Belton v. Carlson Transport

Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company (Hartford) appeals from an order of the Workers’ Compensation Court which held that Hartford must pay permanent total disability benefits to claimant, Ralph Belton. Claimant injured his back in two separate accidents — one in 1977, when Hartford was on risk — and one in 1979, when Transport Indemnity was on risk. The Workers’ Compensation Court found that claimant’s 1979 injury was an aggravation of the 1977 injury, and because the 1977 injury had not “completely healed,” Hartford rather than Transport Indemnity, must pay the compensation benefits. We…