Dukes v. Rural Metro Corp.

This Court granted Rural Metro Corporation’s (“Rural Metro”) petition for certiorari to review whether its employee can recover Workers’ Compensation benefits for an accidental gunshot wound that occurred while the employee was on a smoke break.

Factual/Procedural Background

While working as a paramedic for Rural Metro, Richard Dukes (“Dukes”) and his co-worker took a smoke break. Dukes did not need to “clock-out” for such breaks and received compensation for the breaks. While on break, Dukes’ co-worker went to her car and returned with the pistol she had recently acquired to bring back and…