Riley v. Inmate Injury Fund

Claimant, an injured prison inmate, seeks review of an order of the Workers’ Compensation Board holding that he is not entitled to payment of medical expenses from the Inmate Injury Fund (Fund) related to his compensable injury while he was on temporary leave from the Oregon State Penitentiary (OSP). We conclude that Fund’s policy not to pay such claims conflicts with the controlling statute and reverse.

On May 26,1987, claimant injured his back and neck in a motor vehicle accident while working as an inmate at OSP. He received immediate medical attention. On June 1, the Corrections Division…