Fowler v. Dehart Racing

CourtNorth Carolina Industrial Commission
DecidedFebruary 16, 2005
DocketI.C. NO. 066092.
StatusPublished

This text of Fowler v. Dehart Racing (Fowler v. Dehart Racing) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Carolina Industrial Commission primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Fowler v. Dehart Racing, (N.C. Super. Ct. 2005).

Opinion

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The undersigned reviewed the prior Opinion and Award, based upon the record of the proceedings before Deputy Commissioner Dollar. The appealing party has not shown good ground to reconsider the evidence; receive further evidence; rehear the parties or their representatives; and having reviewed the competent evidence of record, the Full Commission affirms the Opinion and Award of Deputy Commissioner Dollar with modifications.

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The Full Commission finds as fact and concludes as matters of law the following, which were entered into by the parties at the hearing before the Deputy Commissioner as:

STIPULATIONS
1. The Industrial Commission has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this case, the parties are properly before the Commission, and the parties were subject to and bound by the provisions of the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act at all relevant times.

2. Reliance Insurance Company, now insolvent, was the carrier on the risk with Cambridge Integrated Services as its servicing agent. The NC Insurance Guaranty Association was their successor in interest for this claim.

3. The employment relationship existed between the parties at all relevant times.

4. Claimant's average weekly wage was $1,001.81, which yields a maximum compensation rate of $588.00 per week, based upon the Form 22.

5. Claimant sustained a compensable injury by accident arising out of and in the course of his employment on 27 July 2000, as a result of which he sustained burns to his face, neck and hands. Defendants paid benefits to claimant pursuant to an I.C. Form 60.

6. Claimant returned to work with City Transfer and Storage Company on or about 5 September 2001, earning $13.00 per hour.

7. Upon returning to work, defendants paid claimant temporary partial disability benefits under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-30, based upon an average weekly wage of $972.44, due to calculations contained in a letter from the Industrial Commission, dated 29 May 2001.

8. The Commission ordered this case into mediation, and a mediated settlement conference was held on 25 June 2002 in High Point, North Carolina, with claimant being represented by Pam Foster and James Walker serving as mediator.

9. After lengthy negotiations, the parties executed a mediation agreement, which has been submitted as an exhibit the hearing.

10. Claimant executed the finalized Final Compromise Settlement and Release Agreement on July 1, 2002.

11. Claimant received and accordingly proceeded to cash his $10,000.00 advancement check on July 3, 2002.

12. Claimant passed away on or about 4 July 2002 or early the morning of July 5, 2002, due to methadone poisoning.

13. Commission Mediation Coordinator John Schafer informed defense counsel that the mediator (James Walker) was not permitted to file an affidavit or testify at the hearing of this matter in any form since he served as a mediator in the case. Defendants preserve their right to appeal Mr. Schafer's ruling, if needed after the hearing.

14. The issues for determination are:

a. Should the parties be ordered to submit the Settlement Agreement, executed by claimant, to the Commission for review?

b. Was Kenneth Glenn Fowler's death sufficiently related to the compensable injury to require the payment of death benefits by defendants to his beneficiaries?

c. Should defendants be ordered to pay penalties and/or attorney's fees?

d. If the Agreement is ordered to be submitted to the Commission and is approved based on fairness, are defendants entitled to any assessment of attorney's fees against plaintiff's estate for having no good faith basis for not complying with the Settlement Agreement reached by the parties at the June 25, 2002 mediation?

15. The following documentary evidence was submitted into the record:

a. Medical and Rehabilitation Records;

b. I.C. Form 18, filed March 26, 2001 and submitted on February 19, 2001;

c. Letter from Crumley Associates to the Chief Claims Examiner, dated May 23, 2001, requesting average weekly wage computation;

d. Plaintiff's Motion for Adjustment of the Compensation Rate, filed April 6, 2001;

e. Commission Letter, dated May 29, 2001, computing the average weekly wage;

f. Commission Letter, dated June 13, 2001, regarding the computation of average weekly wage;

g. I.C. Form 18, filed January 30, 2003;

h. I.C. Form 33, filed February 24, 2003;

i. I.C. Forms 42, Applications to Appoint Guardians Ad Litem for the minor children of Kenneth Glenn Fowler, filed March 12, 2003;

j. Order of Removal, filed July 10, 2002;

k. Letter from Crawford to Mr. Fowler, dated October 17, 2001;

l. Letter from Crumley Associates to Cambridge, dated December 11, 2001;

m. Letter from Crumley Associates to Cambridge, dated January 9, 2002;

n. Letter from Crumley Associates to Cambridge, dated January 28, 2002;

o. Payment history from Crawford Company from August 11, 2000 to October 19, 2001, three pages;

p. Payment history from Cambridge from January 23, 2003 to June 19, 2002, three pages;

q. Payment history from Martin Boyer Company, Inc., dated August 26, 2003, three pages; and

r. Letter of December 9, 2003, stipulating the average weekly wage used to calculate temporary partial disability payment was $972.44.

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Based upon all of the competent evidence of record and reasonable inferences flowing therefrom, the Full Commission makes the following:

FINDINGS OF FACT
1. On July 27, 2000, Kenneth Glenn Fowler (hereinafter, claimant) was a thirty-five year-old male. He had been married to Cheryl Fowler since 1992. There were three biological children born of the marriage, Shelby Sloan Fowler, Colin Rayce Fowler, and Corbin Miles Fowler.

2. Claimant was previously married, and after a protracted custody battle, was awarded legal custody of the minor child born of that prior marriage, Cori Nicole Fowler.

3. Defendant-employer, a fabricator of racecar bodies, was owned and operated by LeeAnn DeHart and Gene DeHart. Mrs. DeHart was also claimant's sister. They hired claimant to work in the automotive shop in 1997, shortly after starting the business. Prior to and throughout the course of his employment with defendant-employer, claimant engaged in a habit of abusing prescription and illegal drugs. In fact, he was sent home many days from work due to his substance abuse and resulting impairment. On other occasions, the DeHarts would not let claimant leave the premises until some of the controlled substances had worn off. He was also assigned light duty jobs when he was not otherwise capable of working due to his drug use and impairment.

4. In approximately 1998, claimant filed for bankruptcy. After losing their home, the Fowlers applied to lease an apartment at Westchester Key Apartments. Complex manager Candy Sapp ran a credit check and learned of their poor credit history and bankruptcy. She had to obtain approval from her district manager to lease an apartment to the Fowlers. In addition, she obtained a guarantee from LeeAnn DeHart for payment of the rent. Claimant was permitted to move in on or about May 5, 2000.

5. On July 27, 2000, claimant sustained first and second degree burns to his hands, face, ears and neck when sparks from a welding torch ignited the lacquer which he was applying on the other side of the car.

6.

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Bluebook (online)
Fowler v. Dehart Racing, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fowler-v-dehart-racing-ncworkcompcom-2005.