Case Name: Christopher D. COOK, Appellant, v. The PRESIDENT CASINO and Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, Appellees
Court: Mississippi Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Mississippi
Decision Date: 1999-06-08
Citations: 740 So. 2d 963
Docket Number: No. 98-CC-00294-COA
Parties: Christopher D. COOK, Appellant, v. The PRESIDENT CASINO and Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, Appellees.
Judges: KING, P.J., BRIDGES, DIAZ, IRVING, AND LEE, JJ„ CONCUR.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 740
Pages: 963–979

Head Matter:
Christopher D. COOK, Appellant, v. The PRESIDENT CASINO and Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, Appellees.
No. 98-CC-00294-COA.
Court of Appeals of Mississippi.
June 8, 1999.
Brent M. Biekham, Pascagoula, Attorney for Appellant.
William D. Blakeslee, Gulfport, Attorney for Appellees.

Opinion:
PAYNE, J.,
for the Court:
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶ 1. Christopher Cook filed his petition to controvert on July 15, 1994, against President Casino. Prior to the hearing before the administrative law judge, the parties stipulated Cook's average weekly wage with President Casino to be $240 per week.
¶ 2. By order of March 22, 1996, the administrative law judge concluded that Cook had sustained a work-related accident on June 11, 1993, and that Cook was entitled to temporary total disability benefits for a period between June 12,1993 and November 7, 1994 — the date the administrative law judge found Cook reached maximum medical improvement. The employer and carrier provided medical services and supplies. Furthermore, the administrative law judge concluded that Cook made no effort to secure employment once he had been released by his treating physicians. The administrative law judge also concluded that Cook sustained no permanent disability or permanent industrial disability from this accident. Thereafter, Cook filed a petition for review before the Commission on March 28, 1996, challenging the rulings of the administrative law judge.
¶ 3. On July 17, 1996, the Commission affirmed the ruling of the administrative law judge. On July 24, 1996, Cook filed a notice of appeal to the circuit court. On January 27, 1998, the circuit court entered an order affirming the ruling of the Commission. Feeling further aggrieved, Cook filed his notice of appeal on February 13, 1997.
¶ 4. Having read the arguments presented and the law as it applies, we find that the administrative law judge, the Commission, and the circuit judge were in error in relying on evidence which was corrupted by viewing a videotape of the claimant's brother and in employing the wrong legal standard in determining whether the claimant received a permanent partial injury to a scheduled member. We reverse and remand this case to the Commission for proper determination of the claimant's permanent injury, if any, by his treating physician.
FACTS
¶ 5. Christopher Cook was employed as a security guard at the President Casino and was injured while attending to cars at the casino's parking lot. At the time of the accident, Cook was twenty-four years old and a resident of Biloxi, Mississippi. The extent of his education is graduation from high school. At the casino, Cook's duties entailed walking around the casino intercepting would be disturbances, at times checking employees' badges at the front door, and checking delivery trucks bringing supplies to the casino.
¶ 6. Cook was injured when a car forced him to jump out of the way. He fell and injured his left foot. Thereafter, Cook was taken to the Biloxi Regional Hospital where his foot was wrapped in a cast. Subsequently to these events, Cook visited several physicians who treated his condition.
¶ 7. Testifying for the casino, William Price stated that he and Field Investigator Gary Herstes videotaped on three separate occasions a person whom they believed to be Christopher Cook. William Price stated on direct examination:
Q. All right. When the video was taken in this case, what factual information if any was used to determine if the person shown in the videotape is the claimant or if the claimant was working at the place where the videotape was taken?
A. We had a physical description showing height, weight, age, race. We had a picture, and after taking the video, we then showed it to the claimant's place of employment [President Casino] and the person who supervised him told us that we had the proper person.
Though not questioned extensively, Price was asked about the camera he used in filming, and the distance he stood from those he helped film:
Q. And what was the distance of the subject to the vidoecamera when you took the videotapes?
A. Approximately 50 feet or something like that.
Q. Did you use a telephoto lens?
A. No, it was on a standard VHS video format. I believe it was probably 30 millimeter or something like that.
¶ 8. Several Cook family members testified about this videotape. Craig Cook, Christopher Cook's brother, stated:
A. It was a video of me, my Dad and my oldest brother [Alvin], We was working on a Mazda truck.
Q. Did Chris ever work on the Mazda truck?
A. No, sir.
Q. And did any of the video show Chris at all?
A. No, sir.
BY ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE THOMPSON: The man in the film looks more like Mr. Craig Cook to me because of the short clipped hair and the height.
Chris Cook was questioned and testified about the videotape.
Q. So when was the last time you worked at your father's body shop?
A. June the 11th, the day of the accident.
Q. You're contending that's the last time you worked at your father's body shop?
A. Yes, sir.
Willie Mae Cook, Christopher's mother, was also questioned and testified about the videotape.
Q. Can you tell me who was in the videotape?
A. It was Craig, my husband — Craig and my husband that I can remember.
Q. Did you ever see Chris in the videotape?
A. Oh, no, he wasn't in it.
After this testimony, Administrative Law Judge Thompson stated:
After watching the tape and seeing the folks and listening to the testimony, I think it's — I can't be certain because these two men look a lot alike and I can't quite imagine what Mr. Chris Cook would look like without the distinctive hairdo that he has now. If his hair were short I'd think he'd look a whole lot like his brother Craig. I think, however, just with the height and weight it looks more like Craig Cook on that videotape to me than Chris Cook. So at least I couldn't say for certain who that videotape depicts.
¶ 9. Several physicians and one physical therapist testified in this matter by deposition. Dr. James Butler, an orthopedic surgeon, testified that he examined Cook on six occasions between November 17, 1993 and June 15, 1994. He observed that Cook exhibited no objective criteria to establish any impairment rating. In fact, Dr. Butler noted that he did not give Cook any type of disability from an orthopaedic standpoint. In his own words, Dr. Butler stated that "[b]ased on objective criteria he does not have an impairment rating." Dr. Butler further testified that he could see no problem in Cook's returning to his regular activities of assisting with the parking lot security. Furthermore, Dr. Butler stated that he found that Cook had reached maximum medical improvement on March 2,1994.
¶ 10. Dr. Richard Gorman testified that he is a neurologist and that he first saw Cook on July 18, 1994. Dr. Gorman prescribed medication and a pair of Birkenstock sandals. He noted that based upon a reasonable medical probability, Cook was suffering from reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Dr. Gorman believed that the patient was disabled for his occupation; however, he deferred the percentage of disability to Dr. Butler. He also stated that Cook reached maximum medical improvement on November 7,1994.
¶ 11. Dr. Sidney Smith testified that he saw Cook on August 28. Dr. Smith added that he could find nothing to indicate any organic basis for disability to Cook's foot.
¶ 12. Physical therapist Douglas Roll testified that he performed a functional capacity evaluation of Cook on October 19 and October 20, 1995. Mr. Roll noted that Cook gave poor effort in his strength test thus, Mr. Roll testified, he was unable to accurately assess muscle strength. Concerning Cook's injured foot, Cook noted that if he put weight on his left foot, he would pass out, yet while being evaluated by Roll, Cook would lead with his left foot and "put total and complete weight bearing on that left foot occasionally."
¶ 13. Furthermore, Roll noted:
Q. In your opinion, did the claimant give maximum and consistent effort in performing the functional capacity evaluation?
A. No, he did not.
Q. In your opinion, did the claimant exhibit findings indicating symptom magnification?
A. Yes, he did.
It was also Mr. Roll's testimony that Cook exhibited inconsistent and non-organic findings on sensation testing. In a similar vein, Mr. Roll noted that Cook gave submaximal and inconsistent effort and as indicated above exhibited findings of symptom magnification on his functional capacity evaluation. Mr. Roll did note that Cook's performance on the functional capacity evaluation coupled with the videotape of someone represented as Cook created doubts as to the claimant's veracity. As stated by Mr. Roll, "After viewing the videotape and comparing what I saw in the videotape to what I saw during the functional capacities evaluation, I would have to say there is a credibility problem."
¶ 14. Dr. Richard Smoot, a clinical psychologist, testified that his evaluation indicated that Cook was an individual who would likely have a great deal of somatic complaints and histrionic personality traits. The record is void as to the date Dr. Smoot evaluated Cook. However, the record indicates that Dr. Smoot wrote Mr. Blakeslee (attorney for employer/carrier) a letter dated October 24, 1994. Thus, we assume this letter was in relation to Dr. Smoot's clinical evaluation of Cook. Concerning the letter of October 24, 1994, Dr. Smoot noted that "Mr. Cook does not appear to be malingering." Furthermore, Dr. Smoot noted in his letter of October 24, 1994 that "[i]f such a video exists, it would not be inconsistent with the current findings suggestive of Mr. Cook's possible exaggeration of his physical problem."
¶ 15. Cook testified that he has not worked anywhere since the date of the June 11, 1993 accident and admitted that he had not sought or been denied employment with any employer since June 11, 1993. Concerning his physical activities, Cook stated that he is no longer able to play basketball and softball, bowl, or fish. Cook also noted that he lives with constant throbbing pain which hinders his sleep.
LAW AND DISCUSSION OF ISSUES
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶ 16. The standard of review utilized by this Court when considering an appeal of a decision of the Workers' Compensation Commission is well settled. "This Court will overturn a[C]ommission decision only for an error of law or an unsupportable finding of fact." Georgia Pacific Corp. v. Taplin, 586 So.2d 823, 826 (Miss.1991) (citations omitted).
I. WHETHER THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE SHOULD HAVE STRICKEN THE DEPOSITION TESTIMONY OF DR. JAMES C. BUTLER, M.D., DR. SIDNEY SMITH, M.D., DR. RICHARD L. SMOOT, PHD, AND DOUGLAS ROLL, P.T.
¶ 17. The focus of Cook's first citation of error centers on a videotape that was taken on July 13, 1994 and July 22, 1994, of someone purported to be Cook when there is no evidence that the person pictured was the appellant. Cook insists that the videotape corrupted the view of the various medical personnel who clinically evaluated him, thus he believes that their testimony should be nullified. Cook emphasizes the fact that this video taken was one of his brother. Thus, he argues that the attorney for the employer was unjustified in representing the figure in the videotape as being him (Chris Cook) to the individuals who medically treated him for his condition. Indeed, the administrative law judge noted that she was unable to discern whether the videotape was Cook or his brother. She stated:
As far as the doctor's depositions or the Physical Therapist's deposition, I would think I would have to disregard that testimony directly involving opinions made or comments made after viewing the videotape, but I can't imagine that would negate all of the rest of the findings that these professional people have offered, experts have offered.
The administrative law judge further reflected in her order of March 22, 1996:
The administrative judge has not, however, stricken the entire depositions as requested by the claimant because the physicians and physical therapist have testified about their own findings made upon examination or evaluation before shown the videotape.
After extensive review of the physicians' depositions, as well as the physical therapist's deposition, we find that the testimony of physical therapist Douglas Roll and of Drs. Smith and Smoot are inextricably intertwined with the issue of the videotape. The deposition testimony of these men shows the videotape as a basis for their testimony and an influence of their analy-ses of the claimant.
¶ 18. Physical therapist Douglas Roll was questioned about the videotape.
Q. Assuming the claimant performed the physical activities demonstrated in the videotape, and assuming that the claimant demonstrated the further abilities shown on the functional capacity evaluation with regard to use- of his left lower extremity as a power leg and to bear full weight on his left lower extremity, but assuming also that the claimant has represented to various physicians, including Dr. Gorman who is a neurologist in Biloxi, Dr. Butler who is an orthopedic surgeon in Slidell, Dr. Sydney Smith who is a neurologist in Gulfport, and Dr. Smoot who is a psychologist in Biloxi, that he is unable to walk without the use of crutches, taking all of that into consideration, does that cause you to have some concerns regarding the credibility of the claimant in this case?
A. After viewing the videotape and comparing what I saw in the videotape to what I saw during the functional capacities evaluation, I would have to say there is a credibility problem.
Dr. Smith noted when questioned about the videotape:
A. Based on my examination, my review of the videotape, my review of the depositions, and the hypothetical situation that you presented to me, I would think the most likely diagnosis is malingering for compensation.
Dr. Smith further noted:
A. The review of the videotape showed that he could walk around just fine, moving his toes, dorsiflexion and plantar flexion. And the weight of that is that the man is malingering, intentionally trying to mislead us, for compensation reasons probably since this lawsuit is here.
Dr. Richard Smoot was also questioned about the videotape. Dr. Smoot stated that he observed the claimant "walking without the assistance of his crutches."
A. During my interview with Mr. Cook, he indicated that he was unable to use his left lower extremity since his accident.
Q. Since his accident. All right. And what did you observe in the videotape that you looked at?
A. What I observed in the videotape was that he was walking without the assistance of his crutches.
Of deeper concern is the testimony of Dr. Butler — as he was the physician relied upon most by the administrative law judge in forming her conclusions on the issue of impairment. By deposition Dr. Butler seemingly presents credible evidence by which the administrative law judge could have relied. However, upon closer inspection of the record — specifically the questions posed to Dr. Butler — it is apparent that his testimony was influenced by reference to the "videotape" and statements referencing the physical therapist's assessment of the claimant in light of the videotape.
Q. The physical therapist further testified that in his opinion the claimant exhibited symptom magnification, and the physical therapist after examining the claimant and reviewing the videotape— which I think you reviewed also; is that correct?
A. I believe I did review a videotape of him.
The casino's attorney further stated:
Q. And assuming further that the physical therapist after examining the claimant for the two day functional capacity evaluation in October of this year and reviewing the videotape stated he was not able to assess the claimant's true physical abilities and stated, "I would have to say there was a credibility problem."
The casino's attorney requested that he would like for Dr. Butler to assume that Dr. Smoot evaluated the claimant and that Smoot testified "that the claimant said he was unable to use his left lower extremity since the date of the accident, but his actions demonstrated on videotape were inconsistent with what he represented."
¶ 19. As we can see, the questions posed and the facts Dr. Butler was asked to assume were laced with reference to the videotape taken of an individual purported by the employer to be Christopher Cook. We appreciate the attempt of the administrative law judge to fairly assess and eliminate the impact of the videotape from the medical evidence, but we find the administrative law judge's conclusion is not supportable by substantial credible evidence.
¶ 20. By excluding the testimony of Drs. Smoot, Smith, and Butler, and the physical therapist, Douglas Roll, we are left with the testimony of Dr. Gorman — the physician who deferred the claimant's impairment rating to Dr. Butler. Returning to the record, we find that Dr. Gorman was not influenced by the videotape. His remarks centered on the claimant's injuries that he was suffering from reflex sympathetic dystrophy for which he (Dr. Gorman) prescribed treatment and the maximum medical improvement date of November 7, 1994, the date the administrative law judge adopted in her findings. Under these circumstances, our only course of action is to rely on Dr. Gorman's evaluations of the claimant. Therefore, we reverse and remand for calculation of damage to the claimant's foot — a scheduled member.
¶21. Because we have eliminated the testimony of the physicians — excluding Dr. Gorman — and because we have eliminated the testimony of the physical therapist, we find it unnecessary to rule on the application of the rule found in Scott v. Flynt, 704 So.2d 998 (Miss.1996), and we find it unnecessary to rule on the issue concerning M.R.E. 403.
¶22. Having stated such, we find this citation of error to be of merit.
II. WHETHER THE CLAIMANT WAS NOT PRECLUDED FROM RECOVERY ON HIS FOOT (A SCHED ULED MEMBER) BASED UPON HIS FAILURE TO DEMONSTRATE AN ACTUAL LOSS OF WAGE EARNING CAPACITY.
¶ 23. Contested in the present case is the formula to be employed in determining compensation, if any, above that which was granted by the administrative law judge, and whether that injury is permanent partial in nature. As indicated above, there is no contest that the claimant suffered a temporary total injury.
¶ 24. The employer insists that this Court employ the "loss of wage earning capacity" calculation following the rationale of the circuit judge who reviewed this case on appeal. The claimant argues that the "loss of wage earning capacity" calculation is unwarranted in determining injury to a scheduled member. Smith v. Jackson Construction Co., 607 So.2d 1119, 1126 (Miss.1992). Specifically, the employer and carrier propose that we adopt Coulter v. Harvey, 190 So.2d 894 (Miss.1966) (skin rash "contact dermititus"); Thompson v. Wells-Lamont Corp., 362 So.2d 638 (Miss.1978) (infectious asthma); Pontotoc Wire Products Co. v. Ferguson, 384 So.2d 601 (Miss.1980) (respiratory ailment); and Piper Industries, Inc. v. Herod 560 So.2d 732 (Miss.1990) (skin rash "contact dermatitis") as authority for denying Cook permanent partial disability benefits. These cases concern non scheduled member injuries. Considering the injury presented in the record, there is no merit to the employer's argument.
¶ 25. Cook emphasizes that the administrative law judge and the Commission employed the same rationale as the circuit judge and that rationale is incorrect.
¶ 26. Cook writes:
The A.L.J., Commission and the Trial Judge (on appeal) erroneously applied the rule in Coulter vs. Harvey, 190 So.2d 894 (Miss.1966) and Coulter's [progeny] (stare decisis) to bar Claimant from receiving any permanent partial disability recovery due to his "lack of Proof of Post MMI Wage Earning Efforts."
¶ 27. We agree. The Workers' Compensation Act "arbitrarily schedules the compensation payable for loss of or loss of use of a scheduled member, focusing upon a claimant's functional loss and without regard to loss of wage earning capacity." Smith, 607 So.2d at 1126. Certainly, this point can be stated no more concisely, and because the Commission has misapprehended the legal principle to be employed, our review is de novo. Id. at 1125.
¶ 28. Cook injured his foot, and under the Act, the foot is considered a scheduled member. See Miss.Code Ann. § 71-3-17(c)(4) (Rev.1994). Because the foot is a scheduled member, no account is taken as to the claimant's loss of wage earning capacity. Thus, it is immaterial whether Cook attempted to or failed to find employment after reaching maximum medical improvement. The permanent partial disability, if any, of a claimant's scheduled member, is calculated by the percentage of impairment rating times the number of weeks, subject to the maximum on the schedule.
¶ 29. However, as indicated above, Dr. Gorman said he was permanently impaired but deferred the setting of the rating to Dr. Butler. Dr. Butler placed no permanent impairment rating on Cook, stating that Cook could return to his previous employment. We do note that our decision necessarily dictates that this case be reversed and remanded for reconciliation of this inconsistency since the finding of the administrative law judge was based on insufficient evidence and an improper finding that loss of wage earning capacity is an element in the determination of permanent impairment of a scheduled member.
CONCLUSION
¶ 30. Because the administrative law judge employed incorrect law in resolving this case (no proof of loss of wage earning capacity), and further because she based much of her decision on the information of Dr. Butler — whose testimony was cemented by hypothetical questions based on the videotape and testimony surrounding the videotape — we remand for determination based upon the correct legal principles as noted in this opinion and for an impairment rating in line with the untainted medical evidence.
¶ 31. THE JUDGMENT OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF HARRISON COUNTY IS REVERSED AND REMANDED. ALL COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE TAXED TO THE APPELLEES.
KING, P.J., BRIDGES, DIAZ, IRVING, AND LEE, JJ" CONCUR.
SOUTHWICK, P.J., DISSENTS WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY McMILLIN, C.J., COLEMAN AND THOMAS, JJ.
. The record reflects that Dr. Butler reviewed the videotape on July 18, 1995.
. Dr. Gorman noted that he deferred the percentage of impairment to Dr. Butler based on the fact that Dr. Butler was an orthopaedic surgeon. Dr. Gorman is a neurologist. He stated that a few neurologists will do ratings but "I'm not one of them.... "
. The record does not reveal the year in which Dr. Smith treated Cook.
. Dr. Smith noted that he did review the videotape. There is no date as to when he reviewed the tape.
. The "loss of wage earning capacity" test would be employed in this instance only if the claimant were occupationally disabled. Id. at 1128.