Middleton Ex Rel. Middleton v. Northwest Airlines

OPINION

LANCASTER, Justice.

By writ of certiorari, relator Arlene Middleton seeks review of a decision of the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals (WCCA) affirming the denial of her claim for death benefits following her husband’s suicide. The WCCA concluded that the suicide was not compensable because it was not the result of a work-related physical injury. We reverse and remand the matter to the WCCA for further proceedings.

James Middleton began working for Northwest Airlines as an aircraft mechanic in 1958. At some point in 1990, Middleton began working in the tubing department,…