TWCA reviews whether an employee's intoxication was the proximate cause of injuries he incurred at his job site

DANIEL BOYD DAVIDSON v. BUSINESS PERSONNEL SOLUTIONS (TWCA December 14, 2011)

The employee, who sustained injuries while removing tree limbs at a job site, filed a claim for workers' compensation. The employer denied benefits, contending that the injury was the result of the employee's intoxication and misconduct. While concluding that the employee was not guilty of willful misconduct, the trial court ruled that his intoxication was a proximate cause of the injuries and, therefore, denied the claim.

The employee appealed, alleging that the trial court erred by finding that he was intoxicated at the time of his injuries and that the intoxication was the proximate cause. This appeal was referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-225(e)(3) and Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 51. Because the evidence does not preponderate against the trial court's finding that the employee was intoxicated and his intoxication proximately caused his injuries, the judgment is affirmed.

Opinion available at:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TSC_WCP/2011/davidsond_121411.pdf