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 to Rhode Island Hospital, holding that the workers’ compensation exclusivity provision bars the plaintiff’s negligence suit and that the plaintiff waived her common‑law rights by accepting a settlement under G.L. 1956 § 28‑33‑25.1. Justice FLAHERTY dissented, arguing the release was ambiguous and the exclusivity clause should not automatically preclude the claim.