Fenwick v. Oklahoma State Penitentiary

792 P.2d 60 (1990)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

In August 1979, P worked as a psychological assistant at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. Four women were being held hostage by an inmate. P negotiated the release of three of the hostages in exchange for himself. The fourth woman was released. After being held hostage for approximately four and one-half hours, P was released without physical injury. P took two days off work and continued to work in the same position for more than three years. P first suffered serious psychological problems in December of 1979 when he experienced marital dysfunction and extreme anxiety. D recognized that P had been harmed -- it paid for his medical and psychiatric treatment for almost four years. P resigned to take a similar job with the Carl Albert Community Mental Health Center. P filed a claim seeking disability compensation. D paid for P's medical and psychiatric treatment until April 1986. On January 6, 1987, P filed a claim seeking permanent partial disability. It was only after P filed a claim for permanent partial disability that D denied that he had been injured in the course of his employment. P was suffering from major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. None of the diagnosis included physical injury. Workers’ compensation court denied P’s request and the Court of Appeals reversed. D appealed.