Common Work Area Doctrine Cited in Reinstating Judgment

TROY, Mich. - The Michigan Supreme Court has reinstated a trial court order granting summary judgment to a general contractor defendant in a workplace injury case, saying that the "common work area" doctrine did not apply. Alderman v. JC Development Communities LLC, No. 285744 (Mich. Ct. App.).

The high court said in a one-paragraph order on April 30 that the Court of Appeals erred in applying the doctrine in an electrocution case because there was not a high degree of risk to workers other than those working for the subcontractor in the immediate vicinity of the incident.

Randy Alderman sued …