Kostelac v. Feldman's, Inc.

NEUMAN, Justice.

On judicial review of agency action the district court reversed the industrial commissioner’s refusal to award workers’ compensation benefits to a plaintiff whose spouse committed suicide. The employer has appealed. We now reverse.

I. Background.

On September 14, 1982, Dean Williams took his own life by allowing his car to run in the closed garage at his home. His wife, plaintiff Suzanne Williams, brought this action to recover workers’ compensation benefits for his death. She claimed that Dean’s suicide was the end result of a major depressive disorder brought on by his…