Second Chance: Former Casino Dealer’s Shoulder Injury Lawsuit Reopened

Background of the Case

Earlier this week, a Mississippi court of appeals ruled that the state’s Workers’ Compensation Commission had improperly dismissed the injury claim of a former dealer at Boyd Biloxi Casino. The dealer alleged that repetitive arm movements required by her job caused a serious shoulder injury.

Details of the Injury Claim

The case, known as Sandra Thompson v. Boyd Biloxi LLC, was initially dismissed by the commission on the grounds that it was filed late. However, the appeals court overturned this dismissal and sent the case back for further consideration.

Sandra Thompson, who worked as both a card dealer and a roulette croupier for Boyd Gaming Corporation’s subsidiary, first filed her petition two years ago, in July 2024. She claimed that the constant repeats of dealing cards and spinning the roulette wheel led to multiple injuries affecting her right shoulder and upper arm area.

Statute of Limitations and Medical Evidence

The main issue raised by the Workers’ Compensation Commission was that Thompson’s claim was barred by the two-year statute of limitations. They argued she had become aware of the work-related shoulder pain as early as July 2021.

The court of appeals disagreed, emphasizing that the true extent and compensable nature of her injury was not clear until she underwent an MRI in 2024. The MRI revealed a labral tear and possible damage to the biceps tendon.

A medical expert connected these findings directly to her job duties, and another physician recommended surgical intervention based on the severity of her condition.

The ruling also noted that earlier treatments, such as anti-inflammatory medications and cortisone injections for shoulder impingement, did not start the statute of limitations clock. This is because claims for progressive injuries only begin once the disabling and compensable injury becomes reasonably apparent.