McAbee Construction, Inc. v. Elvin L. Allday, Jr.

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REL: 04/19/2013 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o formal r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r . ALABAMA COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS OCTOBER TERM, 2012-2013 2110461 McAbee C o n s t r u c t i o n , Inc. v. Elvin L. A l l d a y , J r . Appeal from Choctaw C i r c u i t (CV-08-900006) Court PITTMAN, J u d g e . McAbee judgment disability Construction, awarding Elvin benefits I n c . ("McAbee"), L. A l l d a y , pursuant to Jr., appeals from a permanent-total- t h e Alabama Workers' 2110461 Compensation Act"). We Act, § 25-5-1 seq., a f f i r m i n part, reverse F a c t s and Allday working et had been a t u n i o n pay job s i t e s . Ala. Code i n p a r t , and and Procedural History employed as a boilermaker since s c a l e f o r d i f f e r e n t e m p l o y e r s on pipefitter, a hard l a b o r and equipment A l l d a y had routinely used a on 1986, various job requires encompasses the s k i l l s m i l l w r i g h t , and installing ("the remand. A l l d a y explained that a boilermaker's heavy l i f t i n g 1975 welder industrial c h o s e n t o work o n l y in of a repairing heating and systems. 40 weeks p e r year, e l e c t i n g t o s p e n d t i m e w i t h h i s f a m i l y and p u r s u e h i s h o b b i e s of hunting, other 12 fishing, weeks boilermaker, injuries, his Allday the had working on year. During sustained automobiles his several i n c l u d i n g a l o w - b a c k i n j u r y i n 1999 shoulders surgical of and in 1992 and 1998 that had career the as a work-related and i n j u r i e s necessitated to four procedures. A l l d a y w o r k e d f o r McAbee f o r f i v e d a y s through during F r i d a y , June 9, 2006 Monday, June 5 d u r i n g a t e m p o r a r y shutdown o f t h e G e o r g i a - P a c i f i c p u l p and p a p e r m i l l i n P e n n i n g t o n . afternoon o f Wednesday, June 7, 2 2006, he was On the injured during 2110461 the installation o f an e x p a n s i o n j o i n t b o i l e r i n the plant. weighed between the i n the ductwork t o a According to Allday, the expansion j o i n t 800 and 1,000 p o u n d s . A l l d a y was on t o p o f d u c t w o r k , a p p r o x i m a t e l y 15 f e e t o f f t h e g r o u n d , t r y i n g t o maneuver t h e e x p a n s i o n j o i n t were u s i n g t w o - b y - f o u r s t o push S u d d e n l y , t h e j o i n t began the i n t o p l a c e as w o r k e r s b e l o w h i m ground. the expansion j o i n t to s l i p upward. down t o w a r d t h e w o r k e r s on As A l l d a y was a t t e m p t i n g t o h o l d t h e j o i n t a n d p u l l i t t o w a r d h i m , he f e l t a j o l t a n d e x p e r i e n c e d p a i n i n h i s neck, shoulders, Wednesday, and b a c k . June 7, and Allday reported finished the his shift accident to safety c o o r d i n a t o r J o e l K e l l y the f o l l o w i n g morning, Thursday, 8. on June The e m p l o y e r ' s f i r s t r e p o r t o f i n j u r y r e f l e c t s t h a t A l l d a y had reported only injury. Allday work Thursday on telephoned arm a n d s h o u l d e r and n o t a back d e c l i n e d m e d i c a l t r e a t m e n t and c o n t i n u e d t o McAbee and F r i d a y . site On t h e j o b h a d ended Monday, superintendent r e p o r t e d t h a t , w h i l e he h a d been after injuries driving on F r i d a y , June Mickey 12, Allday Jones and home t o C i t r o n e l l e the pain i n h i s back had i n c r e a s e d a n d h a d become e v e n more s e v e r e o v e r t h e weekend. 3 2110461 A l l d a y a s k e d J o n e s t o s c h e d u l e an a p p o i n t m e n t f o r him with a physician. On June 20, 2006, A l l d a y c o n s u l t e d a Mobile orthopedic s u r g e o n who on-the-job and injuries previous shoulder that indicate that day work-related Dr. Allday Andre J . Fontana, treated Allday for performed surgeries. b i l a t e r a l shoulder a had had Dr. a l l four of other Allday's Fontana's o f f i c e notes had complained of neck pain, p a i n , and l o w - b a c k p a i n as a c o n s e q u e n c e o f accident on June 7. Dr. Fontana ordered m a g n e t i c r e s o n a n c e image ("MRI") o f A l l d a y ' s l u m b a r s p i n e nerve-conduction and no studies. 1999. degenerative Like the changes in b u l g i n g d i s k s a t L4-5 S1, The change f r o m a p r e v i o u s December with possible nerve-conduction and MRI 1999 revealed t h a t had MRI, Allday's L5-S1 narrowing studies MRI the prescribed and acute indicated spine, including lumbar revealed the nerve-root space. t h a t A l l d a y was relievers, 4 L5The suffering syndrome. He administered c o r t i s o n e s h o t s i n A l l d a y ' s lumbar narcotic pain injury and b i l a t e r a l s t e n o s i s a t of and 2006 MRI Fontana t r e a t e d A l l d a y f o r a year. epidural blocks no a been p e r f o r m e d i n from p r e v i o u s l y undiagnosed c a r p a l - t u n n e l Dr. for sent A l l d a y to spine, physical 2110461 t h e r a p y , and r e f e r r e d him t o a p s y c h i a t r i s t f o r t r e a t m e n t o f depression. Nothing, lasting relief preventing however, provided from d e b i l i t a t i n g p a i n Allday with any t h a t , A l l d a y s a i d , was h i m f r o m w o r k i n g a n d c a r r y i n g on h i s n o r m a l daily activities. Dr. Fontana discussion Revels, referred Allday t o Dr. of s u r g i c a l options. Allday was unsure After consulting as t o w h e t h e r l u m b a r s u r g e r y , and he r e t u r n e d Tim R e v e l s he with should who s p e c i a l i z e s i n s p i n a l s u r g e r y , Dr. West first saw f o r a second Allday i n June Dr. undergo t o Dr. F o n t a n a , r e q u e s t i n g be r e f e r r e d t o Dr. James L. West I I I , an o r t h o p e d i c When for a to surgeon opinion. 2007, Allday complained of severe low-back p a i n r a d i a t i n g i n t o h i s b u t t o c k s and both legs. the risks consider Dr. West s t a t e d of lumbar-fusion that, surgery, a f t e r he h a d o u t l i n e d Allday had d e c i d e d t h e m a t t e r f u r t h e r a n d Dr. West h a d r e f e r r e d t o Dr. C h r i s N i c o l s , a pain-management s p e c i a l i s t . management returned decided protocol proved t o be unsuccessful, to Allday The p a i n and Allday t o Dr. West on A u g u s t 14, 2007, s t a t i n g t h a t he h a d t o have t h e s u r g e r y . performed a two-level On A u g u s t lumbar f u s i o n 5 27, 2007, Dr. West a t L4-5 a n d L 5 - S 1 a n d a 2110461 decompressive laminectomy foraminotomies o f t h e L4, at L5, L4-5 and S1 and nerve L5-S1, roots. with Dr. West d e t e r m i n e d t h a t A l l d a y had r e a c h e d maximum m e d i c a l i m p r o v e m e n t ("MMI") on M a r c h 14, within the 2008, and guidelines of a t h a t he the r e t u r n t o work functional-capacity ("FCE") t h a t h a d b e e n c o n d u c t e d Following could accident, on F e b r u a r y McAbee paid 18, evaluation 2008. Allday's medical e x p e n s e s and t e m p o r a r y - t o t a l - d i s a b i l i t y b e n e f i t s f r o m June 20, 2006, until March 31, 2008. On February 13, 2008, Allday f i l e d a complaint seeking p e r m a n e n t - t o t a l - d i s a b i l i t y b e n e f i t s for the June answered the A l l d a y had 7, complaint, failed t h a t A l l d a y was was tried The 2006, testimony and the West, lower back. and totally McAbee things, and disabled. that denying The case 2010. c o u r t a d m i t t e d documentary evidence, the d e p o s i t i o n Dr. his i t of a back i n j u r y permanently 1, to a s s e r t i n g , among o t h e r to n o t i f y on O c t o b e r trial injury and medical p e r t a i n i n g t o A l l d a y ' s FCE, medical records including r e c o r d s o f Dr. of IWR Therapy Fontana Systems and t h e m e d i c a l r e c o r d s p e r t a i n i n g t o A l l d a y ' s t r e a t m e n t by p s y c h o l o g i s t M i c h a e l Rosenbaum, 6 Ph.D. 2110461 Allday testified surgery t h a n i t had t h a t h i s p a i n was been b e f o r e the worse a f t e r the surgery; he s u f f e r s from p a i n t h a t a v e r a g e s an i n t e n s i t y o f 7 on a 1 0 - p o i n t also testified the that his cognitive a b i l i t i e s medications he takes on (a narcotic acetaminophen/hydrocodone carisoprodol pain (a m u s c l e reliever relaxer); zolpidem a scale. He impaired by daily pain pregabalin f o r damaged n e r v e s ) ; a n t i d e p r e s s a n t ) ; and are (a escitalopram lumbar basis: reliever); neuropathic oxalate (a s e d a t i v e / s l e e p a i d ) . A l l d a y s t a t e d t h a t , b e c a u s e h i s w i f e i s a n u r s e who the n i g h t s h i f t , old son to he school the can grass, do i n the e a c h day. but, he morning. He said, After i s extremely uses a r i d i n g that shouldering task or four hours at a time, must change p o s i t i o n s o f t e n to back. 7 and, that l i m i t e d i n what lawnmower t o requires c o m p l e t e b e c a u s e he must t a k e f r e q u e n t b r e a k s . three works i s responsible for getting his six-year- r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , A l l d a y s a i d , he e l s e he (an two cut days He s l e e p s to only i n h i s waking hours, relieve the pressure on he his 2110461 K r i s t e n B a k e r , a f o r m e r e m p l o y e e o f IWR reached the following conclusions after Therapy Systems, conducting Allday's FCE: "[Allday] demonstrated a b i l i t y to lift in the s e d e n t a r y p h y s i c a l demand l e v e l o f t e n pounds a t knee t o s h o u l d e r . However, s e c o n d a r y t o symptom magnification characteristics, self-limiting b e h a v i o r , and [ n i n e ] d e m o n s t r a t e d i n c o n s i s t e n c i e s , [ A l l d a y ' s ] a c t u a l c a p a b i l i t i e s may be q u e s t i o n a b l e , and recommendations are d i f f i c u l t t o make. ... Although efforts did not appear maximal or consistent, these are the levels [Allday] was w i l l i n g to perform." 1 In August 2008, psychologist, Allday for depression. Rosenbaum's t r e a t m e n t dated consulted S e p t e m b e r 18, records 2008, Dr. The Dr. Michael trial i n evidence. court Rosenbaum, a admitted Dr. I n an o f f i c e note Rosenbaum s t a t e d : " [ A l l d a y ] m e n t i o n e d t h a t ... t h e i n c r e a s e i n h i s l e v e l o f p a i n ... has had a l i m i t i n g e f f e c t on h i s a c t i v i t i e s . I enabled [Allday] to recognize that [his] depression and anxiety make[] i t more d i f f i c u l t f o r him t o t o l e r a t e t h e p a i n , c o n t r i b u t i n g t o h i s p e r c e p t i o n o f t h e p a i n as b e i n g a t a g r e a t e r level." Patricia that, based Russo, upon her Allday's vocational two-hour expert, interview with testified Allday and a D u r i n g p h y s i c a l - t h e r a p y s e s s i o n s under the s u p e r v i s i o n o f Dr. F o n t a n a i n O c t o b e r and November 2006, t h e p h y s i c a l therapists had also noted symptom-magnification c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and i n c o n s i s t e n t e f f o r t by A l l d a y . 1 8 2110461 review of A l l d a y ' s medical records, the d e p o s i t i o n testimony o f A l l d a y ' s p h y s i c i a n s , and t h e FCE r e p o r t , she c o n c l u d e d t h a t A l l d a y was 100 p e r c e n t v o c a t i o n a l l y d i s a b l e d as a r e s u l t o f h i s p r i o r shoulder low-back problems, c a r p a l - t u n n e l syndrome, and h i s pain. I n d e p o s i t i o n t e s t i m o n y , Dr. F o n t a n a s t a t e d t h a t A l l d a y ' s 1999 b a c k i n j u r y h a d r e s o l v e d w i t h i n t h r e e that Allday had continued to symptoms u n t i l t h e w o r k - r e l a t e d work the back p a i n experiencing have traumatic pain reasonable informed after been degree of the t h a t A l l d a y was brought accident, medical r e l a t i o n between that Allday had following the accident, unusual" to on even report a In d e p o s i t i o n he could back Dr. currently without certainty, the pain reported state, that there and t h e a c c i d e n t . back pain on Dr. F o n t a n a s t a t e d t h a t back i n c r e a s i n g l y severe back surgery further i n j u r y , and, he s a i d , i f A l l d a y h a d r e p o r t e d t o McAbee causative without a c c i d e n t on June 7, 2006. Fontana opined t h a t could o r f o u r months and injury after a back to a was a When t h e Monday i t was several "not days of pain. testimony, Dr. West a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t t h e had not h e l p e d A l l d a y . He o p i n e d t h a t A l l d a y ' s 9 work- 2110461 related caused a c c i d e n t on June t h e back 7, 2006, h a d e i t h e r problems from which Allday exacerbated or was currently suffering. On A u g u s t 30, 2 0 1 1 , t h e t r i a l court e n t e r e d a judgment d e t e r m i n i n g t h a t A l l d a y was p e r m a n e n t l y a n d t o t a l l y disabled as a r e s u l t o f a June 7, 2006, i n j u r y t o h i s l u m b a r s p i n e a n d awarding him b e n e f i t s determination. under the A c t i n accordance w i t h McAbee's p o s t j u d g m e n t motion was that d e n i e d by o p e r a t i o n o f l a w p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 5 9 . 1 , A l a . R. C i v . P., a f t e r which i t f i l e d Our a timely appeal t o t h i s review pertinent part: i s governed by "In reviewing court. the A c t , which states, the standard of proof ... a n d o t h e r l e g a l i s s u e s , r e v i e w by t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s be w i t h o u t a p r e s u m p t i o n o f c o r r e c t n e s s . " § 25-5-81(e) ( 1 ) . So. 2d 262, 268 fact, if in shall A l a . Code 1975, See a l s o Ex p a r t e T r i n i t y I n d u s . , I n c . , 680 ( A l a . 1996). " I n r e v i e w i n g pure f i n d i n g s of the f i n d i n g of the c i r c u i t c o u r t s h a l l n o t be r e v e r s e d t h a t f i n d i n g i s s u p p o r t e d by s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e . " A l a . Code 1975, § 25-5-81(e)(2). Substantial evidence is " ' e v i d e n c e o f such w e i g h t and q u a l i t y t h a t f a i r - m i n d e d p e r s o n s i n t h e e x e r c i s e o f i m p a r t i a l judgment can r e a s o n a b l y i n f e r t h e 10 2110461 e x i s t e n c e o f t h e f a c t s o u g h t t o be p r o v e d . ' " Indus., 680 So. 2d a t 269 (quoting West Ex p a r t e v. Trinity Founders Life A s s u r a n c e Co. o f F l o r i d a , 547 So. 2d 870, 871 ( A l a . 1 9 8 9 ) , and c i t i n g § 1 2 - 2 1 - 1 2 ( d ) , A l a . Code 1 9 7 5 ) . On a p p e a l , (1) whether McAbee p r e s e n t s Allday whether the t r i a l provided court's a c c i d e n t was t h e m e d i c a l supported by seven i s s u e s f o r our notice finding of a back review: injury; (2) t h a t t h e June 7, 2006, cause o f A l l d a y ' s back i n j u r y s u b s t a n t i a l evidence; (3) w h e t h e r the is trial court's p e r m a n e n t - t o t a l - d i s a b i l i t y determination i s supported by s u b s t a n t i a l evidence; trial the the reference c o u r t ' s judgment t o A l l d a y ' s d e p r e s s i o n trial court proximate result trial (4) w h e t h e r court earnings; benefits the t r i a l determined that of a work-related properly (6) w h e t h e r the calculated Allday's the court trial indicates that depression injury; was the (5) w h e t h e r t h e average erred f o r the remainder of A l l d a y ' s l i f e ; i n the in weekly awarding and (7) w h e t h e r c o u r t e r r e d i n c a l c u l a t i n g b e n e f i t s a n d an a t t o r n e y fee. 11 2110461 Notice McAbee c o n t e n d s t h a t A l l d a y ' s n o t i c e o f t h e w o r k - r e l a t e d a c c i d e n t was i n a d e q u a t e b e c a u s e A l l d a y d i d n o t s p e c i f y t h a t he had s u f f e r e d a back i n j u r y . provides, i n p e r t i n e n t p a r t , t h a t "an i n j u r e d e m p l o y e e o r t h e employee's representative, o c c u r r e n c e o f an a c c i d e n t , the S e c t i o n 25-5-78, A l a . Code 1975, employer written within five days after the s h a l l g i v e o r c a u s e t o be g i v e n t o notice of the accident." (Emphasis added.) "The c l a i m a n t n e e d n o t n o t i f y t h e e m p l o y e r o f t h e e x a c t n a t u r e o f t h e i n j u r y t h a t flows from t h e accident. And t h e employer need n o t a c q u i r e a c t u a l knowledge o f t h e n a t u r e o r e x t e n t o f t h e i n j u r y i n o r d e r t o meet t h e s t a t u t o r y r e q u i r e m e n t . 6 2 " S e e ... R a g l a n d B r i c k Co. v. C a m p b e l l , 409 So. 2d 443 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1982) ( a l t h o u g h e v i d e n c e was i n d i s p u t e o v e r whether employee notified employer that he had injured h i s back in work-related fall, c o n f l i c t was i m m a t e r i a l since notice of accident, not notice of i n j u r y , i s a l l that i s required) " 62 2 Terry A. Moore, A l a b a m a W o r k e r s ' 452-53 (1998). Allday had The provided trial McAbee court with accident. 12 Compensation correctly adequate § 22:12 a t concluded notice that of the 2110461 Medical McAbee a r g u e s five-day period that Causation Allday's back problems p r e d a t e d o f employment w i t h r e l a t i o n to the w o r k - r e l a t e d McAbee and had accident that occurred no his causal on June 7, 2006. McAbee p o i n t s o u t t h a t t h e 2006 MRI of A l l d a y ' s lumbar spine was his spine, unchanged from a 1999 MRI of lumbar i n d i c a t i n g , i t says, that degenerative d i s k disease b a c k i n j u r y were t h e m e d i c a l c a u s e s o f A l l d a y ' s and a 1999 current back problems. " I t i s not n e c e s s a r y t h a t the e m p l o y m e n t - r e l a t e d i n j u r y be t h e s o l e c a u s e , o r t h e d o m i n a n t c a u s e , o f t h e [ d i s a b i l i t y ] , so l o n g as i t was a c o n t r i b u t i n g c a u s e . See Ex p a r t e V a l d e z , 636 So. 2d 401 (Ala. 1994). I f the employee suffers from a latent p r e e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n t h a t i n e v i t a b l y w i l l produce i n j u r y o r d e a t h , b u t t h e employment a c t s on the p r e e x i s t i n g c o n d i t i o n t o hasten the appearance of symptoms o r a c c e l e r a t e i t s i n j u r i o u s c o n s e q u e n c e s , t h e employment w i l l be c o n s i d e r e d t h e m e d i c a l c a u s e o f t h e r e s u l t i n g i n j u r y . See, e.g., T a y l o r v. M o b i l e P u l l e y & Mach. Works, I n c . , 714 So. 2d 300 (Ala. C i v . App. 19 9 7 ) . " Associated Grocers of the 1102, ( A l a . C i v . App. 1110 Dr. other F o n t a n a , who orthopedic preexisting S o u t h , I n c . v. Goodwin, 965 So. 2d 2007). had treated Allday problems, stated degenerative disk disease 13 f o r many y e a r s that, and given 1999 for Allday's back i n j u r y , 2110461 A l l d a y ' s c u r r e n t b a c k p r o b l e m s c o u l d have a r i s e n e v e n i n t h e absence of any Allday's 1999 traumatic back event. injury had Nevertheless, r e s o l v e d i n a few because months and A l l d a y had c o n t i n u e d t o work a t a p h y s i c a l l y demanding j o b f o r seven years without complaining of back pain, Dr. Fontana a t t r i b u t e d the m e d i c a l cause of A l l d a y ' s c u r r e n t back p a i n t o the new injury that, June causation medical on from before the 7, 2006. "A trial circumstantial a c c i d e n t , the c o u r t may evidence w o r k e r was infer indicating working normally w i t h no d i s a b l i n g symptoms b u t t h a t , i m m e d i a t e l y afterwards, those since. symptoms a p p e a r e d and B o i s e C a s c a d e C o r p . v. C i v . App. 987 2008) So. 2d concurring 598, have p e r s i s t e d e v e r Jackson, 997 ( c i t i n g Alamo v. PCH 603 (Ala. specially))." W i m b e r l e y , 20 So. 3d 125, Civ. So. 1047 (Ala. Hotels & Resorts, Inc., App. Waters Bros. 134 2d 2007) Dr. J., ( A l a . C i v . App. 2009) . 3d 299, See 311 v. also (Ala. 2010). West a l s o o p i n e d caused or exacerbated 2006. (Moore, Contractors, Inc. E q u i t y G r o u p - A l a b a m a D i v . v. H a r r i s , 55 So. C i v . App. 1042, See The t h a t A l l d a y ' s back p a i n had been by t h e w o r k - r e l a t e d a c c i d e n t on June expert testimony r e l a t i n g to medical 14 7, causation i n 2110461 this case was u n c o n t r a d i c t e d . causation The t r i a l f i n d i n g was s u p p o r t e d Disability "Permanent t o t a l d i s a b i l i t y " ... resulting permanently and from totally w o r k i n g a t and b e i n g an not i s d e f i n e d as "any p h y s i c a l accident, incapacitates which the injury employee ... from r e t r a i n e d f o r g a i n f u l employment." A l a . Code 1975, § 2 5 - 5 - 5 7 ( a ) ( 4 ) d . absolute medical- by s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e . Permanent T o t a l injury court's helplessness; " T o t a l d i s a b i l i t y does n o t mean r a t h e r , i t means t h a t t h e e m p l o y e e i s a b l e t o p e r f o r m h i s o r h e r t r a d e and i s unable t o o b t a i n other reasonably Hudson, 924 "'[G]ainful g a i n f u l employment." So. 2d 727, employment 734 means Dolgencorp, I n c . v. ( A l a . C i v . App. employment remuneration t o that earned p r i o r t o the i n j u r y . 2005). similar in Implicit i n t h i s i s t h a t t h e g a i n f u l employment s o u g h t t o be r e s t o r e d must be "suitable." By "suitable" compatible with education, and a p t i t u d e . ' " So. we mean employment which i s the employee's p r e - i n j u r y o c c u p a t i o n , Trans Mart, age, I n c . v. B r e w e r , 630 2d 469, 471 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1993) ( q u o t i n g Ex p a r t e B e a v e r V a l l e y C o r p . , 477 So. 2d 408, 412 ( A l a . 1 9 8 5 ) ) . 15 2110461 A l l d a y was c o n t a i n s no 51 y e a r s o l d at the time of t r i a l . The record evidence of A l l d a y ' s e d u c a t i o n a l background, i t d e m o n s t r a t e s t h a t he had an a p t i t u d e f o r , and e n j o y e d , h e a v y l a b o r i n w h i c h he had b e e n e n g a g e d f o r 20 y e a r s . r e t u r n e d t o work a f t e r p r e v i o u s 1992, 1998, return and to 1999, after work expressed regret pounds mostly provide for his and the that, 2006 b a c k after the f a m i l y or said the of acuity. medications he was The p e r m a n e n t l y and trial and court's At he wanted to trial, had lost c o u l d no 100 affected percent t o t a l l y d i s a b l e d i s supported 25 longer number his to refute determination he had no d o u b t t h a t he t h a t the an e x p e r t R u s s o ' s a s s e s s m e n t t h a t A l l d a y was Allday a c t i v e h o b b i e s he taking McAbee d i d n o t p r e s e n t disabled. and A l l d a y ' s doctors expressed s u f f e r i n g from u n r e m i t t i n g p a i n amount injury. accident, pursue the and b a c k i n j u r i e s i n t e s t i f i e d t h a t he had m u s c l e mass, he formerly enjoyed. was he shoulder but and mental Patricia vocationally that Allday is by s u b s t a n t i a l evidence. Allday's In the "Findings judgment, the t r i a l upon court Depression Disputed stated: 16 Facts" section of its 2110461 "Allday introduced the records of Michael Rosenbaum, Ph.D., a p s y c h o l o g i s t who has t r e a t e d Allday f o r depression. Dr. Rosenbaum's records r e f l e c t t h a t ... t h e d e p r e s s i o n from which A l l d a y s u f f e r s c o n t r i b u t e s t o symptom m a g n i f i c a t i o n , w h i c h e x p l a i n s t h e symptom m a g n i f i c a t i o n i d e n t i f i e d d u r i n g Mr. A l l d a y ' s f u n c t i o n a l c a p a c i t i e s e v a l u a t i o n . " McAbee s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e f o r e g o i n g implicit determination proximately that Allday's allege evidence depression was c a u s e d b y a p h y s i c a l i n j u r y he s u f f e r e d d u r i n g h i s employment w i t h McAbee, b u t , i t s a y s , not f i n d i n g c o n s t i t u t e s an a psychological i n d i c a t i n g that proximately injury Allday's complaint d i d and A l l d a y a work-related presented physical injury no had caused t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l i n j u r y from which A l l d a y is suffering. We do not determination Instead, choice we interpret regarding think the t r i a l t h e cause the f i n d i n g court's finding of A l l d a y ' s reflects court's f o r t h e symptom- m a g n i f i c a t i o n b e h a v i o r t h a t A l l d a y e x h i b i t e d d u r i n g t h e FCE i.e., that depression can a c t u a l l y cause i n v o l u n t a r y symptom m a g n i f i c a t i o n or contribute to instead of the inference t h a t c o u l d h a v e b e e n drawn f r o m K r i s t e n B a k e r ' s t e s t i m o n y 17 a depression. the t r i a l t o a c c e p t Dr. Rosenbaum's e x p l a n a t i o n as 2110461 i.e., that Allday was purposely "faking bad" f o r secondary gain. Computation o f A l l d a y ' s Average Weekly E a r n i n g s Section 25-5-57(b), Ala. Code methods f o r c o m p u t i n g an e m p l o y e e ' s Subsection (b) f i r s t 1975, sets average weekly out three earnings. provides: " C o m p e n s a t i o n u n d e r t h i s s e c t i o n s h a l l be computed on t h e b a s i s o f t h e a v e r a g e w e e k l y e a r n i n g s . A v e r a g e w e e k l y e a r n i n g s s h a l l be b a s e d on t h e wages, as d e f i n e d i n S e c t i o n 25-5-1(6) o f t h e i n j u r e d employee i n t h e employment i n w h i c h he o r she was w o r k i n g a t the t i m e o f t h e i n j u r y d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d o f 52 weeks immediately p r e c e d i n g the date of the i n j u r y d i v i d e d by 52, b u t i f t h e i n j u r e d employee l o s t more t h a n seven c o n s e c u t i v e c a l e n d a r days d u r i n g the p e r i o d , a l t h o u g h n o t i n t h e same week, t h e n t h e e a r n i n g s f o r the remainder of the p e r i o d , a l t h o u g h not i n the same week, t h e n t h e e a r n i n g s f o r t h e r e m a i n d e r o f the 52 weeks s h a l l be d i v i d e d by t h e number o f weeks r e m a i n i n g a f t e r t h e t i m e so l o s t has b e e n d e d u c t e d . " The t r i a l c o u r t d e c i d e d t h a t , b e c a u s e A l l d a y had w o r k e d t h a n 52 weeks f o r McAbee b e f o r e h i s i n j u r y , was clearly the f i r s t fewer method inequitable. The s e c o n d method f o r e s t a b l i s h i n g an e m p l o y e e ' s w e e k l y e a r n i n g s i s s t a t e d as average follows: "Where t h e employment p r i o r t o t h e i n j u r y e x t e n d e d o v e r a p e r i o d o f l e s s t h a n 52 weeks, t h e method o f d i v i d i n g t h e e a r n i n g s d u r i n g t h a t p e r i o d by t h e number o f weeks and p a r t s t h e r e o f d u r i n g w h i c h t h e employee e a r n e d wages s h a l l be f o l l o w e d , p r o v i d e d 18 2110461 r e s u l t s j u s t and be o b t a i n e d . " The trial court inequitable fair concluded because to both p a r t i e s w i l l that Allday had the second worked thereby method was only five also days for McAbee. Subsection average weekly (b) provides a third method f o r calculating earnings: "Where by r e a s o n o f t h e s h o r t n e s s o f t h e t i m e d u r i n g w h i c h t h e e m p l o y e e has b e e n i n t h e employment o f h i s or her employer or the c a s u a l nature or terms of the employment i t i s i m p r a c t i c a b l e t o compute the a v e r a g e w e e k l y e a r n i n g s as above d e f i n e d , regard s h a l l be h a d t o t h e a v e r a g e w e e k l y amount w h i c h d u r i n g t h e 52 weeks p r i o r t o t h e i n j u r y was being e a r n e d by a p e r s o n i n t h e same g r a d e , e m p l o y e d a t t h e same work by t h e same e m p l o y e r , and i f t h e r e i s no p e r s o n so e m p l o y e d , by a p e r s o n i n t h e same g r a d e e m p l o y e d i n t h e same c l a s s o f employment i n t h e same d i s t r i c t . W h a t e v e r a l l o w a n c e s o f any c h a r a c t e r made t o an e m p l o y e e i n l i e u o f wages a r e s p e c i f i e d as p a r t o f t h e wage c o n t r a c t s h a l l be deemed a p a r t o f h i s or her e a r n i n g s . " Allday e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t he h o u r s ' work f o r McAbee. had earned $1,401.40 f o r He had b e e n p a i d $25.48 p e r h o u r f o r t h e f i r s t 40 h o u r s he w o r k e d , w i t h s t r a i g h t - t i m e pay to $1,019.20. overtime He had been p a i d $38.22 p e r hour h o u r s he w o r k e d , w i t h t i m e - a n d - a - h a l f t o $382.20. 50 A l l d a y ' s h o u r l y r a t e was pay amounting f o r the amounting s e t by t h e u n i o n and t h e same h o u r l y r a t e f o r a l l j o b s he had h e l d d u r i n g t h e 19 10 was year, 2110461 irrespective testified of the that, overtime pay between employer during and f o r which the he that y e a r , he had he had taken worked. earned Allday substantial substantial time off jobs. McAbee i n t r o d u c e d E x h i b i t 5, w h i c h showed t h e e a r n i n g s o f a McAbee e m p l o y e e who, to A l l d a y . McAbee c l a i m e d , was similarly situated McAbee's e v i d e n c e d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t t h e employee, a b o i l e r m a k e r , had e a r n e d $876 f o r 40 h o u r s ' work, o r $21.90 per hour. Allday o b j e c t e d on t h e g r o u n d t h a t h i s own i n c l u d e d a d d i t i o n a l pay t o weld, whereas, he s a i d , n o n w e l d i n g b o i l e r m a k e r s e a r n l e s s pay, and t h e r e was no showing that McAbee's for his ability wages employee was a welding boilermaker. When q u e s t i o n e d by t h e t r i a l c o u r t , McAbee was u n a b l e t o s t a t e whether t h e w o r k e r whose wages were shown on E x h i b i t 5 was a w e l d i n g o r a n o n w e l d i n g b o i l e r m a k e r . The t r i a l c o u r t a d m i t t e d McAbee's Exhibit 5, stating: " I ' l l just have to figure i t out." The trial court concluded that i t was authorized to d e v i a t e f r o m t h e c o m p u t a t i o n methods s e t o u t i n § 2 5 - 5 - 7 7 ( b ) and to use i t s discretion i n determining Allday's 20 average 2110461 weekly earnings. The trial court explained i t s reasoning as follows: " P u r s u a n t t o c a s e law and due t o t h e u n i q u e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h i s c a s e and A l l d a y ' s s h o r t - t e r m employment w i t h McAbee, t h i s c o u r t i s c o m p e l l e d t o use i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n d e t e r m i n i n g A l l d a y ' s a v e r a g e w e e k l y wage. Taking i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n A l l d a y ' s t e s t i m o n y c o n c e r n i n g h i s h o u r l y r a t e , and t h e f a c t t h a t A l l d a y worked c o n s i d e r a b l e overtime, but a l s o d i d n o t r e g u l a r l y work 52 weeks d u r i n g t h e y e a r , t h e c o u r t f i n d s t h a t A l l d a y ' s a v e r a g e w e e k l y wage on June 7, 2006, was $1, 078. The c o u r t f i n d s t h a t A l l d a y was m a k i n g an a v e r a g e g r o s s w e e k l y wage o f $1,401.40 ... , b u t A l l d a y was only working an a v e r a g e o f 40 weeks a y e a r , w h i c h i s $56,056 p e r y e a r d i v i d e d by 52, w h i c h r e s u l t s i n an a v e r a g e w e e k l y wage o f $1,078 o v e r a 52-week p e r i o d . " I n G.A. App. West & Co. 2010), injured court on a factually his of methods day that the i t s discretion for earnings. consider McGhee, 58 analogous second determined limits v. of in We noted evidence that, of the court had from average a (Ala. Civ. employee the trial This within the statutory average weekly was employer. acted employee's "although 167 the the deviating the 3d case, work w i t h trial calculating So. weekly court earnings must of a s i m i l a r l y s i t u a t e d employee, t h a t e v i d e n c e i s not c o n c l u s i v e . " 58 So. 3d a t 173. This court u l t i m a t e l y reversed the c o u r t ' s c a l c u l a t i o n of the employee's average weekly 21 trial earnings 2110461 in McGhee b e c a u s e , we held, the trial court's determination " a p p e a r [ e d ] t o be an amount c l o s e r t o [ t h e e m p l o y e e ' s ] maximum possible weekly earnings." earnings than his actual average weekly Id. " I n t h e end, when i t i s i m p r a c t i c a b l e t o a p p l y t h e f o r m u l a s f o r d e t e r m i n i n g a v e r a g e w e e k l y wage f o r e m p l o y e e s w o r k i n g l e s s t h a n 52 weeks, e f f o r t s s h o u l d be a i m e d a t f i n d i n g t h e f i g u r e t h a t most a c c u r a t e l y reflects the employee's e a r n i n g capacity. The s t a t u t e l e a v e s t h e method u s e d t o a c h i e v e t h e most e q u i t a b l e r e s u l t t o t h e s o u n d j u d g m e n t and j u d i c i a l d i s c r e t i o n of the t r i a l c o u r t . In e x e r c i s i n g t h i s d i s c r e t i o n , t h e c o u r t s h o u l d keep i n m i n d t h a t t h e r e s u l t s h o u l d be f a i r t o t h e e m p l o y e r , as w e l l as the employee." 1 Moore, Alabama (footnote In McAbee's Workers' Compensation to the present employee oranges." the admitted 15:10 at 666-67 omitted). case, was the a trial welder court and c o m p a r i n g t h a t e m p l o y e e t o A l l d a y was to § trial questioned like whether "comparing oranges When McAbee c o u l d n o t g i v e a d e f i n i t i v e court's question, McAbee's e v i d e n c e determination i n q u i r e d whether that and McAbee's the 22 nevertheless, u l t i m a t e l y made an employee s i t u a t e d to A l l d a y . court, was answer not implicit similarly 2110461 Because the evidence indicated year, A l l d a y worked " c o n s i d e r a b l e included in the calculation that, during o v e r t i m e , " the of Allday's a normal trial average court weekly e a r n i n g s b o t h A l l d a y ' s s t r a i g h t - t i m e and o v e r t i m e e a r n i n g s f o r the 5-day p e r i o d i n w h i c h A l l d a y was e m p l o y e d by McAbee. e v i d e n c e , however, a l s o i n d i c a t e d t h a t , d u r i n g a normal year, A l l d a y u s u a l l y w o r k e d o n l y 40 weeks r a t h e r t h a n 52. court accounted f o r that w e e k l y wage by weeks. its We 40 trial gross then d i v i d i n g the conclude t h a t the t r i a l d i s c r e t i o n to average weekly determine a p r o d u c t by acted w i t h i n the fair c a l c u l a t i o n of 52 limits of Allday's earnings. Lifetime Allday The multiplying Allday's f a c t by weeks and The concedes t h a t Benefits the trial court erred in ordering McAbee t o pay him p e r m a n e n t - t o t a l - d i s a b i l i t y b e n e f i t s " f o r t h e remainder of h i s l i f e . " S e c t i o n 25-5-57(a) (4)a. p r o v i d e s compensation f o r a permanent t o t a l "during disability the permanent t o t a l d i s a b i l i t y . " permanent-total-disability remainder of [the benefits claimant's] a p p l i c a t i o n of the s t a t u t e . We, 23 to i s t o be that paid A judgment a w a r d i n g be life" therefore, paid is an reverse "for the incorrect the trial 2110461 court's judgment in part and the cause to correct that with instructions " f o r the t r i a l its r e l a t i n g t o the p e r i o d during which b e n e f i t s are judgment court remand t o be p a i d f o r p e r m a n e n t t o t a l d i s a b i l i t y . " Inc. v. A d d e r h o l d , 852 So. 2d 784, 800-01 aspect of Bostrom Seating, (Ala. C i v . App. 2002). B e n e f i t and A t t o r n e y - F e e C a l c u l a t i o n Section 25-5-57(a)(4)a. provides, i n pertinent part: " F o r p e r m a n e n t t o t a l d i s a b i l i t y , ... t h e employee s h a l l r e c e i v e 66 2/3 p e r c e n t o f t h e a v e r a g e w e e k l y earnings r e c e i v e d a t the time of the i n j u r y , subject t o a maximum a n d minimum w e e k l y c o m p e n s a t i o n as stated i n Section Multiplying Allday's the i n j u r y 25-5-68." average weekly e a r n i n g s a t the time of ($1,078) b y 66 2/3 p e r c e n t p r o d u c e s a c o m p e n s a t i o n r a t e o f $717.95. T h a t c o m p e n s a t i o n r a t e , however, i s subject t o t h e maximum w e e k l y c o m p e n s a t i o n l i m i t s e t o u t i n § 25-5-68. The maximum w e e k l y c o m p e n s a t i o n a l l o w e d $629. 2 Because Allday's compensation on June 7, 2006, was rate exceeded the On t h e d a t e t h i s o p i n i o n was r e l e a s e d , t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n c o u l d b e f o u n d a t http://dir.alabama.gov//docs/guides/wc_weeklywage.pdf (as v i s i t e d on A p r i l 19, 2 0 1 3 ; a c o p y o f t h e Web page c o n t a i n i n g t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n i s a v a i l a b l e i n t h e case f i l e o f t h e c l e r k o f the Alabama C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s ) . 2 24 2110461 maximum w e e k l y c o m p e n s a t i o n l i m i t o f $629 i n e f f e c t on June 7, 2006, the weekly compensation t o which Allday i s entitled u n d e r t h e A c t i s $629. In Ex p a r t e S t . R e g i s our in C o r p . , 535 So. 2d 160 ( A l a . 1 9 8 8 ) , supreme c o u r t h e l d t h a t t o a w a r d a lump-sum a t t o r n e y f e e a p e r m a n e n t - t o t a l - d i s a b i l i t y case, the t r i a l reduce t h e compensation award t o p r e s e n t value the s i x percent court must according to d i s c o u n t r a t e s e t o u t i n § 25-5-83, A l a . Code 1975. " A c c o r d i n g t o S t . R e g i s , t o p r o p e r l y award a lump sum o f a t t o r n e y ' s f e e s i n a p e r m a n e n t t o t a l disability [case], the t r i a l c o u r t must first d e t e r m i n e t h e l i f e e x p e c t a n c y o f t h e e m p l o y e e . The use of the standard m o r t a l i t y t a b l e s has been a u t h o r i z e d f o r t h i s purpose. Once t h e number o f weeks of t h e employee's life expectancy i s d e t e r m i n e d , t h e t r i a l c o u r t must d i s c o u n t t h e number o f weeks b y t h e s i x p e r c e n t v a l u e . Then t h e number o f weeks r e d u c e d t o p r e s e n t v a l u e must be m u l t i p l i e d by t h e c o m p e n s a t i o n r a t e t o d e t e r m i n e t h e amount o f compensation awarded. The 15 p e r c e n t statutory maximum i s t h e n a p p l i e d t o t h e c o m p e n s a t i o n a w a r d e d to set a ceiling on t h e amount o f lump-sum a t t o r n e y ' s f e e s t h a t c a n be a w a r d e d . " 2 Moore, (footnotes Alabama Workers' Compensation § 29:14 a t 787-88 omitted). Although the t r i a l c o u r t made m i n o r a r i t h m e t i c a l errors i n c a l c u l a t i n g t h e lump-sum a t t o r n e y f e e ( e r r o r s t h a t we have 25 2110461 i n d i c a t e d and corrected i n brackets i n the quotation below), i t s method o f c o m p u t a t i o n f o l l o w s t h e a p p l i c a b l e s t a t u t e s the formula o u t l i n e d i n St. Regis. court "It as i s ordered, follows: adjudged The judgment s t a t e s : and decreed and by the "1. McAbee i s o r d e r e d t o pay A l l d a y b a c k - d u e t e m p o r a r y - t o t a l - d i s a b i l i t y b e n e f i t s and p e r m a n e n t t o t a l - d i s a b i l i t y b e n e f i t s a t t h e r a t e o f $629 p e r week (the s t a t u t o r y maximum a t t h a t t i m e ) , from M a r c h 31, 2008 (the last day Allday received t e m p o r a r y - t o t a l - d i s a b i l i t y b e n e f i t s ) , through the d a t e o f t h i s o r d e r , w h i c h (as o f A u g u s t 22, 2 0 1 1 ) , t o t a l s 177 weeks, o r $111,333. "2. McAbee i s o r d e r e d t o b a c k - p a y A l l d a y $8.50 p e r week ($629 m i n u s $ 6 2 0 . 5 0 ) , f r o m June 7, 2006, u n t i l M a r c h 31, 2008 (93 w e e k s ) , f o r a t o t a l sum o f $790.50. "3. McAbee i s o r d e r e d t o pay A l l d a y p e r m a n e n t t o t a l - d i s a b i l i t y benefits Allday i s presently 52 y e a r s o l d , b o r n M a r c h 7, 1959, and, a c c o r d i n g t o the Commissioner's Ordinary Standard Mortality T a b l e , has a l i f e e x p e c t a n c y o f 26.46 y e a r s , or 1,376 weeks, w h i c h has a p r e s e n t v a l u e o f 690.7597 weeks. Thus, t h e p r e s e n t v a l u e o f t h i s a w a r d i s [$434,487.85, n o t ] $440,281.57 (690.7597 x $ 6 2 9 ) . T h e r e f o r e , McAbee i s o r d e r e d t o pay A l l d a y $534.65, ($629 x 15% = $94.35; $629 m i n u s $94.35 = $534.65) f o r [26.46 y e a r s , n o t ] 27.34 y e a r s , a t w h i c h p o i n t A l l d a y ' s payment s h a l l go b a c k t o $629 p e r week. [ 3 ] On the date t h i s opinion was released, the State Department of Labor p r o v i d e d a p r e s e n t - v a l u e c a l c u l a t o r t h a t c o u l d be f o u n d a t h t t p : / / d i r . a l a b a m a . g o v / w c / p v a l u e . a s p x . 3 26 2110461 "4. P u r s u a n t t o § [25-5-90, A l a . Code 1975,] o f the A c t , A l l d a y ' s attorney ... i s a w a r d e d , a n d McAbee i s o r d e r e d t o p a y i n a lump sum, an a t t o r n e y ' s f e e i n t h e amount o f [ $ 8 1 , 9 9 1 . 7 1 , n o t ] $81,991.86, ... w h i c h i s f i f t e e n p e r c e n t (15%) o f a l l sums due. ( 1 5 % o f $111,333 = $16,699.95; 1 5 % o f $790.50 = $118.58; 15% o f [$434,487.85 = $65,173.18, n o t ] 15% o f $434,488.85 = $ 6 5 , 1 7 3 . 3 3 ) . " Conclusion The t r i a l court's to judgment i s r e v e r s e d ordered McAbee benefits " f o r the remainder of h i s l i f e " arithmetical errors award. the On remand, judgment as pay Allday i n s o f a r a s i t (a) permanent-total-disability a n d (b) made m i n o r i n c a l c u l a t i n g t h e lump-sum the t r i a l court specified. attorney-fee i s instructed to correct In a l l other respects, the IN PART; AND REMANDED WITH judgment i s a f f i r m e d . AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED INSTRUCTIONS. Thompson, P . J . , a n d Thomas, Moore, concur. 27 and Donaldson, JJ.,

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