Pa. Court Weighs in on Whether Graduate Student was 'Employee' of University

PITTSBURGH -- A Pennsylvania appellate court has reversed an award of summary judgment to a university, finding that the decedent had been exposed to asbestos both as a student and as a paid employee. Sabol, et al. v. Allied Glove Corp., et al., No. 171 WDA 2011 (Pa. Super. Ct.).

Therefore, any exposure the Ph.D. student had when completing his studies would not be barred by the exclusive remedy provision of the Workers' Compensation Act, the Pennsylvania Superior Court found in its Sept. 22 opinion.

Maryann Sabol filed the underlying complaint, contending that her husband, Dr. George P. Sabol, developed …