MN SF1953

Amends Minnesota Statutes section 182.666 to allow injured employees or their legal representatives to sue employers for damages if a willful or repeated safety violation was a major contributing cause of serious injury or death.

Defines "serious injury" as an injury causing either more than $200,000 in medical expenses or at least 52 weeks of lost work time.

Requires damage recoveries to be reduced by any workers' compensation benefits already paid or payable under Minnesota Chapter 176.

Maintains existing civil immunity under section 182.671 except where employers willfully or repeatedly violate occupational safety requirements in section 182.653 or related safety standards.

Preserves existing penalty structure of fines up to $70,000 per violation, with a minimum fine of $5,000 for willful violations.