Liberty Northwest Ins. Corp. v. Bird

Employer seeks review of an order of the Workers’ Compensation Board setting aside the insurer’s denial of medical benefits and determining that claimant’s request for surgery was not barred by res judicata. We reverse and remand.

Claimant injured his thumb and wrist at work in 1986. Liberty Northwest accepted the claim. Later, several doctors examined claimant and made varying diagnoses. Dr. Ellison diagnosed left trigger thumb and carpal tunnel syndrome and requested authorization for surgery. Liberty Northwest denied authorization for surgery on February 17, 1987, stating that it was not…