Tlumac v. High Bridge Stone

Justice WALLACE, JR.

delivered the opinion of the Court.

Petitioner James Tlumac was seriously injured in a tractor-trailer accident at work and sought workers’ compensation benefits. His employer, respondent High Bridge Stone (High Bridge), asserted the statutory defense of intoxication. The compensation judge found that petitioner’s intoxication was not the sole cause of the accident and awarded benefits to petitioner. The Appellate Division affirmed. We hold that the statutory defense of intoxi cation requires that intoxication be the sole cause of the accident to bar recovery for workers’…