Court Lets Sawmill Injury Suit Proceed
North Carolina's appeals court rejected a sawmill operator's workers compensation defense in a negligence suit brought by a staffing agency employee left paralyzed.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Unions
The North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled that a negligence lawsuit filed by Arnol Enrique against Edwards Wood Products may proceed. Enrique was permanently paralyzed from the waist down after a crane cable snapped at the company's Laurinburg sawmill in September 2023.
Why it matters
The ruling means the workers compensation exclusivity defense did not shield Edwards Wood Products from civil liability for a staffing agency worker. The decision turns on the company's own earlier denial of an employment relationship, a point that could shape how similar claims are argued across the state.
The ruling is an appellate decision on a legal defense, not a statistical finding. The injury occurred in September 2023, and the merits of the negligence claims have not yet been decided.
The players
Edwards Wood Products
A sawmill operator in Laurinburg, North Carolina, whose workers compensation exclusivity defense was rejected by the appeals court.
CDT HR
A staffing agency that employed Arnol Enrique and assigned him to work at the Edwards Wood Products sawmill.
The details
A crane cable snapped at Edwards Wood Products' sawmill in Laurinburg, causing a steel blade holder to fall and strike Enrique, a mechanic employed by staffing agency CDT HR. Enrique filed a workers compensation claim with CDT and sued Edwards Wood Products for negligence and gross negligence, seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
Timeline
September 2023: Crane cable snapped at the Laurinburg sawmill, injuring Enrique.
November 4, 2026: North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled the suit may proceed.
Legal Framework
The ruling tests the limits of the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act's exclusivity provision, which generally bars civil suits against employers that provide comp coverage. Here the court held that an employer that denied an employment relationship before the Industrial Commission cannot later claim special employer immunity.
Workers injured while employed through staffing agencies may be able to pursue negligence claims against the host company, even when that company has argued it is a special employer. The ruling indicates that a company's prior position in comp proceedings can affect its later immunity defenses.
The takeaway
Employers that contest employment status in workers compensation proceedings may find that position limits their defenses in later civil suits. Workers placed by staffing agencies should understand that both the agency and the host site can face distinct liability questions.
Further reading
For more on workplace protections in the state, see Unions coverage in North Carolina.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Business Insurance.
