Lathilleurie v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board

660 A.2d 694, 1995 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 301
CourtCommonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedJune 15, 1995
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 660 A.2d 694 (Lathilleurie v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lathilleurie v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board, 660 A.2d 694, 1995 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 301 (Pa. Ct. App. 1995).

Opinion

DELLA PORTA, Judge.

Marquis Lathilleurie (Claimant) appeals an order of the Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board (Board) affirming the referee’s decision granting the petition for modification filed by Thomas McMackin Citgo (Employer). We affirm.

Claimant sustained an on-the-job back injury in 1987, and began receiving temporary total disability benefits. On October 26, 1990, Employer filed a petition for modification or termination alleging that as of August 20, 1990, Claimant was capable of returning to work and that there was work available for him.

In support of its petition, Employer presented the testimony of Easwaran Balasu-bramanian, M.D., a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, who examined Claimant at Employer’s request on July 26, 1990. Based upon his examination of Claimant, Dr. Bala-subramanian was of the opinion that even though Claimant was unable to return to the type of work he did at the time of his injury, he was able to perform the following: sit for six hours in an eight-hour work day, stand and walk for four hours, lift frequently up to ten pounds and occasionally up to twenty-five pounds and carry the same, do repetitive movements of the hand and use his feet for repetitive motions, and bend at the knees occasionally and squat occasionally. Based on these findings, Dr. Balasubramanian approved eight jobs which Claimant was physically capable of performing.

Employer also presented the deposition testimony of Paul C. Morrison, a vocational rehabilitation counselor, regarding efforts undertaken to obtain job referrals for Claimant. Additionally, Employer presented surveillance evidence, including a video tape and testimony and report from the investigator, Bruce Keyser.

In opposition to Employer’s petition, Claimant testified and presented the deposition testimony of Richard S. Glick, D.O., board certified in obstetrics and gynecological surgery. Dr. Glick testified that Claimant was unable to work at all as of the date of his most recent examination, December 5, 1991.

[696]*696On February 19,1993, the referee issued a decision and order granting the modification petition based upon findings that two jobs, at Wackenhut Security and General Security Company, were available to Claimant. On appeal, the Board affirmed the referee’s decision. Claimant’s appeal is now before us for review.1

Claimant argues, initially, that the referee erred as a matter of law in allowing Employer to present its surveillance evidence when it had not complied with Section 131.61 of the Special Rules of Administrative Practice and Procedure Before Referees (34 Pa. Code § 131.61), regarding the exchange of documents and records. Section 131.61 requires parties to exchange all evidence, which is not available at the time of the first hearing, within ten days of a party’s receipt of the item or information. Evidence not provided within the time period “will not be admitted, relied upon or utilized in the proceedings or referee’s rulings.” (34 Pa.Code § 131.61(d).)

According to Claimant, the surveillance report, which was dated August 3, 1992, was not supplied to Claimant’s counsel until a hearing held on August 24, 1992. At that hearing, Claimant’s counsel objected to Employer’s request for a continuance to present its surveillance evidence, including the video and testimony of the investigator, because the surveillance report had not been timely provided to Claimant’s counsel in compliance with Section 131.61. Employer’s counsel argued that since it had not received the surveillance report until August 19, 1992, it was in fact provided to Claimant’s counsel within ten days.

The referee admitted the surveillance evidence, over Claimant’s counsel’s objection, and did utilize it in reaching her decision. Her findings of fact included the following:

15. Bruce Keyser testified concerning video tape surveillance taken of Claimant over the course of approximately nineteen hours showing him working at the LI Trim’s Cafe, mopping up and washing a window at the cafe, waiting on customers and running errands to various locations like the wholesale grocers.
16. Claimant did not rebut the video tape surveillance film, but testified that he was not working at the LI Trim’s Cafe.
25. The Referee finds the testimony of Bruce Keyser credible and persuasive and the Referee accepts it as fact.
26. The Referee finds that the surveillance films and testimony of Mr. Keyser shows Claimant working at the LI Trim's Cafe and performing physical labor and the Referee accepts Claimant’s ability to perform these activities as fact.
30. The referee’s findings concerning claimant’s ability to physically perform the jobs made available to him by employer is buttressed by the surveillance testimony presented by employer showing claimant working at the LI Trim’s Cafe, waiting on customers, performing physical labor, driving a van, lifting and carrying various items, mopping the floor and washing a window.

We agree with Employer that the surveillance report was provided to Claimant’s counsel in a timely manner, with no violation of the Special Rules, and that the referee did not err in admitting the surveillance evidence. The private investigator did not testify until October 20, 1992, giving Claimant’s counsel sufficient time to review the surveillance materials with her client and prepare any rebuttal testimony. Moreover, the Special Rules give the referee, “in the exercise of sound discretion and for good cause,” the authority to shorten or extend the time constraints set forth in the rules. (See Section 131.12 of the Special Rules.)

Even if the surveillance evidence were improperly admitted and relied upon by the referee, we are satisfied that the referee’s determination that Claimant could perform the two light duty positions made available to him was based upon sufficient, com[697]*697petent evidence. The referee weighed the conflicting medical testimony and specifically found that the testimony of Dr. Balasubra-manian was more credible and persuasive than the testimony of Dr. Glick, and accepted Dr. Balasubramanian’s testimony as fact. (Findings of Fact No. 19.) As noted above, Dr. Balasubramanian concluded that Claimant was capable of performing light duty work, and specifically approved the eight job referrals, including the positions at Wacken-hut Security and General Security Company. The referee explicitly stated in Finding of Fact No. 80, quoted above, that the surveillance evidence only “buttressed” her determination, and was not the sole basis for the decision.

Claimant also argues that the referee erred in finding that the positions at Wack-enhut Security and General Security were available to him. Claimant asserts that Employer did not establish work availability because an accurate picture of Claimant’s physical condition was not reported to prospective employers. He also argues that the findings of job availability were based on inadmissible hearsay evidence. We do not agree with Claimant’s arguments.

Analysis of the work availability issue is governed by the well settled law that:

1. The employer who seeks to modify a claimant’s benefits on the basis that he has recovered some or all of his ability must first produce medical evidence of a change in condition.
2.

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

Related

Cardone v. Workers' Compensation Appeal Board
765 A.2d 1160 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 2001)
Pavonarius v. WCAB (SAMUEL LEVITT SHEET METAL, INC.)
714 A.2d 1135 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 1998)
Kilker v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board
667 A.2d 1215 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 1995)
Anzaldo v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board
667 A.2d 488 (Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 1995)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
660 A.2d 694, 1995 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 301, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lathilleurie-v-workmens-compensation-appeal-board-pacommwct-1995.