involving employer negligence in implementing Covid-19 safety measures. It serves as a reminder that employers have a responsibility to protect their employees from harm and must be held accountable when they fail to do so.
The estates of these two workers will be allowed to amend their complaint and move forward with their case despite usual workers’ compensation and general employer immunity from Covid-19-related damages. One of the workers was allegedly denied a mask while on the job, and both were forced to reuse masks and gowns, which are believed to have contributed to their deaths. The court took this into consideration when making its decision, allowing the families to seek compensation for their losses and hold their employers accountable for their actions.
This ruling is significant because it sends a clear message that employers cannot put profits over worker safety during a pandemic. The families of these healthcare workers can now take comfort in knowing that justice will be served, and their loved ones’ deaths will not be in vain. This decision sets an important precedent that could lead to changes in workplace safety standards across industries, ultimately protecting more workers from harm in the future.