Noteworthy cases won by Sally i. Heller

Smith v. Climate Engineering, 939 S.W.2d 429 (Mo. E.D. 1996)

Charles Smith, who was 61 years at the time of the hearing, worked in the sheet metal industry for approximately forty years as a sheet metal worker and foreman. Over time, Mr. Smith developed a neck injury due to repetitive motions required to perform his usual and customary duties which lead to a physical breakdown or change in pathology. When Climate Engineering's insurer refused to pay worker's compensation benefits for Mr. Smith's injuries, Sally I. Heller represented Mr. Smith in court.

 The Missouri Labor and Industrial Comission awarded Mr. Smith medical expenses for treatment of his injury, and ordered to pay for additional medical treatment. When the insurance company appealed the decision, the Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling and further found the repetitive trauma Mr. Smith experienced while flexing and extending his neck as part of his job constituted a compensable injury which was unforeseen or unexpected, arising out of and in the course of employment, and was clearly job-related.

Jones v. Washington University, 199 S.W. 3d 793 (Mo. App. E.D. 2006)

Jeanette Jones worked as a nurse at Washington University and was sexually assaulted by a patient suffering from severe psychological injuries and disability. When the University's worker's compensation insurer refused to pay benefits, Jones hired Sally I. Heller to represent her case.

The Missouri Court of Appeals ruled that the Missouri Labor and Industrial Commission applied the incorrect section of Chapter 287 which was 287.120.8 and instead, should have applied section 287.120.1 to determine whether Ms. Jones sustained an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of her employment.