10.3.2.2 Standard and Scope of Review

• Jurisdiction: Arizona

Review by the court of appeals is limited to a determination of whether the award is reasonably supported by the evidence.^[154] It will not weigh the evidence, but considers it in the light most favorable to affirming the award.^[155] An award that reaches the right result for the wrong reason will be affirmed.^[156] Additionally, an award will be affirmed despite the erroneous exclusion or admission of evidence if the error was “harmless,” that is, if the administrative law judge would have reached the same result in spite of the error.^[157]

Questions requiring the interpretation of a statute are issues of law reviewable de novo on appeal.^[158] The reviewing court will liberally construe the Workers’ Compensation Act in favor of the worker to effectuate its purpose of protecting its beneficiaries and compensating valid claims.^[159]

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^[154]A.R.S. § 23‑951 (A); Pacific Fruit Express v. Industrial Comm’n, 153 Ariz. 210, 735 P.2d 820 (1987); Barnes v....