Requirement to Provide Notice to
Employer
Anderson v. Frontier
Communications
Minnesota Supreme Court, filed
September 5, 2012
The Minnesota Supreme Court
reversed the WCCA and affirmed the Compensation Judge’s findings, holding that
the failure of the employee to give timely notice of his work related injury to
the employer, as well as the employer’s lack of actual knowledge regarding the
work related nature of the employee’s injury, precludes recovery of benefits
under the Minnesota Workers Compensation Act.
The Employee worked from
1987 to 2007 as a lineman for a communications company, which was a physical
job that required frequent heavy lifting and bending over to mark underground
cables. Pursuant to his testimony given
to the Compensation Judge, following the gradual onset and progressive
worsening of his low back pain symptoms from 2004 to 2005, and following his
consultation with a surgeon in May 2007, the Employee knew that his work
activities at the Employer were causing or aggravating his low back
problems. However, it was not until May
2009 that the Employee, through his attorney, gave notice to the Employer of
the claimed work related nature of his low back condition.
As the Anderson court held,
pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 176.141 and Issacson v. Minnetonka (Minn. 1987), in
order to recover workers compensation benefits, an employee must either: (1)
give notice of injury no more than 180 days after “it becomes reasonably
apparent to the employee that the injury has resulted in, or is likely to
cause, a compensable disability,” or (2) must show that the employer had actual
knowledge of the injury, or in other words, that the employer had “some
information connecting work activity with an injury.”
Here, where the Employee
knew in May 2007 that his work activities were contributing to his low back
problems, but failed to provide notice to the Employer of this fact until May
2009, and also failed to show that the Employer had actual knowledge of the
injury, he was barred from recovering benefits under the Minnesota Workers
Compensation Act.
Justices Paul Anderson, Alan
Page, and Helen Meyer all dissented. In
his dissent, Justice Paul Anderson noted the stoic attitude of the Employee
with respect to his own pain symptoms, and provided an interesting and somewhat
animated discussion on the point at which the Employee, as a reasonable person,
may have realized the compensable nature of the disability he sustained from
his work injury.
Causation
Preston vs. Hitchin Rail
W.C.C.A., June 4, 2012 ~ Reviewed
by Natalie K. Lund
The Employee sustained a
work-related injury to her back on September 28, 2004. After subsequent settlement and return to
work, the Employee alleged a second specific injury to her back and neck on
December 22, 2006. She continued to work
with the pre-injury employer, and ultimately alleged her work duties aggravated
her back and neck conditions. A Claim
Petition was filed asserting injury dates of September 28, 2004, December 22,
2006 and a Gillette injury culminating in July of 2006. Dr. Wengler testified on behalf of the
employee, concluding the Employee’s work activities after April 2005 and/or her
fall on December 22, 2006 were a substantial contributing cause of her lumbar
and cervical spine conditions. The
compensation judge found the employee sustained a Gillette injury to her
cervical and lumbar spine arising out of and in the course of her employment in
2005 and 2006, which culminated on March 5, 2007, when the employee was taken
off work, and that the December 22, 2006 injury further aggravated the
employee’s conditions. Both injuries caused
the employee’s need for medical treatment and disability. The employer and insurer appealed.
The WCCA affirmed in part
and vacated in part. The employer and
insurer’s contention that the employee’s expert, Dr. Wengler, lacked foundation
was denied. The fact that Dr. Wengler
did not mention prior chiropractic records in his report was not sufficient to
show he assumed there were no prior low back complaints where he acknowledged
having read such records in his deposition.
The determination of the compensation judge on the credibility of the
employee was also affirmed despite the employee’s inconsistent recollection of
her medical history. The WCCA vacated
the finding of the compensation judge that the Gillette injury culminated on
March 5, 2007, as the date was irrelevant given the finding as to a specific
injury on December 22, 2006. The award
was affirmed.
Causation/Evidence
Myhre vs. Public Storage, Inc.
W.C.C.A. file June 5, 2012 ~ Reviewed by Natalie K. Lund
The WCCA affirmed the
findings of the compensation judge that the employee was not exposed to mold in
her employer-furnished apartment and that she was not disabled as a result of
that exposure. From June 2008 through
August 2010, the employee lived in an employer-furnished apartment. She reported a foul odor from the basement of
the apartment and water damage on the wall of the basement to her district
manager. A February 8, 2009 x-ray
indicated a one centimeter ovoid nodular density in the right lung. In late 2009 and 2010, the employee treated
with symptoms including heavy feeling in her chest and coughing. She reported there was black mold in her
basement. However, her medical history
included heavy smoking and she had treated in the past for respiratory
infection, cough and shortness of breath.
On August 5, 2010, the employee’s residence was inspected for mold
exposure by EFI Global, Inc. The
inspection found that there was evidence of water and moisture damage in the
basement, but there were no visible signs of fungal growth in the living or
basement area of the residence. At
hearing, the employee made a claim for temporary total disability benefits and
medical expenses based, in part, on two exhibits of medical journal articles. The employer and insurer objected, which the compensation
judge sustained. The judge found the
employee failed to prove she was exposed to mold in the employer-furnished
apartment or that she was temporarily and totally disabled. Within her memorandum, the judge discussed
the articles submitted by the employee’s attorney. The employee appealed the decision and the
employer and insurer cross-appealed the judge’s consideration of the employee’s
exhibits.
The WCCA found substantial
evidence supported the compensation judge’s finding that the employee was not
exposed to mold. The employee was not
disabled as a result of mold exposure.
Finally, where there was no indication the judge’s consideration of the
article exhibits formed the basis for her decision, any error by the judge in
discussing the exhibits not admitted into evidence was harmless.
Notice
Dahlen vs. Hiway Amoco, Inc.
W.C.C.A., June 7, 2012 ~ Reviewed
by Natalie K. Lund
The WCCA affirmed the
findings of the compensation judge that the employee failed to prove she
sustained a personal injury on March 9, 2009 and that she failed to provide
notice of an injury as required by Minn. Stat. 176.141. The employee alleged that on March 9, 2009,
her foot became stuck between two pallets.
As she pulled her foot out, she experienced an onset of pain and her
foot began to swell. The employee
testified she told her supervisor about the injury the following day. The supervisor testified she was not told
about the injury at work. She was only
told the employee had injured her foot.
This was supported by a medical records stating the injury had not been
reported to workers’ compensation.
Further, another employer witness testified there was no way the
employee could have fit her foot in between the two pallets. The compensation judge accepted the testimony
of the employer witnesses, as well as the report of the employer’s IME doctor,
Dr. Segal. The WCCA found there was
substantial evidence to support the compensation judge’s denial of a
compensable claim.
Jurisdiction
Stevens-Stevenson vs. Greater
Lake Country Food
W.C.C.A., May 18, 2012 ~ Reviewed
by Natalie K. Lund
The employee sustained three
work-related injuries in the course and scope of her employment with Greater
Lake Country Food: a 1996 right shoulder injury, a 1997 right ankle injury, and
a 1998 cervical injury. In May 2011, the
employee filed a medical request for payment or approval of recommended
cervical and lumbar MRI scans. The
attached medical records included an MRI order form, which indicated the
employee had right hand pain and numbness “shooting down legs”. Physical therapy records noted chronic neck
pain, bilateral hip pain and decreased lumbar and hip range of motion. In a Decision and Order, the
mediator/arbitrator denied the medical request based on his conclusion that inadequate
documentation had been established to support the request. A request for formal hearing was filed. Counsel for the employer and insurer argued
at hearing that the compensation judge lacked jurisdiction to determine the
employee’s entitlement to the claimed treatment where the employer and insurer
had never admitted liability for lumbar spine or hip injuries. The compensation judge awarded the lumbar
MRI. The employer and insurer appealed.
The WCCA vacated the
decision of the compensation judge on separate grounds. The Court found that a claim that a work
injury has produced or contributed to a condition in a different body part than
the original injury – what is commonly referred to as a consequential injury –
raises the issue of causation, not primary liability. A consequential injury is not a separate
injury that must be pleaded by claim petition.
Jurisdiction was appropriate.
However, the employee had produced a medical report two months prior to
the hearing, which formed the support for her claim. The employer and insurer had not received
sufficient notice of that report, and had been unable to perform responsive
discovery. On that basis, the judge’s
decision was vacated and remanded for additional proceedings.
Causation – Occupational Disease
– Expert Medical Opinion
Vandenberg v. Swanson &
Youngdale, Inc.
WCCA, filed 9/18/12 ~ Reviewed by
Joseph D. Amos
The WCCA affirmed the
Findings of the Compensation Judge that the employee sustained a work-related
injury to his kidneys.
The employee was exposed to
various solvents and chemicals, including latex products, xylene and epoxy
products during his career as a commercial painter. The employee obtained
causation opinions from three different doctors, who opined that the exposure
was the cause of the employee’s kidney problems because they were unable to
come up with any other cause. The employer’s expert opined that the exposure
was not the cause because it was not the result of an acute, high-level
exposure.
The compensation judge accepted
the opinions of the treating physicians. The WCCA rejected the employer’s
arguments that the treating physician’s opinions lacked foundation and were not
given to the degree of medical certainty required by law. The WCCA affirmed,
granting deference to the province of the compensation judge to decide
questions of medical causation.
Petition to Discontinue PTD
Stevens v. S.T. Services
WCCA, filed October 8, 2012 ~
Reviewed by Jennifer Augustin
The Employer and Insurer
filed a Petition to Discontinue the Employee’s PTD benefits with the WCCA,
alleging that he was no longer permanently and totally disabled because he had
engaged in and was capable of gainful employment. A prior Stipulation for Settlement provided
the Employee would continue to receive PTD benefits “subject to the terms and
conditions of Chapter 176.” Given this
language, the court determined it was evident the parties contemplated
continued payments only so long as the Employee continued to qualify as
permanently and totally disabled under the statute. The WCCA refused to issue a decision and
referred the matter to the Office of Administrative Hearings for a full
evidentiary hearing to determine if the Employee was permanently and totally
disabled, and whether the Employer and Insurer were entitled to a credit for
benefits paid while the Employee was gainfully employed.
Res Judicata Effect of § 176.106 Decisions
Abbett, Jr. v. Georgia-Pacific
Corp.
WCCA, filed October 11, 2012 ~
Reviewed by Jennifer Augustin
The WCCA reiterated its
prior decisions acknowledging the potential for res judicata effect by
unappealed Minn. Stat. § 176.106 decisions from the Department of Labor and
Industry, but only for those issues specifically decided in the prior
proceeding. Problems exist in using administrative
decisions to bar future claims and defenses since there is no record of the
administrative conference, no sworn testimony, and no formal exhibits. Giving res judicata effect to an
administrative decision concerning future treatment may be particularly
inappropriate.
Independent Contractor v.
Employee
Price v. David Fox
WCCA, filed October 15, 2012 ~
Reviewed by Jennifer Augustin
Where a homeowner hired
Price to mow the lawn, remove leaves, and shovel snow, Price was paid a
guaranteed salary based upon 16 hours per week with payment on an hourly basis
for any time expended in excess of 16 hours, where Price decided what days and
hours he worked, where the homeowner provided 90% of the tools and equipment,
where Price was allowed to hire whomever he wished to assist him, and those
assistants were paid based upon the hours Price billed to the homeowner, the
WCCA concluded that Price substantially met all of the safe harbor criteria for
an independent contractor pursuant to Minn. R. 5224.0110, subp. 1, and reversed
the decision of the compensation judge.
Even had they not concluded he met all of the safe harbor criteria, they
would nevertheless have concluded he was not an employee under the general
rules, where the right to control the means and manner of the performance of
the work is the most significant factor to consider. The court pointed out that the homeowner may
control the quality or description of the work without controlling the means or
manner by which the person performs the work.
Traveling Employee
Eide v. Award Const. Co.
W.C.C.A., filed Oct. 16, 2012 ~
Reviewed by Jennifer Augustin
The Employee was required to
travel to California for work. While in
California and after his work shift, he died from a heart attack in his hotel
room. The WCCA affirmed the Compensation
Judge’s denial of dependency benefits holding that, while the death occurred
“in the course of employment” under the traveling employee doctrine, it did not
“arise out of the employment,” because there was no causal connection between
the Employee’s work and his fatal heart attack.
In other words, there was no increased risk or hazard with its origin or
source in the employment and beyond the exposure of the general public.
Milbrat v. The MarketPlace, Inc.
W.C.C.A., filed Oct. 22, 2012 ~
Reviewed by Jennifer Augustin
The Employee sustained a
work-related injury. While traveling
from her treating physician’s office to her usual and customary pharmacy to
fill prescriptions related to her injury, she was involved in a motor vehicle
accident, sustaining further injury. The
WCCA concluded that coverage shall be granted for this injury that occurred
during travel to obtain medication for a work injury. They cite prior case law extending coverage
to those employees injured during travel to or from a doctor for treatment of a
work injury, which says the employer has an obligation to provide medical
treatment and the employee has an obligation to receive such treatment and
thereby avoid further medical complications.
The proper treatment of an employee’s injury is in the interests of both
the employee and employer. This same
rationale is equally applicable to cases in which an employee is traveling to
obtain medication prescribed to cure and relive her from the effects of the
work injury.
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