Cassandra Jackson v. Ford Motor Company

RENDERED: FEBRUARY 25, 2022; 10:00 A.M.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Court of Appeals
NO. 2021-CA-1032-WC
CASSANDRA JACKSON APPELLANT
PETITION FOR REVIEW OF A DECISION
v. OF THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BOARD
ACTION NO. WC-19-67594
FORD MOTOR COMPANY;
HONORABLE TONYA CLEMONS,
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE;
AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
BOARD APPELLEES
AND NO. 2021-CA-1121-WX
FORD MOTOR COMPANY CROSS-APPELLANT
CROSS-PETITION FOR REVIEW OF A DECISION
v. OF THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BOARD
ACTION NO. WC-19-67594
CASSANDRA JACKSON;
HONORABLE TONYA MICHELLE
CLEMONS, ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
JUDGE; AND WORKERS’
COMPENSATION BOARD CROSS-APPELLEES
OPINION
AFFIRMING
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BEFORE: COMBS, LAMBERT, AND K. THOMPSON, JUDGES.
COMBS, JUDGE: Appellant, Cassandra Jackson, appeals from an opinion of the
Workers’ Compensation Board which reversed in part, having concluded that the
Administrative Law Judge impermissibly re-decided the merits of the claim on
reconsideration. Appellee, Ford Motor Company, cross-appeals regarding the
Board’s affirmance of the application of the three multiplier. We address the
appeal and cross-appeal together. After our review, we affirm as to both.
On May 19, 2019, Appellant, Cassandra Jackson (Jackson), injured
her head, neck, shoulders, tailbone, lower back, and right leg when she tripped and
fell backward in the course and scope of her employment by Appellee, Ford Motor
Company (Ford). The medical evidence was in conflict. Jackson relied upon the
opinion of Dr. Barefoot. Ford relied upon Dr. Sexton’s opinion.
On March 17, 2021, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) entered an
opinion, award, and order providing as follows:
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Having reviewed all the evidence on this issue, the
ALJ finds that both physicians are correct with respect to
the medical cause of the right shoulder injury. Both Dr.
Sexton and Dr. Barefoot attribute the aggravation of any
symptoms to the May 2019 work incident. Thus, the
ALJ finds that Plaintiff suffered a work-related injury to
her right shoulder due to the May 19, 2019 work
incident.
In regard to Ms. Jackson’s alleged head injury, the
ALJ finds Dr. Sexton to be the most [sic] credible and
persuasive. Thus, the ALJ finds that Plaintiff suffered a
work-related injury to her head in the form of a
superficial scalp laceration that was repaired.
Finally, the ALJ finds that Plaintiff has not
sustained any work-related injury to her cervical
spine/neck, coccyx/tailbone, low back or right leg as a
result of the May 19, 2019 work incident based upon the
medical testimony of Dr. Sexton. Therefore, Plaintiff’s
claim for injuries to her cervical spine/neck,
coccyx/tailbone, low back and right leg are dismissed.
The ALJ found Dr. Sexton’s 2% whole body permanent partial
impairment (PPI) rating for the right shoulder more credible than Dr. Barefoot’s
14% rating because Dr. Sexton’s assessment was “compatible with the symptoms
attributable to Plaintiff’s right shoulder.” The ALJ awarded permanent partial
disability (PPD) benefits based upon Dr. Sexton’s 2% impairment rating. The ALJ
also concluded that Jackson was entitled to enhancement of the PPD award by the
three multiplier under KRS1 342.730(1)(c)1.
1
Kentucky Revised Statutes.
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The ALJ was persuaded by Dr. Barefoot’s opinion that Jackson could
return to her pre-injury work but with restrictions against heavy lifting and
carrying. The ALJ was also persuaded by Jackson’s testimony regarding the
impact of her right shoulder injury on “her ability to lift in her current position and
that she would have difficulty working in another positions with Defendant . . . due
to the heavy lifting requirements.” In addition, the ALJ awarded a period of
temporary total disability (TTD) benefits and medical expenses for Jackson’s
injuries to her “right shoulder and head in the form of a scalp laceration . . . .”
Both parties petitioned for reconsideration. Jackson argued that
“[a]gainst the substantial weight of the evidence of record,” the ALJ erred in
selecting Dr. Sexton’s 2% PPI rating as compared to Dr. Barefoot’s 14% rating.
Jackson contended that Dr. Sexton’s rating was defective because his report did not
contain measurements and calculations as required by the American Medical
Association Guides, 5th Edition. Jackson requested “additional findings and
analysis for meaningful appeal purposes.” Jackson also argued that the ALJ erred
in concluding that she had not sustained a compensable neck injury and that at a
minimum she qualified for temporary benefits for her neck.
In its petition for reconsideration, Ford argued inter alia that Jackson
was not entitled to the three multiplier.
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By order entered on both parties’ petitions for reconsideration on
April 13, 2021, the ALJ explained that the record reflects that Jackson had
undergone right shoulder surgery on November 21, 2019, and that it did not appear
that Dr. Sexton had taken the surgery into account consistent with the AMA
Guides. The ALJ held as follows:
In rendering the Opinion, the ALJ failed to recognize that
proper interpretation and assessment of impairment under
the AMA Guides was provided by Dr. Barefoot. As
such, upon reconsideration, Plaintiff’s Petition is
SUSTAINED. The ALJ finds the opinions of Dr.
Barefoot provide the proper interpretation and
assessment of impairment under the AMA Guides and,
thus, is the most credible with respect to impairment.
Consequently, [sic] the Opinion is corrected to reflect
Plaintiff retains a 14% whole person impairment rating
with respect to her compensable work-related right
shoulder injury based upon the findings of Dr. Barefoot.
(Emphasis original.) The ALJ altered the PPD award accordingly.
In addition, the ALJ explained that she reviewed all the evidence on
reconsideration. She relied on Robertson v. UPS, 64 S.W.3d 284 (Ky. 2001),
which dealt with a work injury involving temporary symptoms that required
medical treatment. Pursuant to Robertson, the ALJ determined that Jackson did
sustain a compensable injury to her cervical spine. The ALJ corrected the opinion,
order, and award to reflect that Jackson was entitled to TTD benefits during the
period awarded as well as temporary medical benefits for her cervical spine.
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The ALJ denied Ford’s petition with respect to Jackson’s entitlement
to the three multiplier.
Ford appealed to the Board and argued that the ALJ improperly re-
weighed and reconsidered the evidence on reconsideration. It also claimed that the
ALJ erred in determining that Jackson was entitled to the three multiplier.
By opinion rendered on August 6, 2021, the Board affirmed in part,
reversed in part, and remanded. The Board noted that KRS 342.281 provides that
upon reconsideration, the ALJ “shall be limited in the review to the correction of
errors patently appearing upon the face of the award, order, or decision . . . .”
The Board concluded that the ALJ exceeded her authority under KRS
342.281 when ruling on Jackson’s petition by reconsidering the merits of the claim
rather than merely correcting patent errors. The Board cited Beth-Elkhorn v. Nash,
470 S.W.2d 329, 330 (Ky. 1971), which holds that the “[s]tatutory limitation [of
KRS 342.281] is clear and positive. It expresses a legislative policy that the
[factfinder] shall not have authority to reverse itself on the merits of a claim.”
The Board explained as follows:
Clearly, in the [original] decision rendered March 17,
2021, the ALJ outlined Dr. Sexton’s and Dr. Barefoot’s
reports and findings. A review of the entirety of Dr.
Sexton’s and Dr. Barefoot’s reports shows that the ALJ
correctly considered their conclusions when rendering
her decision. Therefore, we determine the ALJ’s reversal
of her initial determination was unwarranted.
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The Board vacated the ALJ’s April 13, 2021, order on petitions for
reconsideration and remanded for reinstatement of the March 17, 2021, opinion,
award, and order. The Board further directed the ALJ to issue a ruling on
Jackson’s petition for reconsideration in accordance with the authority outlined in
KRS 342.281.
With respect to the ALJ’s application of the three multiplier, the
Board noted that Jackson was successful in her burden of proof on that issue;
consequently, the standard of review is whether the ALJ’s decision was supported
by substantial evidence. Wolf Creek Collieries v. Crum, 673 S.W.2d 735, 736 (Ky.
App. 1984). The Board explained that the evidence was in conflict. Dr. Sexton
and Dr. Krupp, a treating physician, opined that Jackson could return to work
without restrictions. Dr. Barefoot opined that she could not. The Board concluded
that Dr. Barefoot’s opinion and Jackson’s testimony regarding the physical
requirements of her job constituted substantial evidence to support the three
multiplier and affirmed on that issue.
In her appeal, Jackson argues that the ALJ did nothing more than
identify and correct patent errors in her original decision consistent with KRS
342.281. In response, Ford contends that that the ALJ exceeded her statutory
authority by re-examining the evidence and “reversing herself on reconsideration.”
Our standard of appellate review is clear:
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When this Court reviews a workers’ compensation
decision, our function is to correct the Board only where
we believe “the Board has overlooked or misconstrued
controlling statutes or precedent, or committed an error in
assessing the evidence so flagrant as to cause gross
injustice.”
Voith Industrial Services, Inc. v. Gray, 516 S.W.3d 817, 820 (Ky. App. 2017)
(citing Western Baptist Hospital v. Kelly, 827 S.W.2d 685, 687-88 (Ky. 1992)).
We are satisfied from our review that no such error exists in the case
before us. On the contrary, we agree with the Board’s thorough analysis and its
conclusion that the ALJ exceeded her authority on reconsideration under KRS
342.281.
With respect to the three multiplier which Ford challenges on cross-
appeal, we perceive no error that would allow us to disturb the Board’s affirmance
on the issue. We agree with the Board that substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s
determination in that regard.
Accordingly, we affirm both as to the appeal and the cross-appeal.
ALL CONCUR.
BRIEFS FOR APPELLANT/CROSS- BRIEFS FOR APPELLEE/CROSS-
APPELLEE: APPELLANT FORD MOTOR
COMPANY:
Ched Jennings
Louisville, Kentucky Priscilla C. Page
Joshua W. Davis
Louisville, Kentucky
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