Birdsley Trucking Co. v. Industrial Commission

548 N.E.2d 772, 192 Ill. App. 3d 39, 139 Ill. Dec. 387, 1989 Ill. App. LEXIS 1921
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedDecember 20, 1989
Docket3-89-0218WC
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 548 N.E.2d 772 (Birdsley Trucking Co. v. Industrial Commission) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Birdsley Trucking Co. v. Industrial Commission, 548 N.E.2d 772, 192 Ill. App. 3d 39, 139 Ill. Dec. 387, 1989 Ill. App. LEXIS 1921 (Ill. Ct. App. 1989).

Opinion

JUSTICE McNAMARA

delivered the opinion of the court:

Claimant, Steven Philhower, suffered injuries in a car accident while allegedly driving on a work errand for his employer, Birdsley Trucking Company. Claimant’s mother, a passenger in the car, was killed in the accident. An arbitrator awarded claimant $216.39 per week for life, plus interest, and medical expenses of $37,000 for total and permanent disabilities which arose out of and in the course of the employment. The Industrial Commission (Commission) heard additional evidence, and later summarily affirmed the arbitrator’s decision, declining to review the record based on the employer’s failure to timely file the required written summary of its position. The circuit court of Bureau County confirmed the Commission’s decision, and the employer filed an appeal to this court. This court remanded the case to the Commission with directions, and the case came to the Commission for a review on the merits.

The Commission again affirmed the decision of the arbitrator, and the circuit court confirmed the Commission’s decision. The employer appeals, contending that the Commission’s finding that claimant’s injuries arose out of and in the course of his employment is against the manifest weight of the evidence; that the Commission incorrectly computed his average weekly wage; that the Commission erred in awarding benefits for injuries stemming from the personal, and not the business, portion of the trip; that the Commission’s award of certain medical benefits is not supported by the record; that one witness’ testimony should be stricken in its entirety; that the Commission’s alleged loss of certain films inhibits the appeal process; and that the Commission failed to provide a full and complete record for this appeal.

On March 20, 1979, claimant began working for Birdsley Trucking as an over-the-road truck driver/mechanic near Princeton, Illinois. On May 5, 1979, the automobile accident occurred. Claimant was driving his automobile from nearby Ladd, Illinois, where, he testified, he picked up a fuel gauge at Rnauf Implements for the truck he drove for respondent. Another car broadsided the passenger side of claimant’s car. His mother was killed, and he suffered fractures to the right humerous and left tibial plateau, and a severe closed head injury. He remained in a coma for nearly two months. Subsequently, he has not worked and has been diagnosed as having neurological problems which prevent him from working, and which have resulted in total and permanent disabilities manifested both in neurological problems and gross motor problems.

Claimant introduced numerous medical records into evidence. A June 11, 1979, EEG showed a “markedly abnormal EEG” with “severe generalized cerebral depression and/or damage indicating the presence of diffuse cerebral dysfunction.” A June 27, 1979, EEG showed only slight improvement. A July 10, 1979, discharge summary from one hospital showed a final diagnosis of closed head injury; cerebral contusion and concussion, moderate in intensity; and expressive dysphasia, secondary to the cerebral injuries. Claimant remained hospitalized until August 8,1979.

Claimant offered an October 14, 1982, report from Dr. James V. Magnuson, a psychiatrist. Dr. Magnuson treated claimant from October 9, 1981, through May 7, 1982. He also reviewed all relevant medical records. Claimant initially complained of disinterest in all activity, mixed sleep disorder, and a sense of being greatly slowed down. He manifested marked psychomotor retardation and difficulty concentrating, and described an intense sense of anhedonia, decreased appetite, and compulsive eating habits. These symptoms began in the summer of 1979.

Dr. Magnuson explained that of particular significance were the closed head injury and prolonged comatose state; his mother’s death; and the neurological injury, which was the most enduring factor. Dr. Magnuson noted further that the movement disorder was asymmetrical. A neurological evaluation revealed “increased muscle tone in both upper and lower extremities with the left side being more affected than the right and a decrease in the coordination of muscular actions. These findings do not have localizing significance and therefore stem from a diffuse injury to the central and right sided regions of the brain. Because the brain scan was normal and the injury occurred approximately three years ago, it can be said with confidence that the above described residual from the brain injury is chronic and unredeemable.”

Dr. Magnuson reported further that the “functional effects of the neurological damage is [sic] that [claimant] will be unable to operate motor vehicles of the type that had formerly provided his livelihood. In addition, his coordination is interfered with in such a way that he would be prevented from functioning as an effective mechanic even though he appears to retain the knowledge necessary to be a mechanic. Because the deficits are pervasive, he would also be prevented from availing himself of retraining since his performance in all jobs requiring motor coordination would be adversely affected.” The neurological and psychiatric disorders would affect claimant adversely for the rest of his life. “In my view, rehabilitation offers [claimant] little hope since his disorders are pervasivef,] affecting his entire person rather than a single body part or isolated function.”

Claimant offered into evidence a November 11, 1980, report from Dr. John H. Van Landingham, a neurosurgeon, who examined claimant on October 31, 1980, and reviewed his medical records. He described the examination: “[Claimant] is obese, unkempt, and unshaven. He has not washed for at least a number of weeks judging by the state of his skin. He walks with a very slow gait with impairment of the normal right arm swing, and he carries his right hand with the fingers somewhat flexed.” His neurological examination was normal. Dr. Van Landingham concluded that claimant “suffered a rather severe closed head injury with contusion of the left cerebral hemisphere. In view of my neurological examination at the present time, I am at somewhat of a loss to explain his complaints of inability to walk well and poor motor control of his legs and right arm. On the other hand, I think that these are real symptoms and not due to either a functional disturbance or to malingering, and I suppose are compatible with diffuse cerebral damage.”

Claimant offered the May 14, 1985, evidence deposition of Dr. David K. Deets before the Commission. Dr. Deets, a surgeon, testified that he examined claimant four times over a course of four months in 1985. Claimant consistently displayed a degree of expressive aphasia, a slowness in speech. The examinations were normal in most respects. His gait was observed, and claimant was “quite uncertain of walking.” He was unsteady. “When he would walk, his right foot would drag just ever so slightly as if he was using it to find his way as someone that had suffered a stroke.” He seemed generally uncertain about the right side of his body. He was unclean. Claimant demonstrated a quite labile blood pressure, which is sometimes the result of central nervous system malfunction. He complained of daily headaches and dizziness.

Dr.

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Bluebook (online)
548 N.E.2d 772, 192 Ill. App. 3d 39, 139 Ill. Dec. 387, 1989 Ill. App. LEXIS 1921, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/birdsley-trucking-co-v-industrial-commission-illappct-1989.