When you hire Goicoechea Law, you get an attorney and a legal team with a proven track record of helping Idaho’s injured workers. Michael Kessinger has tried numerous cases to decision before both the Idaho Industrial Commission and the Idaho Supreme Court, winning medical benefits, wage loss benefits (temporary total disability or TTD), permanent partial disability benefits, and total disability benefits for injured workers in Idaho. The legal team at Goicoechea Law does more than get injured workers benefits — it shapes the law to help injured workers throughout the state. The following are representative decisions:

Idaho Supreme Court

4 cases
Case Year Key Issues
Coronado v. City of Boise
No. 51722  ·  Nov. 24, 2025
 2025
Only an injured employee — not an employer or surety — may file a complaint (application for hearing) to adjudicate unpaid or discontinued compensation or income benefits under I.C. § 72-706; Commission’s order permitting employer complaint set aside as excess of powers; First Petition (Arreola retroactivity) dismissed as moot where no actual suspension of benefits occurred.
Watkins v. City of Ponderay
No. 49704  ·  Aug. 15, 2023
 2023
Peace Officer & Detention Officer Temporary Disability Act (I.C. § 72-1104) requires employer to pay officer’s full base salary during disability period without offset; Commission erred by crediting TTD/TPD payments against base salary obligation; remittance duty runs from officer to employer, not as a credit reducing employer’s salary liability; attorney fees awarded under I.C. § 72-804 where City admitted noncompliance with Act.
Mayer v. TPC Holdings
No. 43468  ·  May 3, 2016
 2016
PPD less than total survives claimant’s non-industrial death under I.C. § 72-431; “permanent disability” and “permanent impairment” are distinct statutory terms and are not interchangeable; benefits need not be adjudicated before death to be payable to survivors; disability evaluated as of time immediately preceding death; attorney fees awarded for appeal without reasonable ground.
Kelly v. Blue Ribbon Linen
No. 42658  ·  Nov. 2, 2015
 2015
Injuries sustained in automobile accident while traveling to surety-scheduled IME arose out of and in the course of employment; special errand and traveling employee exceptions to coming-and-going rule apply; employee had no meaningful ability to refuse IME under I.C. § 72-433/434; employer bears risk of travel conditions it imposes; Commission’s denial reversed.

Idaho Industrial Commission

16 cases
Case Year Key Issues
Coronado v. City of Boise
IC 2019-015657  ·  Mar. 8, 2024  ·  reversed on appeal
 2024
Employer/surety may file a complaint under I.C. § 72-707; Commission jurisdiction extends to all questions arising under the WC Act regardless of which party initiates; JRP form requirements do not bar employer filing; no sanctions.
Watkins v. City of Ponderay
IC 2018-023549  ·  Apr. 5, 2022  ·  reversed on appeal
 2022
Peace Officer & Detention Officer Temporary Disability Act (I.C. § 72-1104); police officer injured chasing suspect entitled to full base salary for recovery period; employer failed to answer and default entered; TTD/TPD payments already received by claimant credited against base salary obligation; employer ordered to pay full base salary Aug. 19, 2018 – Nov. 19, 2020.
Wells v. Swift Transportation
IC 2016-004292
 2020
TTD benefits; missed hernia diagnosis; compensable consequences doctrine; period of recovery; attorney fees for unreasonable denial.
Blake v. State Industrial Special Indemnity Fund
IC 2013-020032  ·  Jun. 11, 2018
 2018
ISIF liability under I.C. § 72-332; pre-existing lumbar spine as manifest hindrance to employment; industrial accident permanently aggravated pre-existing condition; total and permanent disability under 100% method and odd-lot doctrine; Carey apportionment 44% employer / balance ISIF.
Anderson v. Gamma Phi Beta Sorority
IC 2014-013005  ·  Jun. 7, 2016
 2016
Repetitive lifting of gallon cans and pizza pans constitutes compensable accident under I.C. § 72-102(18)(b); no dramatic slip or fall required — strain of ordinary work duties sufficient if injury results; claimant’s initial denial of “accident” not fatal where she lacked knowledge of legal definition; work activities causally linked to cervical disc herniations at C5-6 and C6-7; entitlement to medical care including cervical surgery established.
Lopez v. Anheuser-Busch Companies
IC 2010-022110
 2016
Permanent aggravation of pre-existing lumbar DDD; medical care; TTD; 2% PPI; PPD denied where claimant released to full duty; odd-lot moot.
Mayer v. TPC Holdings, Inc.
IC 2012-004576
 2015
Survivability of PPD less than total upon non-industrial death; Idaho Code § 72-431; disability over impairment survives; dissent by Commissioner Limbaugh.
Currin v. Clearwater Paper Corporation
IC 2010-031121
 2015
Right knee TKA causally related to industrial accident (50%); 5% PPI; TTD; total permanent disability under odd-lot doctrine; attorney fees denied.
Kelly v. Blue Ribbon Linen
IC 2013-024694  ·  Sep. 26, 2014  ·  reversed on appeal
 2014
Motor vehicle accident occurring while returning from surety-compelled I.C. § 72-433 IME held non-compensable; automobile accident constitutes intervening, independent cause breaking chain of causation from original work injury; Kiger v. Idaho Corp. controlling despite mandatory nature of IME attendance; Commissioner Maynard dissenting — compulsory IME travel is incident of employment warranting coverage; decision reversed on appeal to Idaho Supreme Court (2015).
Harrison v. ATK Alliant Techsystems (II)
IC 2006-009634 & 2007-035048  ·  May 31, 2013
 2013
Permanent partial disability in excess of impairment following bilateral wrist surgeries; bilateral upper extremity sedentary restrictions among most limiting possible (90%+ labor market foreclosure); actual post-accident wage increase considered but does not preclude disability finding; vocational expert’s below-actual wage assumption discounted; PPD assessed at 55% inclusive of 23% PPI.
Liedkie v. Sodexo
IC 2009-013462  ·  Jul. 19, 2012
 2012
Extent of PPD following left rotator cuff repair; vocational expert opinion premised on assumption of unrestricted dominant arm rejected where physician restrictions are overall bilateral; sedentary lifting restriction, age 51 at accident, limited education, and lack of transferable skills support 62% PPD inclusive of 10% PPI; no I.C. § 72-406 apportionment absent evidence of pre-existing permanent impairment.
Welch v. Regulus Stud Mills, Inc.
IC 2004-525313  ·  Jun. 5, 2012
 2012
Left-hand finger amputations at saw mill; 38% PPI; 75% PPD inclusive of impairment; odd-lot doctrine not proven where claimant remained continuously employed at higher wage; non-medical factors including felony conviction and limited education analyzed.
Voglewede v. Fair Dinkum Genuine Co.
IC 2007-037275  ·  May 13, 2011
 2011
Bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome as compensable occupational disease; manifestation date triggers statute of limitations (I.C. § 72-448); knowledge of symptoms ≠ knowledge of occupational disease; Nelson doctrine inapplicable where disease not manifest before employment with defendant employer.
Harrison v. ATK Alliant Techsystems / Ammunition Accessories (I)
IC 2006-009634 & 2007-035048  ·  Aug. 5, 2009
 2009
Bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and de Quervain’s tenosynovitis caused by industrial accidents at ammunition assembly plant; additional medical care including surgery warranted despite normal nerve conduction studies; clinical findings sufficient.
Gregory v. Schwabs Screw Machines
IC 2006-505221  ·  Oct. 3, 2008
 2008
Lumbar injury from lifting; L5-S1 disc herniation with annular tear; surety prematurely closed claim at MMI; claimant not at medical stability; entitled to past and future medical care including discogram; TTD from date of layoff.
Zollman v. Jopo, Inc. dba Zip Trip
IC 2004-512369
 2008
Ladder fall; L2 burst fracture; rotator cuff tear; cognitive deficits; 70% PPD inclusive of impairment; total permanent disability under odd-lot doctrine.