Smyers v. Workers' Compensation Appeals Board

Opinion

SMITH, J

In these cases the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (Board) held as a matter of law that housekeeping services prescribed by medical doctors for petitioners were not recoverable under the workers’ compensation law. Petitioners, Susan Smyers and Ethel J. Hoffman, sought and were granted writs of review.

Both petitioners were employed by I. T. T. Jennings (employer) on May 7, 1974, when they inhaled noxious fumes and immediately experienced choking, nausea and coughing. Further, petitioners experienced chronic shortness of breath and coughing. In 1977, employer stipulated, in…