Opinion ID: 1528539
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Board Hearing on Remand

Text: Following the Superior Court's remand, the Board wrote a letter to the parties, informing them that the Board would convene for the hearing after remand on May 14, 1997. The Board advised the parties that no additional evidence or testimony would be permitted. The State's attorney inquired whether legal argument could be presented at the remand hearing. The Board replied that the attorneys could attend the hearing but could not participate. At the remand hearing, the attorney for the State again inquired whether legal argument would be permitted. The Board again stated that counsel for the parties could not participate in the hearing. The Board then permitted the parties' attorneys to listen to its deliberations, but refused to allow the parties' either to submit evidence or make any legal argument. The Board issued a decision dated July 22, 1997. The Board applied the Duvall substantial factor standard for determining proximate cause, as instructed by the Superior Court's order of remand. The Board found that Steen's work was a substantial factor in the rupture of the aneurysm in his brain. Accordingly, the Board decided to reverse its prior decision and granted Steen's petition for workers' compensation.