Court Opinion

ID: 9578684
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:47:26.106802+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:33:14.249184
License: Public Domain

HAIRE, Presiding Judge,
dissenting:
The issue in this case involves the question of whether the respondent carrier should be required to furnish medical and compensation benefits for a subsequent injury which the claimant contends was a natural consequence of his prior industrial injury. Claimant alleged that the subsequent injury occurred when he attempted to get into a pickup cab, and, because of an awkward maneuver necessitated by the clavicle brace he was wearing as a result of his industrial injury, twisted his back and fell, causing a severe back injury.
The majority would affirm the hearing officer’s denial of compensation upon the basis that the subsequent injury was the result of claimant’s intentional conduct rather than a medical condition over which he had no control. I cannot concur in this analysis of the claimant’s conduct by the majority. Such an analysis is contrary to this court’s opinion in Carabetta v. Industrial Commission, 12 Ariz.App. 239, 469 P.2d 473 (1970). In that case, just as much as in this case, the claimant’s decision to walk up or down the stairs to his mother’s tomb was an “intentional” act. Nevertheless, we held that the ensuing injuries were compensable.
*177Assuming that other prerequisites to compensability are shown, I do not believe that the mere fact that the act was “intentional” negates compensability. From my reading of the cases involving the question of liability for consequential injuries in workmen’s compensation proceedings, the “intentional” act which negates compensability is usually an act which was, in itself, highly inappropriate in the light of the claimant’s knowledge of his condition. See 1 Larson’s Workmen’s Compensation Law, § 13.12, p. 3-377. In other words, in order to preclude compensability the intentional act must be considered unreasonable under the circumstances. This rationale involves the idea of intentionally reckless conduct. Oertel v. John D. Streett & Company, 285 S.W.2d 87 (Mo.App.1955), relied upon by the majority for its denial of compensation, involved just such rash conduct. I cannot conceive that the claimant’s conduct here even approached that standard. In my opinion there should be compénsability as long as the subsequent conduct was not unreasonable in light of the claimant’s knowledge of his condition.