Workmen’s Compensation: Compensability of Suicide of Mentally ill Employee

The majority of American courts follow Sponatski’s case when industrial injury has caused pain or depression leading to subsequent suicide. The case referred to required recovery under workman’s compensation if suicide was the result of an uncontrollable impulse or committed in a delirium of frenzy without volition to produce death. The author examines the inconsistent & harsh results from application of the Sponatski case. (NBB)