Allen v. Paula Insurance

Claimant seeks judicial review of a final order of the Workers’ Compensation Board (board) upholding employer’s denial of survivor’s benefits. We affirm.

The relevant facts are not in dispute. Claimant and Vernon Smith lived together for approximately 15 years. They were never married to each other. In 1986, the six-year-old son of claimant’s second cousin began living with claimant and Smith. Claimant adopted the boy the following year. Smith did not.

In 1998, Smith died as a result of injuries sustained in an employment-related accident. Claimant filed a claim for survivor’s benefits.…