Pacific Employers Insurance v. Industrial Commission

OPINION

CONTRERAS, Judge.

At issue in this special action review of an Industrial Commission award is whether the administrative law judge improperly subjected the petitioners to liability for respondent’s increased disability resulting from unsuccessful surgery undertaken without notice to, or authorization by, the petitioners to treat an industrial injury. We find that the respondent’s decision to undergo the surgery was reasonable under the circumstances, and affirm the award.

SURGERY AND FIRST AWARD

Respondent Pitre (respondent), a construction laborer, suffered an injury to his low back on…