Sanchez v. Homestake Mining Co.

697 P.2d 156, 102 N.M. 473
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 1, 1985
Docket7591
StatusPublished
Cited by65 cases

This text of 697 P.2d 156 (Sanchez v. Homestake Mining Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Sanchez v. Homestake Mining Co., 697 P.2d 156, 102 N.M. 473 (N.M. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinion

OPINION

BIVINS, Judge.

The opinion filed on February 28, 1985 is hereby withdrawn and the following substituted therefor.

Defendant appeals from an adverse judgment awarding plaintiff total permanent disability in a worker’s compensation case. It raises two issues: (1) the trial court erred in finding plaintiff totally disabled when defendant had available jobs which plaintiff could perform; and (2) the trial court erred in finding plaintiff’s disability attributable to his employment. Both issues turn on whether substantial evidence exists to support the trial court’s findings. Holding that it does, we affirm.

Plaintiff cross-appeals claiming the trial court abused its discretion in awarding plaintiff grossly inadequate attorney fees. Because the trial court failed to make specific findings, we remand on this issue.

The substantive issues presented by defendant’s appeal do not raise new issues or add to existing law; however, we take this opportunity to discuss the need for detailed findings in fixing attorney fees in worker’s compensation cases, to voice concerns as to the efficacy of the present rules concerning attorney fee determinations, and to consider procedural defects in this appeal which substantially affected this court’s ability to dispose of this case with dispatch.

Background.

(a) We first summarize the relevant findings made by the trial court. Plaintiff suffered an accidental injury to his lower back on December 4, 1980, while working for defendant as a toplander (one who works above the ground and assists miners). The trial court found the injuries consisted of a lumbosacral strain which aggravated a preexisting arthritic condition. Since the accidental injury plaintiff has not been gainfully employed. As a result of the accidental injury resulting in severe trauma to the lumbosacral spine and aggravation of the preexisting arthritic condition, plaintiff is wholly unable to perform the usual tasks of the work he was performing at the time of his injury, and wholly unable to perform any other work for which he is fitted by age, education, training, general physical and mental capacity, and previous work experience. The trial court awarded plaintiff $8,700 attorney fees.

(b) The accidental injury giving rise to this action occurred on December 4, 1980. The trial was held on May 27, 1982, but judgment was not entered until December 16, 1983, almost nineteen months following trial and more than three years from the date of injury. A decision containing the trial court’s findings and conclusion was filed on February 25, 1983 and amended on March 8, 1983. The remainder of the nineteen months was devoted to resolving the attorney fee issue.

Standard of review.

In reviewing the findings of fact of a trial court in a worker’s compensation proceeding, this court is subject to the rule that such findings shall not be disturbed if supported by substantial evidence. Lyon v. Catron County Commissioners, 81 N.M. 120, 464 P.2d 410 (Ct.App.1969), cert. denied, 81 N.M. 140, 464 P.2d 559 (1970); Cardenas v. United Nuclear Homestake Partners, 97 N.M. 46, 636 P.2d 317 (Ct. App.1981). Substantial evidence is relevant evidence that a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion. Tapia v. Panhandle Steel Erectors Co., 78 N.M. 86, 428 P.2d 625 (1967). This court is bound to view the evidence in the light most favorable to support the trial court’s findings, Mirabal v. Robert E. McKee, General Contractor, Inc., 77 N.M. 213, 421 P.2d 127 (1966), and to disregard all evidence unfavorable to that finding, Duran v. New Jersey Zinc Co., 83 N.M. 38, 487 P.2d 1343 (1971). It is for the trier of fact to weigh the testimony, determine the credibility of the witnesses, reconcile inconsistent statements of the witnesses, and determine where the truth lies. Montano v. Saavedra, 70 N.M. 332, 373 P.2d 824 (1962). The appellate court may not reweigh the evidence, id., nor substitute its judgment for that of the trier of fact. Ideal Basic Industries, Inc. v. Evans, 91 N.M. 460, 575 P.2d 1345 (1978). It is then through this small aperture called appellate review that we examine the evidence.

DEFENDANT’S APPEAL

1. Whether the trial court erred in finding the plaintiff totally and permanently disabled. *

The statutory definition of “total disability” provides for a two-pronged test, both of which must be proved by the plaintiff at trial: (1) complete inability to perform the usual tasks in the work he was performing at the time of the injury; and (2) absolute inability to perform any work for which he is fitted by age, education, training, general physical and mental capacity, and previous work experience. NMSA 1978, § 52-1-24. Quintana v. Trotz Construction Co., 79 N.M. 109, 440 P.2d 301 (1968).

The burden of proving disability is on the plaintiff, but after plaintiff has introduced evidence as to his age, education, training, general physical and mental capacity, and previous work experience, the burden of coming forward and proving the employability of the plaintiff for a particular job rests with the defendant. Brown v. Safeway Stores, Inc., 82 N.M. 424, 483 P.2d 305 (Ct.App.1970).

In the instant case, plaintiff testified that he was unable to perform the usual tasks of a toplander and janitor at defendant’s mine due to the constant pain he was experiencing as a result of the accidental injury he sustained on December 4, 1980. Dr. Kosicki, plaintiff’s medical expert, testified that, as a result of the accidental injury, plaintiff was totally disabled from doing the type of work he was required to do at the time of the injury. Defendant’s safety manager admitted that the usual tasks of a toplander included strenuous duties. Dr. Valdivia, a physician and surgeon called by defendant, while testifying that plaintiff could have performed “medium duty” labor subsequent to December 4, admitted that plaintiff could not perform the usual tasks of a toplander if such a position “implies a lot of heavy bending and lifting.”

Based on the. foregoing testimony, plaintiff met his burden of proving the first prong of the “total disability” test. Section 52-1-24; Quintana; Brown.

The plaintiff also testified that he had a seventh grade education, a limited understanding of the written English language, although he had never been employed in a position that required reading or writing. He had limited training as a “cabinet maker” some forty years ago, but had never worked in that position. Plaintiff testified that his entire work history and experience involved heavy manual labor, that he never performed exclusively light duty labor at the defendant’s mine, that he was not familiar with any such positions at defendant’s mine for which he was qualified, and further that he was never offered light duty at defendant’s mine after his accidental injury.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
697 P.2d 156, 102 N.M. 473, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sanchez-v-homestake-mining-co-nmctapp-1985.