Rozman v. Century Link ( 2015 )

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1 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO
2 MARK W. ROZMAN,
3 Worker-Appellant,
4 v. NO. 34,233
5 CENTURY LINK and SEDGWICK,
6 Employer/Insurer-Appellee.
7 APPEAL FROM THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION ADMINISTRATION
8 Shanon S. Riley, Workers’ Compensation Judge
9 Mark W. Rozman
10 Colorado Springs, CO
11 Pro Se Appellant
12 Lawrence Hill
13 Albuquerque, NM
14 for Appellee
15 MEMORANDUM OPINION
16 WECHSLER, Judge.
1 {1} Mark W. Rozman (Worker) appeals from the Workers’ Compensation Judge’s
2 (WCJ) order denying him benefits. This Court’s notice of proposed disposition
3 proposed to affirm the WCJ’s order. Worker filed an informal memorandum in
4 opposition to the proposed disposition. We are not persuaded by Worker’s arguments
5 and affirm the WCJ’s order.
6 {2} This Court’s calendar notice proposed to affirm on the basis that there was
7 conflicting expert testimony on the question of causation and that this Court could not
8 substitute its judgment for that of the WCJ regardless of whether the evidence
9 supported inconsistent findings. See Herman v. Miners’ Hosp., 1991-NMSC-021, ¶ 6,
10 111 N.M. 550, 807 P.2d 734. Worker continues to argue that his skin cancer falls
11 squarely under the Occupational Disease Law regarding radiation exposure and that
12 the WCJ erred in: 1) not giving equal or greater weight to the independent medical
13 examination (IME) of the physician who later treated Worker; 2) selectively
14 dismissing expert medical testimony; 3) not ordering another IME; 4) applying an
15 erroneous legal standard to the expert testimony; and 5) denying compensation under
16 the erroneous belief that Worker was required to show the work-related exposures
17 were the predominant cause of the disease. [MIO 1-3] However, Worker cites no case
18 law in support of his contentions, nor does he point to any error in fact or law with the
19 proposed disposition. See Hennessy v. Duryea, 1998-NMCA-036, ¶ 24, 124 N.M. 754,
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1 955 P.2d 683 (“Our courts have repeatedly held that, in summary calendar cases, the
2 burden is on the party opposing the proposed disposition to clearly point out errors in
3 fact or law.”); see also Curry v. Great Nw. Ins. Co., 2014-NMCA-031, ¶ 28, 320 P.3d
4 482 (“Where a party cites no authority to support an argument, we may assume no
5 such authority exists.”).
6 {3} Moreover, the statutes relied upon by Worker do not stand for the propositions
7 for which they are cited. [MIO 1] There is nothing in the Workers’ Compensation Act
8 (WCA) requiring the WCJ to order another IME where there is conflicting testimony;
9 rather, it is discretionary and Worker has not demonstrated an abuse of discretion. See
10 NMSA 1978, § 52-1-51(A) (2013) (“If a workers’ compensation judge believes that
11 an [IME] will assist the judge with the proper determination of any issue in the case,
12 including the cause of the injury, the workers’ compensation judge may order an
13 [IME] upon the judge’s own motion”). Nor is there anything in the WCA compelling
14 the WCJ to provide equal or greater weight to the doctor performing the IME, as
15 asserted by Worker. See NMSA 1978, § 52-3-32 (1989) (discussing the proximate
16 causation standard for determining whether an occupational disease has been
17 established). Although Worker contends that there is no statute permitting the WCJ
18 to dismiss medical expert testimony and selectively choose which testimony is to the
19 WCJ’s liking, there is case law to support the proposition that this Court will not
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1 disturb a WCJ’s resolution of conflicting medical testimony regarding causation. See
2 Bufalino v. Safeway Stores, Inc., 1982-NMCA-127, ¶ 22, 98 N.M. 560, 650 P.2d 8443 (“The rule is established that where conflicting medical testimony is presented as to
4 whether a medical probability of causal connection existed between [the injury] and
5 [the] work being performed, the trial court’s determination will be affirmed.”).
6 {4} Therefore, insofar as Worker wants this Court to re-weigh the experts’ medical
7 testimony, it is not within our province to do so. See Dewitt v. Rent-A-Center, Inc.,
8 2009-NMSC-032, ¶ 22, 146 N.M. 453, 212 P.3d 341 (“[W]eighing evidence and
9 making credibility determinations are uniquely within the province of the trier of
10 fact[;] we will not reweigh the evidence nor substitute our judgment for that of the
11 WCJ, unless substantial evidence does not support the findings.”); see also Levario
12 v. Ysidro Villareal Labor Agency, 1995-NMCA-133, ¶ 21, 120 N.M. 734, 906 P.2d
13 266 (“Generally, when there is conflicting medical testimony concerning causation,
14 the reviewing court will defer to the finder of fact” because “it is the WCJ’s
15 prerogative to determine the weight to be given to the testimony.” (alteration, internal
16 quotation marks, and citation omitted)).
17 {5} For all of the above reasons, and those stated in this Court’s notice of proposed
18 disposition, we affirm the WCJ’s order.
19 {6} IT IS SO ORDERED.
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1 ________________________________
2 JAMES J. WECHSLER, Judge
3 WE CONCUR:
4 ________________________________
5 RODERICK T. KENNEDY, Judge
6 ________________________________
7 M. MONICA ZAMORA, Judge
5