State Ex Rel. Williams v. Indus. Comm., Unpublished Decision (11-9-2006)

2006 Ohio 5943
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedNovember 9, 2006
DocketNo. 05AP-1293.
StatusUnpublished

This text of 2006 Ohio 5943 (State Ex Rel. Williams v. Indus. Comm., Unpublished Decision (11-9-2006)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law.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. Williams v. Indus. Comm., Unpublished Decision (11-9-2006), 2006 Ohio 5943 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

DECISION
{¶ 1} Relator, Carolyn Williams, commenced this original action in mandamus seeking an order compelling respondent, Industrial Commission of Ohio ("commission"), to vacate its order denying relator temporary total disability ("TTD") compensation, and to order the commission to grant said compensation.

{¶ 2} Pursuant to Civ.R. 53(D) and Loc.R. 12(M) of the Tenth District Court of Appeals, this matter was referred to a magistrate who issued a decision, including findings of fact and conclusions of law. (Attached as Appendix A.) The magistrate found that relator was on notice that the status of her allowed psychological and physical condition was at issue in the hearing and that relator had the opportunity to present contrary medical evidence. In addition, the magistrate found that Dr. Lightbody's report was some evidence supporting the commission's determination that relator's psychological condition had reached maximum medical improvement ("MMI"). The fact that relator was not receiving TTD compensation for her psychological condition at the time Dr. Lightbody opined that her condition had reach MMI did not discredit his report.

{¶ 3} Relator filed objections to the magistrate's decision arguing that the commission's decision exceeded the scope of the issues that were to be addressed at the district hearing officer's ("DHO") hearing of June 22, 2004 and the staff hearing officer's ("SHO") hearing of August 3, 2004. Relying on State exrel. Nestle USA-Prepared Foods Div., Inc. v. Indus. Comm., Franklin App. No. 01AP-1214, 2003-Ohio 413, relator argues she did not have notice that these hearings would address whether her psychological condition was at MMI. We disagree.

{¶ 4} As noted by the magistrate, the notice at issue indicated that the hearing was to address the employer's request for termination of TTD compensation. Because the employer's motion also indicated the employer was relying upon medical reports which addressed both relator's physical and psychological claims, it was clear that the employer was seeking to eliminate TTD for the entire claim, even though relator was only receiving TTD for her physical claim at that time.

{¶ 5} We also agree with the magistrate that these facts are substantially different from those before the court in Nestle. In Nestle, the notice provided no indication that the hearing would address the claimant's recent motion for TTD compensation for her allowed psychological claim. In the case at bar, the notice was sufficient to apprise relator that the hearing would address both relator's physical and psychological claims. Therefore, the commission appropriately addressed whether relator was at MMI on her psychological claim. In turn, the commission appropriately relied upon its earlier MMI finding when it subsequently denied relator's request for TTD compensation for the psychological claim. Accordingly, we overrule relator's objections.

{¶ 6} Following an independent review of this matter, we find that the magistrate has properly determined the facts and applied the appropriate law. Therefore, we adopt the magistrate's decision as our own, including the findings of fact and conclusions of law contained therein. In accordance with the magistrate's decision, we deny relator's request for a writ of mandamus.

Objections overruled; writ of mandamus denied.

Petree and Brown, JJ., concur.

APPENDIX A
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
State of Ohio on relation of : Carolyn Williams, : Relator, : v. : No. 05AP-1293 St. Vincent Charity Hospital and The : (REGULAR CALENDAR) Industrial Commission of Ohio, : Respondents. :

MAGISTRATE'S DECISION
Rendered on June 28, 2006
Shapiro, Marnecheck Reimer, Philip A. Marnecheck andJennifer Wilson, for relator.

Rademaker, Matty, McClelland Greve, Dennis A. Rademaker andMatthew P. Hawes, for respondent St. Vincent Charity Hospital.

Jim Petro, Attorney General, and Sue A. Zollinger, for respondent Industrial Commission of Ohio.

IN MANDAMUS
{¶ 7} Relator, Carolyn Williams, 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 denied relator's application for temporary total disability ("TTD") compensation and ordering the commission to find that she is entitled to that compensation.

Findings of Fact:

{¶ 8} 1. Relator sustained a work-related injury on December 24, 1997, and her claim was originally allowed for "sprain lumbosacral." Respondent St. Vincent Charity Hospital ("employer") further allowed relator's claim for the following additional conditions: "aggravation of pre-existing foraminal encroachment severe right side of L5-S1, moderate towards left side of L4-5 L5-S1 and mild to moderate towards right side of L4-5."

{¶ 9} 2. Relator requested TTD compensation and by order of the district hearing officer ("DHO") dated November 15, 2001, TTD compensation was ordered paid from July 17 through November 15, 2001 and continuing. The DHO order was based upon the reports of Cynthia C. Bamford, M.D.

{¶ 10} 3. In December 2001, relator filed an additional C-84 from Dr. Bamford certifying TTD compensation through an estimated return-to-work date of January 15, 2002. Relator also filed a C-86 motion requesting that her claim be amended to include the condition of depressive disorder NOS.

{¶ 11} 4. An independent psychological evaluation was conducted by Walter Belay, Ph.D. In his January 28, 2002 report, Dr. Belay opined that there was a causal relationship between relator's injury and the development of a depressive disorder NOS. Therefore, the employer recognized the claim for the additional condition of "depressive disorder."

{¶ 12} 5. In March 2002, relator filed another C-86 motion requesting that her claim be additionally allowed for "L5-S1 Disc Herniation." Relator attached the results of a December 7, 2001 MRI which showed some mild disc bulging at L4-5 and L5-S1. Relator also submitted the February 19, 2002 report of her treating physician, Juan Hernandez, M.D., who opined that the herniation was directly related to relator's industrial injury.

{¶ 13} 6. The matter was heard before a DHO on June 5, 2002 and relator's claim was additionally allowed for the condition of L5/S1 disc herniation.

{¶ 14} 7. The employer appealed and the matter was heard before a staff Hearing officer ("SHO") on July 23, 2002 and resulted in an order affirming the prior DHO finding that relator's claim should be additionally allowed for the disc herniation.

{¶ 15} 8. In the meantime, TTD compensation continued to be paid to relator for her allowed physical conditions based upon subsequent C-84s completed by Dr. Hernandez certifying continued TTD.

{¶ 16} 9. Relator was examined by Manhal A. Ghanma, M.D., who conducted an independent medical examination relative to relator's allowed physical conditions. In his August 29, 2003 report, Dr.

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Bluebook (online)
2006 Ohio 5943, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-williams-v-indus-comm-unpublished-decision-11-9-2006-ohioctapp-2006.