LPT, Inc./MSS, Inc. and Erie Insurance Property Casualty Company v. John Voltaggio ( 2007 )

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
Present: Judges Frank, Clements and Senior Judge Fitzpatrick
Argued at Richmond, Virginia
LPT, INC./MSS, INC. AND
ERIE INSURANCE PROPERTY
CASUALTY COMPANY
MEMORANDUM OPINION* BY
v. Record No. 2247-06-4 JUDGE ROBERT P. FRANK
APRIL 17, 2007
JOHN VOLTAGGIO
FROM THE VIRGINIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COMMISSION
Heather K. Bardot (Trichilo, Bancroft, McGavin, Horvath & Judkins,
P.C., on brief), for appellants.
James E. Swiger (Swiger & Cay, on brief), for appellee.
LPT, INC./MSS, INC., and Erie Insurance Property Casualty Company (employer)
appeal the decision of the Workers’ Compensation Commission (commission), finding that John
Voltaggio (claimant) cured his unjustified refusal of selective employment. For the reasons
stated, we affirm the decision of the commission.
BACKGROUND
Claimant sustained a compensable injury by accident on December 10, 2004, injuring his
lower back, hip and right leg. Employer operated a tire and automobile repair business.
Claimant’s primary job responsibility was to drive a shuttle bus for employer’s customers.1
*
Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
1
Claimant’s other job responsibilities sometimes required him to pick up motor vehicle
parts that could weigh up to 60 pounds.
Claimant’s treating physician, Angela M. Santini, M.D., released claimant from her
medical care on February 28, 2005, and opined that he was capable of returning to work in a
“sedentary” capacity and that he was capable of driving but could not lift anything.2
Based on the release of February 28, 2005, Dee Himes, employer’s human resources
director, spoke to claimant by telephone, confirming the availability of a light-duty job with
employer driving the shuttle, but without any lifting duties. The job was to begin March 1, 2005.
Claimant told Himes that, because of his injury, he “wasn’t able to drive.” On March 8, 2005,
Himes sent appellant a letter confirming the availability of the light-duty driving job. In the
letter, Himes further indicated claimant had not presented himself for work on March 1, 2005,
and advised claimant to “report to work as soon as possible” or to contact his supervisor, Marty
Kelliher.
After receiving the March 8 letter from Himes, claimant called Kelliher “on or about
March 8th” and indicated, “I’m going to try to come back to work and see if I can do my job.”
Kelliher responded, “Let me see what my options are.” Kelliher advised claimant he would call
him back the next day. Not hearing from Kelliher the next day, claimant called Kelliher and was
told employer had hired someone else.3 After learning this, claimant sought assistance in finding
a job from the Virginia Employment Commission.4
Because of claimant’s refusal of selective employment, employer ceased the payment of
benefits to claimant. By letter dated March 15, 2005, claimant’s counsel advised employer:
[Claimant] remains ready, willing and able to return to work in the
capacity determined by his treating physician as soon as such work
2
Claimant did not agree with Dr. Santini’s release and sought medical care elsewhere.
3
Himes testified that employer filled this position within “a day or two” of sending the
letter on March 8, 2005.
4
The commission ruled that claimant did not reasonably market his residual work
capacity. Since claimant did not appeal this ruling, we will not address it.
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is made available by your company. If you have chosen not to
accommodate [claimant] in his light duty capacity, I would
appreciate being advised in writing so that he can undertake to
market his residual capacity elsewhere.
* * * * * * *
[Claimant] is currently seeking further clarification from Dr.
Santini regarding the meaning of her February 28, 2005 report
wherein Dr. Santini has indicated certain physical restrictions
imposed on [claimant’s] ability to work.
The deputy commissioner concluded that claimant had “unjustifiably refused an offer of
light duty employment within his capacity,” and that claimant’s counsel’s letter dated March 15,
2005, was not a cure of this refusal. The deputy made no factual finding as to the credibility of
any witnesses.
Upon review, the full commission found claimant cured his unjustified refusal of
selective employment “through a combination of his efforts.”
Shortly after the claimant’s refusal, he wrote the employer to
establish his desire to learn more about the job, and stated his
willingness to accept a suitable position. Additionally, he
contacted Kelliher about the position, as instructed by Himes’
letter. The employer presented no evidence to contradict the
claimant’s discussion with Kelliher about trying to accept the job,
and it is undisputed that the position had been filled at this point.
Accordingly, we find that these efforts cured his previous refusal.
This appeal follows.
ANALYSIS
Cure of Unjustified Refusal of Selective Employment
The issue before this Court is whether claimant cured his refusal of selective
employment, not whether claimant unjustifiably refused such employment.5
5
Code § 65.2-510(A) states:
If an injured employee refuses employment procured for him
suitable to his capacity, he shall only be entitled to the benefits
provided for in §§ 65.2-503 and 65.2-603, excluding vocational
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“[W]hen an employee who previously unjustifiably refused selective employment which
was procured for him, thereafter, in good faith, advises his employer that he is willing to accept
such work or work of like kind, the employer must resume the payments for compensable
injuries even though the procured selective employment may no longer be available.” Thompson
v. Hampton Institute, 3 Va. App. 668, 671, 353 S.E.2d 316, 317 (1987).6
This determination is a finding of fact by the commission and “[t]he commission must
examine the totality of evidence offered on [this] issue[].” Clements v. Riverside Walter Reed
Hosp., 40 Va. App. 214, 222, 578 S.E.2d 814, 817 (2003). On appeal, we must view the
evidence in the light most favorable to the prevailing party below, and “[t]he fact that contrary
evidence may be found in the record is of no consequence if credible evidence supports the
commission’s finding.” Manassas Ice & Fuel Co. v. Farrar, 13 Va. App. 227, 229, 409 S.E.2d
824, 826 (1991).
Here, the commission found claimant cured his earlier refusal of selective employment.
Claimant called his supervisor indicating, “I’m going to try to come back to work and see if I can
do my job.” The supervisor, Kelliher, responded by indicating he would get back with claimant
the next day. Not hearing from Kelliher, claimant again contacted him but was then told the job
was no longer available. Claimant’s counsel wrote to employer advising that claimant was
“ready, willing and able to return to work in the capacity determined by his treating
physician . . . .”
rehabilitation services provided for in subdivision A 3 of
§ 65.2-603, during the continuance of such refusal, unless in the
opinion of the commission such refusal was justified.
6
An employee can cure an unjustified refusal by continuing to work for the employer.
Clements v. Riverside Walter Reed Hosp., 40 Va. App. 214, 226, 578 S.E.2d 814, 819 (2003).
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While finding claimant did not market his residual capacity, the commission found that,
“through a combination of his efforts,” claimant cured his refusal. The commission was entitled
to conclude that while claimant believed he was physically unsuited for this job, he was willing
to accept the job and then determine whether it was within his physical limitations. Thus, the
record supports the commission’s finding.7
Award of Attorney’s Fees and Costs
Claimant requests that we award attorney’s fees and costs to him “as provided by law.”
Code § 65.2-713(A) grants us the authority to assess against employer “the whole cost” of these
proceedings “including a reasonable attorney’s fee” if we find that these “proceedings have been
brought, prosecuted, or defended without reasonable grounds.” See, e.g., Lowes of Short Pump
Va. v. Campbell, 38 Va. App. 55, 62, 561 S.E.2d 757, 760 (2002) (awarding fees against
employer for appealing “without reasonable grounds”). The actual calculation of such costs, if
awarded, should be “fixed by the Commission.” Code § 65.2-713(A).
7
Employer contends the commission erred in not deferring to the deputy’s factual
finding. At oral argument, employer maintained that “implicit” in the findings of the deputy
commissioner was a determination that claimant did not act in “good faith” when contacting
employer to inquire about the available position and that claimant’s statements that he was
willing to accept that position were not “credible.” Employer argues that these implicit findings
by the deputy commissioner were entitled to “great deference” before the full commission.
Employer is correct that, in some situations, the deputy commissioner’s findings as to
witness credibility are entitled to deference. “When the deputy commissioner’s finding of
credibility is based, in whole or in part, upon the claimant’s appearance and demeanor at the
hearing,” the commission must give these findings deference. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. v.
Pierce, 5 Va. App. 374, 383, 363 S.E.2d 433, 438 (1987). However, “if the deputy
commissioner’s determination of credibility is based on the substance of the testimony and not
upon the witness’ demeanor and appearance, such a finding is as determinable by the full
commission as by the deputy.” Id.
Here, neither the opinion of the deputy commissioner nor that of the full commission
assesses the credibility of the witnesses, or makes a determination as to whether claimant acted
in “good faith” in contacting employer about the available position. Indeed, a review of the
record reveals no discrepancy between the relevant factual findings of the deputy commissioner
and the full commission as to whether claimant cured his unjustified refusal of selective
employment. The only difference in the opinions of the deputy commissioner and the full
commission is whether those factual findings were sufficient to meet the legal standard for a
cure. As such, employer complains of an error never made by the commission, and we cannot
address this error on appeal.
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An award of attorney’s fees is not proper where the question presented is one “about
which there may have been a reasonable and an honest difference of opinion at the time the
appeal was taken.” Honaker & Feeney v. Hartley, 140 Va. 1, 15, 124 S.E. 220, 224 (1924). “If
an employer refuses to pay a claim, reasonably believing that it is not compensable, and in the
course of its investigation the grounds for refusal are not so contradicted as to be shown
unfounded, then the subsequent defense is reasonable, even if it is later proven misplaced or in
error.” Volvo White Truck Corp. v. Hedge, 1 Va. App. 195, 201, 336 S.E.2d 903, 907 (1985).
Here, the deputy commissioner agreed with employer’s position as to claimant’s cure of
his unjustified refusal of selective employment. Clearly, then, though the full commission
reversed the deputy’s decision on this point, there exists “a reasonable and an honest difference
of opinion” as to what legally sufficed as a cure. Therefore, claimant is not entitled to attorney’s
fees and costs associated with this appeal.
CONCLUSION
We hold that the commission did not err in determining that claimant’s efforts were
legally sufficient to constitute a cure of his unjustified refusal of selective employment. We find
that, despite this holding, employer did not bring this appeal “without reasonable grounds.”
Accordingly, we affirm the decision of the commission and deny claimant’s request to award
him attorney’s fees and costs.
Affirmed.
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