GM ‘Traumatic Castration’ Case Opens Firms to Workers’ Suits (1)

General Motors must comply with an injured worker’s discovery requests, giving him a chance to bring a civil suit against the company and avoid Michigan’s workers compensation system, the state high court ruled Friday.

The split decision is a blow to employers in America’s manufacturing heart, who could find themselves on the receiving end of more discovery requests as workers seek to bring claims outside of the state’s cheaper workers compensation scheme.

Injured workers generally must bring workers compensation claims, a system that benefits employers by capping damages and lowering litigation costs. However, Friday’s Michigan Supreme Court decision broadens access ...