Ex Parte Harris

We issued the writ of certiorari to review the Court of Civil Appeals' determination of what is an "accident" under the Workmen's Compensation Act ("Act"), Alabama Code 1975, §25-5-1(8), and to determine whether the petitioner gave her employer proper notice of her injury.

The petitioner, Maida Harris, was employed for seven and a half years as a winder for Avondale Mills, Inc., in its Sylacauga, Alabama, textile plant. Harris's position with Avondale Mills required her to operate a tool known as a "knotter." Harris testified that in December 1986 the knotter began striking her hand between…