{"disclaimer":"This is a summary of public court records and is not legal advice. Missouri slip opinions may be modified or withdrawn; consult the official source.","party":{"slug":"ellis-woodrum","displayName":"ELLIS WOODRUM","totalCases":1},"cases":[{"caseId":"moappsd:sd38940:undated","opinionId":"dc9a3b20-4cc8-5b4a-b849-676730901442","slug":"ellis-woodrum-appellant-v-missouri-department-of-social-services-responde-d38940","caseName":"ELLIS WOODRUM, Appellant\nv.\nMISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, Respondent","caseNumber":"SD38940","court":"moappsd","courtLabel":"Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District","decisionDate":null,"year":2025,"display_summary":"Ellis Woodrum sued the Missouri Department of Social Services, alleging retaliatory constructive termination after he sought workers' compensation benefits. The circuit court granted summary judgment to Social Services, finding the claim barred by sovereign immunity. The appellate court affirmed, holding that while Section 287.780 creates a private right of action for workers' compensation retaliation, Section 105.850 expressly preserves the State's sovereign immunity for such claims, and the latter, more specific statute controls.","primaryTopic":"governmental-immunity","topicSlugs":["governmental-immunity","workers-compensation","summary-judgment","appellate-procedure","other"],"outcomeNorm":"mixed","officialSourceUrl":"https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=227933","detailUrl":"https://ott.law/missouri-courts/opinions/ellis-woodrum-appellant-v-missouri-department-of-social-services-responde-d38940","relatedPracticeAreas":[{"slug":"personal-injury","label":"Personal Injury","href":"/practice-areas/personal-injury","score":20,"source":"tag","url":"https://ott.law/practice-areas/personal-injury"},{"slug":"workers-compensation","label":"Workers' Compensation","href":"/practice-areas/workers-compensation","score":16,"source":"topic","url":"https://ott.law/practice-areas/workers-compensation"},{"slug":"litigation","label":"Civil Litigation","href":"/practice-areas/litigation","score":12,"source":"topic","url":"https://ott.law/practice-areas/litigation"}],"role":"appellant"}]}