Court Opinion

ID: 9573166
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:49:00.289707+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:37:42.366893
License: Public Domain

JOHNSON, Justice.
This is a workers' compensation case. The only issue presented is whether there was substantial competent evidence to support the Industrial Commission’s finding that the claimant did not sustain an accident while at work which caused an injury. We hold that there was sufficient evidence to support the Commission’s finding.
I.
THE BACKGROUND AND PRIOR PROCEEDINGS.
Jerry Dolph was employed as a miner by Hecla Mining Company. On a Monday morning, Dolph informed Hecla that he had injured his knee at work the previous Friday and had to see a doctor. Dolph visited a doctor the following day and was referred to an orthopedic specialist. This specialist performed arthroscopic surgery to repair a tear of the medial meniscus of Dolph’s left knee. Dolph attempted to return to work twice but was unable to do so because of pain in his left knee. He has not worked since.
Dolph made a claim for worker’s compensation benefits, stating that while working his left knee “got really weak.” The Commission first determined that Dolph had suffered an industrial accident and injury-while working for Hecla. Upon reconsideration, the Commission withdrew its first ruling and determined that Dolph had not suffered a compensable accident and injury and thus was not entitled to workers’ compensation. Dolph appealed.
II.
THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL COMPETENT EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE COMMISSION’S FINDING.
Dolph asserts that there is insufficient evidence to support a finding that Dolph did not experience an unlooked for mishap or untoward event. We disagree.
The standard of review we are bound to follow is whether, construing the record most favorably to the party which prevailed before the Commission, there is any substantial competent evidence to support the Commission’s factual findings. Vernon v. Omark Indus., 115 Idaho 486, 488, 767 P.2d 1261, 1263 (1989). “[I]n order to be entitled to benefits, the claimant must prove that [claimant] suffered an ‘accident,’ i.e., ‘an unexpected, undesigned, and un*716looked for mishap, or untoward event, connected with the industry in which it occurs, and which can be reasonably located as to time when and place where it occurred, causing an injury.’ ” Id. at 489, 767 P.2d at 1264 (quoting I.C. § 72-102(14)(b)) presently I.C. § 72-102(15)(b) as of 1/1/90.
The Commission’s decision includes this finding:
The Commission finds that the proof does not establish a mishap or event which is required by law in order for an accident to have occurred. The Claimant describes no specific mishap or event which occurred on December 2, 1988, and the proof shows only that Claimant’s knee gradually became painful and was extremely painful at the conclusion of his work shift. The claimant has a history of injuring the knee in 1987, and he testified that he was experiencing some problems with his leg for a few days prior to December 2, 1988. The Claimant complained to his co-worker of problems with his knee at the commencement of the work shift on December 2, 1988. The Commission is unable to find that the torn cartilage in the Claimant’s knee was caused by a mishap or event which occurred on December 2, 1988.
While there is evidence in the record that would have allowed us to sustain a finding of the Commission that Dolph did sustain an accident on the job that would have entitled him to worker’s compensation, there is also substantial competent evidence in the record to support the Commission’s finding that Dolph did not sustain an accident on the job. While we are sympathetic to Dolph’s case, it is the Commission’s function, not ours, to determine which workers are entitled to compensation based on the facts of each case.
III.
CONCLUSION.
We affirm the decision of the Commission denying Dolph’s claim for worker’s compensation.
We award costs on appeal to Hecla.
BAKES, C.J., and BOYLE and McDEVITT, JJ., concur.