Case Title: Kuticka v. University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Citation: 227 Neb. 565, 418 N.W.2d 593

Docket Number: 

State: nebraska

Court: Nebraska Supreme Court

Date: 1988-02-05T00:00:00Z

Document:
418 N.W.2d 593 (1988) 227 Neb. 565 Kathleen KUTICKA, Appellant, v. UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN, State of Nebraska, Appellee. No. 87-319. Supreme Court of Nebraska. February 5, 1988. *594 Law Offices of Cobb & Hallinan, P.C., Lincoln, for appellant. Robert M. Spire, Atty. Gen., and Janie C. Castaneda, Lincoln, for appellee. HASTINGS, C.J., and BOSLAUGH, WHITE, CAPORALE, SHANAHAN, GRANT, and FAHRNBRUCH, JJ. WHITE, Justice. In this appeal from a three-judge panel of the Workers' Compensation Court denying appellant compensation, the sole issue is whether the expert testimony of the only medical witness as to causation is binding on the court. Appellant was employed as a police officer on January 13, 1984, for the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, when an incident occurred which appellant claims caused an injury giving rise to her disability. A decision favorable to appellant was made at the one-judge hearing. The decision was reversed on rehearing. In its order, the three-judge panel held in part: The findings of fact made by the Workers' Compensation Court after rehearing have the same effect as a jury verdict in a civil case and will not be set aside unless clearly wrong. Thom v. Lutheran Medical Center, 226 Neb. 737, 414 N.W.2d 810 (1987). *595 In its evaluation of the basis of Dr. Yeakley's opinion, the compensation court attached weight to the timelag between the incident and the onset of symptoms severe enough to prompt medical attention. This is entitled to do as a weigher of facts. The judgment is not clearly wrong and is therefore affirmed. AFFIRMED.