Staton v. Interstate Truckway, Unpublished Decision (6-19-2003)

CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 19, 2003
DocketNo. 02AP-1033 (REGULAR CALENDAR)
StatusUnpublished

This text of Staton v. Interstate Truckway, Unpublished Decision (6-19-2003) (Staton v. Interstate Truckway, Unpublished Decision (6-19-2003)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law.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
Staton v. Interstate Truckway, Unpublished Decision (6-19-2003), (Ohio Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

DECISION
{¶ 1} Relator, Clint Staton, commenced this original action requesting this court to issue a writ of mandamus ordering respondent, Industrial Commission of Ohio ("commission"), to vacate its order denying his application for permanent total disability ("PTD") compensation, and ordering the commission to grant said compensation.

{¶ 2} Pursuant to Civ.R. 53(C), and Loc.R. 12(M), of the Tenth District Court of Appeals, this case was referred to a magistrate of this court to conduct appropriate proceedings. The magistrate has rendered a decision, including findings of fact and conclusions of law. (Attached as Appendix A.) In that decision, the magistrate noted that the plain language of R.C. 4123.09 is permissive. It does not require the commission to permit the taking of depositions. Furthermore, where doctors or vocational experts reach different opinions based upon the same objective evidence, the commission does not abuse its discretion by denying a motion to depose. Here, the magistrate determined that Dr. Thomas O. Hoover, relying upon Dr. Jennifer Stoeckel's objective test result, simply reached a different conclusion. Under these circumstances, the commission did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion to depose. The magistrate also determined that relator did not timely raise the issue with respect to the deposition of Dr. LeRoy Shouse.

{¶ 3} Lastly, the magistrate determined that the jobs identified by Dr. Hoover were not outside relator's physical capacities. Therefore, the magistrate concluded that the commission did not abuse its discretion in denying relator's application for PTD compensation.

{¶ 4} Relator filed objections to the magistrate's decision, essentially rearguing those matters addressed in the magistrate's decision. For the reasons set forth in the magistrate's decision, the objections are overruled.

{¶ 5} Following an independent review of this matter, we find that the magistrate has properly determined the pertinent facts and applied the appropriate law to those facts. 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 the requested writ of mandamus.

Objections overruled; Writ of mandamus denied.

BOWMAN and WATSON, JJ., concur.

IN MANDAMUS
{¶ 6} Relator, Clint Staton, 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 his application for permanent total disability compensation ("PTD") compensation, and ordering the commission to find that relator is entitled to the requested compensation.

Findings of Fact:

{¶ 7} 1. Relator sustained a work-related injury on April 18, 1988, and his claim has been allowed for: "Cervical sprain; herniated cervical disc."

{¶ 8} 2. On June 21, 1999, relator filed an application for PTD compensation. At the time, relator was 58 years of age, had completed the tenth grade, was able to read, write, and perform basic math, although not well, had not received his GED, and had a work history including fire watch, cleanup, and mechanical work. Relator's application also indicated that he had been a business owner of a gas station for a number of years.

{¶ 9} 3. In support of his application, relator attached the June 3, 1999 report of his treating physician Dr. Thomas S. Berger. In his report, Dr. Berger noted that, in April 1989, relator underwent an anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion at C5-C6. Post-operatively, there was improvement; however, relator continued to experience pain radiating down his neck and down his right upper extremity. Dr. Berger noted further that relator had undergone extensive rehabilitation and that he had been able to perform some part-time employment. Dr. Berger concluded as follows: "Based on the patient's age, education and our inability to rehabilitate him into any gainful employment, I believe that he is entitled to permanent and total disability benefits."

{¶ 10} 4. Relator was also examined by Dr. LeRoy Shouse, who issued a report dated November 15, 1999. Dr. Shouse concluded that relator had reached maximum medical improvement, assessed a 21 percent whole person impairment, concluded that relator could not perform any of his former positions of employment at this time as he would not be able to do any effective lifting, moving about, or any function as a mechanic to a large truck. With regard to whether relator could perform any sustained remunerative work activity, Dr. Shouse stated as follows:

{¶ 11} "This is of very doubtful because this gentleman has essentially tenth grade education. He does not read or write very well, by his admission, I don't believe that he will function adequately in a heavy labor market for which he is qualified."

{¶ 12} 5. Dr. Shouse completed an occupational activity assessment wherein he indicated that relator could sit, stand, and walk each for eight hours a day; lift or carry up to 20 pounds with his right hand for three hours a day, and lift or carry up to 20 pounds with his left hand for up to eight hours per day; lift or carry 20 to 50 pounds with his left hand for up to three hours per day; push, pull, or otherwise move up to 20 pounds for three hours per day with his right hand and up to 20 pounds for eight hours a day with his left hand and up to 50 pounds for five hours a day with his left hand. Relator was unrestricted in his ability to climb stairs and ladders and use foot controls as well as in reaching at waist and knee level; relator could frequently crouch, stoop, bend, and kneel as well as reach at floor level; relator could occasionally handle objects with his right hand and was unrestricted in his ability to handle objects with his left hand; and relator was precluded from reaching overhead.

{¶ 13} 6. In an addendum, dated December 15, 1999, Dr. Shouse indicated that relator would be able to perform some sustained remunerative employment within the limits outlined in the occupational activity assessment.

{¶ 14} 7. Relator filed a motion to depose Dr. Shouse without indicating any specific disparity between his report and the report of Dr. Berger. This motion was never addressed by the commission.

{¶ 15} 8. Relator submitted the January 31, 2000 report of Jennifer J. Stoeckel, Ph.D. Dr. Stoeckel noted as follows in her report:

{¶ 16} "* * * Mr. Staton has only a limited ninth grade education and demonstrates low average intellectual functioning, significant academic deficits (reading 4th grade; spelling 3rd grade; arithmetic 6th grade) and predominantly below-average vocational aptitudes. In fact, the only strength demonstrated was in Mechanical Reasoning which was suitable for his prior employment, but would not be of great assistance to him assuming these restrictions.

{¶ 17} "Summarily, within reasonable vocational certainty, Mr. Staton would be considered permanently and totally disabled on the basis of his work injuries, residual impairment and limitations, age of fifty-eight years, limited education and below-average academic, intellectual and vocational functioning as noted per formal testing. While many of Mr.

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Bluebook (online)
Staton v. Interstate Truckway, Unpublished Decision (6-19-2003), Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/staton-v-interstate-truckway-unpublished-decision-6-19-2003-ohioctapp-2003.