State v. Indus. Comm. of Ohio, Unpublished Decision (12-5-2002)

CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedDecember 5, 2002
DocketNo. 02AP-201 (Regular Calendar)
StatusUnpublished

This text of State v. Indus. Comm. of Ohio, Unpublished Decision (12-5-2002) (State v. Indus. Comm. of Ohio, Unpublished Decision (12-5-2002)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law.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 v. Indus. Comm. of Ohio, Unpublished Decision (12-5-2002), (Ohio Ct. App. 2002).

Opinion

DECISION
{¶ 1} Relator, Gene B. Lockhart, has filed this original action in mandamus requesting this court to issue a writ of mandamus ordering respondent Industrial Commission of Ohio to vacate its order denying his application for permanent total disability compensation, and to enter a new order granting said compensation.

{¶ 2} This court referred the matter to a magistrate, pursuant to Civ.R. 53(C) and Loc.R. 12(M) of the Tenth District Court of Appeals, who issued a decision, including findings of fact and conclusions of law. (Attached as Appendix A.) The magistrate concluded that relator failed to establish that the commission had abused its discretion under R.C. 4123.53 when it ordered relator to submit to another examination following the March 20, 2001 hearing, and that this court should deny the requested writ.

{¶ 3} Relator filed an objection to the decision of the magistrate essentially rearguing issues already adequately addressed therein. For the reasons stated in the decision of the magistrate, the objection is overruled.

{¶ 4} Following independent review, pursuant to Civ.R. 53, we find that the magistrate has properly determined the pertinent facts and applied the salient law to them. Accordingly, we adopt the decision of the magistrate as our own, including the findings of fact and conclusions of law contained in it. In accordance with the decision of the magistrate, the requested writ is denied.

Objection overruled; writ denied.

PETREE and BROWN, JJ., concur.

APPENDIX A IN MANDAMUS

{¶ 5} In this original action, relator, Gene B. Lockhart, requests a writ of mandamus ordering respondent Industrial Commission of Ohio ("commission") to vacate its order denying him permanent total disability ("PTD") compensation, and to enter an order granting said compensation.

Findings of Fact:

{¶ 6} 1. On February 2, 1985, relator sustained an industrial injury while employed as a "deli-manager" for respondent Cardinal Foods, Inc. The industrial claim is allowed for: "torn meniscus left knee; aggravation of pre-existing left knee degenerative joint disease; aggravation of pre-existing depression resulting in major depression," and is assigned claim number 85-55972.

{¶ 7} 2. On October 4, 2000, relator filed an application for PTD compensation. In support, relator submitted a questionnaire completed by Ann Snyder, M.D., on April 17, 2000. On the questionnaire, Dr. Snyder answered in the affirmative to the following question:

{¶ 8} "Is the claimant permanently and totally disabled as a result of this injury when taking into account his age, education and all other factors, such as physical and sociological that are known to you?"

{¶ 9} 3. In further support of his PTD application, relator submitted a questionnaire completed by his treating psychologist, T. Rodney Swearingen, Ph.D., on May 10, 2000. Dr. Swearingen answered in the affirmative to the following question:

{¶ 10} "Is the claimant permanently and totally disabled as a result of this injury when taking into account his age, education and all other factors, such as physical and sociological that are known to you?"

{¶ 11} 4. In a September 26, 2000 letter to relator's counsel, Dr. Swearingen stated:

{¶ 12} "* * * I have been treating him for 296.33 Major Depression. While he has experienced emotional ups and downs, I am supporting that he is now permanently and totally disabled. * * *"

{¶ 13} 5. On December 14, 2000, relator was examined by commission specialist R. Earl Bartley, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Bartley wrote:

{¶ 14} "PAST MEDICAL HISTORY: Significant for diabetes and coronary artery disease and a previous history of pneumonia. He is status post ORIF of left wrist following a fracture. He did have a right ankle fracture but this did not require surgery. He is status post cholecystectomy, vasectomy and heart catherization as well. * * * He uses a wheelchair and walker to ambulate. * * * He does perform very light household chores usually in the form of food preparation. He has significantly decreased standing and walking tolerance and utilizes the wheelchair constantly. He does drive with a limited driving tolerance of an hour or less and does require the assistance of a passenger to go with him. * * *

{¶ 15} "* * *

{¶ 16} "DISCUSSION: Claimant is status post injury to left knee 15 years ago with subsequent partial medial meniscectomy and chondroplasty. He has since developed an aggravation of his pre-existing joint disease. He is definitely a candidate for knee replacement following weight loss.

{¶ 17} "OPINION: * * * I do believe that the claimant has currently reached a level of maximum medical improvement unless he is able to affect significant weight loss.

{¶ 18} "* * * Based on AMA Guidelines, 4th Edition, I place his permanent partial impairment at 1% whole person lower extremity for partial medial meniscectomy and 2% whole person for patellofemoral crepitus. I did not have x-rays available to personally exam cartilage intervals at the knee. I do suspect that the impairment rating may be significantly higher however without the x-rays I cannot provide a higher impairment rating. These combine for a total of 3% for the left knee.

{¶ 19} "* * *

{¶ 20} "* * * I do not feel he can return to his former job as a deli manager due to the significant walking and standing.

{¶ 21} "* * * I do not feel he is capable of any job that would require him to work out of the home, I do feel he is possibly capable of sedentary work from a chair or wheelchair that would allow him to work from his residence. This should be a seated job and a wheelchair would allow him to go from a desk to a bookstand to retrieve items and communicate by phone. Otherwise I do not feel he is able to work out of his home."

{¶ 22} 6. Dr. Bartley also completed an Occupational Activity Assessment. This form asks the examining doctor to indicate by checkmark the claimant's capability in each of several occupational activities throughout the day. Dr. Bartley indicated that relator can sit for "5-8 HRS." However, he can stand only "0-3 HRS," and walk "[n]ot at all." Under the comment section of the form, Dr. Bartley wrote:

{¶ 23} "Pt must work seated in wheel chair, lifting carrying from wheel chair[.] Pt. must work from residence."

{¶ 24} 7. On December 15, 2000, relator was examined by commission specialist and psychiatrist Donald L. Brown, M.D. Dr. Brown wrote:

{¶ 25} "DISCUSSION:

{¶ 26} "* * * His major depression is in at least partial remission and I do not believe his depression alone would prevent him from returning to his former position of employment or other forms of sustained remunerative employment nor do I feel it is entirely a result of his injury allowed under this claim. It is probably more reflective of early traumatic events, possibly some genetic traits, and the effects of the automobile injury.

{¶ 27} "OPINION:

{¶ 28} "In my opinion, Mr. Lockhart has reached MMI with respect to his previously allowed aggravation of pre-existing depression resulting in major depression and can be considered permanent. Utilizing the Fourth Edition of the AMA Guides to the Determination of Permanent Impairment, I would rate him as having a Class III level of impairment with respect to his current overall depression and this corresponds with a moderate level of impairment. As noted, I do not believe it is all the result of the injury to his left knee which at [t]his point in time is not the most severe stressor in his life."

{¶ 29} 8. Dr.

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Related

State Ex Rel. Speelman v. Industrial Commission
598 N.E.2d 192 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1992)
State ex rel. Stephenson v. Industrial Commission
509 N.E.2d 946 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1987)
State ex rel. Hartung v. City of Columbus
560 N.E.2d 196 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1990)
State ex rel. Noll v. Industrial Commission
567 N.E.2d 245 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1991)
State ex rel. Pheils v. Bates
577 N.E.2d 347 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1991)
State ex rel. Pavis v. General Motors Corp.
65 Ohio St. 3d 30 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1992)
State ex rel. Gay v. Mihm
626 N.E.2d 666 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1994)
State ex rel. Clark v. Industrial Commission
678 N.E.2d 1380 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1997)

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Bluebook (online)
State v. Indus. Comm. of Ohio, Unpublished Decision (12-5-2002), Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-indus-comm-of-ohio-unpublished-decision-12-5-2002-ohioctapp-2002.