Dairyman's Supply Co. v. Teal

Gerry Teal ("the worker") sued Dairyman's Supply Company, Inc. ("the company"), seeking workers' compensation benefits. The trial court awarded benefits based upon its finding that the worker had suffered two on-the-job injuries resulting in a 30% permanent partial disability. In the same action, the worker also sued a third-party defendant, alleging a tort claim. The company moved to "sever [the third-party claim], for the purposes of trial." The circuit court granted the company's motion to sever "for trial purposes only," and directed that the workers' compensation claim be tried first in…