amazon.com v. Jeannie Colvin

• Court: Kentucky Supreme Court
• Decided: December 13, 2018
• Docket: 2018-SC-0123
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

IMPORTANT NOTICE NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OPINION

THIS OPINION IS DESIGNATED "NOT TO BE PUBLISHED" PURSUANT TO THE RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE PROMULGATED BY THE SUPREME COURT, CR 76.28(4)(C), THIS OPINION IS NOT TO BE PUBLISHED AND SHALL NOT BE CITED OR USED AS BINDING PRECEDENT IN ANY OTHER CASE IN ANY COURT OF THIS STATE; HOWEVER, UNPUBLISHED KENTUCKY APPELLATE DECISIONS, RENDERED AFTER JANUARY 1, 2003, MAY BE CITED FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT IF THERE IS NO PUBLISHED OPINION THAT WOULD ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE ISSUE BEFORE THE COURT. OPINIONS CITED FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT SHALL BE SET OUT AS AN UNPUBLISHED DECISION IN THE FILED DOCUMENT AND A COPY OF THE ENTIRE DECISION SHALL BE TENDERED ALONG WITH THE DOCUMENT TO THE COURT AND ALL PARTIES TO THE ACTION. RENDERED: DECEMBER 13, 2018 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

2018-SC-000123-WC

AMAZON.COM APPELLANT

ON APPEAL FROM COURT OF APPEALS CASE NO. 2015-CA-001908-WC V. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BOARD NO. ll-WC-01214

JEANNIE COLVIN; APPELLEES HON. WILLIAM J. RUDLOFF, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE; AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BOARD

MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT

AFFIRMING

In 2010, Jeannie Colvin (Colvin), was working as a laborer at Amazon.

On February 28th, Colvin injured her left shoulder while lifting cases of canned

drinks. That same day, Colvin also sustained an injury to her neck. On

February 7, 2011, Colvin’s hands began to swell while pushing a box cart. She

filed a Form 101 which was subsequently amended on January 22, 2013.

After considering the evidence, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)

awarded Colvin permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits assessed at a seven

percent impairment rating. On September 10, 2014, Colvin filed a motion to reopen her case on the basis that her condition had worsened. Kentucky

Revised Statute (KRS) 342.125(l)(d). The case was assigned to a different ALJ

who considered Colvin’s testimony and the testimony of multiple physicians.

Based on this evidence, the ALJ concluded that Colvin’s condition had

worsened and that she was entitled to an eleven percent whole person

permanent impairment rating. The ALJ also determined that Colvin was

permanently and totally disabled (PTD). Amazon appealed to the Workers’

Compensation Board (Board), which unanimously affirmed the ALJ’s

determination. Amazon then appealed to the Court of Appeals, which

unanimously affirmed the Board’s decision. Amazon now appeals to this

Court. Having reviewed the record and the law, we affirm the Court of Appeals.

Standard of Review

To reverse, we must determine that the ALJ's findings were “so

unreasonable under the evidence that it must be viewed as erroneous as a

matter of law.” KRS 342.285; Ira A. Watson Dep’t Store v. Hamilton, 34 S.W.3d

48, 52 (Ky. 2000). This is clearly a difficult standard to satisfy.

Analysis

Amazon’s sole argument is that the award of PTD benefits was not

warranted by the evidence. Amazon specifically argues that the medical

testimony did not affirmatively establish that Colvin’s condition had worsened.

We disagree.

As noted by the Court of Appeals, Dr. Sanjiv Mehta, Colvin’s treating

orthopedic surgeon, diagnosed her with several conditions, including a

2 degenerative disc disease, mild carpal tunnel syndrome, partial thickness

rotator cuff tear, arthritis, and left upper extremity complex regional pain

syndrome. Dr. Mehta’s records also indicated that she did not believe Colvin

could return to work with her current clinical complex.

Dr. Warren Bilkey—who performed the independent medical exam for

Colvin’s initial award in this case—performed a subsequent exam and

determined that Colvin acquired chronic pain affecting her neck and upper

extremities. As previously noted, the ALJ also considered Colvin’s testimony,

wherein she attested to her increased levels of pain. See Watson, 34 S.W.3d at

52 (“A worker’s testimony is competent evidence of his physical condition and

of his ability to perform various activities both before and after being injured.”).

In support of its case, Amazon cites Dr. Richard Dubou’s conclusions

that Colvin demonstrated no objective indicators of increased pain and that

Colvin’s condition had improved since her initial diagnosis. However, as the

Court of Appeals correctly noted, while a party may submit medical evidence

“which would have supported a conclusion contrary to the ALJ’s decision, such

evidence is not an adequate basis for reversal on appeal.” Whittaker v.

Rowland, 998 S.W.2d 479, 482 (Ky. 1999) (citation omitted).

Accordingly, the Court of Appeals properly deferred to the Board’s

findings, which were based upon substantial evidence. Finding no legal error,

the Court of Appeals appropriately affirmed the Board’s final order.

3 Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, we hereby affirm the Court of Appeals’

decision, affirming the decisions issued by the Board and the ALJ.

All sitting. All concur.

COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT:

Lori Vanhoose Daniel FERRERI PARTNERS, PLLC

COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE:

Audrey Haydon HAYDON & MCNAMARA, PSC