Fredrickson v. GRANDMA COOKIE COMPANY

This is a workman’s compensation case. The hearing officer denied the claim of a work-connected back injury on the basis of claimant’s failure of proof as to work-connection. The Workmen’s Compensation Board reversed the hearing officer in a two-to-one decision and the trial court affirmed the Board. The employer and its insurer appeal. We reverse.

Claimant at hearing time was a 52-year-old Grandma Cookie Co. route salesman who had an 11-year history of low back pain. It is clear that he did have disability to his back on April 23, 1971, the date he alleges he had an on-the-job accident while…