Takeaway: A university employee who was injured while riding her bike on campus on her way home from work was limited to worker's compensation remedies under the under the "premises line" rule, which extends the course of employment until the employee leaves the employer's premises.
An employee of the University of California who was injured while riding her bike on university grounds on her way home from work was limited to workers' compensation under the "exclusivity" rule, a California appeals court recently ruled.
Although an employee's commute is generally outside the workers' compensation scheme, the employee's injuries were subject to the scheme under the "premises line" rule, which extends the course of employment until the employee leaves the employer's premises, the court said.
The employee worked for the university as the director of scholarship opportunities at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) campus. At the end of her workday on the day of the incident, she exited her office suite at UCI's science library, walked her bike a short distance to the bike path, mounted her bike, and began riding toward her home. After riding for about 10 seconds, the employee reached a trench, cordoned off with orange posts and caution tape. Upon noticing the obstacle, she swerved and attempted to brake, but fell off her bike and sustained injuries.
After the accident, the employee sued the university for negligence. The trial court dismissed the lawsuit before trial,...
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