Case Title: Baum v. Industrial Commission

Citation: 405 P.2d 880, 98 Ariz. 395

Docket Number: 

State: arizona

Court: Arizona Supreme Court

Date: 1965-09-29T00:00:00Z

Document:
98 Ariz. 395 (1965) 405 P.2d 880 Earl BAUM, Petitioner, v. The INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION of Arizona, Respondent. No. 8563. Supreme Court of Arizona, En Banc. September 29, 1965. Lester Engler, Phoenix, for petitioner. Dee-Dee Samet, Phoenix, for respondent; Richard J. Daniels, Robert A. Slonaker, Courtney L. Varner, Merton E. Marks, Phoenix, Glen D. Webster, of counsel. McFARLAND, Justice: This is a writ of certiorari to review an award of The Industrial Commission of Arizona, hereinafter called the Commission, which awarded claimant, Earl Baum, hereinafter called applicant, temporary disability accident benefits up to September 25, 1963, for a personal injury received on August 16, 1962. Petitioner, on August 16, 1962, sustained an injury to his lower back while in the course of and arising out of his employment as a mechanic for the A.J. Bayless Markets. The record indicates that applicant strained his back while grabbing for the rear-end assembly of a truck which had slipped off a bench upon which it was resting. Applicant continued to work until August 21, *396 1962, at which time back pains caused him to visit the office of Dr. D.M. Ross, who diagnosed the applicant's condition as an "acute low back strain." As a result of this injury, applicant was hospitalized from October 23, 1962, until November 7, 1962. During his hospitalization, applicant underwent extensive examinations conducted by several different physicians, and, in addition, he was X-rayed several times. Upon being discharged, applicant was attended by an osteopathic specialist, Dr. Daniel Fridena, Jr., for follow-up care. On October 6, 1963, applicant was examined by Dr. Hal Pittman, who recommended that a group consultation be held before surgery was undertaken as an operation might be indicated from an orthopedic standpoint. The consultation was held on February 26, 1963, and it was the decision of this group that applicant did not have an operative condition. It was the recommendation of the group that applicant attend the industrial service program at Gompers Clinic, and that he undergo general muscle-building and gait-training exercises. The group consultation report also indicated: Applicant attended the clinic, underwent the exercises, and various reports were made on his progress. The report of April 29, 1963, states: On May 17, 1963, applicant underwent another consultation conducted by three physicians. The examination was conducted, and a report submitted to the Commission, the last paragraph of which reads: On August 5, 1963, applicant underwent examination by the Medical Advisory Board of The Industrial Commission of Arizona, *397 which was composed of six physicians. The board's report stated: Applicant underwent psychiatric evaluation by Dr. Otto L. Bendheim, in September of 1963, who concluded: On October 1, 1963, the Commission found, based upon the group consultations, the Gompers Clinic reports, the psychiatrist's evaluation, and the report of the Medical Advisory Board, that applicant was entitled to temporary disability accident benefits. Applicable portions of the statement of findings and award are as follows: Applicant timely filed an application for a rehearing. A rehearing was held during which hearing testimony was taken and, on September 30, 1964, the award of October 1, 1963, was affirmed. From this award, an application for the writ was filed with and granted by the court. Applicant contends that the findings and award of October 1, 1963, is in error for the reason that the testimony at the rehearing demonstrated that applicant's condition was not stationary, and that he was, and has been, since the day of the accident, *398 unable to perform the services required of him by his former employment. Applicant claims that the medical evidence before the Commission showed that applicant still had a disability; that there was no evidence before the Commission that applicant was able to return to his former employment; that the objective findings of the doctors who testified did not support the subjective complaints of the applicant; that applicant had met his burden of establishing that he had a disability attributable to his injury of October 16, 1962; and, finally, the Commission's affirmance of September 30, 1964, was contrary to law, as there were no findings to justify the October 1, 1963, award. The issue before this court is whether or not the findings of the Commission are sustained by the evidence. This court has upon many occasions held, in deciding this question, that if the Commission's findings are reasonably supported by the evidence, then the findings must be sustained. Where there is a conflict of evidence, as in the instant case, the court will not weigh the evidence, but only determine whether there is sufficient evidence to give reason able support to the finding of the Commission. Russell v. Industrial Commission, 98 Ariz. 138, 402 P.2d 561; Magma Copper Co. v. Industrial Commission, 96 Ariz. 341, 395 P.2d 616; Phelps Dodge, Morenci Branch, v. Industrial Commission, 90 Ariz. 248, 367 P.2d 270; Graver Tank & Mfg. Co. v. Industrial Commission, 96 Ariz. 356, 395 P.2d 712; Graver Tank & Mfg. Co. v. Industrial Commission, 96 Ariz. 34, 391 P.2d 589; Schulze v. Industrial Commission, 94 Ariz. 35, 381 P.2d 577. The record before this court discloses that there was evidence that applicant had no permanent physical disability resulting from his accident of 1962. There were the several progress reports from Gompers Clinic, the two group consultation reports, and the report of the Medical Advisory Board. In addition, there were 63 pages of testimony taken at the rehearing. Upon examination by the Commission counsel of Dr. Derfelt, applicant's family physician, the following testimony was recorded at the rehearing: The record of the rehearing, wherein Dr. Daniel T. Fridena, Jr., was questioned by the Commission counsel, reveals the following: The record shows Dr. Fridena's response to applicant's counsel: Dr. Charles Lofdahl stated, upon examination by Commission counsel, in regard to the Medical Advisory Board report, of which Board Dr. Lofdahl was a member: The record shows testimony of Dr. Lofdahl upon examination by appellant's counsel as follows: Dr. Lofdahl was re-examined by Commission counsel: And while there was conflict of evidence in the medical testimony, there was evidence which reasonably supported the findings of the Commission. As stated in Graver Tank & Mfg. Co. v. Industrial Commission, 96 Ariz. 356, 395 P.2d 712: We therefore hold that the findings of the Commission were reasonably supported by the evidence and must be sustained. Award affirmed. LOCKWOOD, C.J., STRUCKMEYER, V.C.J., and BERNSTEIN and UDALL. JJ., concur.