Painter v. Potlatch Corp.

• Decision Date: 23 January 2003
• Docket Number: No. 27390.,27390.
• Citation: 138 Idaho 309,63 P.3d 435
• Parties: David I. PAINTER, Claimant-Appellant, v. POTLATCH CORPORATION, Employer, and Workers Compensation Exchange, Surety, Defendants-Respondents.
• Court: Idaho Supreme Court

63 P.3d 435

138 Idaho 309

David I. PAINTER, Claimant-Appellant, v. POTLATCH CORPORATION, Employer, and Workers Compensation Exchange, Surety, Defendants-Respondents.

No. 27390.

Supreme Court of Idaho, Lewiston, October 2002 Term.

January 23, 2003.

Keeton & Tait, Lewiston, for appellant. John R. Tait argued.

Clements, Brown & McNichols, P.A., Lewiston, for respondents. Dean Wullenwaber argued.

KIDWELL, Justice.

David I. Painter (Painter) appeals from the decision of the Idaho Industrial Commission (the Commission) finding that Painter failed to prove that he was injured as a result of workplace accidents on September 15 and 16, 1997. This Court affirms the Commission's findings of fact and conclusions of law.

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Painter alleged that he suffered injuries resulting from work-related accidents on September 15 and 16, 1997, while employed by Potlatch Corporation (Potlatch) as a journeyman machinist and "lead man" who supervised apprentice machinists. Painter had worked for Potlatch in various positions since August 1966.

In 1971, while working for Potlatch, Painter had back surgery because of work related injuries including a ruptured disk and fractured spine. Painter received workers' compensation benefits as a result of the 1971 accident and injury. From 1971 on, Painter suffered chronic back pain, though the severity of the pain varied from time to time. In the three years preceding September 1997, Painter's back pain gradually increased.

On September 6, 1997, Painter was injured when a branch from a tree he was pruning at home fell upon his shoulder causing him to twist and fall. On September 7, 1997, Painter sought medical attention for pain in his shoulder, back and hip and/or buttock area. Painter took the week of September 8 through September 12, 1997, off to recuperate from his tree-pruning injury, though he did attend one meeting related to his lead man duties on Friday, September 12, 1997. At the meeting, Painter was relieved of his lead man duties for various reasons, including his inability to work with an apprentice machinist. The reassignment, or "demotion," upset Painter.

Painter returned to work on Monday, September 15, 1997. He was informed that Potlatch was reducing his pay rate from the lead man rate of $22.933 per hour to the normal machinist rate of $22.635 per hour. The week of September 15, 1997, was a "major shut down" week during which Potlatch closed its mill for preventative maintenance. During shut down weeks, machinists were assigned to supervise contractors that perform maintenance work. Painter was assigned to supervise work by Pacific Pipe and Mechanical (Pacific Pipe), a contractor hired to maintain the impellers used to mix liquid pulp stock.

On September 15 and 16, 1997, while working with Pacific Pipe, Painter lifted some heavy impeller parts. On both September 15 and 16, while lifting parts, Painter allegedly experienced sudden and severe back and leg pain. No one witnessed these incidents. Painter did not file an incident report or go to first aid as he had after previous accidents and he continued to work his full shift each day of the week. Also, Painter gave contradictory statements regarding the time of the alleged accidents. Painter did tell co-workers that his back hurt, as he had on numerous prior occasions, but he did not mention the specific incidents of sudden and severe back pain he experienced while lifting impeller parts. Painter noted the incidents on his work calendar and he turned down the opportunity to work weekend shifts on September 20 and 21, 1997. Thereafter, Painter never returned to work for Potlatch.

Between September 22 and December 2, 1997, Painter sought medical care on six occasions. None of the medical records mention the events of September 15 and 16, 1997, though the records do show that Painter experienced discomfort when lifting in the course of his work. During this time, Painter spoke to Todd Blake (Blake), an agent for the Workers Compensation Exchange (the Exchange), Potlatch's workers' compensation surety. Painter asked Blake to reopen his 1971 worker's compensation claim. Painter told Blake that his chronic back pain had worsened during the week of September 15, 1997, but he did not mention any specific incidents. After a review of Painter's medical records, Blake denied Painter's request to re-open the 1971 claim.

On three occasions, both before and after seeking to re-open his 1971 workers' compensation claim, Painter filed claims for non-industrial "A & H" benefits. On the first claim form, dated September 25, 1997, Painter indicated that his claim resulted from a tree pruning accident and he did not respond to the question regarding whether the injury was work related. On the second form, dated November 11, 1997, Painter indicated that the claim was work related and resulted from aggravation of a preexisting injury; Painter, however, denied that the claim arose as the result of an accident. On the third form, dated December 8, 1997, Painter indicated that his claim stemmed from chronic back pain, that it was work related, and that it was the result of an accident.

When Painter saw Dr. Riley on December 2, 1997, Dr. Riley noted Painter's 1971 injury and the tree pruning accident. The notes, however, also state that the aggravation of Painter's back pain was not caused by the tree pruning accident, but rather that the tree pruning accident exacerbated a severe, underlying problem. At the appointment, Dr. Riley suggested that Painter retain legal counsel to further pursue his workers' compensation claim. Dr. Riley's December 2, 1997, notes fail to mention the alleged accidents of September 15 and 16, 1997.

On December 19, 1997, Painter's counsel served Potlatch and the Exchange with two workers' compensation claims, one for September 15, 1997, and one for September 16, 1997. The claims provide the first detailed account given by Painter of the alleged accidents.

The Commission consolidated Painter's claims into a single action. A Commission referee heard the consolidated claims on January 6 and 7, 2000. The referee found that Painter suffered injury due to work-related accidents of September 15 and 16, 1997, resulting in a six percent disability and medical expenses.

On December 14, 2000, the Commission issued findings of fact and conclusions of law. The commissioners found, in relevant part, that: (1) if proven, the incidents alleged by Painter on September 15 and 16, 1997, would constitute accidents by statutory definition; (2) Painter's testimony was inherently contradictory and, therefore, not credible; and (3) because Painter's testimony was unreliable, he failed to meet the burden of proving that accidents more likely than not occurred on the dates in question. The Commission found moot the other issues raised, including whether Painter timely filed his claim, and whether Potlatch and the Exchange complied with I.C. § 72-602. Painter petitioned for reconsideration on December 29, 2000. The petition for reconsideration was denied on February 9, 2001, and Painter timely appealed.

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

Factual findings will be upheld if supported by substantial, competent evidence. Jensen v. City of Pocatello, 135 Idaho 406, 412, 18 P.3d 211, 217 (2000). "Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla of proof, but less than a preponderance. It is relevant evidence that a reasonable mind might accept to support a conclusion." Id. (citing Zapata v. J.R. Simplot Co., 132 Idaho 513, 515, 975 P.2d 1178, 1180 (1999)). Unless clearly erroneous, this Court will not disturb the Commission's conclusions on the credibility and weight of evidence. Id. at 409, 18 P.3d at 214. This Court will not "re-weigh the evidence or consider whether it would have reached a different conclusion from the evidence presented." Id. (citing Warden v. Idaho Timber Corp., 132 Idaho 454, 457, 974 P.2d 506, 509 (1999)).

This Court freely reviews the Industrial Commission's conclusions of law. Hamilton ex rel. Hamilton v. Reeder Flying Serv., 135 Idaho 568, 571, 21 P.3d 890, 893 (2001) (citing Taylor v. Soran Rest., Inc., 131 Idaho 525, 527, 960 P.2d 1254, 1256 (1998)).

III. ANALYSIS

A. Substantial Competent Evidence Supports The Commission's Findings Of Fact And Conclusions Of Law.

To prevail on his workers' compensation claim, Painter bore the burden of establishing an accident by a preponderance of the evidence. McGee v. J.D. Lumber, 135 Idaho 328, 335, 17 P.3d 272, 279 (2000) (citing Nelson v. Ponsness-Warren Idgas Enter., 126 Idaho 129, 133, 879 P.2d 592, 595 (1994)). Section 72-102(17)(b), Idaho Code, defines an accident as "an unexpected, undesigned, and unlooked for mishap, or untoward event, connected with the industry in which it occurs, and which can be reasonably located as to time when and place where it occurred, causing an injury." The term "`injury' means a personal injury" and the terms "injury and personal injury shall be construed to include only an injury caused by an accident, which results in violence to the physical structure of the body." Id. §§ 72-102(17)(a) and (c). Aggravation of a preexisting condition may constitute an injury if it is precipitated by an accident. "An injured worker must do more than show an onset of pain while at work in order to sustain his or her burden of proving an event or mishap occurred." McGee, 135 Idaho at 335,17 P.3d at 279 (quoting Perez v. J.R. Simplot Co., 120 Idaho 435, 438, 816 P.2d 992, 995 (1991)). In this case, the Commission found that, if proven, the incidents alleged to have occurred on September 15 and 16, 1997, would constitute accidents. "Therefore," the Commission stated, "the issue is whether [Painter's] testimony about the two accidents can be believed."

There is substantial and competent evidence in the hearing transcript and exhibits to support the Commission's finding that Painter's testimony regarding the accidents cannot be...