Meyer Electric Co., Inc. Missouri Cases

John Lisle appealed the circuit court's summary judgment in favor of Meyer Electric Co., Inc., on his claim that Meyer Electric violated section 287.780 RSMo by refusing to rehire him in retaliation for exercising workers' compensation rights during prior employment. The Missouri Supreme Court affirmed the judgment, holding that section 287.780, when strictly construed, applies only to discrimination against current employees. The Court concluded that Lisle was not an employee of Meyer Electric at the time of the alleged discriminatory refusal to rehire, thus negating an essential element of his claim.

John Lisle appealed the trial court's summary judgment in favor of Meyer Electric Company, Inc., on his claim of retaliatory discrimination under the Workers' Compensation Law. Lisle alleged Meyer Electric refused to rehire him after he filed a workers' compensation claim, arguing the statute protects former employees from post-employment retaliation. The appellate court concluded that section 287.780 does not authorize a claim for retaliation based on acts occurring after an employment relationship has ended. However, due to the general interest and importance of this legal issue of first impression, the court transferred the appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court for final disposition.