STEPHEN MELSON, Petitioner-Appellant, vs. CITY CARTON RECYCLING, VIRGINIA SURETY COMPANY, and SECOND INJURY FUND OF IOWA, Respondents-Appellees.
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 7-587 / 06-1217
Filed November 29, 2007
STEPHEN MELSON,
Petitioner-Appellant,
vs.
CITY CARTON RECYCLING,
VIRGINIA SURETY COMPANY,
and SECOND INJURY FUND OF IOWA,
Respondents-Appellees.
________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Linn County, Mitchell E. Turner,
Judge.
Employee appeals from a district court judicial review ruling affirming the
appeal decision of the workers’ compensation commissioner. AFFIRMED.
Bob Rush and Gary B. Nelson of Rush & Nicholson, P.L.C., Cedar
Rapids, for appellant.
Chris Scheldrup and Charles A. Blades of Scheldrup Law Firm, P.C.
Cedar Rapids, for appellees City Carton Recycling and Virginia Surety Company.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Deborah M. Stein, Assistant
Attorney General, for appellee Second Injury Fund of Iowa.
Heard by Huitink, P.J., and Miller and Eisenhauer, JJ.
2
MILLER, J.
Stephen Melson appeals from a district court judicial review ruling
affirming the appeal decision of the workers’ compensation commissioner. We
affirm the judgment of the district court.
I.
BACKGROUND FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS.
Melson’s employment with City Carton Recycling, a paper recycling
company, began in 1992. He worked for City Carton as a route driver, which
involved driving a truck to various businesses and picking up their recyclable
paper with a skid loader. At each pick-up site, Melson had to pull out steel ramps
weighing approximately “137 pounds apiece.”
He would then drive the skid
loader down the ramps and use it to load the recyclable paper onto the trailer of
the truck. On August 16, 2001, Melson was walking down the ramps when his
right foot slipped out from under him and got caught between the ramps. He
sought medical treatment immediately following the accident and was eventually
diagnosed by Dr. Nate Brady in St. Luke’s Work Well Clinic with a non-displaced
fracture of his right ankle. He was placed in an equalizer boot, given exercises to
perform at home, and removed from work.
Melson was released to work with assistance on September 13, 2001. He
resumed working as a route driver on September 17, and was released to work
with no restrictions about one week later. Around that same time, Melson also
returned to his part-time job delivering pizzas.
On December 21, 2001, Melson visited Dr. Karen Harmon for a routine
checkup after his former physician closed his practice.
During his initial
appointment with Dr. Harmon, Melson reported a history of depression and
3
“problems with his legs, knees and ankles.” After examining Melson, Dr. Harmon
noted he had a “[h]istory of arthritis in the ankles secondary to post traumatic
changes” and “[m]ild varicosities in the ankles.”
Melson did not seek further medical treatment until May 2002 when he
saw a nurse practitioner at Mercy Care North for “left foot and ankle pain and
swelling” that had “been bothering him off and on for about a year.” An x-ray was
taken, and it showed multiple “degenerative changes” within the left foot and
Achilles tendon area. Melson was referred to Dr. Jeffrey Nassif for treatment of
his left ankle pain. Dr. Nassif noted Melson “has had intermittent leg pain for
several years but for the last 4-5 months has been getting worse in his ankle.”
Dr. Nassif’s impression after examining Melson was Achilles tendonitis.
He
placed Melson in an equalizer boot and ordered an MRI. On June 10, 2002, Dr.
Nassif informed Melson that his MRI revealed he had “chronic distal Achilles
tendinopathy with some more limited acute injury.” Dr. Nassif recommended
“further immobilization” of his left ankle with the equalizer boot and restricted
Melson to “sit-down work only.”
Melson returned to Dr. Brady for treatment at the Work Well Clinic on June
25, 2002. He informed Dr. Brady “his lower legs have been hurting over the
course of months,” which he attributed “to the pedaling of the skid loader that he
uses while at work.” Melson also informed Dr. Brady he “has pain in his legs
when he gets out of the loader to pull the steel ramps in and out of his truck.” Dr.
Brady “reiterated Dr. Nassif’s recommendation for sitting job only and to use the
wheelchair as needed to get around while at work.” Melson saw Dr. Brady again
on July 9, 2002, due to “increased lower extremity pain.” Dr. Brady stated he
4
“continue[d] to be unsure about the cause of all of Mr. Melson’s lower extremity
pain.”
He restricted Melson from working “to see if completely stopping his
activities and allowing him to elevate and ice his legs will improve this pain.”
Melson returned to Dr. Brady about one week later with “no improvement in his
pain” despite being off work.
Melson was evaluated by Dr. Warren Verdeck on July 23, 2002, for
possible surgical intervention. Melson told Dr. Verdeck he was experiencing pain
in both ankles, “but his main problem is the left one.” Dr. Verdeck opined Melson
“may not be able to return to” his job as a route driver “even with surgery.”
Melson followed up with Dr. Verdeck on August 6, 2002, complaining of
continuing “problems with both ankles” despite the equalizer boot and therapy.
Dr. Verdeck “suspect[ed] with the problems he is having that he is likely going to
be unable to return to his regular occupation, which involves a lot of repetitive
work with foot pedals.” He believed “both ankle problems are more of a chronic
repetitive stress syndrome.”
Dr. Verdeck gave Melson a “prescription for a
wheelchair for any prolonged distance.” Dr. Verdeck and Dr. Brady released
Melson to work with the restriction that he perform “sit down” work only.
Melson’s condition persisted with minimal improvement. On October 22,
2002, Dr. Verdeck consequently stated Melson had reached maximum medical
improvement. He believed Melson would “continue to be restricted to a sit-down
job only, likely on a permanent basis.” However, with the exception of one week
in September, City Carton was unable to accommodate Melson’s work
restriction. His employment with the company was accordingly terminated in
5
November 2002. He sought treatment for depression following his termination
from City Carton.
Melson
filed
a
petition
with
the
Iowa
Workers’
Compensation
Commissioner on January 16, 2003, alleging he suffered a right ankle injury on
August 16, 2001, and a cumulative bilateral injury on June 10, 2002. He sought
recovery from City Carton and its insurance carrier, Virginia Surety Company, for
both injuries. He also sought recovery from Second Injury Fund of Iowa (the
Fund) under the provisions of Iowa Code section 85.63 (2003).
Following an arbitration hearing, the deputy workers’ compensation
commissioner awarded Melson temporary total disability benefits for the August
16, 2001 right ankle injury at a weekly rate of $390.01 and medical expenses in
the amount of $848.53. 1
However, he concluded Melson did not suffer any
permanent disability from the August 16, 2001 injury and accordingly denied
Melson’s request for permanent disability benefits. The deputy further concluded
City Carton and Virginia Surety paid Melson at an incorrect rate, resulting in an
underpayment of $60.24 for the temporary benefits for the August 16, 2001
injury, but he declined to award Melson penalty benefits. As to the June 10,
2002 claimed injury, 2 the deputy determined the injury did not arise out of the
course of Melson’s employment with City Carton and rejected his remaining
claims as to that injury date against all of the defendants. Finally, the deputy
1
Prior to the arbitration hearing, the parties stipulated Melson’s August 16, 2001 right
ankle injury arose out of the course of his employment with City Carton. The parties also
stipulated he was entitled to 4.429 weeks of temporary total disability for that injury.
2
The parties stipulated that Melson’s alleged cumulative injury manifested itself on June
10, 2002.
6
awarded City Carton and Virginia Surety a credit of $14,699.28 for payments
made to Melson for the June 10, 2002 noncompensable injury.
Melson appealed, and the workers’ compensation commissioner affirmed
and adopted the deputy’s decision.
Melson then filed a petition for judicial
review. Following a hearing, the district court affirmed the agency decision.
Melson appeals. He claims the agency erred in not (1) making essential
findings to support legal conclusions; (2) finding permanent impairment arose out
of the August 16, 2001 right leg injury; (3) finding he suffered a work injury on
June 10, 2002; (4) finding the June 10, 2002 injury and resulting termination was
a proximate cause of his depression; (5) awarding industrial disability benefits;
(6) finding he suffered from two qualifying injuries entitling him to recovery from
the Fund; (7) assessing a penalty for underpayment of benefits; and (8) awarding
medical expenses for the June 10, 2002 injury. He also claims the amount of the
credit awarded to City Carton and Virginia Surety was incorrect.
II.
SCOPE AND STANDARDS OF REVIEW.
The Iowa Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 17A of the 2005 Iowa
Code, governs the scope of our review in workers’ compensation cases. Iowa
Code § 86.26; Meyer v. IBP, Inc., 710 N.W.2d 213, 218 (Iowa 2006). “Under the
act, we may only interfere with the commissioner’s decision if it is erroneous
under one of the grounds enumerated in the statute, and a party’s substantial
rights have been prejudiced.” Meyer, 710 N.W.2d at 218. The district court acts
in an appellate capacity to correct errors of law on the part of the agency.
Grundmeyer v. Weyerhaeuser Co., 649 N.W.2d 744, 748 (Iowa 2002).
In
reviewing the district court’s decision, we apply the standards of chapter 17A to
7
determine whether our conclusions are the same as those reached by the district
court. Clark v. Vicorp Rests., Inc., 696 N.W.2d 596, 603 (Iowa 2005).
“If the claim of error lies with the agency’s findings of fact, the proper
question on review is whether substantial evidence supports those findings of
fact” when the record is viewed as a whole. Meyer, 710 N.W.2d at 219. Factual
findings regarding the award of workers’ compensation benefits are within the
commissioner’s discretion, so we are bound by the commissioner’s findings of
fact if they are supported by substantial evidence. Mycogen Seeds v. Sands,
686 N.W.2d 457, 464-65 (Iowa 2004).
Because factual determinations are within the discretion of the agency, so
is its application of law to the facts. Clark, 696 N.W.2d at 604; see also Meyer,
710 N.W.2d at 219 (stating the reviewing court should “allocate some degree of
discretion” in considering the agency’s application of law to facts, “but not the
breadth of discretion given to the findings of facts”). We will reverse the agency’s
application of the law to the facts if we determine its application was “irrational,
illogical, or wholly unjustifiable.” Meyer, 710 N.W.2d at 218.
III.
MERITS.
We must first address Melson’s claim that the deputy commissioner and
the commissioner did not make essential findings to support their legal
conclusions. “It is well-established law that the commissioner must state the
evidence relied upon and detail the reasons for his conclusions” pursuant to Iowa
Code section 17A.16(1). Heartland Specialty Foods v. Johnson, 731 N.W.2d
397, 400 (Iowa Ct. App. 2007); see also Bridgestone/Firestone v. Accordino, 561
N.W.2d 60, 62 (Iowa 1997). “[T]he commissioner’s decision must be ‘sufficiently
8
detailed to show the path he has taken through conflicting evidence.’” Accordino,
561 N.W.2d at 62 (citation omitted).
However, “the commissioner need not
discuss every evidentiary fact and the basis for its acceptance or rejection” so
long as the analytical process can be followed on appeal.
Id.
The
commissioner’s duty to furnish a detailed opinion is therefore fulfilled if it is
possible to work backward from the agency’s written opinion and deduce what
must have been the agency’s legal conclusions and findings of fact. Id.
According to this standard, we find the deputy’s decision adopted by the
commissioner contains sufficiently detailed legal conclusions supported by
findings of fact.
We reject Melson’s argument that the agency’s decision is
lacking in factual findings and legal conclusions because the commissioner
“summarily adopted the decision without commentary.” See id. (affirming the
commissioner’s summary adoption of the deputy commissioner’s decision
because “[n]o purpose would be served by requiring the commissioner to
duplicate the deputy’s efforts”).
A. August 16, 2001 Injury.
We next turn to Melson’s claim that the agency’s finding that he did not
suffer a permanent impairment or disability from his August 16, 2001 injury is not
supported by substantial evidence in the record.
We are bound by the
commissioner’s fact findings if they are supported by substantial evidence in the
record as a whole. Meyer, 710 N.W.2d at 218. Substantial evidence is defined
as evidence of the quality and quantity “that would be deemed sufficient by a
neutral, detached, and reasonable person, to establish the fact at issue when the
consequences resulting from the establishment of that fact are understood to be
9
serious and of great importance.”
Iowa Code § 17A.19(f)(1); Mycogen, 686
N.W.2d at 464. Thus, evidence is substantial when a reasonable person could
accept it as adequate to reach the same finding. Asmus v. Waterloo Cmty. Sch.
Dist., 722 N.W.2d 653, 657 (Iowa 2006).
“The fact that two inconsistent
conclusions may be drawn from the same evidence does not prevent the
agency’s findings from being supported by substantial evidence.” Id. “Because
the commissioner is charged with weighing the evidence, we liberally and broadly
construe the findings to uphold his decision.” Finch v. Schneider Specialized
Carriers, Inc., 700 N.W.2d 328, 331 (Iowa 2005).
With these principles in mind, we reject Melson’s claim that the agency
“erred in concluding the August 16, 2001 injury did not result in permanent
impairment or disability.”
The deputy determined Melson did not suffer a
permanent impairment or disability as a result of his August 16 injury because he
returned to work following the injury without any additional limitations or
restrictions. Melson argues the deputy’s finding in this regard is not supported by
substantial evidence because he returned to work “in pain, not fully healed and
with continued home therapy.”
The record, however, shows Melson was released to work following his
August 16 injury without any restrictions. Although he testified at the arbitration
hearing that he continued to experience “pain and discomfort” in his right ankle
upon his return to work, he did not seek any additional medical treatment for his
right ankle until after problems developed with his left ankle. He did not mention
any specific problems with his right ankle at his December 2001 physical with Dr.
Harmon.
Nor did he include his August 16, 2001 right ankle fracture in the
10
medical history he provided to Dr. Harmon. When he sought medical treatment
in May 2002, his primary complaint concerned his left ankle. We therefore reject
Melson’s argument in this regard.
Melson further argues the deputy’s finding that he did not suffer
permanent impairment or disability as a result of his August 16, 2001 injury is not
supported by substantial evidence because he was “found to be both
permanently impaired and restricted.” In October 2002, Dr. Verdeck assigned
Melson a five percent permanent impairment rating for his right leg and stated he
felt Melson “will continue to be restricted to a sit-down job only, likely on a
permanent basis.” Melson’s expert witness, Dr. F. Manshadi, assigned an eighty
percent permanent impairment of the whole person, while the defendants’ expert
witness, Dr. Kenneth McMains, did not assign a permanent impairment rating.
“A claimant has the burden of proving his work-related injury was a
proximate cause of his disability.” Ayers v. D & N Fence Co., Inc., 731 N.W.2d
11, 17 (Iowa 2007).
“In order for a cause to be proximate, it must be a
‘substantial factor.’” Id. (citation omitted). We conclude substantial evidence
supports the agency’s finding that Melson did not show his August 16, 2001
injury resulted in permanent impairment or disability.
Dr. Verdeck did not state whether he believed Melson’s August 16, 2001
right ankle injury was a substantial factor in the permanent impairment rating he
assigned to the right leg. Dr. McMains, however, did not see any “evidence of
any industrial injury that would lead one to believe that there was a cause-andeffect relationship between Mr. Melson’s job and development of the calcific
tendinitis.” He noted Melson’s ankle “did heal fully with the worker returned to
11
full-duty on September 25, 2001, with no restrictions and no apparent
impairment.” Indeed, the record shows that Melson resumed work at City Carton
and at his part-time job delivering pizzas with no further complaints of right ankle
pain until the summer of 2002.
Melson reported to at least one physician that “he has had intermittent leg
pain for several years.” He had a history of injuries to his right lower extremities
preceding his August 16, 2001 injury. He suffered a right knee fracture from a
motor vehicle accident in 1969, and he fractured his right ankle in the mid-1980’s
or early 1990. Melson’s medical records also describe him as “morbidly obese,”
which Dr. McMains believed contributed to his bilateral Achilles tendonitis. Dr.
Manshadi, on the other hand, reported that Melson “has had a right ankle
fracture and over time has developed bilateral Achilles tendonitis.” Dr. Manshadi
concluded Melson’s bilateral Achilles tendonitis was work-related due to the “use
of the ankles in flexion and extension to operate the skid loader.”
The deputy considered the opinions of Dr. Verdeck, Dr. McMains, and Dr.
Manshadi in arriving at his conclusion that Melson’s August 16, 2001 injury did
not result in a permanent impairment or disability. It is the role of the agency to
determine the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given to any
evidence, and it may accept or reject an expert opinion in whole or in part.
Sherman v. Pella Corp., 576 N.W.2d 312, 321 (Iowa 1998). Thus, the agency
was free to accept the opinion of Dr. McMains over that of Dr. Manshadi. 3 It is
3
Melson argues the agency erred in relying on Dr. McMains’s report due to factual
inaccuracies and Dr. McMains’s bias in favor of the defense in workers’ compensation
cases. Upon review of the record, we do not believe Dr. McMains’s report contains the
inaccuracies alleged by Melson. Furthermore, although an expert’s opinion “based upon
an incomplete history . . . is not necessarily binding upon the commissioner,” we
12
not the role of the district court on judicial review, nor this court on appeal, to
reassess the weight and credibility of any of this evidence. See Arndt v. City of
Le Claire, 728 N.W.2d 389, 394-95 (Iowa 2007).
We accordingly conclude
substantial evidence supported the agency’s finding regarding the August 16,
2001 injury.
B. June 10, 2002 Injury.
Melson next claims the agency’s finding that he did not suffer an injury
arising out of his employment with City Carton on June 10, 2002, is not
supported by substantial evidence. 4
At the administrative hearing, Melson
alleged he suffered a cumulative bilateral injury to his lower extremities, which he
attributed to the “repetition from the skid loader . . . and the foot pedals.” The
deputy rejected Melson’s claim for benefits arising from the alleged June 10,
2002 cumulative injury, finding, “The claimant’s condition was preexisting and
reiterate that the “commissioner as trier of fact has the duty to determine the credibility of
the witnesses and to weigh the evidence, together with other disclosed facts and
circumstances, and then to accept or reject the opinion.” Dunlavey v. Economy Fire &
Cas. Co., 526 N.W.2d 845, 853 (Iowa 1995). We thus find Melson’s contentions
regarding Dr. McMains to be without merit.
4
Melson initially argues that the agency’s decision is not supported by substantial
evidence because the defendants admitted the June 10, 2002 injury resulted in
permanent impairment in their responses to interrogatories and request for admissions
that he propounded. City Carton and Virginia Surety answered “N/A” in response to
Melson’s interrogatory requesting explanation of “all facts and circumstances” upon
which the defendants denied that his “subject injury arose out of or in the course of” his
employment. Katherine Walker, the human resources administrator for City Carton and
Virginia Surety, testified she was “not sure which injury” the interrogatory was referring to
when she answered it. Thus, it is not clear whether City Carton and Virginia Surety
actually admitted the June 10 injury resulted in permanent impairment in their response
to Melson’s interrogatory. Furthermore, they denied that position at trial. The Fund did
admit Melson’s June 10, 2002 injury “was a proximate cause of permanent impairment”
in response to Melson’s request for admissions. See Iowa R. Civ. P. 5.11 (stating “[a]ny
matter admitted” in responses to request for admissions “is conclusively established in
the pending action”). However, the Fund’s liability does not turn on the element of
permanent impairment alone. See Second Injury Fund v. Shank, 516 N.W.2d 808, 81213 (Iowa 1994) (setting forth the elements the employee must establish to recover
benefits from the Fund). We accordingly conclude Melson’s argument is without merit.
13
there is insufficient evidence to establish that the work at City Carton Recycling
permanently aggravated the preexisting condition as opposed to the activities of
daily living or the concurrent employment as pizza delivery driver.”
A cumulative injury is an “injury that develops over time from performing
work-related activities and ultimately produces some degree of industrial
disability.” Ellingson v. Fleetguard, Inc., 599 N.W.2d 440, 444 (Iowa 1999). In
order for a cumulative injury to be compensable under our workers’
compensation statute, the claimant must show that the injury “arose out of” his
employment. Meyer, 710 N.W.2d at 220; see also Ayers, 731 N.W.2d at 17 (“In
order to be compensable, the cumulative trauma must be work related.”). “An
injury ‘arises out of’ the employment if a causal connection exists between the
employment and injury.” Meyer, 710 N.W.2d at 222 (citation omitted). The injury
must be a natural incident of the work, “meaning the injury must be a rational
consequence of the hazard connected with the employment.”
Id. (internal
quotation omitted). Thus, the claimant is required to demonstrate the injury was
in some way caused by or related to the working environment or the conditions of
employment. 5 Id.
“Whether an injury has a direct causal connection with the employment or
arose independently thereof is ordinarily established by expert testimony, and the
weight to be given such an opinion is for the finder of fact.” St. Luke’s Hosp. v.
5
Melson asserts the “deputy applied the tort law standard of causation in deciding that
employment did not proximately cause the injury.” We do not agree. Contrary to
Melson’s assertion, the deputy did not require him “to show that City Carton work and
only that work was the cause of the injury.” Instead, the deputy correctly noted Melson
was required to establish that the injury was a “rational consequence of a hazard
connected with the employment and not merely incidental to the employment.” See
Meyer, 710 N.W.2d at 222 n.4 (noting the “arising out of” standard is “a less onerous
standard than the proximate-cause standard from tort law”).
14
Gray, 604 N.W.2d 646, 652 (Iowa 2000).
Dr. McMains concluded Melson’s
bilateral Achilles tendonitis was “an arthritic degenerative process” that was not
work-related, stating “when we look at workers performing the same tasks and
using a skid loader, we do not see this condition.” See, e.g., McIlravy v. N. River
Ins. Co., 653 N.W.2d 323, 332 (Iowa 2002) (finding claimant’s knee injuries were
work-related based on evidence that the nature of claimant’s profession placed
the worker at greater risk for knee injuries than other professions).
Dr.
Manshadi, on the other hand, believed Melson’s condition was related to the
frequent “use of the ankles in flexion and extension to operate the skid loader”
required by his job.
“The commissioner must consider the expert testimony together with all
other evidence introduced bearing on the causal connection between the injury
and the disability.” Sherman, 576 N.W.2d at 321. The weight to be afforded to
the expert testimony “depends on the accuracy of the facts relied upon by the
expert and other surrounding circumstances.”
Id.
In concluding Melson’s
bilateral Achilles tendonitis was not caused by his employment at City Carton, Dr.
McMains noted, “In most cases of Achilles’ tendinitis, the etiology is complex. . . .
This is a degenerative process and not commonly associated with any particular
cause.”
Melson’s medical history supports Dr. McMains’s statement.
As
previously mentioned, Melson “had intermittent leg pain for several years.” He
had several injuries to his lower extremities prior to his employment with City
Carton, and he was severely overweight, which Dr. McMains believed was a
significant factor in his condition.
15
Dr. McMains’s conclusion that Melson’s injury was not related to his
employment at City Carton is also supported by the fact that Melson’s treating
physicians seemed to be perplexed as to the cause of his injury. Dr. Brady
stated he was “unsure about the cause of all of Mr. Melson’s lower extremity
pain.” Dr. Verdeck ambiguously stated, “In response to your question whether
his current condition is related to his occupation, I feel that he has an aggravation
of a pre-existing condition of both ankles.” See Ziegler v. United States Gypsum
Co., 252 Iowa 613, 620, 106 N.W.2d 591, 595 (1960) (holding a claimant may
recover for aggravation of a preexisting condition where the aggravation occurs
in the course of employment and a causal connection is established). We reject
Melson’s argument that Dr. Verdeck’s above-quoted statement conclusively
establishes that his employment at City Carton aggravated a preexisting
condition. See IBP, Inc. v. Harpole, 621 N.W.2d 410, 418 (Iowa 2001) (“The
possibility of drawing inconsistent conclusions from the same evidence does not
mean an agency's decision lacks substantial support.”).
Based on the foregoing, we conclude substantial evidence supports the
agency’s finding that Melson’s June 10, 2002 injury did not arise out of his
employment at City Carton. Due to our conclusion that the agency did not err in
finding the June 10, 2002 injury noncompensable, we reject Melson’s claims that
the agency erred in not (1) finding the June 10 injury and resulting termination
was a proximate cause of depression; (2) awarding industrial disability benefits;
(3) finding that Melson suffered two qualifying second injuries; and (4) awarding
16
medical expenses for the June 10 injury. 6 We accordingly affirm the agency’s
denial of those claims.
C. Penalty Benefits.
Finally, we address Melson’s claim that the agency erred by denying his
request for penalty benefits. Iowa Code section 86.13 provides,
If a delay in commencement or termination of benefits occurs without
reasonable or probable cause or excuse, the workers’ compensation
commissioner shall award benefits in addition to those benefits payable
under this chapter or chapter 85, 85A, or 85B, up to fifty percent of the
amount of benefits that were unreasonably delayed or denied.
Under section 86.13, an unreasonable delay in payment of benefits as well as
benefits that are underpaid entitles an employee to penalty benefits, unless the
employer establishes reasonable and probable cause or excuse.
See
Robbennolt v. Snap-On Tools Corp., 555 N.W.2d 229, 237 (Iowa 1996).
A
reasonable cause or excuse exists if the employer had a reasonable basis to
contest the employee’s entitlement to benefits. Christensen v. Snap-On Tools
Corp., 554 N.W.2d 254, 260 (Iowa 1996). “A ‘reasonable basis’ for denial of the
claim exists if the claim is ‘fairly debatable.’” Id.
The deputy determined Melson was “underpaid $60.24 in temporary
benefits on the August 16, 2001 injury due to City Carton Recycling and Virginia
Surety Company paying the claimant at an incorrect rate.” The deputy found City
6
We also reject Melson’s claim that the deputy erred in the amount of credit awarded to
City Carton and Virginia Surety. Melson argues the defendants’ answer to an
interrogatory, instead of “a sheet of paper” submitted by the defendants at the hearing,
establishes the correct amount of credit. Both the answer to the interrogatory and the
“sheet of paper” were admitted into evidence at the hearing. There is a small difference
between the amount of credit the defendants claimed in their answer to the interrogatory
and the amount of credit they sought at trial. We cannot say the deputy’s decision to
adopt the amount of credit the defendants claimed at trial lacks substantial evidence.
See Harpole, 621 N.W.2d at 418 (“An agency’s decision does not lack substantial
evidence because inconsistent conclusions may be drawn from the same evidence.”).
17
Carton and Virginia Surety included two weeks of wages that were not
representative of Melson’s wages because those weeks included time off.
However, Melson’s request for penalty benefits was denied because the deputy
concluded “the determination of what constitute[d] a representative week” was
fairly debatable based on the evidence presented. A claim is fairly debatable
when it is open to dispute on any logical basis. City of Madrid v. Blasnitz, ____
N.W.2d ____, ____ (Iowa 2007). The record shows there was a “reasonable
factual dispute” as to the calculation of Melson’s weekly earnings. Gilbert v. USF
Holland, Inc., 637 N.W.2d 194, 201 (Iowa 2001) (affirming the district court’s
judgment reversing the commissioner’s award of penalty benefits). We therefore
conclude
substantial
evidence
supports
the
deputy’s
finding
that
the
determination of what constitutes a representative week was fairly debatable in
this case. See City of Madrid, ____ N.W.2d at ____. We accordingly affirm the
agency’s denial of penalty benefits.
IV.
CONCLUSION.
The deputy’s decision adopted by the commissioner contains sufficiently
detailed legal conclusions supported by findings of fact. There is substantial
evidence in the record supporting the agency’s finding that Melson’s August 16,
2001 injury did not result in permanent impairment or disability. There is also
substantial evidence in the record supporting the agency’s finding that Melson’s
June 10, 2002 injury did not arise out of his employment at City Carton. We
reject Melson’s remaining assignments of error relating to his June 10, 2002
injury due to our above conclusion. Finally, we conclude the agency did not err
in denying Melson’s penalty benefits claim because there is substantial evidence
18
in the record supporting the finding that the claim was “fairly debatable.” The
judgment of the district court is accordingly affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
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