2009 D e c i sion s O p inion s of the U nit e d S t at e s C our t of Appe al s for the Third C ircuit 2-10-2009 

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_____________ GREE NW I CH TE RM I NALS , LL C; A M ER I CA N M O TO RI ST/ EA G LE I N SU RA N CE CO M PA N I ES, P eti ti o n ers v. O FFI CE O F W O RK ER S' CO M PEN SA TI O N PRO G RA M S, UNI TE D ST ATE S DEP ARTM ENT OF L ABOR;

T HOMAS RE DF I E L D, R e sp o n d e n ts Pet i t i on forR evi ew of an O r derof the U ni t ed St at es D epartm entof Labor O ff ice o f W o rke rs’ C o m p en sati o n B en ef it s R ev iew B o ard ( A gencyN o. B R B - 1: 07- 0313) A dm i ni s tr at i ve Law J udge: H onor abl e R al ph A . R om ano Subm i tt ed U nderT hi r d C i r cui tL A R 34. 1( a)

February2, 2009 B efore: R E N D E L L , JO R D A N and R O T H , C i rcui tJudg es.

( Fi l ed: February10, 2009) OPINI ON O F THE COURT R E N D E L L , C i r cui tJ udge. G r eenw i ch Term i nal s , L L C and A m er i can M ot or i s t/ E agl e I ns ur ance C om pani esT he B enef i t s R evi ew B oar d ( “B R B ”) aff i rm ed the A L J ’ s gr antof r el i ef unde rthe 1 L o n g sh o re a n d H arb o r W o rke rs’ C o m p en sati o n A ct bu t vac ated the a w ard o f a tt o rne y ’s fee s . A . 9a. G r eenw i ch does notchal l enge the att orney ’ s fee aw ar d and, ther efor e, w e do n o t a d d re s s th e is s u e h e re . 33 U . S. C . § 901 confe r s appel l at e j ur i s di ct i on overappea l s fr om the dec i s i ons of 2 the B enef

i t s R evi ew B oar d. 2 ( col l ect i vel y“G r eenw i ch”) s eek r evi ew of the A dm i ni s tr at i ve Law J udge’ s fi nal det erm i nat i on gr ant i ng the R es pondentR edfi el d T hom as ’ cl ai m forbenef i t s underthe L ongs hor e and H arborW orker s ’ C om pens at i on A ct( “LH W C A ”) , 33 U . S. C . § 901 et s eq. , fol l ow i ng T hom as ’ i nj uryi n a w orkpl ace acc i dent . T h e B en ef it s R ev iew B o ard aff i rm ed, and G r eenw i ch fi l ed thi s appea l . G r eenw i ch cont ends thatthe A dm i ni s tr at i ve

1 2 L aw Judg e (“A L J”) i m properl yapp l i ed the “true- do ub t ” rul e t o resol ve fa ctual i ssues, i m pr oper l yexcl uded evi dence , di s cr edi t ed cr edi bl e t es t i m onyfr om vocat i onal and m e d ica l ex p e rts, a n d d e ter m in e d , w ith o u t ev id e n tiary su p p o rt, th a t T h o m a s d ili g e n tly pu rs ued em ploym ent. F i nd i ng subst anti al evidence fo r each of the A L J’ s det erm i nati on s, we wi l l d e n yth e P e t i t i o n f o rRe v i e w. I. I n M ayof 2003, R es pondentR edfi el d T hom as s us t ai ned s er i ous , perm anent i nj ur i es t o hi s s pi ne and ne ck w hi l e w orki ng atG r eenw i ch’ s PackerA venue M ar i ne T e rmi n a l , wh e n a 2 0 0 - p o u n d f l i p p e rd e t a c h e d f

r o m ac r a n e a n d c r a s h e d o n t o p o f h i m. A. 1 3 a. T h e im p ac t fractu red m u lt iple v erteb rae in T h o m as’ sp ine, req u ir ing h is t em p o rary pl ace m enti n a bodycas t , s i x m onths of 24- hours upervi s i on, and i nt ens i ve phy s i cal3

r ehabi l i t at i on. A . 14a. A ppr oxi m at el yei ght een months aft erthe ac ci dent , i n J anuaryof 2005, G r eenw i ch a p p r o a c h e d T h o m a s a b o u tr e tu rn i n g t o w o rk , o f f e r i n g h i m tw o p o s i t i o n s a tth e c o m p a n y: t op pi ck oper at orand y ar d hor s e oper at or . A . 16a- 17a. A gai ns thi s doct or ’ s advi ce, T hom as acc ept ed the form erpos i t i on. A . 15a- 16a. O n A pr i l 4, 2005, hi s fi r s tdayof w ork, T hom as aggr avat ed the nerves i n hi s neck w hi l e att empt i ng t o oper at e the t op pi ck, and w as i m m edi at el yhos pi t al i zed, s ui t ed w i th a t empora ryneck br ace , and pr es cr i bed pai n and ant i - i nfl amm at i on m edi cat i on. A . 16a. I n eval uat i ng T hom as ’ abi l i tyt o s erve as a t op pi ck oper at or , the A L J cons i der ed, butul t i m at el ydi s cr edi t ed, a vi deo demonstr at i on of thatpos i t i on pr offe r ed byG r eenw i ch. T hom as t es t i fi ed, and B ur l es on acknow l edged on c r os s - exami nat i on, thatthe vi deo o m i tt e d c e rt a i n p h ys i c a l m a n e u v e r s o p e r a t o r s m u s tp e r f o rm . A . 1 5 a - 1 8 a . A c c o r d i n g l y, the A L J concl uded thatthe vi deo di d notcompl et el yand ac cur at el yr epr es entthe dut i es of a to p p ic k o p e ra to r. A . 1 5 a , 2 7 a -2 9 a . C r edi t i ng T hom as ’ t es t i m ony , and the opi ni on of hi s tr eat i ng orthopedi s t , D r . R oy L ef k o e, th e A L J co n clud ed that T h o m as c o u ld n o t ph y sicall yp erf o rm the to p p ick o r y ard hor s e oper at orpos i t i ons . A . 20a- 21a. A ft ercar eful anal y s i s , the A L J r ej ect ed the medi cal and voca t i onal evi dence pr offe r ed byG r eenw i ch. T hi s i ncl uded t es t i m onyand medi cal re p o rts p re p a re d b ytw o o rth o p e d ists, D r. A lex a n d e r V a c a rro a n d D r. R ich a rd M a n d e l, tw o p h y sical th era p ist s, T h o m as C an tw ell an d D eb o rah S h o re, an d G ree n w ich’s4

vocat i onal cons ul t ant , Sony a M ocar s ki . T he A L J al s o excl uded vi deo s urvei l l ance of T h o m a s c lim b in g sta irs a n d d riv in g h is c a r, u rg e d b yG re e n w ich to b e re lev a n t to h is a b ility to p e rf

o rm th e jo b o f

to p p ic k o p e ra to r. A . 1 9 a . A f terh is f a iled a ttem p t to re tu rn to w o rk , T h o m a s b e g a n v o c a tio n a l train in g w ith D r. R o b ert C h aike n , a v o ca ti o n al reh ab il it ati o n sp ec ial istw ith the D ep artm en t of L ab o r. A . 14 a. D r. C haiken i den t i fi ed, and T ho m as appli ed fo r, po si t i on s atsi x local com pan i es. A . 2 4 a . D e sp ite h is c o m p lete c o o p e ra tio n w ith D r. C h a ik e n , T h o m a s w a s u n a b le to o b tain a jo b . A . 1 4 a . C o n c u rre n tly , a s e c o n d v o c a tio n a l co n su ltan t, S o n y a M o c a rsk i, prepared a surveyof local em ploym ent oppo rtun i t i es atG reenw i ch’s r equ est . A . 14 a. M s. M ocarski i den t i fi ed tw el ve p osi t i on s; ho w ever, the A L J det erm i ned that Th om as’ phy s i cal r es tr i ct i ons w oul d onl yal l ow hi m t o per form fourof thes e, the fi r s tof w hi ch beca m e ava i l abl e on A pr i l 10, 2005. A . 14a- 15a, 20a- 21a. B ecaus e A pr i l 10, 2005, m a rk e d th e e a rlies t d a te o n w h ich su itab le a ltern a te e m p lo ym e n t b e c a m e a v a ilab le to T hom as , the A L J det erm i ned, and the B enef i t s R evi ew B oar d aff

i rm ed, thatT hom as w as t ot al l ydi s abl ed pr i ort o A pr i l 10, 2005, and part i al l ydi s abl ed af t erthatdat e. A . 21a. II. T o es t abl i s h a pr i m a f

aci e cas e of t ot al di s abi l i tyunderthe LH W C A , the cl ai m ant m u s t s h o w th a t h e is u n a b le to re tu rn to h is u s u a l e m p lo ym e n t d u e to th e in ju ry. McC abe v. Sun Shi

pbui ldi ng and D r

y D ock Co. , 602 F. 2d 59, 62 n. 7 ( 3d C i r . 1979) . O nce the cl ai m antes t abl i s hes a pr i m a f aci e cas e, the bur den s hi ft s t o the empl oy er , w ho m us ts how5

th a t s u ita b le a lte rn a te e m p lo ym e n t e x is ts . Id . T he empl oy erm eet s the bur den of estab li sh ing su it ab le alt ern ate e m p loym en t byiden ti fy ing sp ec ifi c job s at th e c lai m an t’ s c u rre n t p lac e o f

e m p lo ym e n t o r in th e lo c a l co m m u n ityth a t ar e a v a ilab le to th e c laim a n t, g iv e n h is p a rt ic u la r p h y s ic a l r e s tr ic tio n s . I d. ; A m er i can Steve dor es , I nc. v. Sal z ano , 538 F . 2 d 9 3 3 , 9 3 5 -36 (2d C ir . 1 9 7 6 ). T h e f ac t fi n d er is t o d eterm ine th e c lai m an t’ s r es tr i ct i ons bas ed on the medi cal evi dence and dec i de w hetherthe cl ai m anti s capabl e of per form i ng the j obs i dent i fi ed bythe empl oy er . I f the empl oy erm eet s thi s bur den, the c laim a n t m u st th e n p ro v e th a t h e h a s m a d e a d ili g e n t atte m p t to se c u re e m p lo ym e n t. Pa l o mb o v . Di r e c to r, OWCP , 937 F. 2d 70, 73 ( 2d C i r . 1991) . I f the cl ai m ant d e m o n s tr a te s th a t h e d ilig e n tly trie d to o b ta in e m p lo ym e n t, w ith o u t s u c c e s s , h e p reva i l s. See Hair ston v. T odd Shipyards C orp , 849 F. 2d 1194, 1196 ( 9th C i r . 1988) . I f, on the otherhand, the cl ai m anti s unabl e t o pr ove he di l i gent l ypur s ued s ui t abl e j obs i dent i fi ed b yth e e m p lo y e r, b u t th o se jo b s p a yw a g e s le ss th a n th e c laim a n t’s p re -d isa b ili ty e m p lo ym e n t, th e n th e c la im a n t is d e e m e d p a rt ia lly, ra th e r t h a n to ta lly, d is a b le d . See Louis i ana I

ns . G uar . A s s ’ n v. B unol , 2 1 1 F .3 d 2 9 4 , 2 9 7 (5 th C ir. 2 0 0 0 ); N ew O r l eans ( G ul f w i de) St eve dor es v. Turne r , 6 6 1 F .2 d 1 0 3 1 , 1 0 4 2 (F o rm e r 5 th C ir . N o v . 1 9 8 1 ). A n A L J ’ s fi ndi ngs of fa ctar e tr eat ed as concl us i ve i f s upport ed bys ubs t ant i al evi dence i n the r ecor d cons i der ed as a w hol e. 33 U . S. C . § 921( b) ( 3) . Subst ant i al e v id e n c e is “ su c h re lev a n t ev id e n c e a s a re a so n a b le m in d m ig h t ac c e p t as a d e q u a te to s upporta conc l us i on. ” De l . Ri v e rS t e v e do r e s , I n c . v . Di r e c to r, OWCP , 279 F. 3d 233, 241T o th e e x t e n tG r e e n w i c h i s c o n t e n d i n g th a tth e A L J i m p r o p e r l y w ei ghed the 3 e v id e n c e in th e re c o rd , w e re je c t th a t a rg u m e n t f

o r t h e re a s o n s s e t f

o rt h b e lo w . 6 ( 3d C i r . 2002) ( quot i ng Uni v e rs a lCame r a Cor p . v . NLRB , 3 4 0 U .S . 4 7 4 , 4 7 7 (1 9 5 1 )) . He r e , Gr e e n wi c h a l l e g e s e rr o r s o f f a c ta n d l a w. G re e n w ich a ss ig n s a sin g le e rro r o f law – th e A L J a p p lied th e “ tru e d o u b t ru le” to r es ol ve fa ctual i s s ues , i n vi ol at i on of the A dm i ni s tr at i ve Pr ocedur es A ct . U nderthe “true d o u b t ru le,” f

a c t issu e s a re re so lv e d in th e c laim a n t’s f a v o r w h e n th e e v id e n c e is e v e n ly bal ance d. T he Supr eme C ourthas hel d thatthe rul e vi ol at es the A dm i ni s tr at i ve P ro c e d u re s A c t. D i r ector, O WC P v. G r eenwi ch C ol l i er i es , 5 1 2 U . S . 2 6 7 , 2 8 1 (19 9 4 ). H er e, the A L J , ci t i ng G r eenwi ch C ol l i er i es , expr es s l yr ej ect ed the “true doubtrul e”; no nethel ess, G reenw i ch m ai ntai ns that the A L J i m pl i ci t l y in v o k e d th e ru le in its f a c tfi ndi ng. G r eenw i ch’ s ar gum entcol l aps es byi t s ow n admi s s i on. T he “true doubtrul e, ” a d ec isi o n al “ti eb rea k er,” ap p li es o n lyw h ere the e v iden ce is i n eq u ipo ise. H o w ev er, G reenw i ch co nced es i n it s bri ef that the A L J foun d the evi den ce w as notevenl ybal ance d, bu trather decis i velyfavo red T ho m as’ po si t i on . P et i t i on ers ’ B r. at23 . H ence, the A L J, w ho found no evi dent i ary“t i e” t o exi s ther e, di d noti m pl i ci t l yr el yon the “true doubt rul e” f ori t s fac t - fi ndi ng. 3 G re e n w ic h n e x t c o n te n d s th a t th e A L J ’s f a c tu a l d e te rm in a tio n s w e re u n s u p p o rt e d . Fi r s t , G r eenw i ch mai nt ai ns thatthe A L J m i s appr ehende d the phy s i cal demands i m pos ed bythe t op pi ck oper at orpos i t i on. G r eenw i ch compl ai ns thatthe A L J i m pr oper l ycr edi t ed7

T h o m a s ’ t e s t i m o n yo v e ra v i d e o d e m o n s tr a t i o n d e p i c t i n g a t o p p i c k o p e r a t o r ’ s d u t i e s . We f in d th a t th e A L J re a s o n a b ly re je c te d th e v id e o d e m o n s tr a tio n p ro f f e re d b yG re e n w ic h . T hom as t es t i fi ed, and G r eenw i ch’ s as s i s t antt erm i nal m anage r , J ohn B ur l es on, acknow l edged on c r os s - exami nat i on, thatthe vi deo demonstr at i on w as defi ci ent , om i tt i ng fi ve ac t i vi t i es t op pi ck oper at or s r egul ar l yper form : ( 1) neck- and t or s o- tw i s t i ng t o vi ew tr aff i c behi nd the machi ne; ( 2) as cendi ng and des cendi ng tw o fl i ght s of s t ai r s t o ent erand exi tthe machi ne; ( 3) us i ng both hands s i m ul t aneous l yt o s t eerthe machi ne and m ani pul at e contr ol l ever s ; ( 4) l ooki ng upw ar ds and dow nw ar ds t o s t ack c ont ai ner s ; and (5) sitti n g co n ti n u o u slyfo r ov er f o u r ho u rs. A . 1 5 a, 27 a-2 9 a. T h o m as a n d B u rl eso n ’s test im o n yab o u t th e v ideo ’s sh o rt co m ing s w as u n co n tr o v erted . T h u s, the A L J’s det erm i nat i on of the phy s i cal r equi r ement s of the pos i t i on w as s upport ed bys ubs t ant i al e v id e n c e . N e x t, G re e n w ich c o n ten d s th a t, af terth e a c c id e n t, i t o f

f e re d T h o m a s s u itab le e m p lo ym e n t as a to p p ick o p e ra to r o r y a rd h o rse o p e ra to r. T h e A L J re a so n a b ly c o n c lu d e d th a t b o th p o sitio n s e x c e e d e d T h o m a s’ p h y sic a l ca p a b ili ties , an d th a t h is part i ci pat i on i n ei theract i vi tycoul d exac erbat e hi s i nj ur i es . A . 27a- 28a. T hom as and Bu r l e s o n i d e n t i f

i e d s p e c i f

i c a c t i v i t i e s th a ta t o p p i c k o p e r a t o rmu s tr e g u l a r l yp e r f o rm, i ncl udi ng tw i s t i ng hi s neck a nd t or s o, as cendi ng and des cendi ng s t ai r s , l ooki ng upw ar ds a n d d o w n w a rd s, sittin g c o n tin u o u slyf o r se v e ra l h o u rs, a n d sim u ltan e o u slyu sin g b o th h a n d s. A . 2 1 a , 2 7 a -2 9 a . D r. L e f k o e o p in e d th a t T h o m a s’ in ju rie s p re c lu d e d h isL i kew i s e, s ubs t ant i al evi dence s upport s T hom as ’ i nabi l i tyt o per form the j ob of 4 y ar d hor s e oper at or . T hom as t es t i fi ed, and B ur l es on concurr ed, thatthe pos i t i on, w hi ch requi red usi ng a “hu st l e truck” t o m ov e con t ai ners ar ou nd a y ard fi l l ed w i th p othol es, i m pos ed gr eat erphy s i cal demands on the oper at orthan the t op pi ck pos i t i on. A . 15a, 29a. B ecaus e a y ar d hor s e oper at orm us ts l am t he hus t l e truck i nt o a cont ai nert o m ake a co n n ec ti o n , h e m u st en g ag e in a “lot o f b en d ing an d b eing thro w n aro u n d . ” A . 1 5 a. D r. L efkoe s peci fi cal l ypr os cr i bed s uch ac t i vi t i es , not i ng thatfr equenttw i s t i ng and j os t l i ng w oul d exac erbat e Thom as ’ i nj ur i es . A . 21a- 22a. T hus , the A L J ’ s det erm i nat i on that T hom as coul d notper form the j ob of y ar d hor s e oper at orfi nds s ubs t ant i al s upporti n the r ecor d. 8 r epea t edl yper form i ng thes e ac t i vi t i es on a dai l ybas i s . A . 27a- 28a. T h e A L J’s c o n c lu sio n th a t T h o m a s c o u ld n o t p e rf o rm e ith e r jo b o f

f e re d to h im w as al s o s upport ed byT hom as ’ ow n t es t i m ony , w hi ch the A L J found cr edi bl e. T hom as t es t i fi ed thathe w as phy s i cal l yi ncapabl e of tw i s t i ng hi s t or s o, l ooki ng up and dow n, sittin g c o n tin u o u slyf

o r se v e ra l h o u rs, u sin g b o th h a n d s s im u ltan e o u sly , an d c lim b in g in and ou tof the veh i cl e, on a regul ar basi s. A . 15 a. P ract i cal exp eri ence c on fi rm ed these l i m i t at i ons : att empt i ng t o oper at e the t op pi ck machi ne on hi s fi r s tdayof w ork, T hom as s truggl ed t o m ani pul at e l ever s w hi l e s t eer i ng the vehi cl e, and w as ul t i m at el yhos pi t al i zed w ith n ec k injuries. A . 1 6 a. T h u s, w e f ind su b stan ti al ev iden ce to su p p o rtthe A L J’s det erm i nat i on thatT hom as w as unabl e t o oper at e the t op pi ck machi ne. 4 G r eenw i ch, i n turn, cont ends thatthe A L J fai l ed ade quat el yt o cons i derthe o p inion s o f D rs. V ac arro an d M an d el, as w ell as T h o m as’ p h y sical th era p ist s, M r. C a n tw e ll an d M s. S h o re . G re e n w ich c o n ten d s, m o re o v e r, th a t th e A L J e rro n e o u sly excl uded vi deo s urvei l l ance of Thom as dr i vi ng hi s carand cl i m bi ng s t ai r s – t as ksT hom as aggr avat ed hi s i nj ur i es w hen he a tt empt ed t o oper at e the t op pi ck 5 m achi ne i n A pr i l of 2004, and an M R I compl et ed i n N ovember2005 r evea l ed d e t e r i o r a t i o n o f

T h o ma s ’ s p i n e , i n c l u d i n g d e g e n e r a t i v e d i s c d i s e a s e a n d a b u l g i n g d i s k . A. 2 2 a . In d e e d , T h o m a s’ d o c to rs a g re e d th a t h e a ttain e d M M I, i. e ., a sta te in w h ich h is con dit i on w ou l d n ot i m prove, s everal m on ths af t erD r . V aca rr o’ s i ni t i al det erm i nat i on of T hom as ’ phy s i cal r es tr i ct i ons i n N ovemberof 2003. A . 19a, 22a. 9 p u rp o rt e d l yr e l e v a n tt o h i s a b i l i tyt o p e r f o rm th e j o b s o f

f e r e d t o h i m. An Ad mi n i s tr a t i v e L a w J u d g e i s e n t i t l e d t o we i g h th e e v i d e n c e a n d d r a w h i s o wn i nfer ence s , and i s notr equi r ed t o acc eptthe opi ni on ortheoryof a pa rt i cul arm edi cal e x a m in e r. A vondale Shi pyards v. Kennel , 914 F. 2d 88, 91 ( 5th C i r . 1988) . A l though the A L J m a yn o t em p lo yh is o w n e x p e rtise a g a in st th a t o f a p h y sic ian w h o p re se n ts com petentm edical evidence, he m aycho ose w ho m t o credi t , provided h e art i culat es a ra tio n a l e x p la n a tio n f

o r d o in g s o . See Pl um m erv. Apf el , 186 F. 3d 422, 429 ( 3d C i r . 1999) ( ci t i ng S t e wa r tv . Se c r e ta r y o f H. E . W. , 714 F. 2d 287, 290 (3d C ir . 1 9 8 3 )). H ere , D r. V aca rr o, w ho tr eat ed Thom as unt i l M ar ch 2004, concl uded thatT hom as ’ phy s i cal r e s tr i c t i o n s d i d n o tp r e c l u d e e mpl o yme n ta s a t o p p i c k o p e r a t o r . W e f i n d th a tth e ALJ r at i onal l ycr edi t ed D r . L efkoe ’ s opi ni on overthatof D r . V aca rr o. D r . V aca rr o form ul at ed hi s r ecomm endat i on bas ed on phy s i cal r es tr i ct i ons pl ace d on T hom as i n N ovemberof 2 0 0 3 – o v er tw o y ea rs be fo re h is disab il ityh ea ri n g . A s the A L J o b serv ed , D r. V ac arro ’s o p inion fa il ed to ref

lect th e su b seq u en t deterioration in T h o m as’ c o n d it ion . A . 2 8 a. D r. 5 L efkoe , bycontr as t , bas ed hi s opi ni on on m onthl yexami nat i ons of the cl ai m ant c o n d u c te d s in c e J u n e o f 2 0 0 4 . A . 2 1 a . See Pl um m er , 186 F. 3d at429 ( quot i ng R occo v .10

Heckl er , 8 8 6 F .2 d 1 3 4 8 , 1 3 5 0 (3 d C ir. 1 9 8 7 ) (n o tin g th a t “tre a tin g p h y sic ian s’ r e p o rts s houl d be ac cor ded gr eatw ei ght , es peci al l y‘ w hen thei ropi ni ons r efl ectexpertj udgm ent bas ed on a c ont i nui ng obs ervat i on of the pat i ent ’ s condi t i on overa pr ol onged per i od of ti m e.’”). W e f

ind that the A L J arti cu lat ed a re aso n ab le ba sis fo r ad o p ti n g D r. L ef k o e’s o p in io n o v e r t h a t o f

D r. V a c a rr o a n d , th e re f o re , d is c e rn n o e rr o r. Se e id . ( ci t i ng Stew art , 714 F. 2d at290

) ( not i ng thatA L J m us tart i cul at e “s om e r eas on fordi s count i ng the ev iden ce sh e re

jects”). G r eenw i ch al s o ci t es the opi ni on of a s econd orthopedi s t , D r . M andel , w ho ex am ined T h o m as a t G ree n w ich’s re q u est, b u t did n o t trea t him . W e f ind that D r. M andel ’ s t es t i m onyunderm i nes r atherthan ai ds G r eenw i ch’ s pos i t i on. A ft erT hom as des cr i bed the dut i es of a t op pi ck oper at ort o D r . M andel , he conc l uded thatT hom as coul d n o t per form the j ob. A . 20a. O nl yaft err evi ew i ng the vi deo demonstr at i on of the j ob – w hi ch w e fi nd the A L J pr oper l yr ej ect ed - - di d D r . M andel m odi fyhi s concl us i on. A . 20a. B ecaus e D r . M andel pr edi cat ed hi s r evi s ed opi ni on on err oneous as s um pt i ons a b o u t th e p o sitio n , the A L J c o rre c tlyd isc re d ited it. G ree n w ich a lso c o n tend s tha t th e A L J erred in rejec ti n g the o p inion s o f M r. C a n tw e ll an d M s. S h o re , T h o m a s’ p h y sic a l th e ra p ists, w h o c o n c lu d e d th a t T h o m a s c o u ld per form the j ob of t op pi ck oper at or . L i ke D r . M andel , M r . C antw el l r el i ed on the vi deo d e m o n stra tio n o f

th e p o sitio n to f

o rm u late h is o p in io n a n d , the re f o re , the A L J p ro p e rly rej ect ed h i s opini on . A . 29 a. T he A L J i den t i fi ed a sep arat e def ecti n the opini on of M s.Fr equent l yi s char act er i zed a s 1/ 3 t o 2/ 3 of the t i m e. 6 11 S ho re, w ho form ulat ed h er conclusi on s w i tho ut consul t i ng T ho m as’ m edical res tri ct i on s. A . 29a. A ccor di ngl y , w e fi nd thatthe A L J art i cul at ed a r at i onal bas i s fordi s cr edi t i ng each o f the m edical and vo cat i on al op i nions upo n w hich G reenw i ch rel i es. L as t l y , G r eenw i ch cont ends thatthe A L J i m pr oper l yexcl uded vi deo s urvei l l ance of Thom as occa s i onal l ycl i m bi ng the s t ai r s i n hi s hom e and dr i vi ng hi s car– act i vi t i es pu rport edlyrel evan tt o h i s abi l i tyt o p erform the job of t op pick ope rat or and y ard horse o p e ra to r. W e n e e d n o t d e c id e w h e th e r e x c lu sio n o f th e v id e o w a s e rro r, f

o r e v e n if

it w as , i tw as harm l es s . O n cr os s - exami nat i on, T hom as acknow l edged hi s occa s i onal us e of a ca rand the s t ai r s i n hi s hom e – the pr i m aryact i vi t i es depi ct ed i n the s urvei l l ance fo o tage . F u rth er, th e A L J rati o n all yd eterm ined that w h ethe r T h o m as c o u ld clim b stai rs o c c a s io n a lly, o r d ri v e h is c a r, w as i rr el evantt o hi s abi l i tyt o oper at e a t op pi ck, a pi ece of h ea v ym ac h ineryim p o sing u n iqu e p h y sical de m an d s o n it s o p era tor. A s d iscu ssed ea rl ier, th e ALJ i d e n t i f

i e d s e v e r a l s p e c i f

i c t a s k s th a tt o p p i c k o p e r a t o r s mu s tr e g u l a r l yp e r f o rm, butw hi ch Thom as ’ phy s i cal r es tr i ct i ons pr ohi bi t ed hi s doi ng f r equent l y. Th e ALJ 6 rea so n ab lyd eterm ined that T h o m as’ occas i onalu s e o f h i s c a ro rth e s t a i r s i n h i s h o me h a d n o b e a r i n g o n h i s a b i l i ty t o p e r f o rm th e s e f

i v e t a s k s o n a f

r e q u e n tb a s i s . A c c o r d i n g l y, the A L J’ s excl usi on of the survei l l ance v i deo , even i f i tw as adm i ssi ble, w as harm l ess. G re e n w ich c o m p lain s th a t T h o m a s d id n o t d ili g e n tlyp u rsu e e m p lo ym e n t af terh isA l th o u g h d i l i g e n c e i s d i r e c t l y r e l e v a n tt o T h o m a s ’ c l a i m f o rt o t a l d i s a b i l i ty, 7 P al om bo , 937 F. 2d at73, i ti s al s o r el evantt o the A L J ’ s aw ar d of part i al di s abi l i ty . H ad T hom as obt ai ned al t ernat i ve empl oym ent , even a tl es s erpay , i tw oul d be s i gni fi cant e v id e n c e o f

h is re s id u a l e a rn in g c a p a c ity. See 33 U . S. C . § 908 ( al l ow i ng det erm i nat i on of part i al di s abi l i tyt o be bas ed on “a nyotherfac t or s orci r cumst ance s i n the ca s e w hi ch may af fe ct [the claim an t’ s] ca p ac ityto ea rn w ag es in h is disab led c o n d it ion ). 12 a c c id e n t. A s e v id e n c e o f T h o m a s’ in a d e q u a te e f f o rts, G re e n w ich c ites h is re f u sa l to 7 s ubm i tt o per s onal exami nat i on byM s . M ocar s ki , a voca t i onal cons ul t antr et ai ned by G r eenw i ch; the att achmentof hi s funct i onal capa ci tyeval uat i on, det ai l i ng hi s phy s i cal l i m i t at i ons , t o hi s j ob appl i cat i ons ; and fi nal l y , G r eenw i ch’ s purport ed off erof any p o s i t i o n a tth e c o mpa n yt o Th o ma s . Re j e c t i n g e a c h o f

th e s e a r g u me n t s , th e ALJ c o n c lu d e d th a t T h o m a s p u rsu e d e m p lo ym e n t w ith G re e n w ich a n d o th e r c o m p a n ies in good- fai th aft erthe ac ci dent . Subst ant i al evi dence s upport s the A L J ’ s det erm i nat i on. T hom as w as eage rt o r eturn t o w ork aft erhi s acc i dent . A gai ns tD r . L efkoe ’ s advi ce, he acc ept ed a pos i t i on as a t op pi ck oper at ori n A pr i l of 2005, buts us t ai ned nec k i nj ur i es on h is f irst d a yo f

w o rk . A . 1 6 a . G re e n w ich re sp o n d s th a t itw a s e a g e r to “ a c c o m m o d a te h im [Thom as ] as nece s s aryi f thes e pos i t i ons [t op pi ck oper at orory ar d hor s e oper at or ] pr oved t o b e t oo diffi cult ”, bu tthat i t s overtures w ere m etbyi nacti on on the p artof T ho m as. Pet i t i oner s ’ B r . at29. G r eenw i ch’ s as s ert i on i s uns upport ed. G r eenw i ch off er ed Thom as onl ytw o pos i t i ons atthe company- - t op pi ck oper at orand y ar d hor s e oper at or . A . 17a. E ven af t erT hom as expr es s ed i nt er es ti n a j ob as a cr ane ope r at or , a l es s s tr enuous pos i t i on, and eve n aft erT hom as s tr ai ned hi s neck w hi l e oper at i ng the t op pi ck,13

G ree n w ich o ff

ere d h im n o o ther p o sit ion . A . 1 5 a. W e d ec li n e to in terpret G ree n w ich’s f a ilu re to o f

f e r T h o m a s s u itab le e m p lo ym e n t as e v id e n c e o f T h o m a s’ b a d -f

a ith in r eturni ng t o w ork. W e al s o fi nd thatT hom as di s pl ay ed vi gi l ance i n s eeki ng empl oym entout s i de h is curr entpl ace of empl oym ent . D r . C hai ken t es t i fi ed thatT hom as w as hi ghl ycooper at i ve d u ri n g th e p la c e m e n t p ro c e s s , a p p lyin g f o r p o s itio n s a t s ix d if

f e re n t c o m p a n ie s . A . 2 4 a . C ontr aryt o G r eenw i ch’ s cont ent i on, T hom as appende d hi s funct i onal capa ci tyeval uat i on t o job app l i cat i on s atD r . C hai ken’s s ugges t i on i n or dert o pr ovi de an a ccur at e pi ctur e of h is p h y s ic a l c a p a b iliti e s – n o t to s a b o ta g e h is e m p lo ym e n t p ro s p e c ts . A . 2 4 a . Fi nal l y , G r eenw i ch makes m uch of Thom as ’ r efus al t o s ubm i tt o a per s onal exami nat i on byM s . M ocar s ki . W hetherornotT hom as s houl d have done s o, G r eenw i ch suffered n o p rej ud i ce byhis refusal . U si ng T ho m as’ extensi ve m edical recor ds, M s. M ocar s ki pr epar ed a c om pr ehens i ve s urveyof s ui t abl e empl oym entopportuni t i es i n the a re a . A . 2 4 a -2 5 a . T h e A L J d e ter m in e d th a t f o u r o f th e p o sitio n s id e n tifie d w e re w ith in T hom as ’ j ob r es tr i ct i ons . G r eenw i ch does notexpl ai n w hyM s . M ocar s ki had t o exami ne T hom as t o pr epar e the s urvey , ori dent i fym at er i al i nform at i on thats uch an e xami nat i on of Thom as w oul d have pr oduced, w hi ch coul d notbe gl eane d fr om T hom as ’ det ai l ed m edi cal r ecor ds . T hus , T hom as ’ r efus al t o s ubm i tt o a per s onal exami nat i on di d notA l t ernat i vel y , G r eenw i ch ar gues thatthe A L J empl oy ed an i m pr oper 8 me th o d o l o g yt o c a l c u l a t e th e r e d u c t i o n i n Th o ma s ’ wag e s r e s u l t i n g f r o m hi s d i s a b i l i ty . To determ i ne T ho m as’ po st -i njury , w age-earni ng capac i ty , the A L J averaged the s alary r anges of the fours ui t abl e pos i t i ons i dent i fi ed byM s . M ocar s ki . G r eenw i ch mai nt ai ns thatthi s w as err or . T he A L J , G r eenw i ch cont ends , s houl d have us ed the s al aryof the highes t- payi ng pos i t i on i dent i fi ed byM s . M ocar s ki , r atherthan the average sa lar yo f a ll su itab le p o sitio n s id e n tifie d . G re e n w ich o f f e rs n o a u th o rityo r a n a ly sis f o r its p o sitio n , to w hi ch i tdevot es a s i ngl e s ent ence of i t s br i ef. Pet i t i oner s ’ B r . at39. W e conc l ude, as the B R B di d, thatthe A L J ’ s m ethod forcal cul at i ng T hom as ’ pos t - i nj ury , w age- earni ng capa ci tyw as r eas onabl e and w i thi n the admi ni s tr at i ve l aw j udge’ s s ubs t ant i al di s cr et i on o n th e is s u e . See Avondale I ndus tr i es , I

nc. v. P ul l i am , 1 3 7 F . 3 d 3 2 6 , 3 2 8 (5th C ir . 1 9 9 8 ); Sh e l lOf f s h o r e , I n c . v . Di r e c to r, OWCP , 1 2 2 F .3 d 3 1 2 , 3 1 8 (5 th C ir . 1 9 9 7 ), cer t . deni ed , 5 2 3 U . S . 1 0 9 5 (19 9 8 ). 14 pr ej udi ce G r eenw i ch. 8 III . F o rth e f o r e g o i n g r e a s o n s , we wi l l DE NY th e P e t i t i o n f o rRe v i e w.