Smurfit Newsprint v. DeRosset

Smurfit Newsprint, a self-insured employer, seeks review of an order of the Workers’ Compensation Board holding that it must process claimant’s request for knee surgery. We reverse and remand for reconsideration.

Claimant suffered a compensable knee injury in 1977, while working for Smurfit, then insured by EBI.1 He had surgery to repair a tear of the lateral meniscus. The claim was closed with an award of time loss and permanent partial disability. Claimant again injured his knee in 1984, while working for Smurfit, which had apparently become self-insured.2 A claim for the injury, which was…