Beam v. Floyds Creek Baptist Church

On 11 December 1987, claimant Kathryn Beam, aged 57, was employed as a secretary for defendant Floyds Creek Baptist Church. Her duties included bookkeeping and preparing the weekly bulletin and payroll. On that date, the churchs pastor, The Reverend James C. Diehl, asked claimant to help him carry a three-foot-long, 75-pound spotlight up a flight of stairs to a balcony. Claimant and Reverend Diehl carried the spotlight up the stairs with claimant walking backwards while bent over at the waist. Claimant did not stumble or trip, or twist or turn, while carrying the spotlight. Claimant suffered back pain when she awoke the next morning, and she immediately notified Reverend Diehl and the Chairman of the Board of Deacons and sought medical attention.