Metcalf v. Adult and Family Services Div.

• Jurisdiction: Oregon
• Citation: Metcalf v. Adult and Family Services Div., 672 P.2d 379, 65 Or.App. 761 (Or. App. 1984)
• Docket Number: No. 5-2401-AE3124-1,5-2401-AE3124-1
• Parties: Raymond METCALF and Betty Metcalf, Petitioners, v. ADULT AND FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION, Leo Hegstrom, Dir., Respondent. ; CA A28769.
• Court: Oregon Court of Appeals
• Decision Date: 08 February 1984

Page 379

672 P.2d 379

65 Or.App. 761

Raymond METCALF and Betty Metcalf, Petitioners, v. ADULT AND FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION, Leo Hegstrom, Dir., Respondent.

No. 5-2401-AE3124-1; CA A28769.

Court of Appeals of Oregon.

Argued and Submitted Oct. 17, 1983.

Decided Nov. 30, 1983.

Reconsideration Denied Jan. 13, 1984.

Review Denied Feb. 8, 1984.

Robert M. Atkinson, Salem, argued the cause and filed the brief for petitioners.

Michael D. Reynolds, Asst. Atty. Gen., Salem, argued the cause for respondent. With him on the brief were Dave Frohnmayer, Atty. Gen., and James E. Mountain, Jr., Deputy Sol. Gen., Salem.

Before BUTTLER, P.J., and WARREN and ROSSMAN, JJ.

WARREN, Judge.

Petitioners seek reversal of an order of Adult and Family Services Division (AFS), which terminated their general assistance benefits on a determination that petitioner, Betty Metcalf, was not unemployable under the criteria of OAR 461-05-311 and 461-05-316. ¹ They claim that the order failed to demonstrate a rational connection between the findings of fact and the conclusion, that AFS erroneously placed the burden of proof on Mrs. Metcalf to prove continued unemployability and that it applied an incorrect standard of proof.

The relevant rules provide:

"A person is considered unemployable when a short-term diagnosed physical or mental incapacity as certified by a licensed medical professional specified in rule 461-05-315 prevents the person from engaging in any type of gainful employment. The condition must be expected to last for a period of 60 days or more from the date of request:

" * * *

"(2) A person will not be considered unemployable if there is any work the person can do which will not jeopardize his or her physical or mental condition, regardless of whether work is available and regardless of location. Social factors such as training, education, and place of residence will not be considered." OAR 461-05-311

"Gainful employment is any kind of work for which earned income, as specified in rule 461-04-501, is received regardless of the adequacy to meet need. However, the following are situations where the person may be considered unemployable when engaged in work or work-type activities: Working against medical advice; or engaging in work-type activities related to an activity center, or a sheltered workshop." OAR 461-05-316.

AFS's order on reconsideration adopted the following relevant findings of the hearings officer's original decision:

"[Medical Review Team] received and reviewed a medical report dated December 8, 1982 by Dr. Richard Turner, Internal Medicine and Cardiology; Osteopathic Physician and Surgeon.

" * * *

"Dr. Turner feels that Mrs. Metcalf could not return to her former occupation as a licensed practical nurse or other occupations which would require lifting. Dr. Turner suggested she could be retrained for another occupation which would be less demanding."

Petitioners contend that, from those findings, it cannot be concluded that Mrs. Metcalf is capable of employment and that, if that conclusion can be made from the facts found, there is no explanation in the order why the facts found lead to the conclusion of employability. See Home Plate, Inc. v. OLCC, 20 Or.App. 188, 530 P.2d 862 (1975).

We conclude that there is a clear demonstration of a rational connection between the findings and the conclusion. The hearings officer recited that, because the physician believed Mrs. Metcalf could be retrained for an occupation other than nursing that would be less demanding, it could be inferred that he also believed that she was capable of the work for which she could be retained. The conclusion that petitioner is capable of some work and was not unemployable is permissible under OAR 461-05-311(2).

Next, petitioners contend that AFS erroneously placed the burden on Mrs. Metcalf to demonstrate her continued unemployability. She argues that, having once been found unemployable, the burden is on AFS to prove that her condition has changed and that she has become employable. ORS 183.450(2) provides, in part:

" * * * The burden of presenting evidence to support a fact or position in a contested case rests on the...