Summary of May 2025’s Labor Law Cases in Alabama
This roundup highlights key labor and employment law decisions in Alabama from May 2025. These updates inform employers, HR teams, and employees about important legal developments affecting workplace rights and state labor policy.
Ex parte Opp Health & Rehab., LLC — Supreme Court of Alabama (SC-2024-0266)
Date decided: May 23, 2025
Summary: A nursing-home employee contracted COVID-19 in 2020 and sued under Alabama’s Workers’ Compensation Act, claiming COVID qualifies as an “occupational disease.” Her claim was dismissed at the trial court. She then raised a new theory on appeal—that COVID constituted a “non‑accidental injury”—which the Court of Civil Appeals accepted.
Ruling: The Alabama Supreme Court reversed, holding that a plaintiff cannot raise a legal theory on appeal that was not presented to the trial court .
Implications:
This reinforces procedural strictness: employees must present all legal theories below or lose the right to bring them later. Alabama labor law practitioners and employers should ensure proper preservation of claims at the trial level.
Conclusion: Looking back on Alabama Labor Cases in May 2025
The Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling should remind both employees and HR departments of the importance of proper procedure and expert legal advice when pursuing any labor law case.
If you’re navigating issues related to workers’ compensation, administrative processes, or healthcare workplace regulation, our expert team at HKM is here to help. Feel free to visit HKM.com or contact us for tailored guidance on Alabama workplace rights.
