JULIE LAWSON v. COSTAR GROUP, INC., ET AL. - Articles

All Content

JULIE LAWSON v. COSTAR GROUP, INC., ET AL.

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jan 15, 2025

Court: TN Workers Comp Appeals Board

Attorneys 1: Julie Lawson, Nashville, Tennessee, employee-appellant, pro se

Attorneys 2: A. Allen Callison and Trent B. Norris, Brentwood, Tennessee, for the employer-appellee, Costar Group, Inc.

Judge(s): CONNER

The employee reported suffering a work-related mental injury as a result of the actions of certain supervisors in February 2023. Following a period of discovery, the employer filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that the employee was unable, as a matter of law, to come forward with sufficient evidence that the supervisors’ alleged actions constituted a sudden or unusual mental stimulus that could support a mental injury claim under Tennessee’s Workers’ Compensation Law. The trial court agreed, concluding that no reasonable person could interpret the supervisors’ actions to constitute a sudden or unusual mental stimulus leading to a compensable mental injury. As a result, the court granted summary judgment and dismissed the employee’s case, and the employee has appealed. Because we conclude the trial court erred in its consideration of the case at the summary judgment stage, we reverse and remand the case.

Attachments: