Ethicon, Inc. v. Martinez

KIDD, Justice.

Following a prehearing conference at the Industrial Accident Board and a $12,000 workers’ compensation award, Alma Martinez, a ten year employee, was discharged by her employer, Ethicon, Inc. Martinez sued Ethicon for wrongful discharge in violation of article 8307c of the workers’ compensation statute, which prohibits an employer from discharging an employee for filing a workers’ compensation claim or receiving workers’ compensation benefits. See Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat.Ann. art. 8307c (Supp. 1992). A jury found that Ethicon had violated the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act and awarded…