SECOND DIVISION MILLER, P. J., BROWN and GOSS, JJ.
NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be physically received in our clerk’s office within ten days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed. http://www.gaappeals.us/rules
February 26, 2019
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A18A1764. DANIEL v. BREMEN-BOWDON INVESTMENT CO. GS-065
GOSS, Judge.
We granted Sheryl Daniel’s application for discretionary appeal to review the
superior court’s order which affirmed the decision of the Appellate Division of the
State Board of Workers’ Compensation to deny Daniel’s claim for benefits under the
Workers’ Compensation Act (the “Act”). For the following reasons, we affirm.
The facts in this case are undisputed. At the time of the incident, Daniel was
employed as a seamstress at Bremen-Bowden Investment Company (the
“Employer”). Daniel parked in a lot owned by the Employer, but in order to get to
and from the parking lot she was required to walk down a public sidewalk and across
the street. On July 22, 2016, Daniel left her work station for her regularly scheduled
lunch break and planned to drive home. The Employer’s employees were allowed to leave the workplace and do whatever they wished during this regularly scheduled
lunch break. As she walked to her car, Daniel tripped on the sidewalk and was
injured.
Daniel sought temporary total disability benefits beginning the day after her
injury, payment of medical bills, designation of a certain doctor as the authorized
testing physician, and attorney fees. Relying upon this Court’s decision in Rockwell
v. Lockheed Martin Corp., 248 Ga. App. 73 (545 SE2d 121) (2001), the
Administrative Law Judge with the trial division of the State Board of Workers’
Compensation (“ALJ”) concluded, inter alia, that Daniel was entitled to income
benefits under the ingress and egress rule on a scheduled lunch break. The ALJ also
awarded Daniel medical expenses, the ability to select her treating physician, and
attorney fees pursuant to OCGA § 34-9-108. The Employer appealed the ALJ’s
decision to the appellate division of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation (the
“Board”). The Board reversed the ALJ’s award, concluding that Daniel’s injury did
not arise out of her employment because it occurred while she was on a regularly
scheduled break. The superior court affirmed the Board’s denial of benefits, and
this Court granted Daniel’s application for discretionary review.
2 1. Daniel argues that the superior court erred by holding that her trip and fall
during a period of egress on a regularly scheduled lunch break did not arise in and out
of the course of her employment. We find no error.
Because the pertinent facts are not disputed, and because Daniels argues that
the Board and the superior court “applied an erroneous theory of law to the facts, we
apply a de novo standard of review.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Freeman v.
Southwire Co., 269 Ga. App. 692, 693 (605 SE2d 95) (2004).
In the absence of legal error, the factual findings of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation must be affirmed by the superior court and by the Court of Appeals when supported by any evidence in the administrative record. However, erroneous applications of law to undisputed facts, as well as decisions based on erroneous theories of law, are subject to the de novo standard of review.
(Citation omitted.) Hill v. Omni Hotel at CNN Ctr., 268 Ga. App. 144, 146 (601 SE2d
472) (2004).
To be compensable under the Workers Compensation Act, an “injury by
accident” must arise “out of and in the course of employment[.]” See OCGA § 34-9-
1 (4). Both of these “independent and distinct criteria” must be satisfied. Mayor &c.
of Savannah v. Stevens, 278 Ga. 166, 166 (1) (598 SE2d 456) (2004). The words
3 “in the course of the employment” relate to the time, place, and circumstances under which the accident takes place, and an accident arises in the course of employment when it occurs within the period of employment at a place where the employee may reasonably be in the performance of his duties and while he is fulfilling those duties or engaged in something incidental thereto.
(Citation omitted.) General Fire & Cas. Co. v. Bellflower, 123 Ga. App. 864, 867 (3)
(182 SE2d 678) (1971). The words “arising out of the employment” refer to the
causal connection between the employment and the injury. Id. at 868 (4).
In parallel but separate lines of cases, Georgia courts have fashioned an
ingress and egress rule and a scheduled break exception to the Workers’
Compensation Act. Under the scheduled break exception, this Court has carved out
an exception to the Workers’ Compensation Act “for injuries occurring during a
regularly scheduled lunch break or rest break and at a time claimant is free to do as
she chooses.” Miles v. Brown Transport Corp., 163 Ga. App. 563, 564 (294 SE2d
734) (1982). Under the ingress and egress rule, this Court has concluded that the
Workers’ Compensation Act applies “where an employee is injured while still on the
employer’s premises in the act of going to or coming from his or her workplace.”
(Citation omitted.) Hill, 268 Ga. App. at 147.
4 Daniels relies upon Rockwell v. Lockheed Martin Corp., 248 Ga. App. 73
(545 SE2d 121) (2001), for the assertion that, under the ingress and egress rule, where
an employee is still on her employer’s premises in the act of egressing those
premises, even if on a regularly scheduled break, the Workers’ Compensation Act
applies. Id. at 73. However, during the pendency of the instant appeal, this Court
disapproved Rockwell, 248 Ga. App. at 73, and other cases, to hold that the ingress
and egress rule does not extend coverage to cases in which the employee is injured
while leaving and returning to work on a regularly scheduled lunch break. Frett v.
State Farm Employee Workers’ Compensation, __ Ga. App. __ (821 SE2d 132)
(2018). In Frett, this Court concluded that “the extension of the ingress and egress
rule to cover cases in which the employee is injured while leaving and returning to
work” for a regularly scheduled break was improper. Id.
In the instant case, we apply the holding in Frett, supra, to conclude that
because Daniels’ injury occurred while she was egressing the Employer’s property
during her regularly scheduled lunch break, her injury is not compensable under the
Workers’ Compensation Act. The superior court did not err in affirming the Board’s
denial of her claim under the Workers’ Compensation Act.
5 2. Morgan argues that the superior court erred in affirming the Appellate
Division’s reversal of the ALJ’s assessed attorney fees for the Employer’s violation
of OCGA § 34-9-221. We disagree.
The ALJ ordered the Employer to pay attorney fees and expenses under
OCGA § 34-9-108 (b). The Board then reversed the ALJ and denied Daniels’
request for assessed attorney fees. OCGA § 34-9-108 (b) (2) provides:
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SECOND DIVISION MILLER, P. J., BROWN and GOSS, JJ.
NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be physically received in our clerk’s office within ten days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed. http://www.gaappeals.us/rules
February 26, 2019
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A18A1764. DANIEL v. BREMEN-BOWDON INVESTMENT CO. GS-065
GOSS, Judge.
We granted Sheryl Daniel’s application for discretionary appeal to review the
superior court’s order which affirmed the decision of the Appellate Division of the
State Board of Workers’ Compensation to deny Daniel’s claim for benefits under the
Workers’ Compensation Act (the “Act”). For the following reasons, we affirm.
The facts in this case are undisputed. At the time of the incident, Daniel was
employed as a seamstress at Bremen-Bowden Investment Company (the
“Employer”). Daniel parked in a lot owned by the Employer, but in order to get to
and from the parking lot she was required to walk down a public sidewalk and across
the street. On July 22, 2016, Daniel left her work station for her regularly scheduled
lunch break and planned to drive home. The Employer’s employees were allowed to leave the workplace and do whatever they wished during this regularly scheduled
lunch break. As she walked to her car, Daniel tripped on the sidewalk and was
injured.
Daniel sought temporary total disability benefits beginning the day after her
injury, payment of medical bills, designation of a certain doctor as the authorized
testing physician, and attorney fees. Relying upon this Court’s decision in Rockwell
v. Lockheed Martin Corp., 248 Ga. App. 73 (545 SE2d 121) (2001), the
Administrative Law Judge with the trial division of the State Board of Workers’
Compensation (“ALJ”) concluded, inter alia, that Daniel was entitled to income
benefits under the ingress and egress rule on a scheduled lunch break. The ALJ also
awarded Daniel medical expenses, the ability to select her treating physician, and
attorney fees pursuant to OCGA § 34-9-108. The Employer appealed the ALJ’s
decision to the appellate division of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation (the
“Board”). The Board reversed the ALJ’s award, concluding that Daniel’s injury did
not arise out of her employment because it occurred while she was on a regularly
scheduled break. The superior court affirmed the Board’s denial of benefits, and
this Court granted Daniel’s application for discretionary review.
2 1. Daniel argues that the superior court erred by holding that her trip and fall
during a period of egress on a regularly scheduled lunch break did not arise in and out
of the course of her employment. We find no error.
Because the pertinent facts are not disputed, and because Daniels argues that
the Board and the superior court “applied an erroneous theory of law to the facts, we
apply a de novo standard of review.” (Citation and punctuation omitted.) Freeman v.
Southwire Co., 269 Ga. App. 692, 693 (605 SE2d 95) (2004).
In the absence of legal error, the factual findings of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation must be affirmed by the superior court and by the Court of Appeals when supported by any evidence in the administrative record. However, erroneous applications of law to undisputed facts, as well as decisions based on erroneous theories of law, are subject to the de novo standard of review.
(Citation omitted.) Hill v. Omni Hotel at CNN Ctr., 268 Ga. App. 144, 146 (601 SE2d
472) (2004).
To be compensable under the Workers Compensation Act, an “injury by
accident” must arise “out of and in the course of employment[.]” See OCGA § 34-9-
1 (4). Both of these “independent and distinct criteria” must be satisfied. Mayor &c.
of Savannah v. Stevens, 278 Ga. 166, 166 (1) (598 SE2d 456) (2004). The words
3 “in the course of the employment” relate to the time, place, and circumstances under which the accident takes place, and an accident arises in the course of employment when it occurs within the period of employment at a place where the employee may reasonably be in the performance of his duties and while he is fulfilling those duties or engaged in something incidental thereto.
(Citation omitted.) General Fire & Cas. Co. v. Bellflower, 123 Ga. App. 864, 867 (3)
(182 SE2d 678) (1971). The words “arising out of the employment” refer to the
causal connection between the employment and the injury. Id. at 868 (4).
In parallel but separate lines of cases, Georgia courts have fashioned an
ingress and egress rule and a scheduled break exception to the Workers’
Compensation Act. Under the scheduled break exception, this Court has carved out
an exception to the Workers’ Compensation Act “for injuries occurring during a
regularly scheduled lunch break or rest break and at a time claimant is free to do as
she chooses.” Miles v. Brown Transport Corp., 163 Ga. App. 563, 564 (294 SE2d
734) (1982). Under the ingress and egress rule, this Court has concluded that the
Workers’ Compensation Act applies “where an employee is injured while still on the
employer’s premises in the act of going to or coming from his or her workplace.”
(Citation omitted.) Hill, 268 Ga. App. at 147.
4 Daniels relies upon Rockwell v. Lockheed Martin Corp., 248 Ga. App. 73
(545 SE2d 121) (2001), for the assertion that, under the ingress and egress rule, where
an employee is still on her employer’s premises in the act of egressing those
premises, even if on a regularly scheduled break, the Workers’ Compensation Act
applies. Id. at 73. However, during the pendency of the instant appeal, this Court
disapproved Rockwell, 248 Ga. App. at 73, and other cases, to hold that the ingress
and egress rule does not extend coverage to cases in which the employee is injured
while leaving and returning to work on a regularly scheduled lunch break. Frett v.
State Farm Employee Workers’ Compensation, __ Ga. App. __ (821 SE2d 132)
(2018). In Frett, this Court concluded that “the extension of the ingress and egress
rule to cover cases in which the employee is injured while leaving and returning to
work” for a regularly scheduled break was improper. Id.
In the instant case, we apply the holding in Frett, supra, to conclude that
because Daniels’ injury occurred while she was egressing the Employer’s property
during her regularly scheduled lunch break, her injury is not compensable under the
Workers’ Compensation Act. The superior court did not err in affirming the Board’s
denial of her claim under the Workers’ Compensation Act.
5 2. Morgan argues that the superior court erred in affirming the Appellate
Division’s reversal of the ALJ’s assessed attorney fees for the Employer’s violation
of OCGA § 34-9-221. We disagree.
The ALJ ordered the Employer to pay attorney fees and expenses under
OCGA § 34-9-108 (b). The Board then reversed the ALJ and denied Daniels’
request for assessed attorney fees. OCGA § 34-9-108 (b) (2) provides:
If any provision of [OCGA §] 34-9-221,1 without reasonable grounds, is not complied with and a claimant engages the services of an attorney to enforce his or her rights under that Code section and the claimant prevails, the reasonable quantum meruit fee of the attorney, as determined by the [B]oard, and the costs of the proceedings may be assessed against the employer.
(Emphasis supplied.) In the instant case, however, Daniels did not prevail on her
claims for benefits under the Workers’ Compensation Act. Accordingly, the superior
court did not err by affirming the Board’s denial of her request for attorney fees. See,
e. g., Dasher v. City of Valdosta, 217 Ga. App. 351, 352 (2) (457 SE2d 259) (1995)
(in light of the fact that the employee failed to show that he was entitled to disability
1 OCGA § 34-9-221, in turn, requires an employer to pay benefits or controvert the claim within 21 days of its knowledge of the injury. OCGA § 34-9-221 (b), (d).
6 benefits, the employer was not liable for attorney fees under OCGA § § 34-9-221 or
34-9-108).
Judgment affirmed. Brown, J., concurs. Miller, P. J. dissents.*
*THIS OPINION IS PHYSICAL PRECEDENT ONLY. COURT OF
APPEALS RULE 33.2 (a).
7 A18A1764. DANIEL v. BREMEN-BOWDON INVESTMENT, CO., et al.
MILLER, Presiding Judge, dissenting.
I must respectfully dissent from the majority’s decision for the reasons state
in my dissenting opinion in Frett v. State Farm Employee Workers’ Compensation,
348 Ga. App. 30, 37-40 (821 SE2d 132) (2018). In my view, the ALJ correctly
determined that Daniel’s injury was compensable, and I would therefore reverse the
ruling of the superior court.