Carey v. Chessie Computer Services, Inc.

Prior to 1963, if an employee incurred an occupational injury that, although not in itself disabling, when coupled with a previous impairment rendered the employee permanently disabled, the employer was exposed to liability under the Workers’ Compensation Law for the cumulative effect of the prior and subsequent impairments. That exposure served as a disincentive for employers to hire handicapped workers.

In an effort to overcome that disincentive and encourage employers to hire persons with existing disabilities, the Legislature, in 1963, created a balanced mechanism to provide fair…