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July 09, 2025
Pond Lehocky Wins Key Workers’ Comp Case for Injured Nurse
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At Pond Lehocky Giordano, we believe in fighting for the dignity and rights of every worker – and a recent Commonwealth Court decision proves just how critical that fight can be.
About the Case: Fee v. Prospect Medical Holdings
Kathleen Fee, a registered nurse and ordained minister, dedicated more than three decades of her life to caring for others at Prospect Medical Holdings. In 2021, while on the job, she sustained serious injuries to her neck and shoulder after slipping in a patient’s room. Despite her ongoing medical issues, her employer terminated her employment shortly after – not because of the injury, but because she declined the COVID-19 vaccine.
Ms. Fee had submitted good-faith requests for both medical and religious exemptions to her employer’s vaccination policy. As a minister, she testified that she placed her full faith in God, and she provided documentation showing a medical history that made vaccination a potential risk. Still, the employer denied her requests and fired her.
After filing a Claim Petition for workers’ compensation benefits, Ms. Fee initially prevailed. A Workers’ Compensation Judge found her credible and awarded her benefits based on her ongoing disability. But her employer appealed, and the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board reversed the decision – claiming her termination was unrelated to her injury and that she had been fired “for cause.”
Victory at the Commonwealth Court
That’s when Pond Lehocky Giordano stepped in.
We challenged the Board’s decision and took Ms. Fee’s case to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court. The Court agreed with us – finding that the Board had overstepped its bounds by disregarding the original Judge’s credibility determinations and ignoring critical evidence. The Court emphasized that Ms. Fee had acted in good faith when seeking exemptions and had presented substantial documentation supporting her medical and religious concerns.
In the end, the Commonwealth Court reinstated Ms. Fee’s workers’ compensation benefits, ruling that her non-compliance with the employer’s policy did not constitute bad faith.
Why This Decision Matters for Workers
This victory sends a powerful message: workers who are injured on the job cannot be unfairly stripped of their rights and benefits because of unrelated policy disputes – particularly when they act in good faith. It reaffirms the importance of fair hearings, credible testimony, and judicial deference to facts, not just corporate policies.
The Court’s decision underscores how critical it is for injured workers to have strong legal advocates in their corner when employers and insurers try to minimize or deny their claims.
Pond Lehocky Giordano: Standing Up for the Injured and Disabled
Since opening our doors in 2010, Pond Lehocky Giordano has grown into one of the largest and most respected workers’ compensation and disability law firms in the nation. Our team has helped tens of thousands of injured and disabled individuals across all 50 states, and we continue to fight every day to protect their rights and secure the benefits they deserve.
From precedent-setting settlements to landmark legislative victories, our firm has a track record of standing up to powerful institutions – and winning. This case is just the latest example of our commitment to pursuing justice for every client, no matter how difficult the road.
We’re proud to have helped Ms. Fee reclaim her rightful benefits and will continue to stand beside every worker who needs a voice and a champion.
If you’ve been injured on the job and your benefits have been denied or terminated, we’re here to help. Call Pond Lehocky Giordano or contact us online today – because you deserve a law firm that fights for you.
