Foley v. State Accident Insurance Fund

In this worker’s compensation case the beneficiaries claim benefits due to the death of Foley from a heart attack while on the job. The State Accident Insurance Fund (Fund) denied the claim. The referee, the Workmen’s Compensation Board and the circuit court all allowed the claim and the Fund appeals. The issues are whether there was on the job stress sufficient to satisfy the requirements of legal causation and medical evidence to prove a causal link between any stress and the fatal heart attack.

Decedent had worked for the Elkside Lumber Company for approximately 20 years. At the time of his…