Opinions
OPINIONS OF THE SUPREME COURT
RELEASED NOVEMBER 12, 2026
NOTICE - MEDIA RELEASE TIME IS 10:00 A.M.
A24-1440 Derek Alexander Knapp, Appellant, vs. Commissioner of Public Safety, Respondent.
Court of Appeals.
In assessing the admissibility of a breath-test result challenged on the ground that an inadequate observation period rendered the test result unreliable, an imperfect observation period is not a per se reason to exclude the breath-test result. Instead, the district court must consider all record evidence bearing on whether the breath sample was contaminated and must admit the test result if a preponderance of the evidence shows that the breath sample was not contaminated.
Vacated and remanded. Justice Paul C. Thissen.
Took no part, Justice Reynaldo A. Aligada, Jr.
A25-1711 Jennifer Williams, Respondent, vs. Delta Air Lines, Inc., and ACE USA, administered by Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc., Relators.
Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals.
1. The Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals erred in setting aside an expert’s opinion because there is evidence in the record that a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support the compensation judge’s implied findings that the expert’s opinion was based on facts supported by the record and thus had adequate foundation.
2. The Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals erred in reversing the compensation judge’s denial of benefits for the respondent’s November 12, 2019 skin injury and vacating the compensation judge’s denial of benefits for the respondent’s January 29, 2020 respiratory injury because, taking the employer’s expert’s opinion into consideration, there is evidence in the record that a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support the compensation judge’s denial of benefits for both claimed injuries.
Reversed. Justice Sarah E. Hennesy.
Took no part, Justice Reynaldo A. Aligada, Jr.