Featured report
A firing after a work injury is not just another employment problem. In the Stewart matter, Powell & Denny represented the injured worker in both the workers' compensation claim and the retaliatory-discharge claim, and the fight for justice lasted roughly ten years.
The public report on the Stewart case is important because it shows why this site treats job loss after a workers' compensation claim as a serious warning sign. The AL.com article, "Fired after a workplace injury, this Alabama man fought back and won $750,000", describes a reported verdict after an Alabama worker was fired following a workplace injury.
Powell & Denny represented Mr. Stewart on his workers' compensation claim and his retaliatory-discharge claim. That matters because the two claims can overlap in real life. The injury affects medical care, wage loss, restrictions, and return to work. The firing can change the pressure, proof, and harm in the case.
According to the public article, the result came only after a long fight. That is why The Report does not treat retaliatory discharge as a side issue. If an injured worker is fired after reporting or pursuing a workers' compensation claim, that fact deserves careful review.
The lesson is not that every firing is illegal. The lesson is that timing, stated reasons, medical restrictions, light-duty history, witness proof, paperwork, and the employer's explanation all matter. An injured worker should not assume the firing is harmless. The worker should preserve documents, write down the timeline, keep medical records, and avoid signing broad releases without understanding what rights may be affected.
When a workplace injury is followed by termination, forced resignation, benefit cutoffs, denied treatment, or pressure to return before the worker can safely work, the case may involve more than ordinary workers' compensation. It may involve retaliation, future medical care, wage loss, permanent restrictions, Social Security Disability concerns, or a serious settlement-structure problem.
Applying the information
Workers' compensation questions can depend on records, dates, medical evidence, and facts outside the scope of a general resource. A qualified Alabama workers' compensation lawyer can review how the rules apply to a specific situation.
Publication notice. The Alabama Work Injury Report is an information publication of Powell & Denny, P.C. It provides general Alabama workers' compensation and disability-information only, is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not predict any result. This page is a paid advertisement. Powell & Denny, P.C., 1320 Alford Avenue, Suite 201, Birmingham, Alabama 35226, is responsible for its content. No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. Reading this site or using an evaluator does not require you to contact Powell & Denny. Alabama workers' compensation can be difficult to understand, and no online checklist can cover every possible fact pattern. Even if an evaluator shows a lower-warning or green-style result, that does not mean you do not need a lawyer. If you are worried about your claim, we encourage you to call a qualified Alabama workers' compensation lawyer even if it is not us. If you contact Powell & Denny and we are not the right fit, you may ask us about referring you to another firm.