Supreme Court of Rhode Island
Grazina Kulawas v. Rhode Island Hospital
May 11, 20102010 R.I. LEXIS 59
Summary
The Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court’s grant of summary judgment, holding that the workers’ compensation exclusivity provision bars Kulawas’s subsequent negligence suit and that she waived her common‑law rights by accepting the settlement; Justice Flaherty dissented, arguing the release was ambiguous and the exclusivity clause should not apply because the injury was not work‑related. The dissent contends the majority’s interpretation improperly forecloses negotiation of releases.