Texas Supreme Court Finds Against Insurance Company

A victory for common sense and justice...for the millions who have a home office comes this recognition of the realities of the 21st century workplace. From the Austin American-Statesman:

The Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday that an insurance company improperly denied workers' compensation coverage to a traveling saleswoman injured while driving her company car toward her company-furnished office.

Liana Leordeanu was denied coverage for the 2003 accident because her office was also her home in a Northwest Austin apartment complex. Driving home is a personal reason for travel that left her ineligible for insurance meant to cover employees injured on the job, American Protection Insurance Co. determined.

But the Supreme Court, ruling 8-1, said Leordeanu was injured while on a work-related mission, driving from an employer-sponsored dinner in South Austin to an employer-provided storage facility and then on to her home office to finish some paperwork.

"Generally, traveling home from work is not in the 'course and scope of employment,'" said the opinion by Justice Nathan Hecht. "But is traveling from one workplace to another while on the way home?"

Yes, Hecht said in an opinion with implications for the growing number of Texans who combine home and office.

The accident on Loop 360 left Leordeanu in a three-month coma and led to 26 surgeries to rebuild her face and skull.

"After eight years and all the emotions, I don't even have all the words to describe it. I started crying when I heard," said Leordeanu, 36, who now lives in California. "I'm mostly glad how this is going to impact a lot of people who have an office in their house."

clindell@statesman.com; 912-2569

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