Opinion ID: 161135
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Filed a [workers’ compensation] claim;

Text: 2. Retained a lawyer for representation regarding a [workers’ compensation] claim; 3. Instituted or caused to be instituted any proceeding under the provisions of this title; or 4. Testified or is about to testify in any proceeding under the provisions of this title which relates to the employee’s past or present employment. -8- decided to allow Turck to proceed on a § 5(A)(2) claim, Baker asked the court to re-open discovery so it could address the “new” claim. The parties submitted a proposed Pretrial Order on February 8, 2000, which was entered on February 9, 2000. The document sets forth Turck’s claim under § 5(A)(2), and Baker’s objection to that claim, with its assertion that only a § 5(A)(1) claim was at issue. Id. at 246-69. However, the evidence listed in the Pretrial Order, including the testimony of witnesses for both sides, focuses on the allegations made in the Petition. See , e.g. , id. at 255-56. On February 24, 2000, the district court held a pretrial conference in which it instructed the parties to submit briefs on the issue of whether a § 5(A)(2) claim had been properly pled. The court held a final pretrial hearing on March 6, 2000, the day of trial, at which it found that the Petition contained factual allegations supporting a § 5(A)(2) claim sufficient to give Baker notice of that claim and denied Baker’s motion for summary judgment. Id. at 684-85. At that point, Baker reiterated its request for a continuance and a re-opening of discovery. It stated that it wanted to depose Turck again, to depose his workers’ compensation attorney, and to have time to address the § 5(A)(2) claim by dispositive motion. Id. at 689. The district court denied the request. Finally, Baker asked the district court to incorporate its proposed amendments to the Pretrial Order. The amended version included evidence of -9- Turck’s performance and behavior problems. Id. at 440-41. The court, having already made it known that it considered those issues to be irrelevant to this case, denied Baker’s request to amend the Pretrial Order. Id. at 695-96. Even so, Baker attempted to introduce evidence of Turck’s disciplinary problems, poor performance and past workers’ compensation actions at trial. The district court excluded that evidence as irrelevant. It also overruled Baker’s objection to the testimony of Turck’s expert witness and its objection to the court’s interpretation of § 5(A)(2) as found in the jury instructions. After finding for Turck, the jury awarded him $111,138 in past lost wages and benefits, $108,010 in future lost wages and benefits, and $6000 for mental anguish and emotional distress.