Crippen v. Central Jersey Concrete Pipe Co.

This is a close case. I join the Court’s opinion largely based on plaintiffs allegation that the defendant employer attempted to deceive federal regulators into believing that it had abated certain safety violations prior to the date of Harold Crippen’s work-related death. I write separately to express my view that absent that allegation, plaintiff would not be entitled to proceed in the Law Division.

The New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Act, N.J.S.A. 34:15-1 to -128 (the Act), seeks to protect injured workers from becoming mired in costly and protracted litigation that could delay payment of…