Zoss v. United Bldg. Centers, Inc.

• Citation: 1997 SD 93,566 N.W.2d 840
• Decision Date: 16 July 1997
• Docket Number: Nos. 19764,19784,s. 19764
• Parties: Arletta ZOSS, Claimant and Appellant, v. UNITED BUILDING CENTERS, INC., Employer and Appellee, and St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, Insurer and Appellee.
• Court: South Dakota Supreme Court

Page 840

566 N.W.2d 840

1997 SD 93

Arletta ZOSS, Claimant and Appellant, v. UNITED BUILDING CENTERS, INC., Employer and Appellee, and St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, Insurer and Appellee.

Nos. 19764, 19784.

Supreme Court of South Dakota.

Argued March 25, 1997.

Decided July 16, 1997.

Michael F. Marlow, Shane D. Buntrock of Johnson, Heidepriem, Miner & Marlow, Yankton, for Claimant and Appellant.

Gregory G. Strommen of Costello, Porter, Hill, Heisterkamp & Bushnell, Rapid City, for Appellees.

KONENKAMP, Justice.

¶1 Arletta Zoss, a bookkeeper and salesperson, suffered severe allergic reactions to lawn and garden chemicals while employed at United Building Centers (UBC). Medical advice led her to eventually quit her job. Because her last occupation was at UBC and she cannot work there, she contends her "occupational disease" renders her totally disabled. Under our workers' compensation statutes, is an occupational disease defined by an inability to work in a particular place, rather than by an incapacity to perform a general occupation? We answer no and affirm the denial of total disability benefits.

Facts

¶2 Zoss began work for UBC in March, 1989, as a bookkeeper and salesperson. In the spring of 1992, when UBC began to carry an extended line of lawn and garden chemicals, Zoss experienced cold symptoms and a sore throat. On April 17, 1992, she handled bags of fertilizer while helping a customer. She immediately suffered from hives, blotchy skin, elevated temperatures, and gastro-intestinal problems. She had no previous sensitivity to chemicals or fertilizers. Her doctor diagnosed anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction.

¶3 On April 28th, when directly exposed to more substances at work, she suffered the same response. After two similar experiences in May, she began treatment with Dr. Neumayr, the Yankton Clinic's allergy specialist. He recommended she avoid the irritating substances at work. In August 1992, she had another reaction at home to "bug spray." By this time, UBC had removed the lawn chemicals to an outside storage area, decreasing the symptoms Zoss encountered.

¶4 She had no other allergy attacks until early 1993, at which time Dr. Neumayr suggested she leave her employment at UBC. In July 1993, she quit and has suffered less acute allergy attacks since. She has, on the other hand, experienced sleeping difficulties, body aches, burning eyes, headaches, nasal burning, fatigue, and general skin puffiness. Cigarette smoke, exhaust fumes, laundry bleach, perfume, and other substances now cause her physical irritation. In May 1995, she was diagnosed with asthmatic bronchitis in addition to the allergies, with symptoms expected to continue indefinitely.

¶5 Zoss filed for workers' compensation benefits. After a hearing, the Department of Labor determined: (1) she was not totally disabled by an occupational disease, as defined in SDCL 62-8-4; (2) she was not, in the alternative, totally disabled under the odd-lot doctrine; but (3) she established a causal connection between her employment and her disability. It assigned her a 17.5% vocational loss and awarded benefits. Zoss appealed and the circuit court affirmed in all respects. It also found UBC had waived its additional appeal issue by delinquent filing. On appeal to this Court, the parties present the following: (1) whether Zoss is totally disabled due to an occupational disease; (2) whether she is totally disabled under the odd-lot doctrine; (3) whether UBC waived its additional issue on appeal; and (4) whether Zoss established a causal connection between her employment and her disability.

Standard of Review

¶6 In this appeal:

The standard of review ... is controlled by SDCL 1-26-36. The Supreme Court makes the same review of the administrative agency's decision as did the circuit court, unaided by any presumption that the circuit court's decision was correct. Appeal of Templeton, 403 N.W.2d 398 (S.D.1987). When the issue is a question of fact, the actions of the agency are judged by the clearly erroneous standard. Application of Northwestern Bell Telephone Co., 382 N.W.2d 413 (S.D.1986). When the issue is a question of law, the actions of the agency are fully reviewable. Matter of State & City Sales Tax Liability, 437 N.W.2d 209 (S.D.1989). Mixed questions of law and fact are also fully reviewable. Permann v. Dept. of Labor, Unemp. Ins. D., 411 N.W.2d 113 (S.D.1987).

Tieszen v. John Morrell & Co., 528 N.W.2d 401, 403-04 (S.D.1995); Rohlck v. J & L Rainbow, Inc., 1996 SD 115, p 8, 553 N.W.2d 521, 524-25. On factual determinations under the clearly erroneous standard, the question is not whether there is substantial evidence contrary to agency findings, but whether substantial evidence supports those findings. Hendrix v. Graham Tire Co., 520 N.W.2d 876, 879 (S.D.1994). See also Helms v. Lynn's, Inc., 1996 SD 8, p 10, 542 N.W.2d 764, 766; Shepherd v. Moorman Mfg., 467 N.W.2d 916, 919 (S.D.1991). Even if evidence exists to contradict the Department's findings, "so long as there is some 'substantial evidence' in the record which supports the Department's determination," we will affirm. Id. (citations omitted).

Analysis and Decision

¶7 1. Occupational Disease

¶8 Zoss claims total disability from her occupational disease and relies upon our particular statutory definition for authority:

Where an employee of an employer subject to this chapter suffers from an occupational disease as defined in § 62-8-1, and is thereby disabled from performing his work in the last occupation in which he was injuriously exposed to the hazards of such disease, ... and the disease was due to the nature of an occupation or process in which he was employed within the period previous to his disablement limited in this chapter, the employee, ... shall be entitled to compensation ... except as otherwise provided in this chapter....

SDCL 62-8-4. SDCL 62-8-1(6) defines "occupational disease" as a "disease peculiar to the occupation in which the employee was engaged and due to causes in excess of the ordinary hazards of employment and includes any disease due or attributable to exposure to or contact with any radioactive material by an employee in the course of his employment."

¶9 Zoss focuses on "last occupation in which [she] was injuriously exposed" in SDCL 62-8-4 to emphasize her disease was specific to her "last occupation"--even if she were able to perform other jobs, as she cannot work at her last job at UBC, she is, by her interpretation, totally disabled. The Department and the circuit court both ruled her affliction was not an occupational disease under the statutes. Stressing "peculiar to the occupation in which the employee was engaged" from SDCL 62-8-1(6), the Department found she was a bookkeeper and salesperson, not, as Zoss argued, a bookkeeper and salesperson at UBC or a lawn and garden center. We review statutes without deference to the Department. Nilson v. Clay County, 534 N.W.2d 598, 600 (S.D.1995).

¶10 Zoss offers several New Mexico cases to support her position. In Vincent v. United Nuclear-Homestake Partners, 89 N.M. 704, 556 P.2d 1180 (1976), a miner contracted silicosis and was unable to work in mining. The court found he had an occupational disease, even though he could perform other occupations. 556 P.2d at 1182. He was unable to ever work in any underground mine again. Zoss, conversely, may work as a bookkeeper or salesperson in places other than those having lawn, garden, or other irritating chemicals present. ¹ Earlier New Mexico cases Zoss cites are equally unavailing. See Herrera v. Fluor Utah, Inc., 89 N.M. 245, 550 P.2d 144 (App.1976); Holman v. Oriental Refinery, 75 N.M. 52, 400 P.2d 471 (1965).

¶11 More recent decisions from New Mexico and other states contradict the narrow definition Zoss advocates. In Rader v. Don J. Cummings Co., Inc., the court held an occupational disease must be peculiar to a worker's occupation, not just to a particular workplace. 109 N.M. 219, 784 P.2d 38, 45 (App.1989), cert. denied, 109 N.M. 131, 782 P.2d 384 (1989). For similar holdings, see Jackson v. Risby Pallet & Lumber Co., 736 S.W.2d 575, 578 (Mo.Ct.App.1987) (a link for an occupational disease is shown if there is "some distinctive feature of the claimant's job which is common to all jobs of that sort"); Cisneros v. Molycorp, Inc., 107 N.M. 788, 765 P.2d 761, 764 (App.1988), cert. denied, 107 N.M. 785, 765 P.2d 758 (1988) ("The disease must have its origin in the inherent nature or mode of work of the profession or industry."); Chadwick v. Public Service Co. of NM, 105 N.M. 272, 731 P.2d 968 (App.1986); Dennis v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 109 Wash.2d 467, 745 P.2d 1295, 1303 (1987) (occupational disease must arise from conditions of a worker's particular occupation as opposed to conditions coincidentally occurring in the workplace).

¶12 In Mack v. County of Rockland, 71 N.Y.2d 1008, 530 N.Y.S.2d 98, 525 N.E.2d 744 (1988), a social worker allergic to workplace cigarette smoke sought disability benefits. Finding no occupational disease, the court wrote, "[a]n 'occupational disease' derives from the very nature of the employment, not a specific condition peculiar to the employee's place of work." Id. 525 N.E.2d at 744 (citations omitted). "Because claimant's injury was caused solely by the environmental conditions of her workplace, not by a distinctive feature of the occupation of psychiatric social worker, the Board had a proper legal basis to deny her claim." Id. Much like the situation in Mack, the maladies here were caused by particular conditions in the workplace, but they were not a "distinctive feature of the occupation" of bookkeeper or salesperson.

¶13 Similarly, the New York Court of Appeals in Paider v. Park East Movers, 19 N.Y.2d 373, 280 N.Y.S.2d 140, 227 N.E.2d 40 (1967), reversed a labor board decision granting benefits to a department store cashier who developed "chronic strain or myositis" because her cash register...