B.F. Goodrich Co. v. Easley

SIMMS, Justice:

The respondent, Charles E. Easley, is a retired employee of the petitioner, B.F. Goodrich Company. For over thirty years of employment with Goodrich, Easley’s duties included some heavy lifting. On October 15, 1986, Easley filed a Form No. 3 with the Workers’ Compensation Court alleging an accidental injury to his lower back on March 1, 1982.

A doctor examined Easley on October 14, 1986, and submitted a medical report dated December 12, 1986 which related the cause of Easley’s lower back pain to his employment with Goodrich. Goodrich answered with general and specific denials…