James v. State Accident Insurance Fund

In this workers’ compensation case claimant seeks compensation for emotional disability. The referee held that claimant’s claim for anxiety reaction resulting from work caused stress was compensable. The Workers’ Compensation Board affirmed and SAIF appeals. The claim was made for benefits for an occupational disease, ORS 656.802 to 656.824. The State Accident Insurance Fund (SAIF) argues that claimant’s disability did not arise from the conditions of her employment because the job stress she encountered was no more than that faced by the average worker and that her employment did not cause…