West Bend Co. v. Labor & Industry Review Commission

The West Bend Company appeals from a judgment of the circuit court affirming an order of the Labor and Industry Review Commission (LIRC). LIRC affirmed an award to Shari D. Mucker-heide for West Bend’s alleged violation of sec. 102.35(3), Stats., which makes it unlawful to refuse to rehire an employee who is injured in the course of employment. The dispositive issue is whether Mucker-heide was an "employee” within the meaning of sec. 102.35(3). We conclude that Muckerheide does not fall within the group of employees protected by the statute and reverse.

Muckerheide began working for West Bend…