Court Opinion

ID: 9684738
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 14:09:55.33183+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:17:59.224290
License: Public Domain

Tom Glaze, Judge, concurring. I concur in the result to the extent that there was medical evidence which supports the finding that Mr. Black’s working conditions served only to accelerate his symptoms rather than to accelerate or hasten his death. The Arkansas rule is well established that when the ordinary exertion or straining of the employee’s usual work causes the unexpected and disabling event or injury or accelerates or hastens its consummation, that in itself constitutes a compensable accident because the injury and disability is due to the employment. Bryant Stove & Heading v. White, 227 Ark. 147, 296 S.W.2d 436 (1956). Under this rule, if the evidence had shown Black’s work had caused his angina pains which in turn accelerated or hastened his death, this claim, in my opinion, undoubtedly would have been compensable. In sum, this case should be limited to its facts and the underlying medical evidence that substantiated the fact that Black’s work-related angina symptoms did not hasten the cause of his death. For this reason, I agree with the majority decision.