Coonce v. Garner

167 P.3d 801, 38 Kan. App. 2d 523, 2007 Kan. App. LEXIS 997
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kansas
DecidedSeptember 28, 2007
DocketNo. 97,091
StatusPublished

This text of 167 P.3d 801 (Coonce v. Garner) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Coonce v. Garner, 167 P.3d 801, 38 Kan. App. 2d 523, 2007 Kan. App. LEXIS 997 (kanctapp 2007).

Opinion

Bukaty, J.:

This case involves a judicial review of an agency action under K.S.A. 77-601 et seq. The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) found that Gail E. Coonce had violated K.S.A. 44-5,120 by making several false or misleading statements and misrepresenting material facts regarding his disabilitywhile attempting to obtain workers compensation benefits. It assessed a fine of $20,000. The district court upheld the determination. Coonce now appeals. He raises three issues: (1) Is there sufficient evidence to support KDOL’s findings, (2) did the KDOL correctly interpret a statute in concluding that each statement Coonce made in a single deposition constituted an independent act of fraud or abuse, and [525]*525(3) was KDOL’s determination otherwise arbitrary and capricious? We find in favor of KDOL on all issues and affirm.

A rather detailed recitation of the facts, especially excerpts from Coonce’s deposition, is necessary for an understanding of the arguments and issues on appeal.

On February 20, 2002, Coonce was injured during his employment as an electronic service technician with Cytek Media Systems (Cytek). While working on a project for the company near Springfield, Missouri, Coonce was attempting to unload heavy equipment when he felt pain in his lower back and was unable to move for an extended period of time. He contacted his supervisor and informed him about the injury on the same day it occurred. He subsequently filed a workers compensation claim against Cytek. Neither Cytek nor its insurer have ever disputed that Coonce suffered an injury on the job and was entitled to workers compensation benefits as a result.

When Coonce returned to Topeka, he sought medical treatment. Doctors diagnosed the injury as a ruptured disc in his lower back. After trying several different treatment options that had little or no effect, Coonce underwent surgery in February 2003 on his back for the removal of the herniated disc and fusion at the L4-5 level. The total cost of this treatment amounted to $84,602.98, which was paid by Cytek and its insurance carrier. Coonce also received temporary total disability benefits in the amount of $37,606.20 (at a rate of $441.05 per week).

In July 2003, the surgeon who performed the surgery rated Coonce at maximum medical improvement. He has not returned to work since his injury.

On October 9, 2003, Dr. James Warren, Jr., who had been treating Coonce since January, made the following observations regarding Coonce’s physical restrictions: “I basically restrict the patient to sedentary work. No lifting, bending and no twisting, nothing greater than ten pounds. I also recommend that he wear his back brace during activities.” Dr. Warren also found that Coonce had attained maximum medical improvement.

At the request of Cytek’s insurance carrier, an independent investigator performed video surveillance of Coonce at his home in [526]*526the fall of 2003. Specifically, on October 12, Coonce was videotaped performing cement work on his driveway. Coonce began the work in the morning by driving to an equipment rental store to get a cement mixer. He left the home again and returned with bags of concrete mix. The video showed Coonce hfting bags of cement mix and pouring the contents of the bags into a cement mixer, pushing a wheelbarrow, moving the cement mixer, shoveling, bending, and squatting. Coonce performed these activities without a cane over a 3- to 4-hour time period.

On December 23, 2003, Coonce gave a deposition in conjunction with the workers compensation proceeding. Coonce was unrepresented by counsel at the deposition, and the examination was videotaped. During the course of the deposition, Coonce was questioned by Clifford Stubbs, an attorney for Cytek’s insurance company, with whom the following exchanges took place:

“Q. Whether with a cane or without a cane, how long are you able to be on your feet, or how long have you been able to be on your feet since July of 2003, at any one time?
“A. Two hours max.
“Q. And to your knowledge, what were you able to do for two hours, since July of 2003, where you were on your feet that long?
“A. Standing in the garage. I have a — six televisions, six different channels, and I stand there with my cane. I don’t sit in the garage. I go out there to watch a little TV, take the dogs out there with me. I might have been standing there two hours maybe. That’s pushing it.
“Q. If you’re on your feet that long, what type of symptoms do you have?
“A. Sharp feet pain, lower back pain. And again, the tension in the back reaching the point of a migraine.
“Q. If you’re on your feet that long, does your pain become excruciating?
“A. Yes.
“Q. What about bending? Since July of 2003, have you been able to bend?
“A. Not very far forward at all. I said I could pick up that cane, but I would do it by bending my knees and grabbing a hold of the table and pulling myself back up. The answer would be ‘no’ on bending.
“Q. What’s the heaviest thing that you’re able to hit without pain?
“A. That notebook. A gallon of milk is too much.
“Q. What type of pain complaints do you have when you lift a gallon of milk?
[527]*527“A. The lower back gets more pain in it; and then when that happens, the leg is tied right to it. The leg gets more pain in it.
“Q. When that happens, do you have excruciating pain that you have to set it down, set the gallon of milk down and immediately go sit down or lie down?
“A. Uh-huh.
“Q. Is that a yes?
“A. Yes.
“Q. And has that been, you know, consistent since July of 2003?
“A. Yes.
“Q. Are you able to twist at all? Do you have any difficulties with twisting?
“A. I can’t twist.
“Q. What other physical tasks do you have difficulty performing?
“A. Putting my shoes on, putting my pants on, taking a shower, riding in a vehicle.
“Q. What other physical activities does your back pain or the other pain that you have told me about, prevent you from doing?
“A. Well, I haven’t had sex for two years, because I have no feeling. Gosh, I used to, you know, work on my own car. I used to do a lot of things. Shoot a few basketballs with my daughter, and all that is gone. I’m just—
“Q. Let’s focus on some of those things around the house. Are you able to mow your yard — or do you have a yard, should be my first question?
“A. Yeah, we have a yard.
“Q. Are you able to mow the yard?
“A. No. I have tried.

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Bluebook (online)
167 P.3d 801, 38 Kan. App. 2d 523, 2007 Kan. App. LEXIS 997, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/coonce-v-garner-kanctapp-2007.