From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Wimmer v. Industrial Commission

Court of Appeals of Arizona, Division One, Department B
Oct 28, 1971
489 P.2d 1245 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1971)

Summary

stating an ALJ may reject a claimant's testimony when inferences can be drawn from other evidence that casts doubt on its credibility

Summary of this case from Tooley v. Indus. Comm'n of Ariz.

Opinion

No. 1 CA-IC 659.

October 28, 1971.

Writ of certiorari to review lawfulness of an award of the Industrial Commission (Claim No. 0/4 75-01). The Court of Appeals, Haire, J., held that where there were certain inconsistencies and contradictions in claimant's testimony and inferences could be drawn from other evidence which might cast some doubt on claimant's credibility, hearing officer was not required to accept claimant's testimony as to whether he was injured in an accident arising out of and in course of his employment.

Affirmed.

Killian Legg by Vernon L. Nicholas, Mesa, for petitioner.

William C. Wahl, Jr., Chief Counsel, Phoenix, for respondent The Industrial Commission of Arizona.

John S. Schaper, Phoenix, for respondent employer and carrier Arizona Public Service Co.


In this review by certiorari of an Industrial Commission award, we are asked to set aside an award which denied the petitioning employee's claim relating to an alleged industrial injury to his back. We have reviewed the evidence presented, and while based upon that evidence this Court might well have reached a different result, we find support for the award which was entered by the hearing officer and affirmed by the Commission. In affirming the award we note that there were certain inconsistencies and contradictions in petitioner's testimony and that inferences could be drawn from other evidence which might cast some doubt on the petitioner's credibility. Because of these inconsistencies, contradictions and possible inferences, the hearing officer was not required to accept petitioner's testimony as to whether he was injured in an accident arising out of and in the course of his employment. See Carabetta v. Industrial Commission, 12 Ariz. App. 239, 469 P.2d 473 (1970); Fish v. Industrial Commission, 12 Ariz. App. 486, 472 P.2d 97 (1970).

The award is affirmed.

JACOBSON, P.J., and EUBANK, J., concur.


Summaries of

Wimmer v. Industrial Commission

Court of Appeals of Arizona, Division One, Department B
Oct 28, 1971
489 P.2d 1245 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1971)

stating an ALJ may reject a claimant's testimony when inferences can be drawn from other evidence that casts doubt on its credibility

Summary of this case from Tooley v. Indus. Comm'n of Ariz.

stating an ALJ may reject a claimant's testimony when inferences can be drawn from other evidence that casts doubt on its credibility

Summary of this case from Cuevas v. Indus. Comm'n of Ariz.
Case details for

Wimmer v. Industrial Commission

Case Details

Full title:Stanley WIMMER, Petitioner, v. The INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION of Arizona…

Court:Court of Appeals of Arizona, Division One, Department B

Date published: Oct 28, 1971

Citations

489 P.2d 1245 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1971)
489 P.2d 1245

Citing Cases

Tooley v. Indus. Comm'n of Ariz.

An ALJ may reject testimony that is inherently inconsistent and contradictory, or when inferences can be…

Tatman v. Indus. Comm'n of Ariz.

An ALJ may reject a claimant's testimony when it is inherently inconsistent and contradictory and when…