Nelson v. State Accident Insurance Fund

Claimant appeals the denial of her Workers’ Compensation claim for aggravation of a work-related neck injury. She also seeks penalties and attorney fees for unreasonable denial of her claim. We reverse the ruling of the Workers’ Compensation Board (Board) and reinstate the referee’s order finding her injury to be compensable.

At the time of her injury, the claimant was working as a psychiatric aide at Fairview Hospital. On April 3, 1978, claimant injured her neck while taking part in a self-defense class at work. The course was designed to help her deal with violent patients. The injury was…