Frontini v. Workers' Compensation Appeal Board

LORD, Senior Judge.

Michael Frontini (Claimant) appeals an order of the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (Board) affirming a Workers’ Compensation Judge’s (WCJ) decision to terminate Claimant’s benefits.

While employed with Parks Moving & Storage (Employer), Claimant suffered a work-related injury to his right hand on December 18, 1993 for which he received total disability benefits. (WCJ’s Findings of Fact, Nos. 3, 5.) On February 4, 1994, Claimant unintentionally signed a final receipt, believing that he was merely signing a receipt for his benefits check. (WCJ’s Finding of Fact, No. 5.) Subsequently, Claimant filed a petition to set aside the final receipt as of February 11, 1994, alleging that he had never signed a final receipt, that he had not fully recovered from his work injury and that he had not returned to work at wages equal to his time-of-injury wages. (WCJ’s Finding of Fact, No. 1.) The employer answered claimant’s petition denying all the allegations contained therein, averring that claimant signed a final receipt acknowledging that he was able to return to work without loss of earning power. Employer’s answer specifically denied that claimant was not fully recovered from his work-related injury and was not released to return to work by his examining physician.

At hearings before the WCJ on Claimant’s petition, Claimant testified that, although he was asked to sign a final receipt on February 4, 1994, he refused to do so because he was still having problems with his right hand and was still receiving medical treatment. Claimant did sign the final receipt at that time, but apparently because he thought it was a receipt for his benefits check. Although he gave contradictory statements regarding the extent of his abilities, Claimant further testified that he remained disabled as a result of the work-related injury.

Claimant offered the deposition testimony of Christopher Morgan, M.D., a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Dr. Morgan testified that he had treated Claimant since the work-related injury and had released Claimant to return to work on February 11, 1994, even though Dr. Morgan did not consider Claimant to be fully recovered from his work-related injury at that time. Dr. Morgan also stated that, on February 25, 1994, he began to believe that Claimant might be suffering from reflex sympathetic dystrophy in his right hand and, accordingly, Dr. Morgan restricted Claimant to modified duty with limited use of his right hand. As of March 25,1994, Dr. Morgan recommended that Claimant not use his right hand or wrist at all, and, as of April 19, 1994, Dr. Morgan diagnosed Claimant as suffering from reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

In support of its answer to Claimant’s petition, Employer presented the testimony of Anthony Babusci, Employer’s operations manager. Babusci denied that he told Claimant he was merely signing a receipt for his check; however, Babusci also stated that he informed Claimant that he had to sign the form in order to receive his check.

In opposition to Claimant’s medical testimony, Employer presented the deposition testimony of Robert P. Mantiea, M.D., a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, who examined Claimant on May 23, 1994. Based upon this exam, and on Claimant’s medical records, Dr. Mantica opined that Claimant does not suffer from reflex sympathetic dystrophy and, as of the date of the exam, could return to work upon completion of a work-hardening program. Employer also offered the testimony of Brian McDowell to prove that Claimant was not suffering a disability in his right hand. McDowell testified that, on March 25, 1995, he observed Claimant punch his girlfriend, Carol Boyer, on the left side of her face with his right hand and saw Claimant lock fingers with her and twist her hands back until she fell to the floor. McDowell then took Boyer to the hospital because she was complaining of pain in her hands. Boyer’s testimony corroborated that of McDowell. Claimant acknowledged that he had a confrontation with Boyer on that day, but denied that it became physical. The WCJ, however, believed McDowell’s and Boyer’s version of events, in which Claimant used his right hand with enough strength to hurt Boyer. (WCJ’s Findings of Fact, Nos. 9—11.)

The WCJ made various credibility determinations based upon the testimony. The WCJ found Claimant’s testimony reliable and credible with regard to his signature on the final receipt; however, the WCJ rejected Claimant’s testimony in which he indicated that he continues to suffer significant residual problems as a result of the work-related injury. (WCJ’s Finding of Fact, No. 5.) The WCJ rejected as neither credible nor convincing Dr. Morgan’s opinion that Claimant suffers from reflex sympathetic dystrophy and continues to be partially disabled. (WCJ’s Finding of Fact, No. 13.) In contrast, the WCJ found credible and “very convincing” Dr. Mantica’s testimony that Claimant does not suffer from reflex sympathetic dystrophy and is able to return to work. (WCJ’s Finding of Fact, No. 15.)

Having made these credibility determinations, the WCJ found that Claimant had not knowingly executed a final receipt. The WCJ also found that claimant had not fully recovered from his work injury at the time he mistakenly signed the final receipt; however, the WCJ found that Claimant had fully recovered as of May 23,1994. (WCJ’s Finding of Fact, No. 24.) Based on these findings, the WCJ concluded that the Claimant had met his burden of proving that the final receipt should be set aside, and also concluded that Employer had met its burden of proving that Claimant was no longer disabled by his work injury. Thus, the WCJ ordered Claimant’s benefits to be reinstated through May 22, 1994, and terminated as of May 23, 1994. Claimant appealed to the Board, which affirmed.

On appeal to this Court, Claimant argues that the Board erred in affirming the WCJ’s termination of benefits because Employer never filed a petition requesting termination of those benefits. Claimant relies principally on the authority of Boehm v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board, 133 Pa.Cmwlth. 455, 576 A.2d 1163 (1990). Employer counters claimant’s argument by asserting that, because Claimant was on notice that Employer sought termination, Employer did not need to file a separate termination petition.

In Boehm, an employer filed a modification petition, alleging that the claimant had returned to light duty work. After consideration of the evidence, the referee concluded that the claimant was partially disabled for a limited period and that his disability terminated after that period. Although the WCAB affirmed, we reversed, concluding that the referee erred when he decided, sua sponte, to consider the employer’s petition for modification as a petition for both modification and termination. In doing so, we rejected the employer’s argument that neither a claimant nor an employer is bound by the form of the petition where the facts warrant relief. Noting that the Workers’ Compensation Act¹ is remedial and intended to benefit the worker, we concluded that a referee could look beyond the pleadings only where the facts warranted relief for a claimant; with respect-to an employer, we held that a referee was empowered to grant only such relief as the employer actually requests. Because the employer in Boehm only requested a modification of the claimant’s benefits, we determined that the referee lacked authority to terminate those benefits.

Subsequent to our decision in Boehm, we have had occasion to address the issue of a WCJ’s authority “to take appropriate action as indicated by the evidence upon the filing of any petition referenced therein by either party.” Stanley Lojak Contractor v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board (Coffman), 661 A.2d 923, 927 (Pa.Cmwlth.1995).

In Lojak Contractor, the employer filed a termination petition alleging that the claimant had returned to work without restriction or loss of earning power. The claimant thereafter filed a penalty petition which was answered by the employer. The referee terminated benefits as of one year and a half after the date requested by the employer in its termination petition, although the employer had never amended that termination petition. The Board, citing Boehm and Thomas v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board (Winzek Catering Service), 104 Pa.Cmwlth. 361, 522 A.2d 115 (1987), vacated and remanded, 518 Pa. 554, 544 A.2d 958 (1988) reversed the referee’s decision.

On appeal, this Court reversed the Board’s decision and held that the referee acted within his authority to amend the date of the relief requested in the initial termination petition and to grant the relief accordingly. Lojak Contractor, 661 A.2d at 927. Referring to the authority granted to referees by Section 413 of the Act,² we said there that

Although, under Boehm, a referee may not go beyond the pleadings to grant a termination where one is not requested, a referee may grant relief beyond that requested in an employer’s petition where the claimant would not have been misled by the form of the petition, would have had notice of the relief sought by the employer and would have had a full and fair opportunity to contest the basis of the employer’s assertions.

Id

Although in Lojak Contractor, the issue of termination was joined by the filing of a termination petition, whereas here it has not been joined by such a pleading, we explained in Hutter v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board, 665 A.2d 554 (Pa.Cmwlth.1995), the authority of a WCJ to terminate disability compensation in the absence of a petition requesting termination. In Hutter, the employer had filed two petitions for review (though styling them termination petitions) prior to the claimant’s filing of the petition to set aside a final receipt. The referee never reached a decision on the employer’s two petitions, deciding that they were moot when claimant signed a final receipt subsequent to their filing. The employer contended that the only petition before the referee was the claimant’s set aside petition, and the Board’s decision was based only on that petition. See id, 665 A.2d at 555, n. 3. An extensive reference to Hutter is pertinent to our decision here.

Generally, if an employer wants to change the character of the disability, it must file a petition specifically requesting the relief sought. Keystone Bakery, Inc. v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board (Lack), 88 Pa.Cmwlth. 111, 488 A.2d 668 (1985). There are numerous cases, however, where a referee properly terminated a claimant’s disability benefits even though the employer had not filed a termination petition.

The first category of cases consist of instances in which a claimant files a claim petition and he/she is granted disability benefits for a closed period of time which are then terminated without a termination petition being filed by the employer. E.g. Connor v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board (Super Sucker, Inc.), 155 Pa. Cmwlth. 102, 624 A.2d 757 (1993), petition for allowance of appeal denied 535 Pa. 676, 636 A.2d 635 (1993). The rationale underlying the termination of disability benefits is that the claimant has the burden of proving the extent of his disability, and a referee may accordingly determine for what period of time such disability existed. Id; See also Inglis House v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board (Reedy), 535 Pa. 135, 634 A.2d 592 (1993) Thomas v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board (George’s Painting Contractors), 157 Pa.Cmwlth. 207, 629 A.2d 251 (1993).

The second category where a termination of benefits is proper without a formal termination petition having been filed involves cases in which the employer filed another type of petition but puts the claimant on notice that it is seeking a termination of benefits. E.g., Bell Telephone Co. v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board (Rothenbach), 98 Pa.Cmwlth. 332, 511 A.2d 261 (1986) (the referee did not err in treating employer’s answer to claimant’s review petition as a petition for termination of benefits because the employer’s answer put the claimant on notice that the employer was seeking to terminate benefits). A referee may properly consider an employer’s petition for modification of benefits as a petition for termination “where the claimant would not have been misled by the form of the petition, had notice of the relief sought by employer, and had a full and fair opportunity to contest the basis for the employer’s assertions.” Id., 144 Pa. Cmwlth. 601, 609-10, 601 A.2d 1341, 1342; Boehm. Cf. Yezovich v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board (USX Corp.), 144 Pa.Cmwlth. 601, 601 A.2d 1341 (1992) (although the employer filed a termination petition the referee properly granted a modification, because in its petition, employer alleged that there was work available • within the claimant’s capabilities; therefore, the claimant was aware of the type of relief the employer sought).

In this ease, Claimant in the first instance succeeded in her petition to set aside the final receipt, but the referee and Board went further and examined the total period and extent of that disability; therefore, her benefits were terminated as of the date Employer’s doctor examined Claimant. Although Employer had filed no formal petition for termination, notice was given to Claimant that it sought a termination of disability benefits, and there certainly was no surprise to Claimant that Employer was seeking termination. Claimant was provided with the deposition of Employer’s medical expert, and the deposition emphatically stated that Claimant was no longer injured as of February 27, 1992, the date the expert examined her. This clearly notified Claimant that Employer was seeking a termination. There was, therefore, no prejudice to defend against the termination request.

Id., 665 A.2d at 556-557 (footnote omitted) (emphasis added).

Thus, this Court in Hutter described two types of cases in which a termination of benefits is appropriately ordered even though a termination petition has not been filed and we sanctioned the termination of benefits in a third category of cases, in which the procedural circumstances are much like those before us now. That is, in Hutter, no viable termination petition was considered by the referee; only the claimant’s set aside petition was to be decided. The claimant was successful in that set aside petition, but “the referee and Board went further and examined the total period and extent of that disability.”

Here, the Employer in its answer to claimant’s set aside petition expressly denied that claimant was not fully recovered from his work-related injury and denied that claimant had not been released to return to work by examining physicians. Claimant was therefore on notice that Employer intended to show that the status quo existed—that is, that the termination of benefits which had been effectuated by claimant’s signing of a final receipt was warranted by the evidence.

Claimant’s set aside petition was filed April 4, 1994. Claimant was examined by Employer’s medical expert May 23, 1994. That expert’s March 9, 1995 deposition and his attached report, in which he stated that he found no objective symptoms and no reason claimant could not return to work, was available to the claimant. The expert was cross-examined in that deposition by claimant’s counsel. Moreover, as noted, Employer offered the testimony of two eyewitnesses to an altercation in which Claimant was involved to prove that Claimant was not suffering a disability. The WCJ credited, over that of Claimant, those -witnesses’ version of events, in which they testified that Claimant punched his girlfriend with his right hand. Claimant was aware that Employer intended to prove that Claimant was no longer disabled from his work-related injury; he had , ample opportunity to refute Employer’s allegations.

We stated in Anzaldo v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board (M & M Restaurant Supply), 667 A.2d 488, 491 (Pa.Cmwlth. 1995) that

[sjtrictness of pleadings in workmen’s compensation eases is not required. Dunmore School District v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board (Lorusso), 89 Pa. Cmwlth. 368, 492 A.2d 773 (1985). If one ■party effectively puts the adverse party on notice as to the theory of relief which it is seeking, the referee will be authorized to grant the relief requested. St. Francis Hospital v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board (Kerr), 156 Pa.Cmwlth. 605, 628 A.2d 920 (1993), petition for allowance of appeal denied, 537 Pa. 669, 644 A.2d 1205 (1994). Where an employer puts a claimant on notice that it is seeking a termination of claimant’s disability benefits, the referee may properly terminate claimants’ benefits. Hutter v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board (Pittsburgh Aluminum Company), 665 A.2d 554 (Pa. Cmwlth.1995). It is not necessary for the employer to file a formal termination petition. Id.

We acknowledged in that case that “[t]he underlying rationale for not allowing a referee to grant relief which an employer had not requested is that doing so is prejudicial to the claimant, who, never having been put on notice that the employer seeks such relief, has no opportunity to defend against it.” Id., 667 A.2d at 492. Certainly no prejudice caused by lack of notice was suffered by Claimant here, where benefits had already been terminated by the signing, albeit mistaken, of a final receipt prior to the filing of a set aside petition; where the answer to the set aside petition alleged facts which, if proved, would entitle Employer to termination; and where Claimant was aware that Employer intended to adduce expert and lay witness testimony to prove that claimant no longer suffered disability from his work-related injury.

Since Claimant’s benefits were terminated by the final receipt, Employer could not have petitioned to terminate them in the first place. We see no purpose to have been served, then, by requiring the Employer to file a form pleading for termination of benefits where the WCJ was well able to conclude, based on credible evidence, that Employer established Claimant’s full recovery four months after the final receipt was mistakenly signed.

For these reasons, and following the precedent established in Hutter, we will affirm the Board’s decision to uphold the WCJ’s order of termination, even though no petition for termination had been filed. As for Claimant’s argument that there is in that event no substantial, unequivocal evidence to support the WCJ’s finding that Claimant’s disability from his work-related injury had ceased, we need only refer once more to the credited medical testimony. Specifically, Dr. Mantica stated, inter alia, that he “found nothing on the examination of [Claimant’s] hand, forearm and wrist of the right that show orthopedic deficit.” (Notes of Testimony, Deposition of Robert P. Manitica, M.D., March 9,1995, p. 16) and opined he found no objective reason for Claimant’s complaints of pain. He also opined with the requisite certainty that Claimant was not suffering reflex sympathetic dystrophy. That Claimant’s experts offered contradictory opinions is of no moment, since the WCJ, who is the sole judge of the weight and credibility of evidence, see, e.g., Crenshaw v. Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board (Hussey Copper), 165 Pa.Cmwlth. 696, 645 A.2d 957 (1994), found them not to be credible.

We will affirm the Board’s decision.

ORDER

AND NOW, this 17th day of October, 1997, the order of the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board (WCAB), dated December 12, 1996, at A96-0936, is affirmed.

FRIEDMAN, J., dissents and files opinion.

1 . Act of June 2, 1915, P.L. 736, as amended, 77 P.S. §§ 1-1041.4.

2 . Prior to recent amendments in the Act, WCJs were referred to as referees. Section 413 of the Act, 77 P.S. § 772, states in pertinent part that:

A worker’s compensation judge ... may, at any time, modify, reinstate, suspend, or terminate a notice of compensation payable, an original or supplemental agreement or an award ... upon petition by either party with the department, upon proof that the disability of an injured employe has increased, decreased, recurred, or has temporarily or finally ceased, or that the status on any dependent has changed....

The 1996 amendment to this section of the Act substituted "workers’ compensation judge” for "referee” but did not otherwise substantially alter it.