Court of Appeals Reverses District Court, Upholds Commissioner's Death Benefits award
In Des Moines Public Schools v. Hildreth , No. 20-0742 (Iowa App. June 16, 2021), the Court of Appeals addressed a case where the commissioner, facing contradicting medical evidence, concluded that claimant had met his burden of demonstrating that his stroke had arisen from a head injury that he had sustained at work. The district court reversed the findings of the commissioner and the Court of Appeals, in turn, reversed the decision of the district court, reinstating the commissioner's decision. Mr. Hildreth suffered a concussion at work in 2011, following a blow to the head. He suffered severe problems following the injury and also suffered from neck and back problems. Claimant retired and continued to experience symptoms. In 2013, he suffered a stroke, which caused death as a result of an acute basilar artery infarction. Claimant's spouse sought death benefits. At hearing, claimant presented evidence from Dr. Francis Miller from Duke Un...