Argonaut Insurance v. Industrial Accident Commission

On June 20, 1960, Fred Montana injured his back lifting a heavy steel blade onto a truck. A coworker holding one end of the blade dropped it without warning, and Montana, suddenly holding almost the entire load, "felt something tight in . . . [his back].” The injury, an acute lumbosacral strain, resulted in temporary total disability and partial permanent disability. Petitioner paid Montana temporary compensation of $928.57 at the rate of $65 a week before the Industrial Accident Commission made its award. The referee determined that 75 per cent of the disability should be apportioned to a…