California State Polytechnic University v. Workers' Compensation Appeals Board

We review a decision of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (Board) approving a finding by a workers’ compensation *516 judge that the death of an employee of the California State Polytechnic University at Pomona arose out of her employment.

Decedent was employed as a stenographer at the university. She worked in an office on the campus which apparently contained administrative offices and classrooms. The office was off a corridor heavily trafficked by students, teachers and other employees.

On October 24, 1977, while school was open and in session, decedent was shot to death while sitting at a desk in her office. There were no witnesses to the actual shooting. The gun was left at the scene. Investigation disclosed the gun had been stolen in a burglary in Compton.

Dr. Armstrong, a professor of education at the university, entered decedent’s office just prior to the shooting and observed a black male standing in front of decedent’s desk. Dr. Armstrong apparently left before the shooting.

Dr. Hammond, another professor, had seen decedent talking to a black male on the campus about a week earlier. On the day of the shooting he observed a black male in a restroom in…