State Ex Rel. Shamrock Mt. v. Indus. Comm., Unpublished Decision (3-31-2005)

2005 Ohio 1522
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 31, 2005
DocketNo. 04AP-458.
StatusUnpublished

This text of 2005 Ohio 1522 (State Ex Rel. Shamrock Mt. v. Indus. Comm., Unpublished Decision (3-31-2005)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law.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
State Ex Rel. Shamrock Mt. v. Indus. Comm., Unpublished Decision (3-31-2005), 2005 Ohio 1522 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005).

Opinion

DECISION
ON OBJECTIONS TO THE MAGISTRATE'S DECISION
{¶ 1} Relator, Shamrock Materials, Inc., has filed an original action requesting that this court issue a writ of mandamus ordering respondent, Industrial Commission of Ohio ("commission"), to vacate its order granting R.C. 4123.56(B) wage-loss compensation to respondent, Ziyad J. Aleissa ("claimant"), beginning August 4, 2003, and to enter an order denying said compensation.

{¶ 2} This matter was referred to a court-appointed magistrate pursuant to Civ.R. 53(C) and Loc.R. 12(M) of the Tenth District Court of Appeals. The magistrate issued a decision, including findings of fact and conclusions of law, recommending that this court issue a writ of mandamus ordering the commission to vacate the January 29, 2004 order of its staff hearing officer ("SHO"), awarding wage-loss compensation, and to enter an order denying such compensation. (Attached as Appendix A.) Both claimant and the commission have filed objections to the magistrate's decision.

{¶ 3} In his objection, claimant challenges the magistrate's finding that there was a lack of evidence to support the SHO's determination that claimant made a good-faith effort to find comparably paying work. More specifically, claimant argues that the magistrate failed to understand that he drew unemployment compensation for approximately ten months prior to accepting employment at Gold Star Chili.

{¶ 4} The magistrate, however, addressed this contention, noting that the hearing testimony referenced in the order did not indicate that claimant testified he received unemployment benefits, or that he conducted a job search to support the receipt of unemployment benefits. The magistrate further found that, even assuming claimant received unemployment benefits, and even accepting that claimant testified he conducted a job search during the period he received unemployment benefits, there was no way for the commission to have properly evaluated the adequacy of this job search in the absence of any documentary evidence of a job search. The magistrate also noted that claimant did not even allege he conducted a job search during his employment at Gold Star Chili (where he earned minimum wage), or while subsequently employed at Buffalo Wing Company ("Buffalo Wing") (earning far less than the wages he earned with relator).

{¶ 5} Under Ohio law, "[t]he mere fact of a job search does not entitle a claimant to wage-loss compensation." State ex rel. Jones v.Kaiser Foundation Hospitals Cleveland (1999), 84 Ohio St.3d 405, 407. Rather, "[t]here is a qualitative component to that job search that must be satisfied — one of adequacy and good faith." Id. The question of adequacy is determined on a case-by-case basis and can include many factors, including "the number and character of job contacts." Id. However, "[a]dequacy cannot be evaluated when a claimant fails to submit any evidence of his or her job contacts." Id.

{¶ 6} As indicated above, the magistrate considered the issue of unemployment benefits, finding no evidence of claimant receiving unemployment benefits or of a job search relating to unemployment benefits, and the magistrate ultimately found insufficient evidence that a job search was adequate and done in good faith. Upon review, we agree with the magistrate that the record, which contains no wage-loss statements or other supporting documentary evidence, nor references any testimony regarding claimant's efforts to secure employment, does not support the commission's finding that claimant conducted an adequate job search. Accordingly, claimant's objection is not well-taken.

{¶ 7} In its objection, the commission contends that this court should, "at most," issue a "limited" writ, remanding this matter to the commission for a re-hearing to take into consideration the Ohio Supreme Court's decision in State ex rel. Brinkman v. Indus. Comm. (1999),87 Ohio St.3d 171. In Brinkman, the Supreme Court held that a claimant's acceptance of part-time work did not establish that he had specifically limited his employment, or that his job selection was motivated by a lifestyle change, "the two concerns that have prompted close examination of part-time work." Id. at 174.

{¶ 8} Under the facts of Brinkman, however, the claimant, in addition to submitting medical evidence, also came forth with "wage statements and job search records in support." Id. at 171. As noted above, such evidence of a good-faith job search is lacking in the instant case, distinguishing it from Brinkman. See State ex rel. Rouweyha v. Indus. Comm. (2002),94 Ohio St.3d 160, 165 (distinguishing Brinkman where claimant failed to present evidence of a good-faith job search). See, also, State ex rel.Carnahan v. Indus. Comm. (1999), 86 Ohio St.3d 67, 69 ("[a] claimant cannot successfully assert that an injury placed him/her at a competitive disadvantage in the job market without fully immersing himself/herself into the job market").

{¶ 9} The commission contends that claimant's business venture with Buffalo Wing, whereby he began self-employment managing a restaurant under a lease with purchase option, did not constitute an effort by claimant to voluntarily limit his income. The magistrate, however, concluded that "[t]he commission's explanation for granting wage loss compensation fails to justify a finding that the wage differential between relator's wage rate and the wage rate paid by claimant to himself as a restaurant manager is due to the industrial injury." Upon review of the facts of this case, including an absence of any evidence of an adequate job search during this period, or other evidence that claimant's reduction in earnings was causally related to his injury, we agree with the magistrate's determination. Accordingly, the commission's single objection is not well-taken.

{¶ 10} After an examination of the magistrate's decision, an independent review of the record pursuant to Civ.R. 53, and due consideration to the objections, we overrule the objections and find that the magistrate sufficiently discussed and determined the issues raised. In accordance with the magistrate's decision, a writ of mandamus is granted ordering the commission to vacate its January 29, 2004 order granting wage-loss compensation, and to enter an order denying such compensation.

Objections overruled; writ granted.

Lazarus and French, JJ., concur.

APPENDIX A
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
State of Ohio ex rel.         :
Shamrock Materials, Inc.,     :
           Relator,           :
v.                            :     No. 04AP-458
Industrial Commission of Ohio :  (REGULAR CALENDAR)
and Ziyad J. Aleissa,         :
           Respondents.       :

MAGISTRATE'S DECISION
Rendered on December 20, 2004
Schottenstein, Zox Dunn, Corey V. Crognale and Meghan M. Majernik, for relator.

Jim Petro, Attorney General, and Dennis L. Hufstader, for respondent Industrial Commission of Ohio.

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