Dardanelle Public Schools and Arkansas School Boards Association v. Andrea Ewton

Summary

The Arkansas Court of Appeals affirmed the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission’s determination that Andrea Ewton suffered a compensable injury while working as a substitute custodian for Dardanelle Public Schools. The court held that substantial evidence supported the Commission’s finding that Ewton was performing employment services when she was injured while retrieving keys and water from her car. The court deferred to the Commission’s credibility determinations regarding Ewton’s inconsistent statements.

Holdings

1. The Commission did not err in finding Ewton's knee and ankle injuries compensable because substantial evidence supported the finding that she was performing employment services and advancing her employer's interest when the injury occurred.
2. The court was bound by the Commission's credibility determination and could not reweigh Ewton's inconsistent statements or substitute the ALJ's credibility findings for those of the Commission.

Questions Presented

1. Whether substantial evidence supported the Commission's finding that Ewton sustained a compensable injury arising out of and in the course of her employment.
2. Whether the court could revisit the Commission's credibility determination concerning Ewton's purpose for walking to her car.

Disposition

affirmed