Olson v. Teck Cominco Alaska, Inc.

OPINION

BRYNER, Chief Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

Richard Olson was employed at the Red Dog mine. He frequently missed work without justification, so his employer, Teck Com-ineo Alaska, Inc., placed him on a step discipline plan. Olson continued to miss work, and Teck Comineo fired him for violating the plan. But shortly before Teck Comineo took this action, Olson had filed a workers’ compensation claim alleging that he had been injured by exposure to lead on the job and needed to be treated for this condition. Teck Cominco’s insurer had conducted an independent medical examination, which concluded…