Court Opinion

ID: 9569313
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:12:45.746226+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:53:20.134132
License: Public Domain

SHEPARD, Chief Justice,
dissenting.
I agree with much that is stated by Bakes, J. in concurring in the reversal. However, I believe one essential factor is overlooked. Claimant allegedly suffers from blackouts. The Commission held that no evidence was presented relating to the cause of the blackouts. Whether denominated as a matter of law or a matter of fact, the record supports that holding of the Commission, i.e., no evidence was presented on that issue because the cause is unknown. Also, claimant allegedly suffers from a panic disorder which he claims is causally related to the blackout. There is no assertion made by claimant that the panic disorder relates in any way to his employment, but rather results from the blackouts. Since there was no evidence causatively linking the employment to claimant’s blackouts and the resulting panic disorder, I can perceive no significance in whether that lack of evidence is viewed as a matter of law or as a matter of fact. In either event, I believe the Commission was correct. To assert that the Commission erred because it stated that the claimant “cannot” establish a causative link with employment, instead of stating that the claimant “did not” establish such a causative link, is in my view being hypertechnical.