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Tennessee Supreme Court hears arguments on whether Bridgestone is shielded by workers’ compensation exclusivity in fatal mold-repair accident
Summary
At a December Scales session at Bryan College, the Tennessee Supreme court heard opposing arguments over whether Bridgestone Americas should be treated as a "statutory employer"—which would bar this wrongful-death suit under Tenn. Code Ann. §50-6-108—or whether disputed facts about control and specialized mold repair require a jury on the premises-liability claim.
The Tennessee Supreme Court on a December 2025 Scales session at Bryan College heard appellate argument over whether Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC is entitled to immunity from this wrongful-death suit under Tennessee’s workers’ compensation exclusivity rule.
Bridgestone’s attorney, Isaac Sanders, told the court the facts are undisputed and that Bridgestone should be treated as a statutory employer under Tennessee Code Annotated §50-6-108, which would bar the family of Beau Christopher Lowe from pursuing tort claims. Sanders summarized that Lowe, an employee of Cumberland Machine Company (an independent contractor), was drilling vent holes in a tire mold plate when the plate fell and killed him. Sanders said three of the four Lindsey factors are present and that precedent applying the “regular business” test supports resolving the case by summary judgment.
“Ever…
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