Divided S.C. High Court Says Linen Worker Waited Too Long to Seek Benefits

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The South Carolina Supreme Court has affirmed lower court rulings that a linen company employee who links her autoimmune disease to exposure to linen dust and bleach fumes waited too long to file. Holmes v. National Service Industries Inc., No. 27059 (S.C. Sup. Ct.).

The high court held in a 3-2 decision on Oct. 24 that Carolyn Holmes' claim was barred by a two-year statute of limitations, and that she should have been aware her sarcoidosis was linked to occupational exposure to hazardous substances well before she filed.

Holmes, who began work in National's laundry facility in …