Carl Chastain v. Department Of Labor And Industries

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedFebruary 11, 2020
Docket52126-1
StatusUnpublished

This text of Carl Chastain v. Department Of Labor And Industries (Carl Chastain v. Department Of Labor And Industries) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Carl Chastain v. Department Of Labor And Industries, (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).

Opinion

Filed Washington State Court of Appeals Division Two

February 11, 2020

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II CARL E. CHASTAIN, No. 52126-1-II

Appellant,

v.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND UNPUBLISHED OPINION INDUSTRIES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON,

Respondent.

LEE, J. — Carl E. Chastain appeals the superior court’s order granting of summary

judgment in favor of the Department of Labor and Industries (Department) after he had a stroke at

work and was denied benefits, arguing that the superior court erred by (1) making a credibility

determination and (2) concluding that his stroke was not an injury under RCW 51.08.100. Because

the superior court did not make a credibility determination and because Chastain’s stroke is not an

injury under RCW 51.08.100, we affirm.

FACTS

A. CLAIM HISTORY

On April 5, 2016, Chastain had an acute ischemic stroke. The stroke occurred while he

was at work after five especially stressful weeks at the Pacific Coast Salmon Coalition, where he No. 52126-1-II

was the executive director. Chastain filed a claim for benefits with the Department claiming that

the stress from his job caused the stroke.

In his claim, Chastain reported that his injury was a condition that developed “[g]radually

[o]ver a [p]eriod of [t]ime.” Administrative Record (AR) at 70. He had been experiencing

discomfort for two years. He stated that “multiple audits and reviews by various agencies in

accordance with board directives and state laws” caused his condition. AR at 70. He was doing

his regular job when he was injured and was on the employer’s premises. He would be out of

work for a year.

On May 26, 2016, the Department rejected Chastain’s claim for benefits as an industrial

injury or occupational disease for the following reasons:

That there is no proof of a specific injury at a definite time and place in the course of employment.

That claimant’s condition is not the result of an industrial injury as defined by the industrial insurance laws.

That the claimant’s condition is not an occupational disease as contemplated by section 51.08.140 RCW.

Any and all bills for services or treatment concerning this claim are rejected, except those authorized by the department.

AR at 37. After Chastain filed a Protest & Request for Reconsideration, the Department

reconsidered its decision and determined that the first order was correct on June 14, 2016.

B. BOARD PROCEEDINGS

Chastain appealed to the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals (BIIA). The Department

moved for summary judgment. The Department argued that Chastain did not suffer an industrial

injury as defined by RCW 51.08.100.

2 No. 52126-1-II

Chastain’s response to the Department’s motion for summary judgement included three

declarations. These declarations noted Chastain’s unusually high stress levels beginning in

February 2016 due to a potential loss of funding. And Chastain’s treating physician, Dr. Wilbert

James, stated that this stress was a causative factor of Chastain’s stroke.

After hearing arguments on the Department’s motion for summary judgement, the BIIA

Judge denied the motion because there were genuine issues of material fact. Specifically, the BIIA

Judge noted that “Dr. James’ potential testimony directly linking changes in Mr. Chastain’s blood

pressure to his increased work-related stress may create a circumstance requiring the tribunal to

weigh credibility on a material issue regarding causation and makes summary judgment

inappropriate.” AR at 135. The BIIA Judge held a full hearing the merits of Chastain’s claim for

benefits.

1. Evidence Regarding Chastain’s Stress Before the Stroke

At the hearing on the merits, Chastain testified that he had worked at the Pacific Coast

Salmon Coalition for twenty years. He used to work 40 hours per week. Before 2016, he was in

good health and used to work out in the field about 50% of the time. He had high cholesterol and

high blood pressure before the stroke.

The Pacific Coast Salmon Coalition was a 501(c)(5) non-profit. Their sources of funding

were the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Recreation Conservation

Office (RCO). In late 2015, Jeannie Abbott came to WDFW and, in early 2016, began demanding

documents that no one had asked for before. Chastain received an e-mail on February 12, 2016

listing the tasks he had to complete. Abbott gave them a month to complete the tasks which should

have taken a year and a half to two years under industry standards. One of the tasks involved

3 No. 52126-1-II

changing the nonprofit from a 501(c)(5) to a 501(c)(3). If Chastain did not get the projects done,

their funding would be cut all together. According to Chastain, “it became extremely difficult.”

AR (Trial, Jan. 27, 2017) at 22.

Prior to Abbott, Chastain had not had major problems with funding from WDFW. After a

meeting with Abbott in February 2016, Chastain asked his board to fire him because he felt he was

ineffective. He felt ineffective because “no matter what I did she would hit me with something

else.” AR (Trial, Jan. 27, 2017) at 27. Chastain’s board did not fire him and told him to keep

going. Chastain did not quit. He began working a minimum of 80 hours per week. He called the

president of the Regional Fishery Enhancement Group Coalition, an independent group, and asked

them to mediate with WDFW. Chastain was told, “You’re on your own.” AR (Trial, Jan. 27,

2017) at 67. This environment continued through April 5. During that five-week period between

February and April, Chastain was not doing anything new but was under a new level of scrutiny.

According to Chastain, Abbott’s demands were hostile and he felt that “she was harassing” him.”

AR (Trial, Jan. 27, 2017) at 85. It felt personal. He had never felt that kind of pressure in his life.

Chastain had faxed the 501(c)(3) paperwork seconds before his stroke. Chastain stated that

had he been fired at the end of February 2016, he does not believe he would have had the stroke.

Heather Lewis, the financial manager of Pacific Coast Salmon Coalition, testified that

Chastain had been her boss for four years. The stress had increased between February 2016 and

April 5, 2016. During that five week period, Chastain hardly smiled. But she never saw him get

upset. She could tell he was stressed from his body language. Chastain would always get stressed

during audit periods and nothing felt different about 2016; it was in line with how things were in

2013, 2014, and 2015. However, the deadline for the 501(c)(3) was causing more stress than other

4 No. 52126-1-II

deadlines in other years. She testified that right after they had faxed the 501(c)(3) papers, Chastain

started feeling dizzy. Lewis called Chastain’s wife and then the ambulance.

Staci Chastain, Chastain’s wife, testified that Chastain usually worked about 30 to 40 hours

per week. He spent more than half of his workdays outdoors. Before 2016, he had an average

level of stress. After Abbott came on, the work started ramping up.

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