Flemal v. Labor Commission

IN THE UTAH COURT OF APPEALS
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Todd Flemal, ) PER CURIAM DECISION
)
Petitioner, ) Case No. 20110022‐CA
)
v. )
) FILED
Labor Commission, Chad Ewing dba ) (February 16, 2012)
Italian Drywall, and Uninsured )
Employers Fund, ) 2012 UT App 41)
Respondents. )
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Original Proceeding in this Court
Attorneys: Michael Gary Belnap, Ogden, for Petitioner
Mark L. Shurtleff and Brent A. Burnett, Salt Lake City, for Respondent
Uninsured Employers Fund
Theodore E. Kanell and Daniel E. Young, Salt Lake City, for Respondent
Chad Ewing
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Before Judges Orme, Thorne, and Christiansen.
¶1 Todd Flemal seeks review of the Labor Commission’s decision denying him
benefits for an alleged workplace accident. More particularly, Flemal challenges the
Labor Commission’s determination that Flemal’s injury did not arise in the course of his
employment because Flemal’s employment had ended prior to the accident.
¶2 “We will disturb the Commission’s findings of fact only if they are clearly
erroneous.” Salt Lake City Corp. v. Labor Comm’n, 2007 UT 4, ¶ 13, 153 P.3d 179. We give
such deference to the Labor Commission concerning “questions of fact because it stands
in a superior position from which to evaluate and weigh the evidence and assess the
credibility and accuracy of witnesses’ recollections.” Drake v. Industrial Commission, 939
P.2d 177, 181 (Utah 1997). “‘When an agency has discretion to apply its factual findings
to the law, we will not disturb the agency’s application unless its determination exceeds
the bounds of reasonableness and rationality.’” Olsen v. Labor Comm’n, 2011 UT App 70,
¶ 11, 249 P.3d 586 (citation omitted).
¶3 Flemal argues that the Labor Commission erred in determining that he was not
employed at the time of the accident. In resolving this question, the Labor Commission
reviewed the conflicting testimony that was offered by Flemal and his employer, Chad
Ewing. Ewing claimed that he terminated Flemal prior to the accident and told Flemal
not to do anything until he arrived back at the site. Flemal, on the other hand, asserted
that Ewing never terminated him and that he was injured while performing the duties
assigned to him. The Labor Commission found credibility problems with both parties.
However, the Labor Commission gave significant weight to the testimony of Nicholas
Bassett, another employee of Ewing, who was present during much of the interaction
between Ewing and Flemal. The Labor Commission noted that Bassett had no direct
personal interest in the matter and that his testimony was direct and consistent. Bassett
corroborated the testimony of Ewing by testifying that he heard Ewing tell Flemal that
he was not needed anymore, that Flemal was not to do any more work, and that Ewing
would be back to pick Flemal up after Ewing picked up his kids. Based largely upon
this testimony, the Labor Commission determined that Flemal was not employed at the
time of the accident. Due to the deference given to the Labor Commission concerning
credibility determinations and the weighing of conflicting evidence, we cannot say that
the Labor Commission’s finding was clearly erroneous. See Salt Lake City Corp., 2007 UT
4, ¶ 13.
¶4 For these reasons we decline to disturb the Labor Commission’s final order.
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Gregory K. Orme, Judge
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William A. Thorne Jr., Judge
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Michele M. Christiansen, Judge
20110022‐CA 2