Multnomah County v. Obie

Employer seeks judicial review of an order of the Workers’ Compensation Board affirming an administrative law judge (ALJ) and holding that claimant’s mental disorder is a compensable occupational disease. We review the board’s order for substantial evidence and errors of law, ORS 183.482(8)(a), (c), and affirm.

Claimant, a corrections officer for Multnomah County, learned of the suicide of a coworker and close personal friend while visiting the coworker’s home in the course of conducting an employer-initiated “welfare check” of the coworker. Claimant suffered emotional distress as a result of…