Court Opinion

ID: 9528734
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:43:28.8264+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:16.380073
License: Public Domain

*8BERMAN, Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent.
The workmen’s compensation act is to be liberally construed in order to effectuate its humanitarian purpose of assisting injured workers. Deterts v. Times Publishing Co., 38 Colo.App. 48, 552 P.2d 1033 (1976). Accordingly, any reasonable doubts concerning whether an injury arises from the employment must be resolved in favor of the claimant. Deterts v. Times Publishing Co., supra.
Here, Bigley’s fatal injury was the result of his fall onto the concrete floor of the loading dock. Notwithstanding that concrete surfaces are found in places other than Bigley’s place of employment, Big-ley’s exposure to the particular concrete surface which resulted in his fatal injury was a direct consequence of the duties of his employment. Hence, it is reasonable to conclude that Bigley’s death arose from his employment. See Employer’s Mutual Liability Insurance Co. v. Industrial Accident Commission, 41 Cal.2d 676, 263 P.2d 4 (1953); Lovett v. Gore Newspapers Co., 419 So.2d 306 (Fla.1982); Pollock v. Studebaker Corp., 97 N.E.2d 631 (Ind.App.1951); George v. Great Eastern Food Products, Inc., 44 N.J. 44, 207 A.2d 161 (1965); General Insurance Corp. v. Wickersham, 235 S.W.2d 215 (Tex.Civ.App.1951).
For this reason, I would,affirm the order of the Industrial Commission awarding death benefits to the surviving dependents of the decedent.