Blackwell v. Puritan-Bennett Corp.

CARL R. GAERTNER, Judge.

The employer, Puritan-Bennett Corporation, appeals from the decision of the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission. The Commission entered an award of 20 percent permanent partial disability, 23⅜ weeks of temporary total disability and $24,593.88 for past medical expenses in favor of the employee, Gary Blackwell. We affirm in part and reverse in part.

Blackwell testified to the following facts. On April 30, 1990, he was working at Puritan-Bennett. When he lifted a box, he felt a twinge in his back. Blackwell was working alone at the time of the incident. He did not…