St Ex Rel. York Int'l. v. Indus. Comm., Unpublished Decision (7-26-2005)

2005 Ohio 3792
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 26, 2005
DocketNo. 04AP-979.
StatusUnpublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2005 Ohio 3792 (St Ex Rel. York Int'l. v. Indus. Comm., Unpublished Decision (7-26-2005)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
St Ex Rel. York Int'l. v. Indus. Comm., Unpublished Decision (7-26-2005), 2005 Ohio 3792 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005).

Opinion

ON OBJECTIONS TO THE MAGISTRATE'S DECISION
DECISION
{¶ 1} Relator, York International Corporation, has filed an original action in mandamus requesting this court to issue a writ of mandamus to order respondent, Industrial Commission of Ohio ("commission"), to vacate its order that granted permanent total disability compensation to respondent-claimant, Fay H. Kopis ("claimant"), and to issue a new order finding claimant is not entitled to such compensation.

{¶ 2} This court referred the matter to a magistrate, pursuant to Civ.R. 53(C) and Section (M), Loc.R. 12 of the Tenth District Court of Appeals, who rendered a decision including findings of fact and conclusions of law. (Attached as Appendix A.) The magistrate decided that a limited writ of mandamus should be granted to order the commission to vacate its order and issue a new order after addressing the issue of the potential effect of claimant's departure from the work force on her entitlement to permanent total disability compensation.

{¶ 3} Relator and claimant have filed objections to the magistrate's decision. In its objections, relator argues that the commission abused its discretion in relying on the June 6, 2002 report of Dr. Rudy G. Moc, that Dr. Raymond D. Richetta's report was not some evidence, and that the commission failed to address the claimant's failure to participate in a rehabilitation program.

{¶ 4} Claimant objects to the magistrate's conclusion that the commission was required to address the issue of whether she voluntarily retired from the work force.

{¶ 5} In the first instance, we note that the correct date of the report for Dr. Moc is July 8, 2002, not June 6, 2002, as stated in relator's objections. In Dr. Moc's narrative report, he correctly lists all of the allowed conditions of claimant's claim, his examination was based on those conditions, and his opinion that she was permanently and totally disabled was based only on the allowed conditions of her claim. While the physical capabilities restriction form placed other restrictions on claimant that related to nonallowed conditions, Dr. Moc did restrict the use of her left arm and stated she was unable to use her left hand, which are allowed conditions of her claim. We further find the staff hearing officer did not reject Dr. Moc's report, inasmuch as he found all the medical reports to be credible to some extent and, therefore, based the decision to grant permanent total disability compensation on non-medical factors. Relator also objects to the commission's reliance on the report of Dr. Richetta, because he reviewed 1991 and 1999 reports when other medical reports in the record were more contemporaneous in time. Relator argues reliance on Dr. Richetta's report is barred based on State ex rel. Bozeman v. Unisource Corp., Franklin App. No. 01AP-1484, 2003-Ohio-747. However, we agree with the magistrate's conclusion that Bozeman applies only when compensation is based on psychological allowances, which is not the situation here.

{¶ 6} Relator also argues that the commission failed to address claimant's failure to participate in a rehabilitation program. Although the magistrate found this issue was not raised before the commission, we agree with relator that the issue was raised in its motion for reconsideration and should be addressed by the commission upon remand. To this extent, relator's objections to the magistrate's decision are sustained.

{¶ 7} Claimant objects to the magistrate's conclusion that the commission was required to address the issue of whether she voluntarily abandoned the work force. We find the magistrate correctly addressed and analyzed this issue and claimant's objections are overruled.

{¶ 8} Therefore, upon a review of the magistrate's decision and an independent review of the record, we find that the commission abused its discretion by failing to address claimant's failure to participate in a rehabilitation program, as well as failing to address the issue of whether claimant voluntarily abandoned the work force. Therefore, this court grants a writ of mandamus to order respondent, Industrial Commission of Ohio, to vacate its decision that granted permanent total disability compensation to respondent-claimant, Fay H. Kopis, and to issue a new order which grants or denies such compensation and sets forth the basis for its decision.

Relator's objections overruled in part and sustained in part,claimant's objections overruled, writ of mandamus granted.

Bryant and Sadler, JJ., concur.

Bowman, J., retired of the Tenth Appellate District, assigned to active duty under authority of Section 6(C), Article IV, Ohio Constitution.

APPENDIX A
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
State of Ohio ex rel. : York International Corporation, : Relator, : v. No. 04AP-979 : The Industrial Commission of Ohio (REGULAR CALENDAR) and Fay H. Kopis, :

Respondents. :

MAGISTRATE'S DECISION
Rendered on April 11, 2005
Buckley King LPA, and Michael J. Spisak, for relator.

Jim Petro, Attorney General, and Lasheyl N. Sowell, for respondent Industrial Commission of Ohio.

Lester S. Potash, for respondent Fay H. Kopis.

IN MANDAMUS
{¶ 9} Relator, York International Corporation, has filed this original action requesting that this court issue a writ of mandamus ordering respondent Industrial Commission of Ohio ("commission") to vacate its order which granted permanent total disability ("PTD") compensation to respondent Fay H. Kopis ("claimant") and ordering the commission to find that claimant is not entitled to that compensation. In the alternative, relator requests that this court issue a limited writ of mandamus compelling the commission to vacate its prior order, conduct further proceedings in this matter, and thereafter to issue an order which complies in all respects with the requirements of the law.

Findings of Fact:

{¶ 10} 1. Claimant sustained three work-related injuries while employed with relator. Claim number 832376-22 has been allowed for: "amputation distal phalanx left index finger; post traumatic stress disorder; strain left shoulder with fibrositis." It is undisputed that these are the conditions upon which claimant's application for PTD compensation was based. Claim number L233227-22 has been allowed for: "fracture right fourth rib." Claim number OD58385 is a claim which has been settled and includes the allowed condition of: "bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome."

{¶ 11} 2. Claimant received various periods of temporary total disability compensation over the years for the allowed physical conditions.

{¶ 12} 3. Claimant returned to work for relator at the same machine at which she was injured and continued working there until 1993.

{¶ 13} 4. Between 1993 and 1996, claimant worked in a variety of different positions and was off work for different periods of time as well.

{¶ 14} 5.

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Related

State ex rel. York Internatl. Corp. v. Indus. Comm.
852 N.E.2d 179 (Ohio Supreme Court, 2006)

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2005 Ohio 3792, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/st-ex-rel-york-intl-v-indus-comm-unpublished-decision-7-26-2005-ohioctapp-2005.