Karber/Interstate Air V. Industrial Commission

The employer, Karber/Interstate Air, and carrier, Argonaut Insurance Company ("Argonaut"), bring this special action review of an Industrial Commission award. Robert Nixon ("claimant") tripped on an expansion strip in his parents' driveway while under treatment for an industrial injury to his right knee. Although the right knee injury itself did not cause claimant to trip, he tried to protect his vulnerable right knee from further injury by placing his full weight on his left leg. The left leg gave way, and claimant fell on it, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Accepting the medical opinion of claimant's doctor, the administrative law Judge ("ALJ") found that claimant suffered an acute left knee injury. The ALJ concluded that the left knee injury was a compensable consequence of the industrial injury.