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Phillips Correctional Inst. v. Yarbrough

Expert testimony that decedent's job exertion contributed to his fatal heart attack supported the ALJ's determination that decedent suffered a compensable injury.

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Jeffrey Yarbrough worked as a prison guard at Phillips Correctional Institute. While on duty, Yarbrough suffered a cardiac dysrhythmia and died. Yarbrough’s widow claimed entitlement to workers’ compensation benefits, alleging that her husband’s death was caused by job-related stress. Following a hearing on the matter, the State Board of Workers’ Compensation awarded benefits, and the award was affirmed by the superior court. We granted the employer’s application for discretionary appeal and, for reasons that follow, we affirm.

In reviewing an award of workers’ compensation benefits, we construe the evidence in the light most favorable to the prevailing party, and we will affirm the award if there is any evidence to support it.1 So viewed, the evidence shows that, on May 11, 1997, Jeffrey Yarbrough arrived at work at approximately 5:45 a.m. Yarbrough, who was assigned to the mental health unit, went from cell to cell to check on the inmates. He then served the inmates breakfast. While performing his job, Yarbrough walked up and down several flights of stairs. After serving breakfast, Yarbrough was sweating profusely and complained to a co-worker that he did not feel well. He then collapsed and was taken to Gwinnett Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy attributed Yarbrough’s death to cardiac dysrhythmia secondary to an enlarged heart.

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