In the Matter of Norton v. North Syracuse Central School District , Diane Norton -- a school bus attendant -- sued to recover damages for injuries she sustained while helping a disabled student exit a bus.
After the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) found a "causal relationship" between Norton's work and her injury and awarded her benefits, the school appealed to the Appellate Division, Third Department.
Apparently, Norton's medical evidence didn't show her injury was caused by the bus accident. In fact, her own orthopedist testified Norton suffered from "osteopenia" -- low bone density -- and that she could have experienced the same injury "without a specific event over a period of time."
Her medical records also revealed that her doctor initially believed the injury came about on its own, without a specific correlating event.
As a result, the AD3 was of the view the WCB 's decision lacked evidentiary support and reversed.
For a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: Matter of Norton v. North Syracuse Central School District