Examination 2,500 Miles Away Deemed Unreasonable

A claimant's refusal to attend an employer's independent medical examination (EIME) located 2,500 miles from her home was not unreasonable and did not constitute a valid reason to terminate her benefits, the Alaska Supreme Court held. In Thoeni v. Consumer Electronic Services, S-11897, 01/12/07, Mary Thoeni appealed a decision by the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board that she had forfeited her benefits for a work-related knee injury as a result of her refusal to attend a medical examination. At the time the examination was requested, Thoeni resided in Miami, Fla., while the requested exami...