Kramarski v. Board of Trustees of Orland Park Police Pension Fund

931 N.E.2d 851, 402 Ill. App. 3d 1040, 341 Ill. Dec. 954, 2010 Ill. App. LEXIS 654

• Court: Appellate Court of Illinois
• Decided: June 30, 2010
• Docket: 1-09-1557
• Status: Published

Opinions

PRESIDING JUSTICE CAHILL

delivered the opinion of the court:

Plaintiff, Roberta Kramarski, appeals the judgment of the trial court affirming the Village of Orland Park Police Pension Fund Board of Trustees (Board). The Board denied her application for a line-of-duty disability pension under section 3 — 114.1 of the Illinois Pension Code (Code) (40 ILCS 5/3 — 114.1 (West 2002)). She contends that the Board’s decision is against the manifest weight of the evidence. She argues that the evidence established she was injured in the line of duty and is disabled as a result. She also contends that she did not receive a fair and impartial hearing because two pension board members should have recused themselves.

The Board cross-appeals the trial court’s reversal of the Board’s denial of a not-on-duty disability pension under section 3 — 114.2 of the Code (40 ILCS 5/3 — 114.2 (West 2002)). We confirm the decisions of the Board.

On January 20, 2003, plaintiff filed an application with the Board for a line-of-duty disability pension, or alternatively, a not-on-duty disability pension under sections 3 — 114.1 and 3 — 114.2 of the Code. 40 ILCS 5/3 — 114.1, 3 — 114.2 (West 2002). The Board held four hearings on her application.

Plaintiff filed a motion to recuse Board members Dargan and Bianchi. The motion was argued on July 11, 2007. Plaintiff alleged that because Bianchi was named in the pleadings in an earlier sexual harassment lawsuit filed by plaintiff against the Village of Orland Park (Village), he would be biased against plaintiff. While no specific allegations were directed at Dargan in the earlier lawsuit, plaintiff alleged that he was one of the officers who created a hostile work environment for her. Plaintiffs counsel stated at the hearing that the lawsuit had been settled. Neither the Village nor Bianchi admitted liability and Bianchi paid no monetary damages. Counsel did not know if Bianchi was ever disciplined. Bianchi and Dargan declined to recuse themselves.

The Board reconvened on August 27, 2007. A fifth Board member, Nash, was added to the administrative panel at plaintiffs request.

Plaintiff testified that she was appointed as an officer with the Or-land Park police department in May 1996. On October 17, 1996, she underwent police baton training with 8 to 10 other officers under the instruction of Officers William Kinsella and Edward Hozzian. Hozzian acted as an attacker during the training while plaintiff defended herself with a foam training baton. She testified that Hozzian struck her in the face with his fists and feet, injuring her eye and nose and causing her head to snap back multiple times during a two-minute drill. After the drill, plaintiff felt intense shooting pain in her neck. She also felt tired and stiff. Plaintiff called in sick for her shift that night, explaining that she had not recovered from the training. She stated that she had never felt this type of neck pain before. She subsequently completed her training and the 18-month probationary period for new officers.

Plaintiff further testified that she sought medical treatment for her injuries on November 11, 1996, with Dr. J.E. Rocke because she was dropping things and had difficulty performing her duties. She filled out an injury report and worker’s compensation claim on December 6, 1996. She was referred to Palos Primary Care Center. The Center released her to return to work with a light duty restriction.

Plaintiff testified that she sought treatment over the next three years from a variety of doctors to reduce the physical symptoms caused by her injuries. She underwent various examinations, physical therapy, trigger point injections and a facet block procedure. In November 1999, she underwent cervical fusion surgery because of severe pain.

Plaintiff testified that she continues to experience excruciating pain and stiffness in her neck and weakness in her left arm. She continues to receive treatment for her physical injuries and does not believe she can return to work as a police officer because of the limited range of motion in her neck, upper body weakness and numbing of her left arm and hand.

Plaintiff also testified that she began regular psychiatric treatment with Dr. Chris Johnson in 2000. She claimed she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression due to the injuries she suffered during the 1996 training drill. At the time of the hearing, she was taking a drug for anxiety and as a sleep aid.

Officer Hozzian testified that he was an instructor at the October 16, 1996, police baton training. Hozzian wore a “red man suit,” which covered him in padding from head to toe. Hozzian engaged trainees using controlled punches and kicks with about 25% force. Hozzian denied that he punched or kicked plaintiff in the face. He could not recall her head snapping back or that he struck her nose or right eye. He testified that nothing unusual happened during plaintiffs training. He could not remember physical contact with her. He testified that if she had been injured, he would have been required to contact the fire department under department policy. Plaintiff went through the full baton training session with Hozzian and never said she was injured. At the end of the class, Hozzian asked if everyone was all right, and everybody, including plaintiff, said they were okay. Hozzian learned a week later from Sergeant Kinsella that plaintiff said she was injured. Hozzian admitted he received a February 11, 1997, memorandum from Lieutenant Doll, advising training instructors that two student officers had been injured and that strong physical contact was not practical for the training. Hozzian testified that there had been no violent contact with trainees, and he was never disciplined as a result of the memorandum.

Sergeant Kinsella testified that he also was an instructor during the baton training. He saw Hozzian engage in three drills with plaintiff where Hozzian made mild contact with her in the form of a “spin back fist.” Kinsella did not see plaintiff injured or a report that she was injured. Kinsella called an ambulance for another trainee who injured his finger on the same date. When Kinsella called plaintiff a few days later as a “wellness” check, she reported she was tired but feeling “pretty good.” She did not report being injured. Kinsella also saw Lieutenant Doll’s memorandum but denied violent physical contact between instructors and students. He testified he was not disciplined as a result of the memorandum.

The medical reports of Drs. Daniel Yohanna, Alexander E. Obolsky and Richard E Harris, who examined plaintiff at the Board’s request about her alleged psychiatric disabilities, were admitted into evidence. Dr. Yohanna did not observe symptoms of PTSD or depression and, based on his review of plaintiff’s medical records, concluded that she did not suffer from a psychiatric disability. Yohanna noted that there were no objective signs and symptoms to justify the diagnosis. He concluded that plaintiff was exaggerating her symptoms and malingering.

Dr. Obolsky found that plaintiff did not suffer from PTSD or depression based on plaintiff’s medical, work and legal records, the results of various tests and an interview. Obolsky noted that plaintiffs diagnosis was based on a self-report and that the training incident was neither objectively nor subjectively sufficient to trigger PTSD. Obolsky concluded that plaintiff did not suffer from a psychiatric disability.

Dr. Harris, however, found that plaintiff was psychologically disabled based on an interview and review of plaintiff’s medical records. He said plaintiff had credibility problems. He stated that it was possible she lied about the training incident. But, he concluded that plaintiffs decision to undergo cervical fusion surgery supported her credibility. Harris noted that plaintiff believed she had been continuously mistreated and attacked and that she engaged in self-defeating behaviors. While plaintiff did not meet the criteria Harris typically uses to find disability, he concluded that plaintiff would “not be able to function effectively in her current psychological-physical state.”

Plaintiff was examined at the Board’s request for physical disability by Drs. Charles Mercier, James W. Milgram and Sami Rosenblatt. She was also examined by her doctor, Jeffrey E. Coe. The doctors’ reports were admitted into evidence. Mercier found after an exam and review of her medical records that plaintiff was not physically disabled. Mercier appears to have based his opinion, in part, on a belief that plaintiff had neck problems that occurred before she was hired. But the record does not support this. Mercier stated that plaintiff recovered from her alleged October 1996 injury by February 1997. Her subsequent medical care for her neck problem was not related to the training incident. Mercier noted that plaintiffs cervical fusion was stable, her wounds were well healed and, except for subjective decreased range of motion, her neck examination was normal.

Dr. Milgram concluded that plaintiff was physically disabled based on his examination of plaintiff and her medical records. Milgram found that the cervical fusion surgery rendered plaintiff disabled because it decreased her range of motion and increased the “possibility of *** future disability” should she be involved in a fight.

Dr. Rosenblatt concluded that plaintiff was physically disabled based on his examination of plaintiff and her medical records. Rosenblatt found plaintiffs cervical range of motion to be limited. Dr. Rosenblatt concluded she was not suitable for return to active duty.

Dr. Coe concluded after a physical examination that plaintiff was physically disabled. Coe’s examination revealed a decreased range of motion of the cervical spine in flexion, extension, bilateral rotation and bending. Coe found that plaintiff required permanent work restriction to “the medium physical demand level with avoidance of overhead activities.”

Plaintiffs records reveal that she first sought treatment for neck pain with Dr. Rocke on November 11, 1996. Plaintiff reported that she had been injured in training. Rocke stated that plaintiff had cervical spasms extending into her trapezius. On December 6, 1996, plaintiff was diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy by Dr. Diab, who examined her in connection with her worker’s compensation claim. Diab released plaintiff with light duty restrictions and referred her to Dr. Mochizuki. On December 19, 1996, plaintiff was examined by Dr. Yen at the request of the Village. Yen diagnosed plaintiff with bicep tendinitis of the left shoulder and noted that the X ray of her shoulder and neck revealed essentially normal bone and joint findings. Yen released plaintiff to work at full duty without restrictions. Mochizuki first saw plaintiff on January 8, 1997, and diagnosed her with either myofascial

pain or a left radiculopathy. Mochizuki permitted plaintiff to return to work without restrictions. Mochizuki reported that an EMG and MRI produced “near normal” results.

On January 14, 1997, plaintiff completed a cervical spine evaluation at Palos Community Hospital, where she reported suffering from headaches, stiffness, weakness, numbness and tingling. Dr. Mochizuki reexamined plaintiff on February 17, 1997, and reported that her condition continued to improve and she had no difficulty at work. On October 17, 1997, Mochizuki diagnosed plaintiff with residual myofascial pain and recommended a trigger point injection and physical therapy. In November 1997, plaintiff underwent an evaluation with Dr. Joel M. Press. Dr. Press diagnosed plaintiff with a probable chronic left C5-C6 facet irritation, secondary myofascial pain syndrome and degenerative disk changes in the cervical spine. Plaintiff continued physical therapy until March 1998. On March 16, 1998, plaintiff returned to Press, who recommended facet injections. Dr. Jeffrey Katz gave the injection on April 29, 1998, but noted that he did not believe further facet injections would help. Katz’s records note objective symptoms of decreased flexion and rotation.

Plaintiff was examined by Dr. Terrence Moisan on January 24, 1999, at the request of the police department. Moisan noted a mild degree of cervical muscle spasm but stated that it appeared plaintiff was voluntarily tensing her muscles. In November 1999, Dr. Phillips performed a three-level cervical discectomy and fusion. Phillips had recommended more conservative measures, but plaintiff elected to have the surgery.

On August 21, 2000, plaintiff underwent a functional capacity evaluation (FCE). The FCE revealed significant limitations in her cervical spine range of motion. The evaluator found several essential duties of a police officer plaintiff would not be able to perform. On February 27, 2001, plaintiff underwent a second FCE, which showed improvement over the first FCE, although the evaluator concluded that plaintiff could not return to duty as a police officer. On March 13, 2001, after reviewing the FCE, Dr. Phillips stated that plaintiff was unable to work as a police officer without restrictions. On June 17, 2002, Phillips stated that plaintiff was doing “reasonably well,” and while he believed she could return to work in a limited capacity, Phillips was not convinced that she could return to work in an “active duty capacity.” On August 5, 2002, another FCE was conducted. The FCE stated that plaintiff could work at a light-medium level.

On November 1, 2007, the Board denied plaintiffs application for a line-of-duty disability pension and a not-on-duty disability pension by a 3 to 0 vote. Board members Dargan and Bianchi were present but abstained from voting.

On December 21, 2007, the Board issued a written decision denying plaintiff a disability pension. The Board relied primarily on the medical opinions of Drs. Yohanna, Obolsky and Mercier and plaintiffs medical records. The Board did not give weight to the opinions or conclusions of the physicians who “based their conclusions that [plaintiff] is disabled upon [plaintiffs] subjective complaints as to her limitations.” The Board found plaintiffs testimony not credible with regard to both the occurrence of an injury on October 17, 1996, and her physical and psychological complaints.

Following the Board’s decision, plaintiff filed a complaint for administrative review. The trial court affirmed the Board’s findings that plaintiff was not mentally disabled and was not injured in the line of duty. But the court reversed the Board’s finding that plaintiff was not physically disabled and held she was entitled to not-on-duty disability pension benefits.

We first turn to plaintiffs contention that she was denied a fair and impartial hearing because Board members Bianchi and Dargan were biased against her. Plaintiff argues that Bianchi and Dargan should have recused themselves because Bianchi was named in a sexual harassment suit filed by plaintiff against the Village and Dargan was one of the officers who allegedly created a hostile work environment.

In administrative law cases, we review the decision of the administrative agency, not the trial court. Marconi v. Chicago Heights Police Pension Board, 225 Ill. 2d 497, 531, 870 N.E.2d 273 (2007). Our review is limited to the administrative record. 735 ILCS 5/3 — 110 (West 2008); Robbins v. Board of Trustees of the Carbondale Police Pension Fund, 177 Ill. 2d 533, 538, 687 N.E.2d 39 (1997).

“A mere possibility of prejudice is insufficient to show that a board, or any of its members, was biased.” Collura v. Board of Police Commissioners, 113 Ill. 2d 361, 370, 498 N.E.2d 1148 (1986), citing Grissom v. Board of Education of Buckley-Loda Community School District No. 8, 75 Ill. 2d 314, 321, 388 N.E.2d 398 (1979). A person claiming bias “must demonstrate that the decision maker is not ‘ “capable of judging a particular controversy [fairly] on the basis of its own circumstances” ’ ” and must overcome the presumption that the decision makers are able to judge each particular case objectively and fairly based on the facts. Danko v. Board of Trustees of the City of Harvey Police Pension Board, 240 Ill. App. 3d 633, 641-42, 608 N.E.2d 333 (1992), quoting Grissom, 75 Ill. 2d at 320, quoting Hortonville Joint School District No. 1 v. Hortonville Education Ass’n, 426 U.S. 482, 493, 49 L. Ed. 2d 1, 9, 96 S. Ct. 2308, 2314 (1976). A claimant may show bias or prejudice if a disinterested observer might conclude that the administrative body or its members had in some measure judged the case in advance. Danko, 240 Ill. App. 3d at 642. If one decision maker on an administrative body is not completely disinterested, his participation “ ‘ “infects the action of the whole body and makes it voidable.” ’ [Citation.]” Danko, 240 Ill. App. 3d at 642.

Here, plaintiffs only evidence of bias is the sexual harassment lawsuit against the Village of Orland Park, settled without a decision on the merits. Without more, plaintiffs claim is unpersuasive.

Plaintiff cites to no case, nor are we aware of one, where abstention on a vote can be read as probative of bias. In contrast, the police chief serving on the Harvey police pension board in Danko made several statements during the hearing that evidenced his bias. Danko, 240 Ill. App. 3d at 643. These statements during the hearing were noted by the court. Danko, 240 Ill. App. 3d at 643. Nothing comparable appears in the record of this hearing. We believe plaintiff has failed to show more than a “mere possibility” that Bianchi and Dargan were biased or that their bias “infected” the Board’s decision.

Next, we address plaintiffs contention that the Board’s decision denying her a line-of-duty disability pension is against the manifest weight of the evidence. She claims that the record shows that the injuries of which she complains can be traced to the baton exercise on October 17, 1996.

Section 3 — 114.1 of the Code states that “[i]f a police officer as the result of sickness, accident or injury incurred in or resulting from the performance of an act of duty, is found to be physically or mentally disabled for service in the police department, so as to render necessary his or her suspension or retirement from the police service,” that officer is entitled to a line-of-duty disability pension. 40 ILCS 5/3 — 114.1 (West 2002).

The parties agree that this issue is a question of fact, reviewed under a manifest weight of the evidence standard. Marconi, 225 Ill. 2d at 532. “ ‘An administrative agency decision is against the manifest weight of the evidence only if the opposite conclusion is clearly evident.’ ” Marconi, 225 Ill. 2d at 534, quoting Abrahamson v. Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, 153 Ill. 2d 76, 88, 606 N.E.2d 1111 (1992). “ ‘[F]indings and conclusions of the administrative agency on questions of fact shall be held to be prima facie true and correct,’ ” and the “ ‘mere fact that an opposite conclusion is reasonable or that the reviewing court might have ruled differently will not justify reversal of the administrative findings.’ ” Marconi, 225 Ill. 2d at 534, quoting 735 ILCS 5/3 — 110 (West 2002), and Abrahamson, 153 Ill. 2d at 88. “If the record contains evidence to support the agency’s decision, that decision should be affirmed.” (Emphasis added.) Marconi, 225 Ill. 2d at 534.

The Board concluded that plaintiff was not injured during the October 17, 1996, police baton training after weighing the testimony of plaintiff, Officer Hozzian and Sergeant Kinsella. The Board stated that it was giving no weight to plaintiffs testimony because at least three of the doctors who examined her on behalf of the Board found she was “not believable.” This finding is within the province of the Board, and it is not our function to reevaluate witness credibility or resolve conflicting evidence. Marconi, 225 Ill. 2d at 540. Under the guidelines set out in Marconi, we confirm the Board’s decision to deny plaintiff a line-of-duty disability pension.

Finally, we address whether plaintiff is entitled to a not-on-duty disability pension under section 3 — 114.2 of the Code (40 ILCS 5/3 — 114.2 (West 2002)). Section 3 — 114.2 states that a police officer is entitled to a not-on-duty disability pension if he or she “becomes disabled as a result of any cause other than the performance of an act of duty, and who is found to be physically or mentally disabled so as to render necessary his or her suspension or retirement from police service.” 40 ILCS 5/3 — 114.2 (West 2002). Plaintiff urges us to: (1) reverse the trial court judgment affirming the Board’s finding that plaintiff is not psychiatrically disabled because the Board’s decision was against the manifest weight of the evidence; and (2) affirm the trial court’s reversal of the Board’s finding that plaintiff is not physically disabled. Defendant cross-appeals the trial court’s reversal of the Board’s finding that plaintiff was not physically disabled.

As noted, we must confirm the Board’s decision “[i]f the record contains evidence to support the agency’s decision.” Marconi, 225 Ill. 2d at 534, 540. Under this test, the record is clear: it contains evidence to support the Board’s finding that plaintiff is neither psychiatrically nor physically disabled and not entitled to a not-on-duty disability pension under section 3 — 114.2 of the Code (40 ILCS 5/3 — 114.2 (West 2002)). The Board found plaintiff was not psychiatrically disabled based on the medical reports of Drs. Yohanna and Obolsky, who concluded that plaintiff did not suffer from a psychiatric disability. Given Yohanna’s and Harris’s conclusions about plaintiffs veracity, the Board also decided to give no weight to the opinions of physicians who based their conclusions on plaintiffs subjective complaints. Such determinations are within the province of the Board, and it is not our function to reevaluate witness credibility or resolve conflicting evidence. Marconi, 225 Ill. 2d at 540. The Board’s decision was not against the manifest weight of the evidence as the record contains evidence supporting the Board’s finding that plaintiff was not psychiatrically disabled. Marconi, 225 Ill. 2d at 540.

The Board also found plaintiff was not physically disabled based on the opinion of Dr. Mercier, plaintiff’s testimony and plaintiff’s medical records. Mercier was the only doctor who examined plaintiff for physical disability on behalf of the Board who concluded that plaintiff was not physically disabled. The trial court reversed the Board’s finding on this issue because of Mercier’s erroneous belief that plaintiff had received neck treatment before the October 1996 training incident. Plaintiff goes to great lengths in her brief to discredit Mercier’s report and the Board’s reliance on it. But again, this issue involves the assessment of the credibility of witnesses and the weighing of evidence. The fact that we or the trial court might come to a different conclusion than the Board over the weight to give conflicting evidence cannot justify reversal. Marconi, 225 Ill. 2d at 540. If the record contains evidence supporting the Board’s decision that plaintiff is not physically disabled, we must confirm. See Marconi, 225 Ill. 2d at 540.

The record contains evidence to support the Board’s finding that plaintiff is not physically disabled. In spite of Dr. Mercier’s reliance on a belief that plaintiff had preexisting neck problems, the Board found his report to be the most thorough and thoughtful of the three doctors. Mercier stated in his report that plaintiff had recovered by February 1997 from her alleged October 1996 injury and subsequent medical care for her neck problem was not related to the training incident. After his October 16, 2003, examination of plaintiff, Mercier noted that plaintiffs cervical fusion was stable, her wounds were well healed and, except for subjective decreased range of motion, her neck examination was normal. The Board chose to discount Dr. Milgram’s opinion that plaintiff was disabled because it was premised on the possibility that plaintiff might incur a “future disability” should she someday be in a fight, rather than a current inability to work as a police officer. The Board also found Dr. Rosenblatt’s conclusions unpersuasive because they were largely, if not entirely, based on plaintiffs subjective complaints and statements. As discussed above, the Board deemed plaintiffs testimony about her physical disability incredible based on its observations of plaintiff during the hearing and the opinions of at least three physicians. In sum, there was evidence to support the Board’s finding that plaintiff was not physically disabled. See Marconi, 225 Ill. 2d at 540.

Plaintiff argues in her reply brief that defendant is attempting to mislead this court by “misconstruing the evidence.” Plaintiff overstates the thrust of the Board’s brief. To support its case, defendant does discuss plaintiffs medical records and physical status before her application for a disability pension. We find no attempt to mislead the court or misconstrue evidence. Whatever the conflicts in the evidentiary material before the Board here, our traverse of the record leads us to conclude that there is evidence to support the findings of the Board under the standard set out in Marconi. Marconi, 225 Ill. 2d at 540. We vacate the trial court’s reversal of the Board’s denial of plaintiff’s application for a not-on-duty disability pension. We confirm the judgment of the Board.

Confirmed.

J. GORDON, J., concurs.