State Accident Insurance Fund Corp. v. Zorich

Claimant suffered a compensable back injury in 1978 while employed by Advance Interiors, whose insurer is Safeco, and received an award of 25 percent permanent partial disability (PPD). He suffered another compensable back injury in 1982 while employed by Western Partitions, whose insurer is SAIF. Each employer and its insurer disputed responsibility for the 1982 injury. Although no order was issued under ORS 656.307, Safeco paid temporary total disability to claimant for the 1982 injury until October 1,1983.

In 1984, the Board ruled that the 1982 injury was a “new injury,” that claimant was…