Title: Chalmers v. DEP'T OF L. & INDUS.

State: washington

Issuer: Washington Supreme Court

Document:

72 Wn.2d 595 (1967) 434 P.2d 720 EVA L. CHALMERS, Respondent, v. THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIES, et al., Appellants.[*] No. 39167. The Supreme Court of Washington, Department Two. November 30, 1967. The Attorney General and John T. Krall, Assistant, and Keith, Winston & Repsold (Michael J. Cronin, of counsel), for appellants. Theodore M. Ryan, for respondent. DONWORTH, J. October 31, 1962, 66-year-old John G. Chalmers died from bronchopneumonia, which was due to bronchogenic carcinoma (lung cancer). Until that time, he *596 had been employed by the Dawn Mining Company repairing and patching glass-lined tanks, which were used for the storage of acids. November 28, 1962, his widow, respondent herein, filed a claim for a widow's pension with the Department of Labor and Industries, alleging that her husband died as a result of an industrial injury which he had suffered on March 28, 1960. June 14, 1963, the supervisor entered an order denying the claim. July 10, 1963, the widow appealed to the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, and the board granted the appeal on August 2, 1963. February 4, 1964, the board issued an order remanding the claim to the Department of Labor and Industries with directions to hold the order of June 14, 1963 in abeyance pending an investigation to determine whether or not the deceased, John Chalmers, had died as the result of an occupational exposure in the course of his employment. Thereafter, on August 19, 1964, the supervisor entered an order reaffirming the order of June 14, 1963, again rejecting the claim on the ground that there was no relationship between the cancer which caused Chalmer's death and his employment with the Dawn Mining Company. September 24, 1964, appellant again appealed to the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, which appeal was granted on October 16, 1964. Hearings were conducted by the board on September 17, 1965, and proposed findings, conclusions, and an order of the hearings examiner, which were adverse to respondent, were entered. Respondent filed exceptions to the proposed decision and order, and, on December 9, 1965, the board affirmed the decision of its trial examiner. Respondent then appealed to the Superior Court for Stevens County. Following a hearing by the court, sitting without a jury, a decision was entered in favor of respondent, reversing the decision of the board and allowing respondent's claim for benefits under the workmen's compensation act. May 27, 1966, findings of fact and conclusions of law were entered *597 by the trial court. This appeal is brought from the judgment for respondent. The trial court, in its memorandum decision, outlined the pertinent facts surrounding and following decedent's injury of March 28, 1960, as follows: However, Dr. Alexander P. Greer, a specialist from Spokane, testified on the basis of facts submitted to him by the Department of Labor and Industries (he had never examined decedent) that the substances which were used by Chalmers on March 28, 1960, were not carcinogenic (cancer causing), and that the exposure to the fumes of such substances would not cause cancer. The proposed decision and order of the hearing examiner, after outlining the evidence, contains the following language: In its memorandum decision, the trial court stated: [1] It is settled in this state that, in this type of cases, special consideration should be given to the opinion of the attending physician. Groff v. Department of Labor & Indus., 65 Wn.2d 35, 395 P.2d 633 (1964); Spalding v. Department of Labor & Indus., 29 Wn.2d 115, 186 P.2d 76 (1947); Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Co. v. Department of Labor & Indus., 26 Wn.2d 233, 173 P.2d 786 (1946). However, the testimony of the treating physician is not conclusive. As we noted in the Groff case, supra at 45: In the present case, the treating physician, Dr. Snyder, based his opinion largely, if not entirely, upon his information that the compound used by decedent when he suffered his near fatal exposure on March 28, 1960, was a compound known as Epoxylite. On cross-examination, Dr. Snyder testified that: *600 Dr. Snyder further testified that: Lyle Strong, an employee of Dawn Mining Company, testified that, to his knowledge, the company did not begin using Epoxylite until late 1960 or early 1961. He testified definitely that Chalmers was not using Epoxylite or Epoxylite compound in the tank on the day of the near fatal exposure, March 28, 1960. The compound then used was identified by Strong as N-29 cold bond compound. The trial court stated, in its memorandum decision, that: In our view, this factor is highly material. The treating physician, Dr. Snyder, based his opinion on the apparently erroneous information that the fumes causing decedent's *601 accident on March 28, 1960, were from Epoxylite or Epoxylite catalyst, and on erroneous data concerning the chemical composition of Epoxylite. It was assumed, without substantial evidentiary support, that the compound causing the contact dermatitis on March 28, 1961, and thereafter, was the same compound involved in the accident of March 28, 1960. An expert opinion, propounded in response to a hypothetical question, may not validly be based on assumed facts and situations not included in the hypothetical question and as to which there is no supporting evidence. Sawyer v. Department of Labor & Indus., 48 Wn.2d 761, 296 P.2d 706 (1956). [2] Similarly, the doctor's opinion, founded on erroneous factual data which is lacking in evidentiary support, and, in fact, is contradicted by substantial evidence, cannot be said to be of sufficient probative value to establish a causal relationship between the injury sustained by decedent and his subsequent death. The fact that the doctor was the treating physician is insufficient to overcome the defect. We conclude that the trial court was in error in reversing the decision of the board on the ground that the board should have accepted the testimony of the treating physician rather than that of the specialist, Dr. Greer. We further note that Dr. Snyder testified, on cross-examination, as follows: [3] In Jackson v. Department of Labor & Indus., 54 Wn.2d 643, 343 P.2d 1033 (1959), we said, at 649: We are of the opinion that Dr. Snyder's testimony, founded as it was on an erroneous factual basis, and asserting only possibilities, was insufficient to establish a causal relationship between Mr. Chalmer's exposure to bonding compound fumes on March 28, 1960, and the carcinoma which caused his death. RCW 51.52.115 provides, in part, that: In Allison v. Department of Labor & Indus., 66 Wn.2d 263, 268, 401 P.2d 982 (1965), we said: [4] The burden is upon the party attacking the findings and decision of the board to establish the incorrectness thereof by a preponderance of the evidence. LaLone v. Department of Labor & Indus., 3 Wn.2d 191, 100 P.2d 26 (1940); Stampas v. Department of Labor & Indus., 38 Wn.2d 48, 227 P.2d 739 (1951). We hold that the burden was not met by respondent in this case. The decision of the trial court is, therefore, reversed and the case is remanded with directions to enter an order reinstating the findings and decision of the board. HILL, HAMILTON, and NEILL, JJ., and OTT, J. Pro Tem., concur. [*] Reported in 434 P.2d 720. [1] A claim based on this injury was allowed, and on September 2, 1960, the supervisor entered an order closing the claim with no permanent disability award. [2] According to the deposition of Kris Ottman Neville, research director for the Epoxylite Corporation of El Monte, California, the chemical formulation of the Epoxylite compound which was, in fact, later used by Dawn Mining Company, was as follows: "ERL 2400 (Union carbide Plastics Co.) chemically, the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (Mo. weight approx 380) (Parts by weight 100) Sierra Talc (cosmetic grade) (Parts by weight 95) Asbestos Floats (Parts by weight 4) Dispersion of 40% iron oxide and 60% ERL 2400 (Pbw o.5)."