Title: Clodgo v. Rentavision, Inc.

State: vermont

Issuer: Vermont Supreme Court

Document:

Clodgo v. Rentavision, Inc.  (96-211); 166 Vt. 548; 701 A.2d 1044

[Filed 11-Jul-1997]

       NOTICE:  This opinion is subject to motions for reargument under
  V.R.A.P. 40 as well as formal revision before publication in the Vermont
  Reports.  Readers are requested to notify the Reporter of Decisions,
  Vermont Supreme Court, 109 State Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05609-0801 of
  any errors in order that corrections may be made before this opinion goes
  to press.

                            No. 96-211

Brian Clodgo                                 Supreme Court

                                             On Appeal from
     v.                                      Commissioner of Labor and
                                             Industry

Rentavision, Inc.                             January Term, 1997

Mary S. Hooper, Commissioner

Andrew C. Boxer of Kiel & Associates, Springfield, for plaintiff-appellee

Kerry G. Spradlin, Bennington, for defendant-appellant

PRESENT:  Gibson, Dooley, Morse and Johnson, JJ., and Allen, C.J.
          (Ret.), Specially Assigned

       GIBSON, J.   Defendant Rentavision, Inc. appeals a decision of the
  Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Labor and Industry awarding
  workers' compensation benefits to claimant Brian Clodgo.  Rentavision
  argues the Commissioner erred in awarding compensation for an injury
  sustained while claimant and another employee were engaged in horseplay. 
  We reverse.

       On July 22, 1995, claimant was working as manager of Rentavision's
  store in Brattleboro.  During a lull between customers, claimant began
  firing staples with a staple gun at a co-worker, who was sitting on a couch
  watching television.  The co-worker first protested, but then, after
  claimant had fired twenty or thirty staples at him, fired three staples
  back at claimant.  As claimant ducked, the third staple hit him in the eye.

       Claimant eventually reported the injury and filed a claim for workers'
  compensation benefits.  Rentavision contested the award, arguing that
  claimant was engaged in noncompensable horseplay at the time of the injury. 
  Following a hearing in March 1996, the

 

  Commissioner awarded permanent partial disability and vocational
  rehabilitation benefits, medical expenses, and attorney's fees and costs. 
  This appeal followed.

       This Court's review is limited to questions of law the Commissioner
  has certified.  21 V.S.A. § 672; Goodwin v. Fairbanks, Morse & Co., 123 Vt.
  161, 162, 184 A.2d 220, 221 (1962).  Although the Court defers to the
  Commissioner's interpretation of Vermont's Workers' Compensation Act, we
  will not affirm an interpretation that is unjust or unreasonable.  See
  Bedini v. Frost, ___ Vt. ___, ___,