Strickland v. Burlington Industries, Inc.

ORR, Judge.

I

Defendants argue that plaintiff failed to prove that she sustained a compensable occupational lung disease, because there was no evidence that her respiratory problems were caused by her employment at Burlington Industries. We disagree.

To receive benefits for an occupational disease under the Workers’ Compensation Act, N.C.G.S. Chapter 97, there must be a causal connection between the plaintiffs disease and her employment. Rutledge v. Tultex Corp., 308 N.C. 85, 93, 301 S.E. 2d 359, 365 (1983).

In the case sub judice, plaintiff used the expert opinion testimony of Dr. Rubin to prove…