Court Reverses Penalty Award, Finds No Evidence That Claim Closure Was 'Unreasonable'

The Oregon Court of Appeals said there was no evidence to support a finding that a carrier's interpretation of a doctor's ambiguous statement about an injured worker's condition was unreasonable. Case: SAIF Corp. et al v. Eric R. Krusenstjerna, A185508, 01/07/2026, published. Facts: Eric R. Krusenstjerna injured his right hand while working for Holte Manufacturing. His treating physician performed surgery, and SAIF Corp. accepted a claim for injury to two fingers on the hand. Krusenstjerna was released to return to work without restrictions in May 2023. During an exam in August...