Case Name: William A. SORENSON v. MERIT ELECTRICAL & Zurich American Insurance Company
Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 2005-05-06
Citations: 916 So. 2d 213
Docket Number: No. 2004 CA 1192
Parties: William A. SORENSON v. MERIT ELECTRICAL & Zurich American Insurance Company.
Judges: Before: WHIPPLE, DOWNING and HUGHES, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 916
Pages: 213–214

Head Matter:
William A. SORENSON v. MERIT ELECTRICAL & Zurich American Insurance Company.
No. 2004 CA 1192.
Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.
May 6, 2005.
Antonio LeMon, Covington, Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellee William A. Sorenson.
Edward F. Stauss, III, Aaron J. Chais-son, Jr., Baton Rouge, Counsel for Defendant/Appellant Merit Electrical & Zurich American Insurance, Co.
Before: WHIPPLE, DOWNING and HUGHES, JJ.

Opinion:
DOWNING, J.
The employer appeals an Office of Workers' Compensation Court (WCC) judgment that authorizes the claimant to be evaluated by a psychologist. The WCC stated that it found the claimant to be "a very credible witness." Although it found the lack of a written referral from the treating physician to be problematic, it determined that the claimant acted reasonably in seeking the evaluation and still had a right to see the medical specialist of his choosing.
We agree with the WCC. Louisiana Revised Statute 23:1121(B) provides, in pertinent part, that the employee shall have the right to select one treating physician in any field or specialty. Louisiana Revised Statute 23:1121(B) further provides that the employee is not required to obtain approval for change to a treating physician in another field or specialty.
Therefore, we affirm the judgment of the WCC. This summary opinion is issued in compliance with Uniform Court of Appeal Rule 2-16.2 and the cost of this appeal is assessed against the defendant/appellant.
AFFIRMED.