1Collision Names Director of Location Development 1Collision proudly announced John Hollingsworth as director of location development. Hollingsworth will be responsible for the continued growth and development of 1Collision expansion of independent single and multiple location collision repair centers throughout the U.S. Prior to joining 1Collision, Hollingsworth spent more than seven years in a collision industry training organization working with teams on their culture and leadership. “I’m excited to be back in a different capacity but one that still allows me to use my gifts,” Hollingsworth said. “Having conducted a national search for the right individual to lead the business development charge, we are delighted John has joined our team,” said 1Collision President and COO Jim Keller. Source: 1Collision
Ohio Court of Appeals Rules Against Safelite by Rebecca Barnabi, glassBYTEs.com
Shonda Hicks, a licensed insurance surveyor with the Safelite Group, won her appeal in Ohio court Sept. 2 in a workers’ compensation case involving her falling in a parking lot. On the morning of Feb. 8, 2018, Hicks, who was in her third trimester of pregnancy, fell on the sidewalk adjacent to one of the company’s parking spots designated for expectant mothers, according to court documents. The court’s order states, “Hicks had looked forward to receiving the permit because the reserved spaces were closer to the building’s entrance, and oftentimes the Safelite parking lot was at or near its capacity.” The Safelite Group leases the parking lot in which Hicks fell and allegedly sustained injuries. A snowstorm had occurred the previous night. As Hicks stepped on the sidewalk, court documents state, “she slipped and fell to the ground.” Hicks sustained injuries to her lower back and left hip. Hicks’ claim for workers’ compensation was rejected three times by the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation, but Hicks filed an appeal on
the argument the court made a twopoint error in its summary judgment of her case, which violated Ohio’s come-and-go rule. The Ohio Court of Appeals ruled the trial court erred in its summary judgment because Hicks meets the “totality of the circumstances” exception. The court considered the lack of control and not other factors in the exception. The court also erred because Hicks meets the “zone of employment” exception. Hicks did not travel in the course of her employment, but sat at a desk to perform her duties. “As a general rule, an employee with a fixed place of employment, who is injured while traveling to or from his place of employment, is not entitled to participate in the Workers’ Compensation Fund because the requisite causal connection between the injury and the employment does not exist,” the Court of Appeals said of the coming-and-going rule. The few exceptions for the coming-and-going rule are when an injury occurs within the “zone of employment,” employment creates a “special hazard,” a causal connection exists between the injury and employment
based on the “totality of circumstances,” and when the injury is sustained while the employee is on “a special mission, errand, service or task for the employer.” Hicks argued the “zone of employment” and “totality of circumstances” exceptions applied in her workers compensation case. Safelite moved for summary judgment in November 2019 and argued Hicks’ alleged injuries did not happen “in the course of” and “arise out of” her employment. The summary judgment was granted by the trial court in January 2020. On Sept. 2, the court ruled in Hicks v. Safelite Group Inc.: “Ms. Hicks was legally within the employment zone when she slipped and fell in the parking lot next to the office building rented by Safelite. As a result, the alleged injuries suffered by Ms. Hicks from and during her employment were made and the court made a mistake in finding that Hicks was not eligible to participate in the Workers Injury Fund.” (C) 2021 by glassbytes.com. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. For more information contact www.glassbytes.com.
Ford Mustang Plant Halts Production, Neighbors Evacuated Over Gas Leak by Jacob Oliva, Motor1.com
Ford Motor Co.’s Flat Rock (MI) Assembly Plant, which produces the Mustang, has halted production, due to investigations related to a gas leak, along with community assistance measures the company currently employs. While production at the said plant has already been paused because of the Labor Day weekend, Ford decided to extend the holiday at least through Sept. 10, according to Ford spokesperson T. R. Reid via a report by The Detroit News. The downtime will be used to investigate the gas leak, as well as help neighboring residents who were evacuated because of the situation. Of note, Wayne County Executive Warren Evans and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared states of emergency in Flat Rock the week before Labor Day due to detected benzene in the city’s sanitary system. Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy said high levels of benzene, which is found in gasoline sold in
the U.S., have been detected within a 4-square-mile perimeter including the areas south of Vreeland Road, east of Cahill Road, north of Woodruff Road and west of Interstate 75. Ford has traced the leaking fumes from a pipe that fuels vehicles built in the plant. The company notes the plant remains safe to its remaining employees. However, the company chooses to prioritize correcting the underlying problem and helping the affected community, Reid said. Some of the workers in the plant are among those who need evacuation. Reid added Ford has secured hotel rooms for the evacuees, and gave them gift cards to pay for food and other expenses incurred by the evacuation. Ford has also committed to raising a community fund with the city—a million dollars so far— to help pay for the financial losses brought about by the situation. Reid concluded the production will not resume until the end of the week and they will worry about it as they get closer to the weekend.
20 OCTOBER 2021 AUTOBODY NEWS / autobodynews.com
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