United Pacific Insurance v. Harris

The issue in this Workers’ Compensation case is which of two successive insurance carriers is responsible for disability benefits for claimant’s occupational disease. The referee and the Board held the second insurer responsible. We reverse and remand.

The facts are uncontested. Claimant, a 47-year old woman, first suffered severe low back pain in 1970 while working at a laundry. She was hospitalized, and a lumbar laminectomy was performed. She received a permanent partial disability award. She continued working in hotels and restaurants despite her back problem. In 1973, she suffered an…