Davis v. Southlake Transport ( 2015 )

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE
CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals
Everett Davis, Appellant,
v.
Southlake Transport, Inc., and Lumberman's
Underwriting Alliance, Respondents.
Appellate Case No. 2013-001763
Appeal From The Workers' Compensation Commission
Unpublished Opinion No. 2015-UP-026
Heard October 15, 2014 – Filed January 14, 2015
AFFIRMED IN PART AND REMANDED IN PART
John Derrick Clark, of Clark Law Firm, LLC, of Sumter,
for Appellant.
M. Chad Abramson and Weston Adams III, of McAngus
Goudelock & Courie, LLC, both of Columbia, and Helen
Faith Hiser, of McAngus Goudelock & Courie, LLC, of
Mount Pleasant, for Respondents.
PER CURIAM: Appellant Everett Davis seeks review of a decision of the South
Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission, arguing the Commission's
Appellate Panel (Appellate Panel) erred in finding: (1) Davis's knee condition and
need for a knee replacement were not causally related to his work accident; and (2)
Davis reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) for his left knee and back.
We affirm in part and remand in part.
I. Knee Condition, Medical Treatment, and Relation to Work Accident
Davis argues that the only reasonable interpretation of the testimony of Dr.
DaSilva, one of Davis's examining doctors, is that Davis's current left knee
condition is causally related to the accident. Further, Davis asserts that his need
for a knee replacement is likewise related to the accident. Southlake argues Dr.
DaSilva's testimony is unambiguous—the severe arthritic condition of Davis's left
knee was "preexisting" and "unrelated" to the accident. In turn, Southlake
contends Davis's need for an arthritic knee replacement is unrelated to the accident.
We agree with Southlake.
Under our standard of review, "[t]he findings of an administrative agency are
presumed correct and will be set aside only if unsupported by substantial
evidence." Hargrove v. Titan Textile Co., 360 S.C. 276, 290, 599 S.E.2d 604, 611
(Ct. App. 2004) (citations omitted). Moreover, this court "is prohibited from
overturning findings of fact of the Appellate Panel, unless there is no reasonable
probability the facts could be as related by the witness upon whose testimony the
finding was based." Id. (citation omitted).
Here, the Appellate Panel adopted the Single Commissioner's finding of fact that
the evidence "could not be more clear" regarding the lack of a causal connection
between Davis's work accident and his preexisting knee condition. That finding
was based, in part, on the medical testimony of Dr. DaSilva, who clearly stated—
and reiterated—that Davis's left knee condition was preexisting and unrelated to
the accident.
Davis points to isolated excerpts from the testimony of Dr. DaSilva and another
examining doctor, Dr. Drakeford, to support his argument that the accident
precipitated his need for a knee replacement. Additionally, Davis argues that
because the accident "aggravated" the condition in his knee, he is entitled to
treatment pursuant to section 42-9-35 of the South Carolina Code (Supp. 2013).
However, we find the medical evidence in the record does not support Davis's
contentions, and, in any event, "the possibility of drawing two inconsistent
conclusions from the evidence does not prevent an administrative agency's findings
from being supported by substantial evidence." Tiller v. Nat'l Health Care Ctr. of
Sumter, 334 S.C. 333, 338, 513 S.E.2d 843, 845 (1999) (citing Moore v. City of
Easley, 322 S.C. 455, 472 S.E.2d 626 (1996)).
In light of the doctors' testimony in the record, we affirm the Appellate Panel as to
this issue because its finding that Davis's knee condition was unrelated to the
accident is not clearly erroneous in view of the substantial evidence on the whole
record. See S.C. Code Ann. § 1-23-380(5)(d), (e) (Supp. 2013) (setting forth the
standard of review for appeals from administrative agencies); Transp. Ins. Co. v.
S.C. Second Injury Fund, 389 S.C. 422, 427, 699 S.E.2d 687, 689–90 (2010)
(stating appellate courts "can modify the [Appellate Panel's] decision . . . only if
the [claimant's] substantial rights have been prejudiced because the decision is
affected by an error of law or is clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative,
and substantial evidence on the whole record").
II. MMI Finding
Finally, Davis argues the Appellate Panel erred in finding he reached MMI for his
left knee and back because there are not detailed findings of fact in the Appellate
Panel's order. Specifically, Davis argues the Appellate Panel's statement is
conclusory because it simply stated that it "base[d] this finding upon [Davis's]
testimony and medical evidence in the record." We agree with Davis.
"The term 'maximum medical improvement' means a person has reached such a
plateau that, in the physician's opinion, no further medical care or treatment will
lessen the period of impairment." Curiel v. Envtl. Mgmt. Servs. (MS), 376 S.C. 23,
29, 655 S.E.2d 482, 485 (2007) (citations omitted). "Maximum medical
improvement is a factual determination by the [Appellate Panel]," and this
determination "must be upheld on review unless unsupported by substantial
evidence." Id. (citations omitted). Pursuant to section 1-23-350 of the South
Carolina Code (2005), "[f]indings of fact, if set forth in statutory language, shall be
accompanied by a concise and explicit statement of the underlying facts supporting
the findings." "While a finding of fact of the [Appellate Panel] will normally be
upheld, such a finding may not be based upon surmise, conjecture, or speculation,
but must be founded on evidence of sufficient substance to afford a reasonable
basis for it." Edwards v. Pettit Constr. Co., 273 S.C. 576, 579, 257 S.E.2d 754,
755 (1979) (citation omitted).
Here, the Appellate Panel's factual determination of MMI for Davis's left knee is
not "founded on evidence of sufficient substance to afford a reasonable basis for
it." Id. As Davis asserts, a conclusory statement that merely references the general
medical evidence in the record—without citing to any specific doctor's opinion,
testimony, or findings—leaves this court to question whether the finding is based
on "surmise, conjecture, or speculation." Id. Because the Appellate Panel failed to
cite specific facts to support the MMI determination, we remand this issue for
more detailed findings. See Canteen v. McLeod Reg'l Med. Ctr., 400 S.C. 551,
558–59, 735 S.E.2d 246, 250 (Ct. App. 2012) (remanding to the Appellate Panel
because the Appellate Panel's findings were insufficient to enable meaningful
review and to ascertain whether the evidence supported the findings).
AFFIRMED IN PART AND REMANDED IN PART.
WILLIAMS, GEATHERS, and McDONALD, JJ., concur.