SAIF Corp. v. Blackwell

SAIF seeks review of an order of the Workers’ Compensation Board that awarded claimant a carrier-paid attorney fee under ORS 656.386(1) for having succeeded, without a hearing, in having SAIF issue an express acceptance of claimant’s knee conditions requiring treatment. We affirm.

Claimant injured his left knee at work on May 27, 1992. The injury was initially diagnosed as a strain. By written notice dated June 16, 1992, SAIF accepted a non-disabling claim for left knee strain due to hyperextension.

In the meantime, claimant’s doctor began to suspect a ligament injury. Claimant had surgery on…