Dunn v. Devco Holdings, Inc.

2023 Ohio 680
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 6, 2023
Docket14-22-18
StatusPublished

This text of 2023 Ohio 680 (Dunn v. Devco Holdings, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dunn v. Devco Holdings, Inc., 2023 Ohio 680 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023).

Opinion

[Cite as Dunn v. Devco Holdings, Inc., 2023-Ohio-680.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT UNION COUNTY

DELYNDA A. DUNN, CASE NO. 14-22-18 PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE,

v.

DEVCO HOLDINGS, INC.,

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT, -And- OPINION BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION,

DEFENDANT-APPELLEE.

Appeal from Union County Common Pleas Court Trial Court No. 2020-CV-0111

Judgment Affirmed

Date of Decision: March 6, 2023

APPEARANCES:

Samuel J. Warden for Appellant

John H. Goodman for Appellee, Delynda Dunn Case No. 14-22-18

WILLAMOWSKI, J.

{¶1} Defendant-appellant Devco Holdings, Inc. (“Devco”) appeals the

judgment of the Union County Court of Common Pleas, alleging that the trial

court’s judgment was against the manifest weight of the evidence. For the reasons

set forth below, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Facts and Procedural History

{¶2} Delynda A. Dunn (“Dunn”) worked in auto body repair and painting for

Devco. Tr. 8. On August 2, 2017, while she was painting a car at work, she “felt

and heard a pop with immediate pain” in the area of her right hip and groin. Tr. 9.

She reported her injury but returned to work the next day. Tr. 10. However, the

condition of her right hip continued to worsen until she was no longer able to

perform the responsibilities associated with her job. Tr. 10. Dunn then filed a claim

with the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Doc. 6. Devco was a self-insured

employer. Doc. 2, Ex. A. This claim was allowed on the basis of several physical

injuries to the area surrounding her hip. Doc. 2, Ex. A.

{¶3} On October 30, 2019, Dunn was evaluated by a licensed psychologist,

Dr. Princess Black (“Dr. Black”). Doc. 25, Ex. A. The purpose of this evaluation

was to determine whether Dunn “suffer[ed] from any psychological conditions, and

whether it can be directly or causally related to the physical conditions recognized

in her claim.” Doc. 25, Ex. A. As part of this evaluation, Dr. Black had Dunn

complete the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (“MMPI-2”). Prior to

-2- Case No. 14-22-18

her consultation with Dr. Black, Dunn had sought mental health treatment in 2015

and 2016 after one of her supervisors had been stalking and threatening her. Tr. 21-

22. This resulted in her receiving treatment for anxiety and depression. Tr. 22.

{¶4} On November 22, 2019, Dunn filed for an additional allowance based

on her experience of “persistent depressive disorder, with anxious distress,” and

“persistent major depressive episode, moderate.” Doc. 1, Ex. A. On December 19,

2019, Dr. Donald J. Tosi (“Dr. Tosi”) performed an examination of Dunn as part of

the process of evaluating whether a psychological condition should be allowed with

her workers’ compensation claim. Tosi Depo. Tr. 12. Dr. Tosi later sat for a

deposition to discuss the conclusions he drew from this evaluation. Id.

{¶5} On February 3, 2020, this matter was presented to a district hearing

officer with the Ohio Industrial Commission. Doc. 1, Ex. A. On February 7, 2020,

the hearing officer issued a decision that allowed Dunn’s claim for “persistent

depressive disorder with anxious distress and persistent major depressive episode

moderate.” Doc. 1, Ex. A. Based on the findings of Dr. Black, the district hearing

officer found that the evidence supports the conclusion that Dunn had the named

“conditions as a result of the industrial injury.” Doc. 1, Ex. A.

{¶6} On February 12, 2020, Devco appealed this decision to a staff hearing

officer at the Ohio Industrial Commission. Doc. 1, Ex. B. This matter was heard

on May 13, 2020. Doc. 1, Ex. B. On May 16, 2020, the staff hearing officer issued

a decision that modified the February 7, 2020 decision. Doc. 1, Ex. B. This decision

-3- Case No. 14-22-18

concluded that Dunn’s claim would be “allowed for substantial aggravation of

persistent depressive disorder, with anxious distress, late onset, with persistent

major depressive disorder, moderate.” Doc. 1, Ex. B. On May 19, 2020, Devco

appealed the decision to the Ohio Industrial Commission. Doc. 1, Ex. C. However,

the Ohio Industrial Commission released a decision on June 4, 2020 that refused

this appeal. Doc. 1, Ex. C.

{¶7} On August 7, 2020, Devco filed an appeal with the Union County Court

of Common Pleas. Doc. 1, 2. On February 25, 2021, Devco filed a motion for

summary judgment, arguing that Dunn’s claim must fail as a matter of law because

she failed to substantiate her claim with objective evidence of a substantial

aggravation. Doc. 25. On May 13, 2021, the trial court denied Devco’s motion for

summary judgment. Doc. 36.

{¶8} On May 25, 2021, this matter came to a bench trial before a magistrate

at which Dunn and Dr. Black testified. Tr. 3, 5. On December 1, 2021, the

magistrate released a decision that recommended a judgment in favor of Devco.

Doc. 42. The magistrate had noted that Dr. Black had indicated that “the MMPI 2

test * * * elicits subjective answers regarding the patient’s likes/dislikes, ways of

thinking, and preferences” but that “the results and scoring of the MMPI are

objective.” Doc. 42. However, the magistrate concluded that Dunn had “fail[ed] to

set forth objective evidence of the substantial aggravation as required by R.C.

4123.01(C).” Doc. 42.

-4- Case No. 14-22-18

{¶9} On January 31, 2022, Dunn filed objections to the trial court’s

decisions. Doc. 48. On July 5, 2022, the trial court issued a judgment entry that

found in favor of Dunn. Doc. 50. The trial court stated that

the testimony of Dr. Black [is] persuasive in that her diagnosis is based upon objective diagnostic findings, objective clinical findings, or objective test results as required by R.C. 4123.01(C). The Court further finds that Plaintiff’s psychiatric condition arose from the injury based upon the correlation of Plaintiff’s persistent and increasing physical symptoms from the injury and onset of Plaintiff’s psychiatric symptoms.

Doc. 50. The trial court then stated that Dunn “has the right to participate in the

workers’ compensation system for the additional condition of substantial

aggravation of persistent depressive disorder, with anxious distress, late onset, with

persistent major depressive disorder, moderate.” Doc. 50.

Assignment of Error

{¶10} Devco filed its notice of appeal on July 28, 2022. Doc. 53. On appeal,

it raises the following assignment of error:

The trial court’s decision is against the manifest weight of the evidence, as appellee did not present any evidence of objective diagnostic findings, objective clinical findings, or objective test results that demonstrated a substantial aggravation of appellee’s persistent depressive disorder, with anxious distress, late onset, with persistent major depressive disorder, moderate.

Devco argues that the MMPI-2 is not an objective test and that the MMPI-2 test

results do not show substantial aggravation.

-5- Case No. 14-22-18

Legal Standard

{¶11} “The purpose of Ohio’s workers’ compensation system is to provide

compensation to employees and their dependents for injuries or death that occur in

the course of employment.” Johnson v. Conti Tech USA, Inc., 3d Dist. Union No.

14-21-23, 2022-Ohio-1552, ¶ 13. “A claimant must establish an injury to participate

in Ohio’s workers’ compensation system.” Cassens Transport Co. v. Bohl, 3d Dist.

Seneca No.

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