Atlantic & Gulf Stevedores, Inc. v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board

533 A.2d 515, 111 Pa. Commw. 146, 1987 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 2621
CourtCommonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedNovember 18, 1987
DocketAppeals, Nos. 3561 C.D. 1986 and 3598 C.D. 1986
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 533 A.2d 515 (Atlantic & Gulf Stevedores, Inc. v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Atlantic & Gulf Stevedores, Inc. v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board, 533 A.2d 515, 111 Pa. Commw. 146, 1987 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 2621 (Pa. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinion

Opinion by

Senior Judge Narick,

In these consolidated appeals, Atlantic & Gulf Stevedores, Inc. (Employer) has appealed a decision of the Workmens Compensation Appeal Board (Board) which affirmed a referees decision denying Employers petition to modify benefits payable to Sherley Roseboro (Claimant); and the Claimant has appealed the decision of the Board which affirmed a referees decision awarding Employer subrogation rights in a third party tort recovery received by Claimant. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the denial of Employers request for modification of disability benefits, but remand on the issue of subrogation.

Claimant was employed as a longshoreman or stevedore for Employer. On July 5, 1979, Claimant was in[148]*148jured in the course of his employment when a Merz Highways Tour bus in which claimant was a passenger, while returning from a job site in New Jersey, was struck by an automobile driven by David Hemphill. Claimant was paid workmens compensation benefits from July 5, 1979 at a weekly compensation rate of $192.26.

On July 15, 1980, Employer filed for modification of compensation. On January 22, 1986, the referee rendered a decision denying Employers request for modification of disability benefits but granting Employer subrogation rights.1 The Board affirmed the referees decision.

Thus, two issues are before us for review: (1) whether the referee erred in denying Employers request for modification of disability benefits, and (2) whether the referee erred in determining that Employer was entitled to subrogation rights with respect to Claimants third party tort recovery. Our scope of review herein is limited to a determination of whether constitutional rights have been violated, an error of law has been committed, or whether necessary findings of feet are supported by substantial evidence. Section 704 of the Administrative Agency Law, 2 Pa. C. S. §704; Estate of McGovern v. State Employees’ Retirement Board, 512 Pa. 377, 517 A.2d 523 (1986).

First, we shall discuss Employers request for modification of workmens compensation benefits. In support of its position, Employer relies on the testimony of Dr. William Simon and the vocational testimony of Dr. [149]*149Philip Spergel.2 Dr. Simon testified that he had examined Claimant on two separate occasions, November 26, 1979 and July 15, 1980. Dr. Simon testified that he diagnosed Claimant as suffering from degenerative joint disease, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine. It was Dr. Simons opinion that although Claimant could not return to his job as a stevedore, Claimant could perform sedentary work. Dr. Spergel, a vocational expert, also testified that Claimant could perform sedentary jobs.

In rebuttal, Claimant presented the testimony of his treating physicians, Dr. Raymond Silk and Dr. William Burch. Claimant also presented the vocational testimony of Peter B. Nesbitt.3 It was Dr. Silks testimony that Claimant, since his accident in 1979, has become a chronic pain syndrome patient and that Claimant takes analgesics for relief of pain. Dr. Silk further stated that Claimant, who walks with a quadricane, is restricted in lifting, bending, stooping and from remaining in one sedentary position because he becomes frozen if he remains in one spot. Dr. Silk concluded that Claimant is not capable of performing sedentary work. Dr. Burch, an orthopedic specialist, testified that he had examined Claimant on August 17, 1979, March 20, 1980 and April 27, 1982. Dr. Burch opined that Claimants condition from August 17, 1979 until April 27, 1982 had worsened, and that Claimants prognosis for improve[150]*150ment was non-existent. Dr. Burch stated that Claimant is unable to perform sedentary types of employment and that because of the pain medication prescribed to him, should not operate a motor vehicle or any type of power machinery. The vocational expert, Peter Nesbitt, testified that Claimant, in light of his educational and work background, could be considered for unskilled entry level type work. However, based upon Claimants continuing medical problems, Nesbitt concluded that Claimant is not employable in any type of work.

The referee resolved the conflicts in testimony in Claimants favor and concluded that Claimant remains totally disabled. It is well settled that when no additional evidence is taken by the Board, the referee is the ultimate factfinder. Universal Cyclops Steel Corp. v. Krawczynski, 9 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 176, 305 A.2d 757 (1973); and the task of resolving conflicts in evidence, including medical evidence, is for the referee, Frye v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board (Lafferty Trucking Co.), 78 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 427, 467 A.2d 659 (1983).

An employer seeking to modify an employees disability compensation from total to partial disability must establish by substantial evidence that the employees condition of disability has been reduced and that work is available which the claimant is capable of performing. Costal Tank Lines, Inc. v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board (Swick), 72 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 308, 457 A.2d 149 (1983) and St. Vincent Health Center v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board (Roussos), 59 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 130, 428 A.2d 1061 (1981).

Thus, we cannot disturb the referees findings if supported by substantial evidence, and where as here the medical testimonies of Drs. Silk and Burch as well as the vocational testimony of Peter Nesbitt supports the referees findings, we will affirm.

[151]*151The next issue presented for our consideration is whether the referee erred in awarding subrogation rights to Employer pursuant to Vespaziano v. Insana, 501 Pa. 612, 462 A.2d 669 (1983).4 The referee made the following findings of fact which were affirmed by the Board regarding the issue of subrogation:

13. Claimant commenced a third-party action based on his work-related injury and recovered the sum of $225,000 by way of settlement from Merz Highway Tours and David Hemphill on or about March, 1983.
14. From the amount of settlement there was deducted from claimants share expense reimbursement of $5,812.15 and counsel fee to Sheldon A. Goodstadt, in the amount of $90,-000.00; leaving a net recovery of $129,687.85.
15. Based on claimants compensation payments of $192.26 a week, claimant has received 337 weeks of compensation from Defendant by December 28, 1985, for a total compensation claim of $64,791.62.
16. Under the provisions of the PA ‘No Fault’ Act, as interpreted by Vespaziano v.

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Bluebook (online)
533 A.2d 515, 111 Pa. Commw. 146, 1987 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 2621, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/atlantic-gulf-stevedores-inc-v-workmens-compensation-appeal-board-pacommwct-1987.