Opinion ID: 880034
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: anaphylactic condition as injury

Text: Section 39-71-119, MCA (1983), defined an injury as a tangible happening of a traumatic nature from an unexpected cause or unusual strain resulting in either external or internal physical harm ... An injury is distinguished from disease by time definiteness and unexpectedness. Wise v. Perkins (1983), 202 Mont. 157, 166, 656 P.2d 816, 820. When a worker is exposed to a harmful substance at one instant or during one distinct period, the result may be an injury. In Wise, the claimant was a bartender who was suddenly rescheduled to operate a tavern by herself during the New Year's holidays. This entailed working double shifts to clean the bar during the day, open the bar in the early evening and lastly to close the bar. Subsequently, she contracted phlebitis. Two doctors testified that the amount of standing required by this situation contributed to her phlebitis, which provided a time definite and qualified the condition as an injury. The presence of an underlying disease does not preclude recovery under the Workers' Compensation Act. Wise, 656 P.2d at 820. The insurer claims that no time definite can be found here because Dr. Johnson testified that Ms. Daniels suffers from an underlying disease that lay dormant until she first wore the surgical gloves. We rejected that argument in Bremer v. Buerkle (Mont. 1986), 727 P.2d 529, 43 St.Rep. 1942. There we concluded that an auto body repairman who had worked with certain chemicals for nine years had suffered both an occupational disease and an injury when one exposure to the chemicals produced allergic contact dermatitis. Because it was both an occupational disease and an injury, this Court said he could choose his remedy. Bremer, 727 P.2d at 533, citing Ridenour v. Equity Supply Co. (1983), 204 Mont. 473, 665 P.2d 783. It appears in Bremer that the claimant's condition could not have been expected since he had worked with the chemicals for nine years with no difficulties until February 17, 1983. This is in contrast with Greger v. United Prestress, Inc. (1979), 180 Mont. 348, 590 P.2d 1121. In Greger, a cement company changed the chemical additives it used. The claimant noticed an allergic reaction on his hands but continued to work until being laid off. When he was called back to work the allergic contact dermatitis began again at which point he saw a doctor. The doctor diagnosed claimant's allergic reaction to the chemical additives. We held that the claimant qualified only for occupational disease benefits since he had suffered from the condition previously and the condition was not totally unexpected. Greger, 590 P.2d at 1124. Like the claimant in Bremer, Ms. Daniels meets the requirements of Wise. It is undisputed that her first reaction occurred on April 2, 1985. Furthermore, her reaction was unexpected since she had been around the hospital for several months as a trainee, had learned how to wear and to remove the gloves during her training, and had not suffered any ill effects. She also has a history of at least two surgeries by gloved surgeons that produced no reactions. We find that there is substantial evidence for the decision of the Workers' Compensation Court and refuse to reverse it. Ms. Daniels' anaphylactic condition is marked by a time definite and was unexpected, thus qualifying as an injury under the Workers' Compensation Act.