Canton Textile Mills, Inc. v. Lathem

Gregory, Justice.

This is a workers’ compensation case. The facts are not in dispute. Turner Lathem worked for Canton Textile Mills, Inc. for over thirty (30) years in the card room of its textile mill. Throughout his employment at the mill, appellee was exposed to cotton dust. During the early seventies Lathem developed a lung disorder which eventually led to his terminating his employment on April 2, 1976. Appellee has not worked since that date nor did he file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits at the time.

In 1982 the General Assembly amended the Workers’ Compensation Act by…