A Utah high court ruling last week that a Chevron refinery employee suffering neurological damage after a plant accident can sue her employer will not weaken the exclusive remedy provision in the state's workers' compensation law, an attorney said.

But the decision by the Utah State Supreme Court does clarify when the exclusive remedy provision in the Workers' Compensation Act barring lawsuits does not apply, said the attorney, Shandor Badaruddin.

Mr. Badaruddin's firm–Moriarty, Badaruddin & Booke in Salt Lake City–represented Jenna R. Heff, who sued after alleging that the company was guilty of willful misconduct for sending her into a sludge pit that emitted poisonous gas.

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