Phoenix union/az School v. Estrada ( 2020 )


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  •                      NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.
    UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL
    AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.
    IN THE
    ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
    DIVISION ONE
    PHOENIX UNION HIGH SCHOOL
    DISTRICT NO. 210, Petitioner Employer,
    ARIZONA SCHOOL ALLIANCE FOR
    WORKERS COMPENSATION POOL, Petitioner Carrier,
    v.
    THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION OF
    ARIZONA, Respondent,
    MARIA ESTRADA, Respondent Employee.
    No. 1 CA-IC 20-0019
    FILED 12-22-2020
    Special Action - Industrial Commission
    No. 20120-670274
    Carrier Claim No. 2011026044A
    The Honorable C. Andrew Campbell, Administrative Law Judge
    AWARD SET ASIDE
    COUNSEL
    Wright Welker & Pauole PLC, Phoenix
    By Linnette R. Flanigan
    Counsel for Petitioner Employer
    Wright Welker & Pauole PLC, Phoenix
    By Shannon Lindner
    Counsel for Petitioner Insurance Carrier
    Industrial Commission of Arizona, Phoenix
    By Gaetano J. Testini
    Counsel for Respondent
    Snow Carpio & Weekley PLC, Phoenix
    By Dennis R. Kurth
    Counsel for Respondent Employee
    MEMORANDUM DECISION
    Judge Cynthia J. Bailey delivered the decision of the Court, in which
    Presiding Judge Randall M. Howe and Judge Kent E. Cattani joined.
    B A I L E Y, Judge:
    ¶1             Phoenix Union High School District No. 210 (“PUHS”) and
    Insurance Carrier The Arizona School Alliance for Workers Compensation,
    Inc. (collectively, “Defendants”) appeal the Industrial Commission of
    Arizona’s (“ICA”) decision denying their petition for rearrangement of
    disability compensation awarded to a PUHS employee. For the following
    reasons, we set aside the decision.
    FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
    ¶2             In March 2012, Maria Estrada fell and injured her shoulder
    while working as a custodian for PUHS. In February 2013, Estrada’s
    attending orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Evan Lederman, concluded Estrada was
    incapable of returning to her previous job and recommended work
    restrictions (“February 2013 Assessment”).
    ¶3            In April 2013, vocational consultant Erin Welsh provided a
    loss of earning capacity recommendation that stated, “[u]tilizing the work
    restrictions outlined by Dr. Lederman . . . Estrada would be capable of
    performing unskilled, entry-level work, part-time such as Fast Foods
    Worker.” She noted “[t]hese positions are hired on a part-time basis,
    approximately 25 hours per week . . . equat[ing] to a date of injury monthly
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    PHOENIX UNION/AZ SCHOOL v. ESTRADA
    Decision of the Court
    earning ability equal to $828.68,” and concluded Estrada was entitled to
    permanent partial disability benefits of $1,019.54 per month.
    ¶4           About a month later, in May 2013, Dr. Lederman referred
    Estrada to another medical provider for a functional capacity evaluation
    (“FCE”). The FCE concluded Estrada’s functional abilities were a good
    match with an office custodian. Dr. Lederman later testified that the FCE
    found Estrada’s work capacity “a little bit greater” than what he had
    determined in the February 2013 Assessment.
    ¶5            In June 2013, the ICA awarded Estrada $1,019.54 per month
    for loss of earning capacity, finding her “[m]edical limitations would not
    preclude [her] performing the duties of a fast food worker, 25 hours per
    week, or comparable work earning an average monthly sum of $828.69
    based on the date of injury rates, thereby sustaining the stated loss of
    earning capacity” (“2013 Award”). The ICA cited the February 2013
    Assessment and Welsh’s loss of earning capacity recommendation, but not
    the FCE, as the basis for its award.
    ¶6           Shortly after the ICA issued the 2013 Award, Welsh provided
    an addendum to her initial loss of earning capacity recommendation
    (“Addendum”) in which she stated, “Estrada would be capable of
    performing unskilled, entry-level work, as a Fast Foods Worker” or
    “performing the position of Housekeeper for a hotel/motel establishment.”
    She ultimately recommended benefits “ranging from a low of $629.77 per
    month to a high of $746.07 per month.” The 2013 Award did not
    incorporate the Addendum, and none of the parties protested the 2013
    Award.
    ¶7           Several years later, in June 2017, Defendants’ surveillance
    observed Estrada doing exercises that involved her shoulder. Defendants
    had Estrada examined by Dr. Amit Sahasrabudhe, and then filed a petition
    for rearrangement or readjustment of compensation based on a change in
    Estrada’s physical condition in April 2018. See A.R.S. § 23-1044(F)(1). The
    ICA granted the petition and rearranged Estrada’s loss of earning capacity
    award to zero. Estrada timely requested a hearing.
    ¶8            The ICA held an administrative hearing in which Drs.
    Sahasrabudhe and Lederman testified. Experts in loss of earning capacity
    analyses and labor market services also testified. Dr. Sahasrabudhe stated
    Estrada did not need any work limitations, but Dr. Lederman disagreed.
    Dr. Lederman said that although Estrada “had a fair bit of improvement
    over the years,” it would still be unsafe for her to return to her former work
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    PHOENIX UNION/AZ SCHOOL v. ESTRADA
    Decision of the Court
    as a custodian, and permanent restrictions on her right shoulder were still
    in order.
    ¶9            After the hearing, the ICA issued a decision denying the
    petition for rearrangement, concluding there had been no change in
    Estrada’s earning capacity as a result of any change in her physical
    condition or an increase in her earning capacity after the 2013 Award. See
    A.R.S. § 23-1044(F)(1), (3).
    ¶10           Defendants sought review of the decision, and the ICA issued
    a decision upon review correcting and clarifying several factual findings
    but affirming the rearrangement denial. Defendants petitioned for special
    action relief. This court has jurisdiction pursuant to A.R.S. §§ 12-
    120.21(A)(2) and 23-951(A), and Arizona Rule of Procedure for Special
    Actions 10.
    DISCUSSION
    ¶11          Defendants argue the ICA’s denial of their petition for
    rearrangement is contrary to the evidence; unsupported by its own
    findings; based on medical opinion that was contradictory and
    foundationally flawed; and contrary to controlling Arizona law.
    I.     Standard of Review
    ¶12            When reviewing an ICA award, “[o]ur duty . . . is to
    determine whether the [ICA]’s award is supported by reasonable
    evidence.” Simmons v. Indus. Comm’n, 
    248 Ariz. 245
    , 249, ¶ 13 (App. 2020)
    (quoting Borsh v. Indus. Comm’n, 
    127 Ariz. 303
    , 306 (1980)). “We view the
    facts and all inferences to be drawn therefrom in the light most favorable to
    upholding the ICA’s findings and award,” France v. Indus. Comm’n, 
    248 Ariz. 369
    , 371, ¶ 3 n.2 (App. 2020), and we will not reweigh the evidence,
    see Wal-Mart v. Indus. Comm’n, 
    183 Ariz. 145
    , 146–47 (App. 1995).
    II.    Petition for Rearrangement
    ¶13           A carrier may petition for rearrangement or readjustment of
    disability compensation on the basis that there has been: (1) “a change in
    the [employee’s] physical condition . . . resulting in the . . . increase of the
    employee’s earning capacity”; or (2) “the employee’s earning capacity has
    increased.” A.R.S. § 23-1044(F)(1), (3).
    ¶14          To succeed under (F)(1), the carrier “must allege and prove a
    physical change affecting earning capacity.” Pima Cnty. Bd. of Supervisors v.
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    PHOENIX UNION/AZ SCHOOL v. ESTRADA
    Decision of the Court
    Indus. Comm’n, 
    149 Ariz. 38
    , 44 (1986). To succeed under (F)(3), the carrier
    must show an increase in earning capacity; if it shows such an increase, “the
    burden shifts to the claimant to show that the presumption is incorrect and
    that in fact there has been no increase in earning capacity.” 
    Id. at 45
    . Under
    both subsections, “[w]here the first award has become final, the question of
    change is to be measured by comparing the facts determined by the final
    findings and award with those existing at the time of the rearrangement
    petition, even if the earlier findings have been made incorrectly.” Gallegos
    v. Indus. Comm’n, 
    144 Ariz. 1
    , 5–6 (1985).
    A.     Reasonable evidence supports the ICA’s conclusion that there
    had been no change in Estrada’s physical condition affecting
    her earning capacity.
    ¶15          Defendants first argue the ICA erred by finding no change in
    Estrada’s physical condition affecting her earning capacity. They assert the
    ICA erroneously: (1) compared Estrada’s physical condition as determined
    by the FCE rather than as determined by the February 2013 Assessment; (2)
    ignored Gallegos; (3) ignored allegedly uncontroverted evidence that
    Estrada’s condition had improved; and (4) relied on foundationally
    unsound medical testimony. Although we agree that the ICA erred by
    comparing Estrada’s physical condition as determined by the FCE rather
    than the 2013 Assessment, reasonable evidence supports the ICA’s finding
    that no change in Estrada’s physical condition affected her earning capacity.
    ¶16           In Finding 18, the ICA found “the work restrictions as set
    forth in the FCE of May 2013, and later adopted by Dr. Lederman, remain
    appropriate.” However, because the 2013 Award was final, “the question
    of change [was] to be measured by comparing the facts determined by the final
    findings and award with those existing at the time of the rearrangement
    petition, even if the earlier findings have been made incorrectly.” Gallegos,
    
    144 Ariz. at
    5–6 (emphasis added). The 2013 Award was based on the
    February 2013 Assessment and initial loss earnings analysis; it did not
    incorporate the FCE or the Addendum. Accordingly, the court erred by
    using the FCE restrictions for comparison.
    ¶17           Nevertheless, reasonable evidence supports the ICA’s
    determination that there had been no change in Estrada’s physical
    condition affecting her earning capacity. Although Dr. Lederman noted
    some improvement in Estrada’s physical condition over the years, he stated
    that there was no basis for recommending a change in Estrada’s 2013
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    PHOENIX UNION/AZ SCHOOL v. ESTRADA
    Decision of the Court
    restrictions. 1 He also stated that as of his last evaluation of Estrada in
    August 2018, it would still be unsafe for Estrada to return to her former
    work as a custodian, and permanent restrictions on her right shoulder use
    were still in order. Although Dr. Sahasrabudhe testified he did not think
    there was any basis for work restrictions, the court found Dr. Lederman to
    be more credible. We must defer to the ICA’s weighing of the evidence and
    credibility determinations. Carousel Snack Bar v. Indus. Comm’n, 
    156 Ariz. 43
    , 46 (1988).
    ¶18            Defendants assert that the ICA erred by failing to recognize
    foundational flaws in Dr. Lederman’s testimony. However, Defendants
    stipulated to Dr. Lederman’s qualifications, and cannot challenge them
    now on appeal. See Pulliam v. Pulliam, 
    139 Ariz. 343
    , 346 (App. 1984) (“A
    party to an action cannot stipulate to one thing and then later change her
    mind and withdraw her consent.”). Defendants argue Dr. Lederman could
    not have offered an opinion on Estrada’s condition because he did not
    conduct another FCE in 2018, but Dr. Lederman based his assessment of
    Estrada’s condition on an assessment he performed in August 2018, within
    two months of the filing of the rearrangement petition. See Ariz. R. Evid.
    702; Gallegos, 
    144 Ariz. at
    5–6. Accordingly, Defendants’ challenge to Dr.
    Lederman’s testimony fails. Reasonable evidence supports the ICA’s
    finding that there had been no change in Estrada’s physical condition
    resulting in an increase in her earning capacity.
    B.     The ICA erred by finding no increase in Estrada’s earning
    capacity.
    ¶19           Defendants next argue the ICA erred by finding no increase
    in Estrada’s earning capacity. They argue the ICA arbitrarily disregarded
    uncontroverted evidence that Estrada could work forty hours a week. We
    agree.
    ¶20            Although the ICA found that Estrada could work forty hours
    a week, it ultimately concluded that there had been no change in Estrada’s
    earning capacity because “from the effective date of the closure of her claim
    to the present, there ha[d] never been a medical limitation regarding the
    1 It is unclear from the transcript whether Dr. Lederman was referring to
    the restrictions from the 2013 Assessment or the FCE. However, we must
    view the record in the light most favorable to affirming the ICA’s award.
    France, 248 Ariz. at 371, ¶ 3 n.2.
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    PHOENIX UNION/AZ SCHOOL v. ESTRADA
    Decision of the Court
    number of hours that [Estrada] could work in a given week.”             This
    conclusion incorrectly characterizes the 2013 Award.
    ¶21            As established, the point of comparison under subsections
    (F)(1) and (3) is “the facts determined by the final findings and award . . .
    even if th[ose] findings have been made incorrectly.” Gallegos, 
    144 Ariz. at
    5–6. The 2013 Award found “[m]edical limitations would not preclude
    [Estrada] performing the duties of a fast food worker, 25 hours per week,
    or comparable work earning an average monthly sum of $828.69,” and it
    based its $1,019.54 award on a twenty-five-hour work week. The
    uncontroverted evidence at trial established Estrada could work forty hours
    per week, and testimony from the vocational expert established that full-
    time employment as a fast food worker would result in a loss of earning
    capacity of $746.07, as compared to the $1,853.71 loss of earning capacity
    from the 2013 Award. This constitutes “a showing that [Estrada’s] earning
    capacity has increased after [the 2013 Award],” A.R.S. § 23-1044(F)(3),
    therefore the ICA erred by concluding there had been no such change.
    CONCLUSION
    ¶22         Because the ICA erred by finding no increase in Estrada’s
    earning capacity, we set aside the decision denying Defendants’
    rearrangement petition.
    AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court
    FILED: AA
    7