HI Court: Unwitnessed Idiopathic Fall Compensable

The Hawaii Court of Appeals ruled that an employee was entitled to workers' compensation benefits for head injuries she suffered in an unexplained "idiopathic fall" in the work place.In Cathleen W. Miyamoto v. Wahiawa General Hospital (NO. 22930, 03/27/03) Claimant on February 21, 1996, while employed as a medical office clerk at Wahiawa General Hospital's (Employer) outpatient clinic was allegedly photocopying documents when she suddenly fell backwards and hit the base of her skull on a lightly carpeted level concrete floor. Two of Claimant's co-workers, hearing a loud noise, turned around an...