New Jersey Court Rules that Desk Job, Not Bad Health, Led to Woman's Death

By Josh Lederman

TRENTON, N.J. -- The husband of an obese woman who died of a blood clot after working long hours at her home office is eligible to receive workers' compensation benefits, a New Jersey appeals court ruled this week in a case that raised questions about the broader implications of the sedentary desk jobs of millions of Americans.

The case pits claims of whether poor health contributed to her death against whether poor work environment did.