Severance v. State, Department of Transportation

**What Happened:** A Maine Department of Transportation employee suffered a heart attack at work in 1970. Three years later, in 1973, he died. His widow applied for workers' compensation death benefits, arguing that the work-related heart attack contributed to her husband's death. However, the Industrial Accident Commission denied her claim and dismissed her petition. **What the Court Decided:** The court reversed the commission's decision and sent the case back for a new hearing. The court found that the commission may have misunderstood important medical testimony about whether the 1970 workplace heart attack played a role in the employee's death three years later. The widow was awarded $350 in damages. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This ruling is important because it shows that work-related injuries or health problems can potentially qualify for workers' compensation benefits even if death or worsening occurs years later. The case emphasizes that medical evidence linking workplace incidents to later health problems must be carefully reviewed. It also demonstrates that workers' families have the right to challenge workers' compensation denials and that courts will step in when medical testimony may have been misinterpreted.