Filtered Decisions

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits for James Harris, who suffered a right ankle injury when he slipped and fell on ice while making a delivery as an auto parts driver on February 6, 2004. The claim was found to be compensable under Missouri law, with permanent disability rated at 65% of the right leg, and the Second Injury Fund held liable for ongoing weekly compensation of $191.56.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Robert Taylor for a right ankle injury sustained on October 13, 2003, while employed at QuikTrip. The employee was awarded permanent partial disability benefits of 15 percent to the right lower extremity and 5 percent to the body as a whole, resulting from cumulative trauma caused by standing and constant turning and twisting movements required during work shifts.

The Commission reversed the Administrative Law Judge's award granting Robert Taylor temporary total disability benefits and 5% permanent partial disability for a right ankle injury claimed to have occurred on October 30-31, 2002 at QuikTrip. The Commission found that Taylor failed to prove he sustained a compensable injury and did not provide proper written notice as required by statute.

The Missouri LIRC reversed the administrative law judge's award that found the employee sustained a compensable right ankle injury on September 30, 2002, while working as an extra relief person at QuikTrip. The Commission determined that the employee failed to prove he sustained a compensable injury and did not provide proper written notice as required by statute.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation benefits to Erin Cooper for a left ankle injury sustained in a slip and fall on September 14, 2006 while leaving her workplace at Bank of America. The award includes temporary total disability compensation, past medical expenses, and 40% permanent partial disability benefits totaling $40,046.30.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's denial of workers' compensation benefits to Andre Hammonds for a right ankle injury sustained when he slipped on ice. The denial was upheld because the slip and fall incident did not meet the statutory definition of "accident" under Missouri's 2005 Workers' Compensation Law amendments, which require the traumatic event to occur during a single work shift with specific, identifiable circumstances.

The Commission reversed the administrative law judge's denial of workers' compensation benefits, finding that the employee's April 13, 2004 left ankle injury arose out of and in the course of his employment as a bailiff. The case is remanded to determine the nature and extent of permanent partial disability, with compensation calculated at the maximum rate of $347.05 per week.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Delores Mills for a right Achilles tendon injury sustained on December 12, 2001. The claimant was awarded 22.5% permanent partial disability at the 155-week level, with the Second Injury Fund liable for 45.4 weeks of permanent partial disability compensation totaling $14,955.67.

The Commission affirmed the Administrative Law Judge's decision awarding no compensation in case 05-049495 but awarding benefits in case 05-142896 for a left ankle injury sustained while assisting a patient on December 13, 2005. The employee received $775.00 in medical bills and $2,524.25 for permanent partial disability (7.5% ankle at 155 week level) in the compensable case.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award allowing workers' compensation for an employee who turned her ankle while wearing clogs at work on September 23, 2006. A dissenting opinion argued the injury did not arise out of employment because the employee voluntarily chose to wear the clogs, which were not required by the employer.

The Commission affirmed the administrative law judge's award denying workers' compensation benefits to Randy Johnson for a right ankle injury sustained on July 29, 2006, while walking through a grocery store aisle. The employee's injury resulted from a non-work-related misstep where his foot rolled inversion-style with no external cause, which did not arise out of or in the course of employment under the 2005 Workers' Compensation Act.

The Commission modified the Administrative Law Judge's award regarding Second Injury Fund liability, affirming that the employee sustained permanent partial disability (not total disability) but correcting a miscalculation in the benefit amount. The corrected award is 22 weeks of compensation at $347.05 per week, rather than the 33 weeks originally awarded, based on proper calculation of combined disabilities.

The Missouri LIRC affirmed the administrative law judge's award of workers' compensation benefits to Jerry W. Barnette for a right ankle injury with permanent total disability sustained on June 26, 2001, while working for Sachs Electric Company. The Commission found the injury compensable under Missouri law, with benefits including temporary disability payments, medical expenses, and ongoing compensation at the rate of $599.96 per week.