Pa. court grants benefits to woman stabbed by son

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania court says a woman who was paid to help care for her disabled adult son in her home deserves workers’ compensation after he tried to kill her by slashing her throat while she slept.

Commonwealth Court today overturned a decision by the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board and said the business relationship between Laura O’Rourke and her son Joshua Gartland met standards for benefits.

The majority opinion says O’Rourke agreed to work for Gartland — after his leg was amputated in 2007 — under a government-funded program for home health care.

O’Rourke was sleeping about 1 a.m. April 11, 2009, when Gartland cut her throat with a butcher knife and inflicted other injuries.

Gartland pleaded guilty to attempted homicide and is in a state prison.