Indiana’s high court hears Mexican man’s lost wages case

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The attorney for a Mexican man seeking compensation for a workplace injury has told Indiana’s high court his client’s immigration status is irrelevant to his wages case and could sway a jury.

Noe (no-EH’) Escamilla (ehs-kam-EE’-uh) has been living in the U.S. illegally since he was a teenager. He sued Indianapolis construction company Shiel Sexton for lost future wages after severely injuring his back on the job in 2010.

Shiel Sexton wants to pay any wages a jury might award at the rates in his native Mexico, rather than U.S. pay rates.

Escamilla asked the state Supreme Court to take up his case after Indiana’s Court of Appeals ruled the company can discuss his immigration status at trial.

The justices heard arguments Tuesday from both sides.