Fernandez v. Industrial Commission

424 P.2d 451, 102 Ariz. 50, 1967 Ariz. LEXIS 196
CourtArizona Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 1, 1967
Docket8900-PR
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 424 P.2d 451 (Fernandez v. Industrial Commission) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Arizona Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Fernandez v. Industrial Commission, 424 P.2d 451, 102 Ariz. 50, 1967 Ariz. LEXIS 196 (Ark. 1967).

Opinion

*51 McFarland, Justice:

Jesus Jose Fernandez, hereinafter referred to as petitioner, has petitioned for and been granted review of the case of Fernandez v. Industrial Commission et al., Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1 CA-IC 93, reported in 4 Ariz.App. 281, 419 P.2d 542 (November 1, 1966); supp. op., 4 Ariz.App. 445, 421 P.2d 341 (December 9, 1966).

At the time this claim arose, petitioner was employed by Kennecott Copper Co., hereinafter referred to as employer. On January 28, 1961, petitioner injured his back while unloading scrap iron from a truck. The claim was declared compensable by order of the industrial commission, and surgery was performed. On April 5, 1962, an award was made by the commission finding petitioner to have suffered a fifteen per cent disability and no loss of earning capacity. After several petitions for rehearing and reopening, the case was reopened in March of 1963, more surgery was performed, and a number of medical and administrative procedures were undergone, including examinations, consultations, hearing, etc. On November 5, 1964, the commission rendered a decision upon rehearing awarding benefits through September of 1963. This latter award was affirmed, and a petition for rehearing was denied on January 18, 1965.

On being advised by an employee of the industrial commission that he could either file a petition for reopening or apply for a writ of certiorari from the court of appeals, petitioner chose the former course and petitioned for reopening of his case. The commission then ordered that further investigation of the case be made, including an examination by a Spanish-speaking psychiatrist. The employer protested this action, and petitioned for a rehearing of the order providing for an examination.

On May 13, 1965, the commission considered the report of Dr. George E. Sara-via, the psychiatrist who had examined petitioner pursuant to the order. The material portions of the report are as follows:

“ * * * There is no question by the nature of they [sic] symptoms and the distribution of the pain (in addition, he complains of weakness in the left side of his body), that these are partly functional. However, they are incapacitating to the patient, and I cannot help but consider them a secondary development of the injury that he incurred in 1961, particularly as a result of the way he has been handled apparently with disregard to the 15% organic disability. I am sure this has caused a great deal of resentment which, in turn, has produced an emotional conflict which seems to have been expressed at least partly by his present symptoms. His functional symptoms fall in the diagnostic category of a Psychophysiological Muscular Skeletal Reaction with Conversion features.
“As to what to do from a psychiatric point of view is rather a difficult decision. Psychotherapy might be of some help, providing that there is a change of attitude on the part of the employers and that they be willing to help rehabilitate this man. I feel that he could still be rehabilitated in spite of the long duration of his symptoms. However, I must say that the prognosis should be considered guarded and I am sure that treatment would prove to be quite difficult.”

Thereupon, the commission found that petitioner had sustained new, additional, or previously undiscovered disability attributable to the original injury. An award was made granting benefits and compensation from February 9, 1965 (the date the petition for reopening was filed), until further order of the commission. The commission further found that its actions in ordering the psychiatric examination were warranted under the Rules of Procedure Before The Industrial Commission of Arizona, and affirmed that order.

*52 The employer subsequently moved to vacate the order of May 13, 1965, and petitioned for a rehearing. A rehearing was granted, and Dr. Saravia testified and was cross-examined by counsel for employer. Petitioner was present, but unrepresented by counsel, and being unable to speak English, he participated very little in the proceedings.

In its decision on rehearing, dated November 30, 1965, the commission found (one member dissenting) that petitioner had no new, additional, or previously undiscovered disability due to the original injury. The findings and award of May 13, 1965, were therefore rescinded. An application for writ of certiorari followed, and the matter has now come before this court.

Respondent commission has submitted a “confession of error and request for remand,” on the ground that although the commission itself raised the issue of psychiatric disability, it was not resolved by the findings included in any of the awards rendered in the case. We agree. In the case of Cammeron v. Industrial Commission, 98 Ariz. 366, 405 P.2d 802, 805, this court stated:

“ * * * The findings did not mention mental disability, and although it is not essential under our statute that specific findings of fact be made on every issue which might be involved in a hearing, the findings as made must be of such a nature that they necessarily dispose of all the material issues involved. Sproul v. Industrial Commission, supra [91 Ariz. 128, 370 P.2d 279]; Foster v. Industrial Commission, 46 Ariz. 90, 47 P.2d 428 (1935). Under the facts of this case, the mental disability of the petitioner was a material issue and it was error for the Commission to refuse to make findings pertaining to this issue.” 98 Ariz. at 371, 405 P.2d at 805

There are further reasons, however, which preclude the remand of this case in such a manner that the commission may rectify its error ’by the mere insertion of more specific findings to substantiate its ultimate finding of no new, additional, or previously undiscovered disability.

The grounds on which the reopening of the case was predicated, resulting in the now rescinded award of May 13, 1965, are to be found in Rule 64, Rules of Procedure Before The Industrial Commission of Arizona, which provides as follows:

“64. Application for Reopening or Readjustment of Claims: — Application for an increase or rearrangment of compensation or application for compensation based upon new, additional or previously undiscovered disability, or application or' petition to reopen claim, shall be filed with the Commission in writing, setting forth facts and circumstances, and supported by a written report of a physician or surgeon, duly and regularly licensed to practice medicine and surgery in the State of Arizona, setting forth facts and circumstances in detail relating to the then physical condition of said applicant. “In the event the report of the physician or surgeon claims new, additional, or previously undiscovered disability, the Commission shall make further independent investigation, including medical examinations or laboratory work relating to the alleged physical condition of the applicant.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Savage Welding Supplies v. Industrial Commission
587 P.2d 778 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1978)
Reynolds Metals Co. v. Industrial Commission
582 P.2d 656 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1978)
Ross v. Industrial Commission
513 P.2d 143 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1973)
Patterson v. Industrial Commission
459 P.2d 338 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1969)
Franklin v. Industrial Commission
449 P.2d 300 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1969)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
424 P.2d 451, 102 Ariz. 50, 1967 Ariz. LEXIS 196, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fernandez-v-industrial-commission-ariz-1967.