Partin v. Merchants & Farmers Bank

ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION, DISTRICT NO. 2 In this case, Claimant, Eva Marie Partin, alleged that she suffered a compensable mental injury when her employer, Merchants and Farmers Bank, demoted her for lack of managerial skills after eighteen years of employment. The Office of Workers' Compensation (OWC) awarded compensation benefits to Claimant and the bank appealed. We granted certiorari to determine whether Claimant's mental condition is compensable under the Workers' Compensation Act. For the following reasons, we conclude that the bank's demotion of Claimant produced stress that was not unexpected or extraordinary as required by the Act, and we therefore reverse the order awarding benefits to Claimant.