Bethlehem Steel Corp. v. Workers' Compensation Appeal Board

OPINION ANNOUNCING THE JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

ZAPPALA, Justice.

The issue presented in this appeal is whether a workers’ compensation claimant who has not fully recovered from a work-related injury is entitled to reinstatement of total disability benefits when laid off from a modified duty job by the time-of-injury employer.

On September 7, 1992, George Laubach sustained a lumbosacral strain while working for Bethlehem Steel Corporation. Laubach received workers’ compensation benefits pursuant to a notice of compensation payable. He was not released to *316return to his pre-injury job, but was able…