MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The state Supreme Court says a Chippewa Falls Wal-Mart worker isn’t entitled to compensation for surgery she thought would alleviate a work injury.
Tracie Flug had surgery after straining her back at work in 2013. The operation left her partially disabled but she eventually returned to work and filed a compensation claim for her expenses.
A doctor who examined Flug at Wal-Mart’s request found she had a pre-existing back condition and the work strain had healed before the surgery.
A state appeals court ruled Flug was entitled to compensation because she honestly believed the surgery was related to the injury.
The Supreme Court ruled 4-3 Friday that Flug isn’t owed compensation because the surgery addressed a pre-existing condition.
Flug’s attorney, Jeffrey Klemp, says he hasn’t seen the ruling.
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