Title: CHARLES A. KUBAJAK, JR. V. LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 2003-SC-000953-DG
State: Kentucky
Issuer: Kentucky Supreme Court
Date: December 22, 2005

jrPOR 'ANTNOTICE NOT TO BEPUBLISHED OPINION THIS OPINIONISDESIGNATED "NOT TO BE PUBLISHED. " PURSUANT l O THERULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE PROHULGATED BYTHE SUPREME COURT, CR 76.28 (4) (c), THIS OPINION IS NOT TO BE PUBLISHEDAND SHALL ATOTBE CITED OR USED ASAUTHORITYINANY OTHER CASE INANYCOURT OF THIS STA TE. V ,,ilXyrrmP 0 .11jurf of ~4 2003-SC-0953-DG CHARLES A . KUBAJAK, JR . APPELLANT ON REVIEW FROM COURT OF APPEALS 2002-CA-1919 FAYETTE CIRCUIT COURT NO . 01-CI-4506 LEXINGTON-FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY APPELLEE GOVERNMENT MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT AFFIRMING RENDERED : DECEMBER 22, 2005 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED Appellant, Charles A . Kubajak, Jr., claims to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder sustained as a result of his employment as a police officer for the Lexington- Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) . He filed both a workers' compensation claim against LFUCG with the Department of Workers' Claims and this civil action against LFUCG in the Fayette Circuit Court . His theory with respect to the civil action is that if his workers' compensation claim is precluded by KRS 342.0011(1) ("Injury . . . shall not include a psychological, psychiatric, or stress-related change in the human organism, unless it is a direct result of a physical injury."), then his condition is not covered by the Workers' Compensation Act and is not subject to the "exclusive remedy" provision of KRS 342.690(1) . Both the Fayette Circuit Court and the Court of Appeals held that KRS 342.690(1) precluded a civil action by an employee against his/her employer for an unintentional injury even if that injury is not compensable under the Workers' Compensation Act . However, we need not reach this issue because this action is prima facie barred by the doctrine of sovereign immunity . Lexington-Fayette Urban County Gov't v. Smolcic , 142 S.W.3d 128,131-34 (Ky . 2004) . For that reason, the judgment of the Fayette Circuit Court and the decision of the Court of Appeals are affirmed . All concur . COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT : David B . Allen P.O . Box 93 Versailles, KY 40383-0093 COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE : Leslye M. Bowman Director of Litigation Lexington -Fayette Urban County Government Department of Law 200 East Main Street Lexington, KY 40507 Andrea L. Weddle LFUCG Department of Law 200 East Main Street Lexington, KY 40507