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Oklahoma Supreme Court Hears Workers' Comp. Challenge

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Opponents of Oklahoma's new workers' compensation law are asking the state Supreme Court to find it unconstitutional.

Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments Tuesday in a lawsuit that alleges the law violates the state Constitution and should be struck down.

Two state lawmakers and a firefighter's organization filed the lawsuit in September. The lawsuit says provisions of the new law would deny treatment and compensation to injured workers under certain circumstances.

Attorney John McMurry told justices the law would delay an injured worker's access to the state's courts to seek compensation and would allow employers to "opt-out" of the workers' compensation system and create their own benefit plan.

But state Solicitor General Patrick Wyrick says the law guarantees that injured workers can go to court.

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