Mitchell Loewen Versus The New Orleans Louisiana Saints LLC and Berkley Specialty Underwriting Managers, LLC ( 2023 )

MITCHELL LOEWEN NO. 22-CA-507
C/W
VERSUS 22-CA-508
THE NEW ORLEANS LOUISIANA SAINTS FIFTH CIRCUIT
LLC AND BERKLEY SPECIALTY
UNDERWRITING MANAGERS, LLC COURT OF APPEAL
STATE OF LOUISIANA
ON APPEAL FROM THE OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION,
DISTRICT 7, STATE OF LOUISIANA
NO. 20-6014 c/w 20-6020,
HONORABLE SHANNON BRUNO BISHOP, JUDGE PRESIDING
June 07, 2023
CORNELIUS E. REGAN
JUDGE
Panel composed of Judges Fredericka Homberg Wicker,
Marc E. Johnson, and Cornelius E. Regan, Pro Tempore
AFFIRMED IN PART, AMENDED IN PART;
REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS
CER
FHW
MEJ
COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT,
MITCHELL LOEWEN
Frank A. Bruno
Shannon C. Lindsey
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLEE,
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AND BERKLEY SPECIALTY
Christopher J. Kane
Jennifer C. Bergeron
REGAN, J.
Claimant, Mitchell Loewen, seeks review of the workers’ compensation
court’s July 28, 2022 judgment in favor of defendants, the New Orleans Louisiana
Saints, L.L.C. (“the Saints”) and Berkley Specialty Underwriting Managers, L.L.C.
(“Berkley”), dismissing his case against them with prejudice. Mr. Loewen
contends that the workers’ compensation court erred by failing to award him
supplemental earnings benefits, or alternatively permanent partial disability
benefits, medical expenses, penalties and attorney fees. For the following reasons,
we affirm the judgment in part, amend in part, and remand with instructions.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
In May of 2016, Mitchell Loewen was an undrafted free agent, who entered
into a contract with the Saints to play football in the National Football League
(“NFL”). He worked in the NFL for approximately four years.
Prior to signing with the Saints, Mr. Loewen played football at the
University of Arkansas, where he also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in
business administration. During his time playing football in college, he suffered
injuries, including two anterior cruciate ligament (“ACL”) tears in his left knee,
one in 2011 and one in 2014, resulting in two ACL revision surgeries. Near the
end of the 2015 football season, he broke his right foot which resulted in surgery.
After signing with the Saints in 2016, it was determined that Mr. Loewen’s
foot had not properly healed and that he needed to have surgery again. Although
he was paid by the Saints, Mr. Loewen did not play during the 2016 season due to
his foot injury.
Mr. Loewen made the team in 2017, but on September 17, 2017, he injured
his left ankle during a regular season football game in New Orleans. Dr. Larry
Bankston, the Saints’ team physician, diagnosed him with a “left high ankle sprain
with deltoid and syndesmotic instability.” Mr. Loewen was placed on injured
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reserve and had surgery. On March 12, 2018, Dr. Bankston cleared Mr. Loewen to
return to playing football. According to Mr. Loewen, although he made the team
for the 2018 season, he was “one of those guys that was ready to go but just never
used.” Near the end of the 2018 football season, Mr. Loewen was released by the
Saints, but soon thereafter signed a contract with the Detroit Lions (“the Lions”).
According to Mr. Loewen, he was with the Lions for the last game in 2018 and
remained with them during the off-season and the 2019 pre-season. However, he
was released by the Lions in August 2019 at the end of the preseason.
On September 11, 2019, Mr. Loewen signed a practice player contract with
the Saints providing that he would earn $136,000 as a practice squad player for the
2019 season. During practice on December 6, 2019, Mr. Loewen injured his left
knee but continued to practice. Dr. Bankston evaluated Mr. Loewen’s knee on
December 8, 2019, and found that the exam was normal, except for some mild
swelling in his joint. He indicated that Mr. Loewen warmed up for practice that
day without any issues and was given a prescription for anti-inflammatory
medication.
On December 26, 2019, Mr. Loewen re-injured his left ankle at practice. He
received treatment from the Saints’ training staff, and Dr. Stephen Choate
diagnosed him with “left ankle medial deltoid sprain.” On January 6, 2020, Mr.
Loewen reported to Dr. Bankston that his ankle was not bothering him, but he was
having problems with his knee getting “stuck” and needing to manipulate it to get
it “unlocked.” Dr. Bankston recommended arthroscopic surgery on his left knee or
debridement, which he described as “cleaning up anything that is loose that could
be causing some aggravation to the joint or potentially mechanical symptoms.”
Dr. Bankston performed arthroscopic surgery on Mr. Loewen’s left knee on
January 10, 2020. On February 12, 2020, Dr. Bankston noted that Mr. Loewen
was doing great and felt like his pain was resolved, so he was cleared to return to
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normal training. According to Mr. Loewen, he continued to have knee problems
but did not report them to the Saints because he was “a practice squad player trying
to make the team.”
On May 17, 2020, Mr. Loewen was released by the Saints. The Notice of
Termination sent to Mr. Loewen indicates, “[i]n the judgment of the Club, your
skill or performance has been unsatisfactory as compared with that of other players
competing for positions on the Club’s roster.” Khai Harley, the Saints’ Vice-
President of Football Administration, testified that at the time he signed the Notice
of Termination, he was not aware of any injuries that prohibited Mr. Loewen from
playing football.
On May 26, 2020, Mr. Loewen was examined by Dr. Ramon Ylanan, an
orthopedic surgeon trained in sports medicine. Mr. Ylanan’s records reflect that
Mr. Loewen reported he had a lingering issue with his left knee but no major
complaints with his knee, and he denied having mechanical symptoms or
instability. The next day, May 27, 2020, Mr. Loewen appeared for an exit physical
with the Saints via telehealth due to Covid-19 protocols. He indicated that he had
clicking and discomfort in his knee, noting it was more evident after being cut by
the team. Mr. Loewen declined to complete the physical because it was virtual.
In June of 2020, Mr. Loewen began collecting unemployment benefits and
continued training, hoping to be signed by another NFL team. On August 11,
2020, Mr. Loewen saw Dr. Ylanan and reported that his knee was bothering him
daily, causing pain and swelling that affected his daily activities. He also reported
increased pain and discomfort in his left ankle. After examining Mr. Loewen and
noting his prior injuries and surgeries, Dr. Ylanan opined that Mr. Loewen could
no longer play football at the NFL level.
In August of 2020, Mr. Loewen returned to his home state of Hawaii.
According to Mr. Loewen, he went back to Hawaii because he felt a “calling from
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the Lord to get into farming.” He began volunteering at a farm with a former
teacher and then purchased 43 acres of property, with assistance from the United
States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”), in order to begin his own farming
operations. Mr. Loewen contends that he earns approximately $350.00 per week
from his farming business.
According to Mr. Loewen, after he returned to Hawaii, he sought a coaching
position at his high school but was informed there was only an unpaid position
available. He also helped his brother at his welding business for about a month,
but he contends he could not continue this work due to his left knee and ankle
issues.
A functional capacity evaluation was performed on August 11, 2021 by an
occupational therapist, Casey Garretson. Mr. Garretson found that Mr. Loewen
was very functional overall and capable of performing heavy capacity work,
though he noted that Mr. Loewen had “mild deficits with crouching and stair
climbing” as a result of his left knee and ankle injuries. According to Mr.
Garretson, Mr. Loewen has an 11% impairment rating of his lower left extremity
and 4% whole body impairment.
On October 12, 2020, Mr. Loewen filed a Disputed Claim for Compensation
against the Saints and its workers’ compensation insurer, Berkley, seeking
disability status, medical treatment, and penalties and attorney fees based on the
left ankle injury he sustained on September 17, 2017 while playing in a game for
the Saints. Also on October 12, 2020, Mr. Loewen filed a second Disputed Claim
for Compensation against the Saints and Berkley seeking wage benefits, disability
status, medical treatment, and penalties and attorney fees based on the left knee
injury he sustained during practice with the Saints on December 6, 2019.
On January 7, 2021, the workers’ compensation court signed an Order
consolidating the Disputed Claims for Compensation arising from both his left
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ankle injury and his left knee injury. In June 2021, Mr. Loewen filed an Amended
Disputed Claim for Compensation to add the allegation that he re-injured his left
ankle during the course and scope of his employment with the Saints on December
26, 2019.
This matter came before the workers’ compensation court for trial on
January 10, 2022. At trial, the parties stipulated that:
1) Mr. Loewen injured his left ankle in the course and scope of his
employment with the Saints during a game at the New Orleans
Superdome on September 17, 2017;
2) Mr. Loewen injured his left knee in the course and scope of his
employment with the Saints at practice during the regular season
on December 6, 2019;
3) Mr. Loewen reinjured his left ankle in the course and scope of his
employment with the Saints at practice during the regular season
on December 26, 2019;
4) Susan Whitley, the Saints’ claims adjuster with Berkley, received
and approved a choice of physician form on August 5, 2020,
designating Mr. Loewen’s choice as Dr. Ramon Ylanan;
5) Ms. Whitley received a health insurance claim form from Dr.
Ylanan related to the August 11, 2020 evaluation and treatment of
Mr. Loewen, and she approved and paid the claim on August 25,
2020.
Mr. Loewen testified at trial and several exhibits were admitted, including
the depositions of Dr. Bankston and Mr. Loewen’s agent, medical and training
records, contracts, and more. At the end of trial, the workers’ compensation court
allowed defendants additional time to have an expert review the functional
capacity evaluation and to depose Mr. Garretson. The court also allowed the
parties time to file post-trial memoranda. On February 25, 2022, counsel for each
party appeared in court, and defendants introduced Mr. Garretson’s deposition
which was admitted into evidence.
On July 28, 2022, the workers’ compensation court rendered a judgment
finding that while in the course and scope of his employment with the Saints, Mr.
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Loewen injured his left ankle during a game on September 17, 2017, injured his
left ankle1 during practice on December 6, 2019, and reinjured his left ankle during
practice on December 26, 2019. The judgment ordered that Mr. Loewen is entitled
to ongoing reasonable and necessary medical treatment for these injuries. The
judgment further provided that Mr. Loewen failed to meet his burden to show that
he is disabled from work as a result of injuries sustained while working in the
course and scope of his employment with the Saints, and dismissed his case with
prejudice. Mr. Loewen appeals.
LAW AND DISCUSSION
On appeal, Mr. Loewen sets forth six assignments of error.
In his first assignment of error, Mr. Loewen argues that the workers’
compensation judge erred by finding that he injured his left ankle, and not his left
knee, while in the course and scope of his employment with the Saints on
December 6, 2019. Mr. Loewen indicates that he believes this error is likely the
result of an inadvertent typographical error or clerical error. We agree.
The July 28, 2022 judgment provides that “[c]laimant injured his left ankle
while in the course and scope of his employment with the New Orleans Saints at
practice during the regular season on December 6, 2019.” However, the parties
stipulated and the testimony and evidence show that Mr. Loewen injured his left
knee on this date. There is no evidence that Mr. Loewen injured his left ankle on
December 6, 2019.
We agree with Mr. Loewen that the judgment incorrectly indicates he
injured his left ankle on December 6, 2019. Accordingly, finding merit in this
assignment of error, we amend the workers’ compensation court’s judgment to
reflect that Mr. Loewen injured his left knee, and not his left ankle, while in the
course and scope of his employment with the Saints on December 6, 2019.
1
See the discussion in assignment of error number one, infra.
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In his second assignment of error, Mr. Loewen asserts that the workers’
compensation court erred by denying his claim for supplemental earnings benefits
(“SEBs”). He contends that the evidence shows he was restricted from playing
football due to the injuries he sustained while working for the Saints. Mr. Loewen
further asserts that he was unable to find work earning at least 90% of his pre-
injury wage, so he decided that self-employment as a farmer would provide him
with the best opportunity to accommodate his physical limitations while also
providing a financially promising and stable income. Mr. Loewen contends that he
met his initial burden of proving that he cannot earn 90% of his pre-injury wage,
but the Saints did not meet their burden of proving that he is underemployed or that
there are available jobs he is capable of performing for which he could earn at least
90% of his pre-injury income.
The Saints and Berkley respond that the workers’ compensation court
correctly denied Mr. Loewen’s claim for SEBs, because the evidence shows he did
not seek any gainful employment after being released by the Saints. Thus, he did
not meet his initial burden of proving that his left knee injury and/or left ankle
injury resulted in his inability to earn at least 90% of his pre-injury wage, and the
burden did not shift to defendants to prove he could perform a particular job
earning at least 90% of his pre-injury wages.
The purpose of supplemental earnings benefits is to compensate an injured
employee for the wage-earning capacity he lost as the result of an accident. Banks
v. Industrial Roofing & Sheet Metal Works, Inc., 96-2840 (La. 7/1/97), 696 So.2d
551, 556. La. R.S. 23:1221(3)(a)(i) provides that an employee is entitled to receive
SEBs if he suffers a work-related injury that results in his inability to earn 90% or
more of his average pre-injury wage. Id.Initially, the employee bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of
the evidence that the injury caused his inability to earn 90% or more of his average
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pre-injury wage. La. R.S. 23:1221(3)(a)(i); Poissenot v. St. Bernard Parish
Sheriff’s Office, 09-2793 (La. 1/19/11), 56 So.3d 170, 174. It is only when the
employee satisfies this initial burden that the burden shifts to the employer to
prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the employee is physically able to
perform a certain job and that the job was offered to the employee, or that the job
was available to the employee in his or the employer’s community or geographical
region. Id. In determining whether an injured employee has made out a prima
facie case of entitlement to SEBs, the workers’ compensation court should take
into account all of the factors that may bear on an employee’s ability to earn a
wage. Poissenot, 56 So.3d at 174, citing Daigle v. Sherwin-Williams Co., 545
So.2d 1005, 1009 (La. 1989).
The determination by the workers' compensation judge as to whether the
claimant has discharged his burden of proof is a factual determination that will not
be disturbed upon review in the absence of manifest error or unless clearly wrong.
Bruno v. Harbert International, Inc., 593 So.2d 357, 361 (La. 1992); Banks, 696
So.2d at 556. The manifest error/clearly wrong standard of appellate review
applies in workers' compensation cases even when the court's decision is based
upon written reports, records or depositions. Bruno, 593 So.2d at 361.
In the present case, the workers’ compensation court found that Mr. Loewen
did not meet his burden of proving that he cannot earn 90% of his pre-injury
income. This finding is supported by the record and not manifestly erroneous.
At the time Mr. Loewen was released by the Saints in May of 2020, he had
not been restricted from playing football. After he left the Saints, he continued to
train and was interested in playing for another team.
Even if Mr. Loewen could no longer play football due to the left knee and
left ankle injuries he sustained while working for the Saints, he did not show that
he was unable to obtain employment earning at least 90% of his pre-injury wages.
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Mr. Loewen testified that he worked for his brother’s welding business as a laborer
for approximately one month in January of 2021, earning $2,500.00, but was not
able to continue due to his injuries. However, in November 2020, prior to the time
he worked for his brother’s welding business, he had begun the process of
purchasing land for his farm. He also described the job at the welding company as
“helping his brother,” which could suggest that he was not seeking permanent or
prolonged employment in this job. He also notes that he tried to obtain a coaching
job from his high school, but a paid position was not available.
In order to receive SEBs, La. R.S. 23:1221(3)(a) requires that a claimant
prove by a preponderance of the evidence that he is unable to earn 90% or more of
the wages he was earning at the time of the injury, whether or not it is in the same
or similar job in which the claimant was previously employed. Poissenot, 56
So.3d at 175. This statute focuses on the amount of wages earned before and after
the accident, not the type of occupation or work performed. Id.At trial, Mr. Loewen testified that he felt a calling from God to pursue
farming. He also stated that he fell in love with farming, because it is hard work
and he loves hard work. He obtained a loan from the USDA to purchase land for
his farm, and he has to pay the loan back over 35 years. Mr. Loewen testified that
other than asking his high school for a coaching job and working for his brother’s
welding business for a month, he did not apply for any non-football jobs in the
heavy capacity or any other classification.
Mr. Loewen contends that it is the employer’s duty to prove with competent
evidence that he is underemployed and that he is capable of obtaining a job making
90% of his pre-injury wages. However, the employee must first make a showing
by a preponderance of the evidence that he is unable to earn at least 90% of his
prior wages before the burden shifts to the employer.
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In Moya v. Lucas, 20-329 (La. App. 5 Cir. 3/24/21), 316 So.3d 572, which
was cited by the workers’ compensation judge, this Court found that the claimant
was not entitled to SEBs where the evidence did not show that he sought
employment in another field or that he could not obtain suitable employment
earning at least 90% of his pre-injury wages. This Court found that because the
claimant failed to meet his initial burden of proving that his accident caused an
inability to earn 90% or more of his pre-injury wages, the burden never shifted to
the employer to show that claimant could perform a certain job that was offered or
reasonably available to him. Id. at 579.
See also Wilson v. Metropolitan Development Center, 12-487 (La. App.
5Cir. 3/13/13), 113 So.3d 261, and Forbes v. Metropolitan Development Center,
09-901 (La. App. 5 Cir. 3/9/10), 35 So.3d 377.
In the present case, even if Mr. Loewen’s work injuries prevented him from
continuing to play football, the evidence did not show that he could not work in
another field of employment earning 90% of his prior wages. Mr. Loewen has a
college degree in business administration, and his functional capacity evaluation
indicates he can work at jobs in the heavy classification. However, Mr. Loewen
has chosen self-employment as a farmer making substantially less than his pre-
injury wages.
Because Mr. Loewen did not show that the injuries he sustained while
working for the Saints caused an inability to earn 90% of his prior wages, the
burden of proof did not shift to the Saints to show he could perform any jobs that
were reasonably available to him earning 90% of his pre-injury wages. We find no
manifest error in the trial court’s determination that Mr. Loewen failed to meet his
burden of proving entitlement to SEBs. Accordingly, we affirm the denial of this
claim.
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In his third assignment of error, Mr. Loewen contends that the workers’
compensation judge erred by failing to address his alternative request for
permanent partial disability (“PPD”) benefits in her judgment. He contends that he
proved at trial that he has 11% permanent impairment in his left leg and 4% overall
body impairment. Therefore, he argues that he is entitled to an award of PPD
benefits in the amount of $13,244, pursuant to La. R.S. 23:1221(4)(h).
The Saints and Berkley respond that the workers’ compensation court
addressed this claim and found that Mr. Loewen did not meet his burden of
proving he was disabled. They further argue that pursuant to La. R.S.
23:1221(4)(Q), Mr. Loewen was required to establish his disability or impairment
rating under the American Medical Association’s guidelines for evaluating
permanent impairment, and he failed to do so with expert medical testimony, as
Mr. Garretson is not a medical doctor.
Although the judgment provides that Mr. Loewen “failed to meet his burden
to show that he is disabled from work,” the reasons for judgment suggest that the
trial court considered whether Mr. Loewen was entitled to temporary total
disability (“TTD”) benefits, not PPD benefits. Mr. Loewen did not make a claim
for TTD benefits. We acknowledge that appeals are taken from the judgment
itself, not the written reasons for judgment. La. C.C.P. art. 1918; Aderholt v.
Metro Sec., Inc., 14-880 (La. App. 5 Cir. 3/25/15), 169 So.3d 635, 640. Reasons
for judgment set forth the basis for the court’s holding, though they are not
binding. Id. Considering the language of the judgment and the reasons for
judgment indicating the workers’ compensation court considered TTD benefits,
which was not an issue at trial, we agree that the court failed to address the issue of
PPD benefits.
The claimant has the burden of proving the nature and extent of a disability.
La. R.S. 23:1221; Sensat v. Washington Group Inter., Inc., 12-654 (La. App. 3 Cir.
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12/12/12), 106 So.3d 683, 692. The determination of disability is a factual finding
made by the trial court and will not be disturbed absent a finding of manifest error.
Fabacher v. Stine, Inc., 13-471 (La. App. 3 Cir. 10/9/13), 124 So.3d 553, 561.
Accordingly, we remand this matter and order the workers’ compensation
court to rule on Mr. Loewen’s claim for PPD benefits, which includes a
determination of whether Mr. Loewen established his disability or impairment
rating under the American Medical Association’s guidelines for evaluating
permanent impairment, pursuant to La. R.S. 23:1221(4)(Q).
In his fourth assignment of error, Mr. Loewen argues that the trial court
erred by failing to determine the correct calculation of his average weekly wage
(“AWW”), which was a contested issue. The Saints and Berkley respond that the
workers’ compensation court did not need to reach the issue of determining the
AWW, because Mr. Loewen failed to meet his burden of proof under any AWW
calculation.
In order to prove entitlement to SEBs, a claimant must show that he is
unable to earn 90% of his pre-injury wage. Accordingly, one would typically need
to know the claimant’s AWW in order to determine if he was able to earn 90% of
it. However, in the present case, Mr. Loewen contends that his AWW was
$4,232.92 per week based on his 2019 annual earnings, whereas the Saints and
Berkley contend that his AWW was $2,677.08 based on the NFL practice player
contract under which he earned $139,208.00 for the 2019 season. Under either
calculation of Mr. Loewen’s AWW, he has failed to show that he cannot earn 90%
due to his work-related injuries. Accordingly, even if the workers’ compensation
judge erred by failing to determine the AWW, Mr. Loewen failed to show he could
not earn 90% of either AWW.
In his fifth assignment of error, Mr. Loewen argues that the workers’
compensation court erred by failing to rule on his request for payment of a medical
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bill for an MRI of his left knee that was performed on June 11, 2020. He contends
that his personal insurance paid $169.50 towards the MRI, which left a balance of
$510.90. He asserts that the MRI was pre-authorized and the bill should have been
paid by defendants. The Saints and Berkley respond that Mr. Loewen did not offer
any evidence at trial to show that there were any medical bills they failed to pay.
At the beginning of trial, the parties offered several exhibits that were
admitted without objection. Claimant’s exhibit CX-10 is a bill for the June 11,
2020 MRI, which Mr. Loewen now contends was unpaid. However, at trial, Mr.
Loewen testified he was unaware of any medical treatment that was denied by the
Saints. Further, Susan Whitley, the claims adjuster for the Saints and Berkley,
provided that she paid all of the medical bills she received.
Mr. Loewen complains that the court did not address the issue of this
medical bill. However, the judgment orders that Mr. Loewen is entitled to
reasonable and necessary medical treatment for injuries sustained as a result of the
work accidents. Although Mr. Loewen did not show that this bill remains unpaid,
the Saints and Berkley are required to pay for reasonable and necessary medical
treatment, as ordered in the judgment.
In his sixth assignment of error, Mr. Loewen contends that the workers’
compensation court erred by denying his request for an award of penalties and
attorney fees due to defendants’ failure to pay indemnity benefits and outstanding
medical benefits and failure to timely pay expenses associated with the functional
capacity evaluation. He argues that the Saints and Berkley relied only on Dr.
Bankston’s report that he was cleared to play football and ignored Dr. Ylanan’s
report that he had a continuing disability due to his work-related injuries and that
he could not play football. He claims that the Saints and Berkley were arbitrary
and capricious in failing to investigate his claim and pay any benefits, other than
medical expenses.
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In his disputed claims for compensation, Mr. Loewen sought penalties and
attorney fees pursuant to La. R.S. 23:1201(F). The purpose of imposition of
penalties and attorney's fees is to discourage indifference and undesirable conduct
by employers and insurers. Redler v. Giorlando's Rest. Corp., 07-658 (La. App. 5
Cir. 2/6/08), 979 So. 2d 512, 516, writ denied, 08-0863 (La. 6/6/08), 983 So. 2d
925. Awards of penalties and attorney's fees in workers' compensation cases are
essentially penal in nature. Id. The crucial inquiry in determining whether to
impose penalties and attorney's fees on an employer is whether the employer had
an articulable and objective reason to deny benefits at the time it took action.
Redler, 979 So.2d at 516.
The determination of whether an employer or insurer should be cast with
penalties and attorney's fees in a workers' compensation action is a factual
question, which will not be disturbed on appeal in the absence of manifest error.
Barbarin v. TLC Home Health, 02-1054 (La. App. 5 Cir. 4/29/03), 845 So. 2d
1199, 1206. Considering the entire record, along with our decision to uphold the
workers’ compensation court’s denial of Mr. Loewen’s claims for SEBs, we find
no manifest error in the denial of his claim for penalties and attorney fees.
DECREE
For the reasons stated above, we amend the workers’ compensation court’s
July 28, 2022 judgment to reflect that Mr. Loewen injured his left knee, not his left
ankle, on December 6, 2019, while in the course and scope of his employment with
the Saints. We also remand and order the workers’ compensation court to rule on
Mr. Loewen’s claim for PPD benefits. In all other respects, we affirm.
AFFIRMED IN PART, AMENDED IN PART;
REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS
22-CA-507 C/W 22-CA-508 14
SUSAN M. CHEHARDY CURTIS B. PURSELL
CHIEF JUDGE CLERK OF COURT
SUSAN S. BUCHHOLZ
FREDERICKA H. WICKER
CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK
JUDE G. GRAVOIS
MARC E. JOHNSON
ROBERT A. CHAISSON LINDA M. WISEMAN
STEPHEN J. WINDHORST
FIRST DEPUTY CLERK
JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR.
CORNELIUS E. REGAN, PRO TEM FIFTH CIRCUIT
MELISSA C. LEDET
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JUNE 7, 2023 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, CLERK OF COURT, COUNSEL OF RECORD AND ALL PARTIES NOT
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22-CA-507
C/W 22-CA-508
E-NOTIFIED
OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION, DISTRICT 7 (CLERK)
HON. SHANNON BRUNO BISHOP (DISTRICT JUDGE)
SHANNON C. LINDSEY (APPELLANT) CHRISTOPHER J. KANE (APPELLEE) JENNIFER C. BERGERON (APPELLEE)
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