Source: http://leeandbrown.com/the-legal-buzz-lee-brown-newsletter-and-case-law-update-september-2018/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 18:01:57+00:00

Document:
Lee & Brown attended the 25th Annual PWC Golf Tournament held at Wellshire Golf Course on September 14th. Members Katherine Lee and Joshua Brown played on a team as well as Of Counsel Frank Cavanaugh and Bill Sterck. The Firm sponsored the Hole-in-One competition, which included a chance to win a $10,000 prize. While there was no hole-in-one, there was an Elway’s gift card giveaway, along with golf balls and tees. Everyone enjoyed the seasonably warm weather and refreshing beverages. Congratulations to all the players and to the PWC for putting on a great event.
Member Joshua Brown successfully defended against a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) charge in Rood v. Colorado Professional Security Services, LLC. The charging party alleged that he and his spouse were retaliated against in violation of Section 8(a)(1) of the National Labor Relations Act (“the Act”). The charging party alleged that he was named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by the employer in retaliation for having initiated a wage and hour lawsuit against the employer. The employer filed the lawsuit against the charging party because of harassing conduct and a social media video. The NLRB found that there was no retaliatory motive.
Member Joshua Brown also successfully defended against a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) charge in David v. Colorado Professional Security Services, LLC. The charging party alleged that he was disciplined and discharged in retaliation for joining a wage and hour lawsuit against the employer. Specifically, the charging party posted a video on social media criticizing the employer. The NLRB found that in the video, the charging party made several unprotected comments about his supervisor and employer’s owner. The NLRB found that the employer discharged the charging party for the unprotected conduct and disciplinary history, rather than in retaliation for any protected concerted activity.
In Rodarte v. Walmart Associates, Inc. (d/b/a Sam’s Wholesale Club), Of Counsel M. Frances McCracken, successfully defended against Claimant’s attempt to obtain both post-MMI medical maintenance care (in the form of additional physical therapy) and conversion of her scheduled rating of permanent impairment to whole person. The Claimant sustained a compensable injury after a baking tray fell off a shelf and crushed her right long finger. The matter eventually proceeded through the DIME process. The DIME physician opined that no post-MMI maintenance care was appropriate. At hearing, Ms. McCracken elicited evidence that the Claimant attained no meaningful benefit from approximately 80 physical therapy sessions, alongside other treatment modalities. With respect to conversion, Ms. McCracken highlighted evidence to the Court revealing that the Claimant could only show pain extending beyond her hand into the whole person. Ms. McCracken emphasized that mere pain is not enough to substantiate conversion; instead, the Claimant was required to show functional impairment or disability into the whole person. The Claimant’s requests for both the post-MMI medical care and conversion of the impairment rating were denied and dismissed.
Associate Matt Boatwright successfully defended a fully contested claim in Foster v. United Parcel Service. The Claimant asserted that he suffered a knee injury while delivering packages, despite completing his route, without report of an injury or any incident. The ALJ found that the Respondents’ employer witness testified credibly that the Claimant did not report any work injury until being informed that he was terminated for insubordination. The employer witness also testified credibly that the Claimant did not appear to have a limp until after he was terminated. Respondents’ IME expert credibly opined that it was medically unlikely that the Claimant’s condition would have become worse while off work without an aggravating activity. The ALJ denied and dismissed the Claimant’s claim for compensation.
Associate Matt Boatwright also successfully defended against compensability in Floyd v. United Parcel Service. The Claimant claimed that he injured his shoulder while detaching a tractor trailer. While the Claimant admitted that he had previously injured the shoulder in a prior motor vehicle accident and had undergone some limited conservative treatment, he denied having any other prior issues with the shoulder. The medical evidence reflected that the Claimant had chronic shoulder issues, a preexisting motor vehicle accident injury, as well as more recent pain from his personal recreational activities. The Respondents’ medical expert testified credibly that the Claimant’s MRI findings reflected a degenerative rotator cuff tear, which was not likely the result of a single, acute incident. The ALJ favored the opinion of the Respondents’ medical expert over the Claimant’s testimony and denied and dismissed the claim.
Considerations for Handling Blood-Borne Pathogen Claims in Colorado and Arizona.
Exposure to blood-borne pathogens presents unique risks in the work place. Workers in health care or in-resident home care are, on a daily basis, subject to the potential of disease transmitted by bodily fluids. Given the ubiquitous daily potential for exposure to workers across the board, from direct patient care workers to maintenance workers to transport personnel, risk managers and adjusters need to understand the overlap with workers compensation and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (“OSHA”) rules. Understanding exposure and needlestick law is critical to containing risks as well as protecting employees from life-altering danger. Continue reading the article.
Take this Job and Shove It: Modified job offers and initial entitlement to TTD benefits: In Valle v. Precision Drilling, W.C. No. 5-050-714-01 (January 8, 2018), Respondents sought review of the ALJ’s Order requiring them to pay TTD benefits. Claimant sustained an admitted injury in his position as a floor hand. Claimant was put on temporary work restrictions and offered a modified job duty prior to missing any work. He declined to accept the modified job duty offer and sought TTD benefits. Respondents declined to pay TTD benefits, relying on C.R.S. §8-42-105(3)(d)(1), which states that refusal to accept a modified job duty offer may serve as a basis for terminating TTD benefits. The ICAP ruled that Respondents incorrectly relied on C.R.S. §8-42-105(3)(d)(1) because Claimant was neither entitled to nor receiving TTD benefits when the modified job duty offer was made. ICAP did state that the refusal to accept the modified job duty offer would be a proper factor to consider in determining Claimant’s initial entitlement to temporary disability benefits but the applicable statute would be C.R.S. §8-42-103(1), which establishes a Claimant’s initial entitlement to temporary benefits and not the termination statute, C.R.S. §8-42-105(3)(d)(1).
Moral of the Story: Refusal to accept a modified job duty offer may be considered in determining initial entitlement to TTD benefits if refusal of the job offer is the cause of the Claimant’s wage loss pursuant to C.R.S. §8-42-103(1).
Take this Job and Shove It Part 2: More fun with modified job offers and TTD benefits: In Willhoit v. Maggie’s Farm, W.C. No. 5-054-125 (March 14, 2018), Claimant sought review of an ALJ’s Order denying TTD benefits. Claimant sustained a work-related injury in his position as a Cultivation Technician for a marijuana farm and was placed on temporary work restrictions. He then received a modified job duty offer, which was approved by his ATP, to trim buds in the cultivation room. Claimant refused the modified job offer on the basis that he believed it violated his work restrictions, due to treatment recommendations by his ATP to rest, apply ice, compress, stretch, and elevate his knee. Respondents denied Claimant’s request for TTD benefits due to his failure to accept the modified job duty offer. ICAP found that Claimant’s refusal of the modified job offer was not reasonable because his ATP was aware of his treatment recommendations and physical limitations when he approved the Claimant’s modified job offer.
Moral of the Story: An ATP’s treatment recommendations are not the same as work restrictions for purposes of a modified job duty offer.
He Said. She Said. Challenging an ALJ’s factual determinations with conflicting medical opinions: In a Colorado Court of Appeals decision, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. v. ICAO, 17CA1959 (July 19, 2018)(nsfp), Respondents sought review of a final ICAO Order upholding an award of PTD benefits. The ATP found Claimant sustained brain, central nervous system, and psychiatric injuries in his work-related motor vehicle accident and was permanently and totally disabled. The first DIME physician found Claimant had reached MMI for the cervical, shoulder, and spine injuries but required additional treatment for the brain injury. Respondents sought a second DIME after substantial treatment had been rendered. The second DIME physician disagreed that Claimant suffered any permanent impairment from a brain injury, an injury to the central nervous system, or psychiatric issues. Claimant sought to overcome the DIME’s findings and the ALJ agreed, finding that Claimant was permanently and totally disabled. ICAO held the ALJ relied on several opinions of treating physicians in reaching his determination that Claimant sustained a traumatic brain injury that caused profound psychological dysfunction. While ICAO acknowledged the difference in medical opinions, it held the ALJ’s factual determinations were binding – even when there was conflicting evidence. ICAO held substantial evidence supported the ALJ’s findings and thus the Panel’s decision affirming the award of benefits should be sustained.
Moral of the Story: An ALJ’s factual determinations regarding the DIME’s findings and PTD benefits are difficult to overcome in claims with conflicting evidentiary interpretations because it is the ALJ’s discretion to determine credibility of witnesses with differing opinions.
Quantity > Quality: Substantial Employment to determine proper jurisdiction: In Turner v. ICAO, 17CA1647 (July 19, 2018) (nsfp), Claimant sought review of the dismissal of his claim on jurisdictional grounds. Claimant was a resident of British Columbia and a Canadian citizen. Claimant was hired as a truck driver by a Canadian based company to haul goods throughout Canada and the western United States. While making a lumber delivery in Henderson, Colorado, Claimant slipped on ice and sustained injuries to his hips, shoulders, and neck. At hearing, the ALJ noted Claimant was only entitled to benefits under Colorado law if he established that a substantial portion of his employment was performed in Colorado. Because 90% to 95% of Claimant’s working hours were outside of Colorado, the ALJ determined he lacked jurisdiction to hear the claim. Claimant alleged that his nine trips to various locations throughout Colorado over an eight-month period evidenced routine and regular work in the state. Claimant advocated a qualitative over quantitative analysis should be used in determining whether Colorado was the proper jurisdiction. ICAO noted that a substantial portion of the employee’s work must be performed in Colorado and that the quantitative analysis used by the ALJ was the appropriate standard. ICAO affirmed the Panel’s Order that substantial evidence supported the ALJ’s determination that Claimant’s time in Colorado was insubstantial and did not meet the jurisdictional minimums.
Moral of the Story: Jurisdictional analysis for substantial employment is quantitative, not qualitative, in nature.

References: v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 §8
 §8
 §8
 §8
 §8
 v. 
 v. 
 v.