Matter of Hampton v. Lifecare Ctr., Cheyenne

3 P.3d 837, 2000 Wyo. LEXIS 90, 2000 WL 351157
CourtWyoming Supreme Court
DecidedApril 6, 2000
DocketNo. 99-119
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 3 P.3d 837 (Matter of Hampton v. Lifecare Ctr., Cheyenne) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wyoming Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Matter of Hampton v. Lifecare Ctr., Cheyenne, 3 P.3d 837, 2000 Wyo. LEXIS 90, 2000 WL 351157 (Wyo. 2000).

Opinion

THOMAS, Justice.

In this case, the Office of Administrative Hearings found against Laris Hampton (Hampton) with respect to the timely reporting of a claimed work-related injury, and ruled that she had not met her burden of proving a lack of prejudice to her employer or the Wyoming Workers' Safety and Compensation Division (Division). An injured employee is required by Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 27-14-502(a) (Lexis 1999) to report an injury no later "than seventy-two (72) hours after the general nature of the injury became apparent * * *." Hampton offered a theory that the injury was timely reported because no one told her that her condition was work related until after she had surgery for the condition, but the hearing examiner found that her injury was not timely reported. In the absence of a timely report of her injury, Hampton is required by Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 27-14-502(c)1 to establish by clear and convincing evidence that neither her employer nor the Division suffered prejudice in the investigation of an accident or the monitoring of medical treatment because of her late report to her employer. Our examination of the record satisfies us that there is substantial evidence to support the finding that Hampton's report of injury was not timely, and we also are satisfied from the record that the decision that Hampton failed to establish the lack of prejudice by clear and convincing evidence was not arbitrary, capri-clous, or an abuse of discretion. The Order Denying Benefits by the Office of Administrative Hearings is affirmed.

This statement of the issues is found in the Appellant's Opening Brief, filed by Hampton:

1. Did the Office of Administrative Hearings err by denying the Appellant's application for workers' compensation benefits?
[839]*8392. Did the Office of Administrative Hearings err by finding that the Appellant did not timely file her report of injury?
3. Did the Office of Administrative Hearings err by finding that the Appellant's employer and the Wyoming Workers' Safety and Compensation Division were prejudiced by the Appellant's untimely filing of her report of injury?

This Statement of the Issues is found in the Brief of Appellee, filed by the Division:

The Employee sought treatment for recurrent symptoms of a previous injury. She filed an injury report fifty-seven (57) days after she was told she needed surgery, and a week after surgery was complete.
A. Was the Hearing Examiner's denial of benefits for an untimely injury report supported by substantial evidence, within his discretion, and in accordance with law?
The Employee first experienced symptoms of her condition more than a year before her surgery.
B. Did the Employee fail to meet the burden of proof for injuries occurring over time?
C. Did the Employee submit a timely "claim for benefits?"

Hampton is a licensed practical nurse who became employed at Life Care Center of Cheyenne (Life Care) in 1990. In that year, she injured her left wrist at work while lift ing a patient. Her physician prescribed pain medication and a wrist splint to treat that injury. In February of 1997, Hampton sustained another injury to her left wrist when a patient twisted it so severely that her little and ring fingers of her left hand became numb. On that occasion, a physician diagnosed the injury as an ulnar nerve compression, and he opined that it would heal without treatment in a matter of weeks. Hampton was injured a third time in April of 1997 when a patient again grabbed and twisted her left wrist, causing pain and swelling. After that injury, her physician recommended therapy, but he also noted that she might need an orthopedic evaluation. Neither Hampton nor Life Care reported these injuries to the Division.

In January 1998, Hampton was seen by her physician, and, at that time, reported that the little and ring fingers on her left hand had been numb for about six weeks. She was referred to a surgeon who, on February 2, 1998, recommended surgical release of the ulnar nerve. The next week, Hampton requested medical leave from work, but she did not say that her medical condition was work related. Life Care approved the leave request, and Hampton underwent a successful surgery on March 24, 1998.

On March 31, 1998, Hampton completed a Wyoming Report of Occupational Injury or Disease, which was received by the Division on April 2, 1998. Life Care contested the claim, asserting that Hampton did not timely report her injury. The Division issued a Final Determination denying Hampton's claim on May 18, 1998. In response, Hampton objected to the Final Determination and requested a hearing, which was held before a hearing examiner on November 23, 1998.

In resolving the issues presented under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 27-14-502, the hearing examiner found:

9. Hampton knew or should have known on February 2, 1998, that her condition was work-related, and she should have notified Lifecare and filed a report at that time. Since she did not notify Lifecare and file a report of injury until March 31, 1998, she has failed to timely report and file as required by statute.
10. Since Hampton failed to timely report and file, it is presumed that benefits be denied. This presumption can only be refuted if she establishes by clear and convincing evidence a lack of prejudice to the Division and Lifecare. Hampton has failed to meet her burden. The Division and Lifecare were prejudiced in monitoring medical treatment because they were not aware of the claimed work injury until after surgery had been performed. Life-care was unable to take steps to minimize any injury and adjust Hampton's work because they did not know there was a problem. Additionally, the Division and Life-care were prejudiced in investigating the incident. Benefits are denied.

[840]*840The Order Denying Benefits was entered in the Office of Administrative Hearings on December 17, 1998, and Hampton then filed a Petition for Review in the district court on January 15, 1999. The district court entered an Order Certifying Case to Wyoming Supreme Court, pursuant to W.R.A.P. 12.09, on March 15, 1999.

We review the decision of a hearing examiner in accordance with Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 16-3-1l4(c) (Lexis 1999), which provides that the reviewing court shall:

(ii) Hold unlawful and set aside agency action, findings and conclusions found to be:
(A) Arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion or otherwise not in accordance with law;
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(D) Without observance of procedure required by law; or ,
(E) Unsupported by substantial evidence in a case reviewed on the record of an agency hearing provided by statute.

We will not disturb an agency's finding of fact unless it is clearly contrary to the overwhelming weight of the evidence. Wyoming Steel & Fab., Inc. v. Robles, 882 P.2d 873, 875 (Wyo.1994). Agency conclusions of law are affirmed only if they are in accord with the law. Matter of Corman, 909 P.2d 966, 970 (Wyo.1996).

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3 P.3d 837, 2000 Wyo. LEXIS 90, 2000 WL 351157, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/matter-of-hampton-v-lifecare-ctr-cheyenne-wyo-2000.