McGill v. State Accident Insurance Fund Corp.

Petitioner seeks review of a Workers’ Compensation Board order which denied her benefits for her husband’s death by suicide, because the decedent had “deliberately intended” his death. ORS 656.156(1). We reverse.

The facts are undisputed and are set out in the Board’s order:

“The decedent was a respected physician in the Portland medical community. In the course of his specialty as a diagnostic internist he developed an expertise at testifying as an expert for defendants in personal injury cases. In May 1980 a malpractice action was filed against the decedent by someone upon whom the decedent…