The Picture People and Royal Indemnity Company v. Aubrey A. Rachel

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COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA Present: Judges Elder, Felton and Senior Judge Willis THE PICTURE PEOPLE AND ROYAL INDEMNITY COMPANY v. Record No. 2300-05-1 MEMORANDUM OPINION* PER CURIAM JANUARY 31, 2006 AUBREY A. RACHEL FROM THE VIRGINIA WORKERS COMPENSATION COMMISSION (Ramesh Murthy; Tracey Alice Berry; Penn, Stuart & Eskridge, on briefs), for appellants. (Matthew H. Kraft; Rutter Mills, L.L.P., on brief), for appellee. The Picture People and its insurer (hereinafter referred to as employer ) appeal a decision of the Workers Compensation Commission finding that (1) Aubrey A. Rachel (claimant) was not guilty of fraud justifying the termination of her outstanding award of temporary partial compensation; and (2) the deputy commissioner s failure to grant employer s motion to strike claimant s defenses based upon her failure to properly respond to discovery was not an abuse of discretion, and in the alternative, constituted harmless error. We have reviewed the record and the commission s opinion and find that this appeal is without merit. Accordingly, we affirm for the reasons stated by the commission in its final opinion. See Rachel v. Picture People (The), VWC File No. 204-34-45 (Aug. 30, 2005). We dispense with oral argument and summarily affirm because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the * Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication. materials before the Court and argument would not aid the decisional process. See Code § 17.1-403; Rule 5A:27. Affirmed. -2-

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