The court found that a former employee of ENT Federal Credit Union (ENT) experienced sufficient stress in her position at ENT to warrant a finding that the employee’s disability was compensable.

In this case, the employee (Paterson) worked for ENT for 14 years without incident.

She was a highly regarded employee. Management, however, decided to rotate her to another branch office and to still a third branch thereafter. During her rotations, her supervisor indicated that she had “lost her mind” and was unable to assist with the most fundamental job responsibilities.

The court found that Peterson displayed disabling distress only after the rotation to other branch offices. Peterson’s psychiatrist indicated that she could not return to work due to the stress incurred on the job.

Although Peterson’s claim for compensation benefits, based on a stress-related disability, was initially denied at the first level of the Workers’ Compensation process, this court reversed the denial of her claim and indicated that Peterson’s injury is compensable. Afriquita Peterson vs. ENT Federal Credit Union, Colorado Court of Appeals, No. 91CA0323.

Author: Charles R. Harroun, Attorney at Law