Street v. Kroehler Furn. Manufacturing Co. Inc.

CourtNorth Carolina Industrial Commission
DecidedApril 25, 2002
DocketI.C. NO. 712823
StatusPublished

This text of Street v. Kroehler Furn. Manufacturing Co. Inc. (Street v. Kroehler Furn. Manufacturing Co. Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Carolina Industrial Commission primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Street v. Kroehler Furn. Manufacturing Co. Inc., (N.C. Super. Ct. 2002).

Opinion

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The undersigned have reviewed the prior Opinion and Award based upon the record of the proceedings before Deputy Commissioner Stephenson. The appealing party has not shown good grounds to reconsider the evidence; receive further evidence or rehear the parties or their representatives. Accordingly, the Full Commission modifies and affirms the Opinion and Award.

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The Full Commission finds as fact and concludes as matters of law the following, which were entered into by the parties at the deputy commissioner hearing and following in a Pre-Trial Agreement admitted into evidence as Stipulated Exhibit #1 as:

STIPULATIONS
1. All parties are properly before the North Carolina Industrial Commission and are subject to and bound by the provisions of the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act.

2. An employment relationship existed at all times relevant to this claim.

3. Defendant was self-insured with Key Risk Management Services as the Servicing Agent.

4. The plaintiff's average weekly wage is $635.80.

5. The following Industrial Commission Forms are admitted into evidence as Stipulated Exhibit #2:

a. 18 dated 22 October 1997;

b. 33 dated 15 June 2000;

c. 33R dated 19 July 2000;

d. 33 filed by defendant dated 20 July 2000,

e. 33R filed by plaintiff 27 July 2000;

f. 60 dated 5 November 1998;

g. 61 dated 15 May 2000;

h. Administrative Order filed 8 June 2000 by Former Special Deputy Commissioner Gina Cammarano; and

i. Administrative Order filed 21 July 2000 by Executive Secretary Tracey Weaver.

6. Plaintiff's medical records regarding this claim are admitted into evidence as Stipulated Exhibit #3 and include the following:

a. Hickory Orthopedic Center;

b. Dr. Stephen J. Naso;

c. Dr. Robert Yapundich;

d. Triad Therapy Services;

e. Dr. Anthony J. DeFranzo;

f. Western North Carolina Rehabilitation Center;

g. Berkley Care Center;

h. Dr. Derek Luney, Hickory Cardiology Associates;

i. Concentra Managed Care Services;

j. Dr. Benjamin Goodman — Nerve Conduction Tests;

k. Connie Henline, Key Risk Case Manager;

l. Dr. Karl V. Schroeder, Psychiatrist;

m. Key Risk 5/15/00 Letter of Denial; and

m. Attorney for plaintiff's 9 June 2000 letter to Defendants' Rehab Professional.

The medical notes of Dr. Feldman, received at the Commission on 14 May 2000, are also admitted into evidence as part of Stipulated Exhibit #3.

7. Defendant-employer admits plaintiff contracted a compensable occupational disease, right carpal tunnel syndrome, on or about 10 April 1997.

8. The undersigned takes Judicial Notice of the Settlement and Order, approved 23 July 1993 by then Deputy Commissioner now Commissioner Dianne Sellers.

9. The issues to be determined by the Full Commission involve to what further benefits plaintiff is entitled regarding vocational rehabilitation and depression.

10. The depositions of Dr. Robert Yapundich and Dr. Karl Schroeder are a part of the evidentiary record in this case.

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The Full Commission adopts the findings of fact found by the Deputy Commissioner as follows:

FINDINGS OF FACT
1. On or about 10 April 1997, plaintiff was a fifty-nine (59) year old female employed by defendant as a flat sewer in upholstery. The flat sewer position includes sewing everything but the cushion. Defendant is engaged in the furniture manufacturing business. Plaintiff has been employed with defendant approximately twenty-four (24) years.

2. Plaintiff used both hands to complete her sewing duties. Plaintiff sewed approximately thirty to forty sofas per day.

3. On or about October 1991, plaintiff developed left carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve compression at the left elbow and trigger finger involving the thumb and small finger of the left hand for which she filed I.C. No. 262903.

4. On 26 October 1992, Dr. Stephen Naso of Charlotte performed the following surgical procedures on plaintiff: left cubital tunnel release, left carpal tunnel release, and trigger finger release of the left thumb.

5. Dr. Naso performed additional surgery on plaintiff on 12 March 1993 which consisted of re-section of a thickened tendon and release of the flexor tendon of the left thumb. Dr. Naso assigned a ten percent (10%) permanent partial disability rating to plaintiff's left hand and cautioned plaintiff not to return to her previous occupation as an upholstery sewer.

6. On 1 July 1993, plaintiff and defendant entered in a Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release, pursuant to which plaintiff received a lump sum payment of $12,000.00 and payment of all medical expenses related to plaintiff's left hand incurred by that date. This Compromise Settlement Agreement and Release provides, in part, as follows:

"(3) The said Anna Street does hereby specifically covenant and agree to accept the aforesaid payment in full, final and complete settlement and satisfaction of any and all claims, demands, suits, actions or rights of action, which she has had, now has or may hereafter have, or claim to have, as a result of or by virtue of any matter or thing whatsoever occurring prior to the date of the agreement, and said Anna Street does by these presence, for herself, her heirs, next of kin, and personal representatives, remise, release and forever discharge the said Kroehler Furniture Manufacturing Company, Inc., of, and from any, every and all, and all manner of, action or actions, causes and causes of action, suits, debts, dues, demands, sums of money, damages, judgments and claims whatsoever which the said Anna Street ever had or now has, or which her heirs, next of kin, personal representatives, or any other person can, shall or may have against the said Kroehler Furniture Manufacturing Company, Inc., for or by reason of, or growing out of, the terms and provisions of the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act, arising or resulting from said alleged injury by accident or occupational disease and alleged disability incurred thereby, and the said Anna Street does further hereby expressly agree that any and all rights which she may have as a result of Section 97-47, as amended of the General Statutes of North Carolina (which section provides for the right to re-open a claim for further compensation or medical benefits in the future) are hereby expressly and specifically forever released and discharged of and from any and all further liability to said Anna Street by reason of any further or additional disability, medical expenses or other benefits arising out of or resulting from said alleged injury by accident or occupational disease which occurred on or manifested itself on or about 26 October 1991."

The parties' duly executed Compromise Settlement Agreement of 1 July 1993 was approved by the Industrial Commission by Order filed 23 July 1993.

7. Plaintiff returned to work for defendant in approximately June 1993 performing her regular duties as an upholstery sewer with no restrictions.

8. On 30 December 1996, plaintiff began treatment with Dr. Robert Yapundich, a neurologist in Hickory, for memory loss. Plaintiff had a family history of Alzheimer's disease, and she was concerned she may be developing it.

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Related

§ 97-25
North Carolina § 97-25
§ 97-29
North Carolina § 97-29
§ 97-53
North Carolina § 97-53(13)

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Bluebook (online)
Street v. Kroehler Furn. Manufacturing Co. Inc., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/street-v-kroehler-furn-manufacturing-co-inc-ncworkcompcom-2002.