Thomas v. Washington Gas Light Co.

District of Columbia resident Thomas (plaintiff) worked for Washington Gas Light Co. (defendant) primarily in D.C. but also in Virginia and Maryland, and was injured while working in Virginia in 1971; he received benefits under Virginia's workers' compensation law, then in 1974 sought additional benefits under D.C.'s law for the same injury. An administrative law judge held the Virginia award was res judicata only to the extent it would be in Virginia itself, and that Virginia law didn't preclude additional out-of-state benefits, awarding Thomas D.C. benefits minus the Virginia amount; the Benefits Review Board upheld this, but the Fourth Circuit reversed, and Thomas petitioned for certiorari.