Huynh v. Gkn Automotive

CourtNorth Carolina Industrial Commission
DecidedDecember 1, 2004
DocketI.C. NO. 264892
StatusPublished

This text of Huynh v. Gkn Automotive (Huynh v. Gkn Automotive) 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
Huynh v. Gkn Automotive, (N.C. Super. Ct. 2004).

Opinion

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The undersigned have reviewed the prior Opinion and Award based upon the record of the proceedings before Deputy Commissioner Stanback and the briefs and arguments of the parties. The appealing party has shown good ground to reconsider the evidence. Accordingly, the Full Commission reverses the Opinion and Award of the Deputy Commissioner and enters the following Opinion and Award.

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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 in a Pre-Trial Agreement dated August 19, 2003, as:

STIPULATIONS
1. Plaintiff had a compensable injury by accident on or about January 17, 2003.

2. The parties are bound by and subject to the Workers' Compensation Act.

3. The employment relationship existed between plaintiff and defendant-employer at all times relevant to this claim.

4. Plaintiff has been totally out of work from April 24, 2003 until the present.

5. This is a claim for disability benefits and medical compensation.

6. Plaintiff has not received any disability benefits as of the date of the pre-trial agreement.

7. Plaintiff has received some medical compensation; however, defendants have not paid for a portion of his treatment, including that received from Dr. Charles T. Beemer, Dr. Anthony Del Genovese, and Dr. Kevin Speer.

8. Plaintiff's average weekly wage will be determined according to the Form 22 as was submitted and received into evidence by the deputy commissioner. Although plaintiff objected to the calculation of plaintiff's average weekly wage pursuant to the Form 22 at the hearing before the deputy commissioner, this issue was not appealed to the Full Commission.

9. Documents stipulated into evidence include the following:

a. Stipulated Exhibit #1: Plaintiff's medical records — 131 pages

b. Stipulated Exhibit #2: Industrial Commission Forms — 42 pages

c. Stipulated Exhibit #3: Wage Records

10. The depositions of Anthony Del Genovese, D.C., Charles T. Beemer, M.D., David E. Strom, M.C. and Kevin P. Speer, M.D. have been submitted and received into evidence.

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Based upon the foregoing stipulations and the competent, credible evidence presented, the Full Commission makes the following:

FINDINGS OF FACT
1. At the time of the hearing before the deputy commissioner, plaintiff was 28 years of age. Plaintiff was born in Saigon, Vietnam and graduated from high school while living there. He moved to the United States in 1994 and became a citizen in 2000. Plaintiff attended community college in the United States and took courses in auto mechanics and auto technician training. Plaintiff has vocational experience working as a technician, a mechanic, a welder and a manicurist.

2. Plaintiff was employed by defendant-employer beginning on April 22, 2002 as a machine shop operator. At the time of his injury by accident, he worked at least 40 hours per week for defendant-employer, and often worked overtime and occasionally double-time for defendant-employer.

3. On January 17, 2003 plaintiff and his co-worker, Rose Cole were pushing a wheeled tub full of parts standing shoulder to shoulder. Ms. Cole saw plaintiff slip and stated, "his left leg kind of went down a little bit." Plaintiff's leg did not strike the floor. Plaintiff did not fall and did not strike his head. Plaintiff's arm did not jerk downward. Ms. Cole did not hear any pop or crack. Plaintiff did not complain of pain and they continued to push the tub into the corner.

4. An hour later, plaintiff complained of pain in his right shoulder, left knee and left ankle to Rose Cole who is a first responder, an individual trained to administer basic first aid in the absence of the plant nurse. Ms. Cole gave plaintiff an ibuprofen and filed an incident report which plaintiff signed. Plaintiff never requested any further medication from Ms. Cole or had any other discussion with her regarding his alleged injury by accident or need for medical treatment.

5. The incident report was presented to Renee Smith, plaintiff's supervisor. Ms. Smith spoke to plaintiff regarding this incident. Plaintiff reported that he slipped and twisted. Ms. Smith informed plaintiff that if he needed medical treatment, he would need to arrange it through the plant nurse. Plaintiff did not return to Ms. Smith seeking medical treatment nor did he request medical treatment from the plant nurse during January 2003.

6. However, on January 18, 2003, plaintiff reported, on his own, to his family physician, Dr. Robert McConville, at Sandhills Family Practice. Plaintiff complained of right shoulder and left leg pain, which began last week after he was carrying heavy bags. There is no mention of any work related injury or accident. Plaintiff claims that the receptionist at the doctor's office told him that the office would not treat him for a work related incident. Plaintiff was given medication and told to return in a week if his condition did not improve.

7. Thereafter on February 3, 2003, plaintiff requested of his employer permission to see a physician for complaints allegedly due to the January 17, 2003 incident. Plaintiff reported to Lori Howell, the plant nurse at GKN that he slipped and turned on a wet floor hurting his right shoulder, left leg, and left ankle. Plaintiff was referred to Joseph Maddux, PA-C. Mr. Maddux diagnosed plaintiff with right shoulder strain and left ankle sprain. Plaintiff was referred to Dr. Stewart Snyder, the company physician for defendant-employer, with complaints of pain in his right shoulder, left leg and left ankle after slipping on a wet floor. Two sets of x-rays taken of plaintiff's right shoulder and left ankle indicated normal results. Dr. Snyder ordered heat wraps for the shoulder, a splint for the ankle and gave plaintiff restrictions which defendant-employer met.

8. Two days later plaintiff returned of his own accord to Sandhills Family Practice on February 5, 2003 and reported that he had fallen two weeks prior to the visit. Plaintiff was prescribed medication.

9. Plaintiff returned to Dr. Snyder on February 7, 2003 who diagnosed strains of the right shoulder, left knee and left ankle.

10. The x-rays performed by Sandhills Family Practice indicated normal results. Plaintiff indicated he would like to see a chiropractor.

11. On February 13, 2003, plaintiff returned to Sandhills Family Practice and reported that his injury had occurred at work. He was referred to an orthopedic surgeon.

12. On February 14, 2003, plaintiff returned to Dr. Snyder who noted right trapezius tenderness, but full range of motion and no joint edema or crepitus. No change was made to plaintiff's work restrictions. Additional x-rays were taken of the right shoulder and left ankle, which remained "normal and unchanged".

13. Plaintiff returned to Dr. Snyder on February 20, 2003. Dr. Snyder referred plaintiff to physical therapy for a right shoulder strain.

14. Plaintiff's last visit to Dr. Snyder occurred on March 6, 2003. Dr. Snyder referred plaintiff to Dr. Neil Conti, a board certified orthopedic surgeon, for evaluation.

15. On March 6, 2003 plaintiff was evaluated by Dr. Conti. His evaluation showed some tenderness at the right trapezious, with mild swelling. Range of motion of the shoulder was 90° to 130°, or near full range of motion. Dr. Conti noted no bump over the collarbone. Dr. Conti reviewed and read the x-rays of the shoulder and ankle as normal. He diagnosed plaintiff with a right trapezoidal strain.

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Bluebook (online)
Huynh v. Gkn Automotive, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/huynh-v-gkn-automotive-ncworkcompcom-2004.