Adams v. Indus. Comm. of Ohio, Unpublished Decision (10-21-2003)

2003 Ohio 5581
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedOctober 21, 2003
DocketNo. 02AP-1416 (REGULAR CALENDAR)
StatusUnpublished

This text of 2003 Ohio 5581 (Adams v. Indus. Comm. of Ohio, Unpublished Decision (10-21-2003)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Adams v. Indus. Comm. of Ohio, Unpublished Decision (10-21-2003), 2003 Ohio 5581 (Ohio Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

DECISION
{¶ 1} Relator, Teresa Adams, has filed an original action in mandamus requesting this court to issue a writ of mandamus to order respondent, Industrial Commission of Ohio, to vacate its order that declared an overpayment of compensation for temporary total disability compensation, based in part on a finding of fraud, and to issue a new order granting compensation for the various periods of time at issue.

{¶ 2} This court referred the matter to a magistrate, pursuant to Civ.R. 53(C) and Section (M), Loc.R. 12 of the Tenth District Court of Appeals, who rendered a decision including findings of fact and conclusions of law. (Attached as Appendix A.) The magistrate decided that a writ of mandamus should be denied. Relator has filed objections to the magistrate's decision.

{¶ 3} In her objections, relator argues that the magistrate erred in Finding of Fact No. 7 because the report of Dr. Charles May on which the magistrate relied was not signed by Dr. May. Relator failed to raise this objection to the magistrate and, pursuant to State ex rel. Quarto Mining Co. v. Foreman (1997), 79 Ohio St.3d 78, any objection to Dr. May's report is waived. Relator objects to the magistrate's conclusion that she was overpaid temporary total disability compensation for the period April 28, 1999 through May 3, 1999; May 22, 1999 through July 7, 1999; July 19, 1999 through August 31, 1999; and November 1, 1999 through January 31, 2000. Although relator did not begin work until May 3, 1999, she was hired April 28, 1999, and, therefore, held herself out as able to work. As to the various periods of time between May 22, 1999 and August 31, 1999, relator failed to raise these time periods at the administrative hearing and has waived this issue. Quarto Mining. As to the period November 1, 1999 through January 31, 2000, relator was, in fact, released to work by Dr. May as of November 1, 1999, and, therefore, was not entitled to temporary total disability compensation. Thus, relator's objections to the magistrate's Finding of Fact No. 7 and to these particular periods of time are without merit.

{¶ 4} Relator also objects to the finding of an overpayment for the period April 7, 1999 through April 27, 1999. We find relator's objection has merit as to this period of time only. On February 11, 1999, claimant was examined by Dr. May, who completed a C-84 on February 15, 1999, in which he certified temporary total disability compensation from February 11, 1999 to May 11, 1999. At the time relator signed the C-84 on February 11, 1999, and was examined by Dr. May, she had not yet begun employment with the Seaton Corporation. Thus, there is no evidence that she misrepresented any facts when the C-84 was signed by her on February 11, 1999. Likewise, there is no evidence that Dr. May's medical opinion on February 15, 1999, was based on misinformation or nondisclosure from relator. The fact relator committed fraud, as of April 28, 1999, when she accepted employment while receiving temporary total disability compensation, does not prove she committed fraud prior to that date.

{¶ 5} Based upon a review of the magistrate's decision and an independent review of the record, relator's objections are sustained in part and overruled in part. This court adopts the magistrate's Findings of Fact. We adopt the Conclusions of Law as to the period of time set forth in paragraph three of this decision. We sustain relator's objections as to the period April 7, 1999 through April 27, 1999, and grant a writ of mandamus to order respondent, Industrial Commission of Ohio, to vacate that portion of its order that found an overpayment for this time period.

Objections sustained in part and overruled in part, writ of mandamus granted.

LAZARUS and KLATT, JJ., concur.

DECISION
IN MANDAMUS
{¶ 6} In this original action in mandamus, relator, Teresa Adams, asks the court to issue a writ compelling respondent Industrial Commission of Ohio ("commission") to vacate its orders declaring an overpayment of compensation for temporary total disability ("TTD"). The overpayment was based in part on a finding of fraud, and relator contends that there is insufficient evidence to establish fraud.

Findings of Fact:

{¶ 7} 1. In June 1998, Teresa Adams ("claimant") sustained an industrial injury and her workers' compensation claim was allowed for "contusion of right hip." She received intermittent periods of TTD compensation. Claimant signed C-84 requests for TTD compensation in October 1998, November 1998, February 1999, July 1999, and at other times, stating that she understood that she was not permitted to work while receiving TTD compensation.

{¶ 8} 2. On February 9, 1999, a district hearing officer reinstated TTD as of December 23, 1998, and to continue. The hearing officer noted, however, that claimant was not entitled to receive TTD for one day that she had worked.

{¶ 9} 3. On February 11, 1999, claimant signed a C-84 request stating that she had not worked "in any capacity (includ[ing] full-time, part-time, self-employment or commission work)" and acknowledging that she understood she was not permitted to work while receiving TTD and that a person who knowingly accepts compensation to which the person is not entitled is subject to prosecution for fraud. Charles May, D.O., certified TTD from February 11, 1999 to May 11, 1999, noting that claimant was capable of performing alternative work consisting of light to sedentary employment.

{¶ 10} 4. Beginning April 28, 1999, and continuing through May 21, 1999, claimant was employed by the Seaton Corporation (formerly Staff Management Services). According to the employment records, claimant quit without notice on May 21, 1999.

{¶ 11} 5. Beginning July 11, 1999, and continuing through July 18, 1999, claimant worked for Express Temporary Services.

{¶ 12} 6. On July 15, 1999, claimant signed a C-84 request, leaving blank the space for stating the date last worked, the return-to-work date, and the period off work due to the current period of work-related disability. When asked whether she had worked "in any capacity," she did not answer the question. She again signed the acknowledgement that she understood she was not permitted to work while receiving TTD and could be subject to a fraud prosecution if she accepted TTD to which she was entitled. On July 20, 1999, Dr. May certified TTD from July 15, 1999 to October 19, 1999, stating that claimant was not capable of performing light-duty work or alternative work.

{¶ 13} 7. On October 21, 1999, Dr. May provided a statement to claimant releasing her to return to work on November 1, 1999, without restrictions. Claimant gave this slip to a potential employer to support her ability to return to work.

{¶ 14} 8. On January 17, 2000, claimant signed a C-84 request, leaving blank the space for stating the date last worked, the return-to-work date, and the period off work due to the current period of work-related disability. When asked if she had worked in any capacity, she answered "No." Again, claimant signed the acknowledgement regarding fraud and not being permitted to work while receiving TTD. The attending physician's report was signed by Stephen Altic, D.O., who certified TTD from July 15, 1999 to January 31, 2000, with an actual return to work on February 1, 2000.

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Related

State ex rel. Teece v. Industrial Commission
429 N.E.2d 433 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1981)
State ex rel. Burley v. Coil Packing, Inc.
508 N.E.2d 936 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1987)
State ex rel. Bell v. Industrial Commission
651 N.E.2d 989 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1995)
State ex rel. Pass v. C.S.T. Extraction Co.
658 N.E.2d 1055 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1996)
State ex rel. Quarto Mining Co. v. Foreman
679 N.E.2d 706 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1997)
State ex rel. Ellis v. Industrial Commission
751 N.E.2d 1015 (Ohio Supreme Court, 2001)

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Bluebook (online)
2003 Ohio 5581, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/adams-v-indus-comm-of-ohio-unpublished-decision-10-21-2003-ohioctapp-2003.