TWCA reviews whether an employee willfully violated his employer's safety rules

DANNEIL EDWARD KEITH v. WESTERN EXPRESS, INC. ET A (TWCA February 17, 2012)



The employee, a truck driver, was injured in the course and scope of his employment when his vehicle left the road and turned over. His employer denied his claim for workers' compensation benefits, contending that the accident and resulting injuries were the direct result of the employee's willful violation of the employer's safety rules. The trial court found that the employee had willfully and intentionally disregarded the safety rules and entered judgment for the employer. On appeal, the employee contends that the trial court erred because the evidence did not establish the perverseness of his conduct, a necessary element of the misconduct affirmative defense. We affirm the judgment.


Opinion available at:

http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TSC_WCP/2012/keithd_021712.pdf