Vines v. Champion Building Products

Toal, Justice:

In this workers’ compensation case, the employer sought to avoid liability by having the employment relationship vitiated on the ground that the employee fraudulently denied any previous back injury. The Workers’ Compensation Commission rejected the employer’s defense and awarded benefits. The circuit court affirmed. The employer appeals. We find the em ployer failed to establish the necessary causal relationship between the misrepresentation and the injury, and affirm the award.

FACTS

Jerry Ray Vines (“Vines”) first injured his back in 1982 or 1983. Surgery was performed on the…