Avtex Fibers, Inc. v. Jeffery A. Cook

• Court: Court of Appeals of Virginia
• Decided: June 27, 1995
• Docket: 0095954
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judges Baker, Elder and Fitzpatrick

AVTEX FIBERS, INC. AND TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY

v. Record No. 0095-95-4 MEMORANDUM OPINION * PER CURIAM JEFFREY A. COOK JUNE 27, 1995

FROM THE VIRGINIA WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION (William Orr Smith, on brief), for appellants.

(Jerry O. Talton, on brief), for appellee.

Avtex Fibers, Inc. and Traveler's Insurance Company

(hereinafter collectively referred to as "employer") contend that

the Workers' Compensation Commission erred in (1) considering

Jeffrey A. Cook's affidavit describing his pre-injury job duties

and the July 21, 1994 letter report of the treating physician,

Dr. John H. Zoller, in an "on-the-record" proceeding; and (2)

denying the employer's application on the basis that the employer

failed to prove that Cook was able to return to his pre-injury

work. Upon reviewing the record and the briefs of the parties,

we conclude that this appeal is without merit. Accordingly, we

summarily affirm the commission's decision. Rule 5A:27.

I.

The employer argues that the commission should not have

considered Cook's affidavit and Dr. Zoller's July 21, 1994 letter * Pursuant to Code § 17-116.010 this opinion is not designated for publication. report. The employer asserts that the full commission, in its

July 11, 1994 opinion affirming the deputy commissioner's

decision to adjudicate the employer's application on-the-record,

allowed Cook to submit only "a designated deposition transcript"

as part of his written statement. However, in her July 14, 1994

letter, the deputy commissioner notified the parties that they

were permitted to submit "any documentary evidence." She did not

limit the type of documentary evidence that the commission would

consider. "[R]igid or technical rules of pleadings, evidence, or

practice . . . shall not apply [to the commission] so long as the

procedures adopted protect the substantial rights of the

parties." Sergio's Pizza v. Soncini, 1 Va. App. 370, 376, 339

S.E.2d 204, 207 (1986). Under this standard, the employer's

rights were protected. The employer was given sufficient notice

that the commission would consider any documentary evidence

submitted by the parties. In addition, the employer was given

sufficient time to respond to such evidence. 1 Pursuant to the commission's on-the-record procedure, the deputy commissioner ordered that the parties submit their

positional statements and evidence no later than August 5, 1994.

On August 4, 1994, Cook sent his positional statement, along

with his affidavit and Dr. Zoller's July 21, 1994 letter report, 1 This Court ruled in Williams v. Virginia Elec. & Power Co., 18 Va. App. 569, 578, 445 S.E.2d 693, 699 (1994), that the commission's on-the-record procedure is constitutional.

2 to the commission and to the insurance carrier. 2 The insurance

carrier had until August 15, 1994 to file evidence in response to

Cook's submission. Thus, the insurance carrier was given

sufficient time to respond to Cook's evidence. Yet, neither the

employer nor the insurance carrier objected to Cook's evidence.

They did not file any responsive evidence. They did not request

an extension of time. They did not request leave to depose Dr.

Zoller. They did not request an evidentiary hearing. Based upon this record, the employer's argument on appeal is

without merit. It was not denied due process. It was not denied

the opportunity to respond to Cook's evidence. In fact, the

employer and the insurance carrier had a full and fair

opportunity to review Cook's evidence and to respond to the

commission in some manner prior to the August 15, 1994 deadline.

They simply failed to take advantage of this opportunity.

Accordingly, we find that the commission did not err in

considering Cook's affidavit and Dr. Zoller's July 21, 1994

letter report.

II.

On appeal, we view the evidence in the light most favorable

to the prevailing party below. R.G. Moore Bldg. Corp. v.

Mullins, 10 Va. App. 211, 212, 390 S.E.2d 788, 788 (1990).

"General principles of workman's compensation law provide that

2 There is no indication in the record that the employer or insurance carrier were represented by counsel at that time.

3 '[i]n an application for review of any award on the ground of

change in condition, the burden is on the party alleging such

change to prove his allegations by a preponderance of the

evidence.'" Great Atl. & Pac. Tea Co. v. Bateman, 4 Va. App.

459, 464, 359 S.E.2d 98, 101 (1987) (quoting Pilot Freight

Carriers, Inc. v. Reeves, 1 Va. App. 435, 438-39, 339 S.E.2d 570,

572 (1986)). Unless we can say as a matter of law that the

employer's evidence proved that Cook was able to carry out all of

the duties of his pre-injury work, the commission's findings are

binding and conclusive upon us. Tomko v. Michael's Plastering

Co., 210 Va. 697, 699, 173 S.E.2d 833, 835 (1970).

The commission's findings are supported by Cook's affidavit,

describing his job duties, and by Dr. Zoller's July 21, 1994

letter report, in which he opined that Cook was not able to

successfully perform the full duties of his pre-injury work. The

commission, in its role as fact finder, was entitled to accept

this evidence.

For the reasons stated, we affirm the commission's decision. Affirmed.