Martinez v. Workers' Compensation Appeals Board

Opinion

RICHARDSON, J.

Petitioner Stephen O. Martinez was beaten and seriously injured while attempting to prevent the theft of his employer’s property. The sole question before us is whether petitioner is entitled to recover workers’ compensation for the injuries he incurred. We have concluded that emergency efforts by an employee acting in good faith to save his employer’s property from loss by theft constitute acts performed within the course of employment, and that accordingly petitioner should be afforded compensation benefits.

Petitioner was a member of the parish council of Our Lady of…