Opinion ID: 1720733
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: extent of the disability

Text: Orgeron claims that he is totally and permanently disabled because he cannot return to the same type of work he was performing at the time of the accident. He asserts that substantial pain prevents him from returning to the type of physical labor which had been required of him prior to the accident and would have us characterize him in the odd-lot category of disabled workers. In Oster v. Wetzel, 390 So.2d 1318 (La.1980), we adopted the so-called odd-lot doctrine which provides that the claimant is entitled to a total and permanent disability when he establishes a prima facie case that, because of the physical impairment and other factors such as mental capacity, education, and training, he can perform no services other than those which are so limited in quality or dependability that a reasonably stable market for them does not exist. 390 So.2d at 1324. The odd-lot concept may also be applied in cases where the worker, because of his injury, is in such substantial pain that work becomes an overburdening task. Calogero v. City of New Orleans, 397 So.2d 1252 (La.1980); Lattin v. Hica Corp., 395 So.2d 690 (La.1981); Busang v. Henry C. Beck Builders, Inc., 389 So.2d 367 (La.1980); Whitaker v. Church's Fried Chicken, Inc., 387 So.2d 1093 (La. 1980). Based on the evidence in this case, we must conclude that Martin is not totally disabled under either the substantial pain or broader odd-lot doctrine. However, we do find, by a preponderance of the evidence, that Orgeron is permanently and partially disabled. In our opinion, the plaintiff has failed to prove that he is totally disabled. Our examination of the record shows that Orgeron is not so lacking in mental capacity, education or training that, in conjunction with any residual physical impairment, he can perform no services other than those which are so limited in quality or dependability that a reasonably stable market for them does not exist. The record reflects that Orgeron, age 47, has worked as a foreman for various employers over the eleven years immediately preceding his injury. His treating physician opined that he could work in any supervisory capacity and perform a full day's work as a heavy equipment operator; Orgeron himself stated that he could render technical assistance at job sites. Orgeron gave conflicting testimony as to whether he had pursued any other employment following his injury; yet the record does not reflect that he cannot pursue a career at least substantially consonant with his employment prior to the injury. Furthermore, the record does not reflect that substantial pain renders Orgeron incapable of engaging in any sort of gainful occupation. Medical testimony indicated that while pain might prevent the plaintiff from engaging in heavy physical labor for a full eight hour work day, pain would not prevent him from engaging in a supervisory position or other more sedentary occupation where the ankle would get more frequent rest. Although Orgeron is not totally and permanently disabled, he is not precluded from receiving any compensation award at all. Martin v. H.B. Zachry Co., 424 So.2d 1002 (La.1982); Dodd v. Nicolon Corp., 422 So.2d 398 (La.1982); Schouest v. J. Ray McDermott and Co., Inc., 411 So.2d 1042 (La.1982). An employee may be deemed partially disabled if he is unable to perform the same duties in which he was customarily engaged when injured, or duties of the same or similar character for which he is fitted by education, training or experience. LSA-R.S. 23:1221(3). We find that the preponderance of the evidence establishes conclusively that the plaintiff, Ronald Orgeron, is permanently and partially disabled. Orgeron's treating physician, Dr. Robert Fleming, assigned a 50% permanent disability rating to the ankle and lower leg and opined that Orgeron would require continuous pain medication. The examining physician of the defendants, Dr. Dabney Ewin, assigned a 21% permanent disability to the ankle and lower leg. All medical testimony established conclusively that Orgeron could not return to the heavy physical labor to which he had been accustomed prior to the accident. Since the plaintiff is no longer able to perform such tasks, but may be able to perform supervisory tasks and operate heavy equipment as he had prior to the accident, he may be deemed permanently and partially disabled. Cf. Martin H.B. Zachary Co., supra; Dodd v. Nicolon Corp., supra ; Naquin v. Uniroyal, Inc., 405 So.2d 525 (La.1981); Lattin v. Hica Corp., supra .