Opinion ID: 2264450
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The ALJ Award

Text: The administrative law judge (ALJ) consolidated Mitchell's two workers compensation claims. In both cases, the parties entered into stipulations. In No. 1,015,618, pertaining to the left thumb injury, the parties agreed Mitchell injured his thumb on December 31, 2003, because of his employment. They also stipulated Mitchell's average weekly wage was $560.90, excluding fringe benefits. Petsmart and Royal denied Mitchell suffered any other injury for which they would be responsible. In the second claim, No. 1,019,828, the parties agreed that Travelers insured Petsmart during the time period at issue in the case and that Mitchell's wage was $576.32, including fringe benefits. Petsmart and Travelers did not stipulate Mitchell was injured during Travelers' coverage period. The ALJ ordered an independent medical evaluation with Dr. Pat Do, who diagnosed: (1) status postright carpal tunnel release; (2) status postleft thumb ulnar collateral ligament repair; (3) status postright shoulder subacromial decompression, rotator cuff repair, distal clavicle excision, and SLAP repair; and (4) left shoulder pain. Dr. Do concluded that all of these injuries resulted from the December 31, 2003, left thumb break and were the natural consequence of overuse following surgery of the uninvolved extremity. The ALJ found Mitchell suffered an injury on December 31, 2003, and provided the following description of events: The claimant in this case was stepping backwards to get clear of a truck of some kind that was working in the isle [ sic ] of the store at Petsmart. But as he stepped backwards he tripped and put out his left hand to catch himself and his left thumb was broken and bent severely. He never lost work over that particular injury even though a screw was later put in [his left hand] that was done on his days off and he continued to work and continued to use the right hand more than he did the left hand as he was favoring the left hand because of the thumb injury. From that he had several other problems including but not limited to carpal tunnel on the right hand and he had surgery on it. Then he had shoulder problems and then he had elbow problems so the whole right upper extremity and part of the left extremity had several arthroscopic surgeries and he continued to have all kinds of problems. The ALJ then calculated Mitchell's injuries as a general body disability under K.S.A. 44-510einstead of using the scheduled injuries set out in K.S.A. 44-510d. The ALJ then averaged the impairment ratings given by Drs. Murati and Do, which resulted in a permanent partial disability award of $85,354.09. The ALJ did not award temporary total disability. The ALJ's order did not specifically address whether the secondary injury rule, which permits compensation for a subsequent injury if it is a natural and probable consequence of the primary injury, applied to the bilateral shoulder and right elbow injuries. But such a determination is implied in the ALJ's finding that the accident date was December 31, 2003, which is when Mitchell fell and broke his left thumb. Finally, the ALJ imposed joint and several liability on Royal and Travelers, explaining: The law is clear that if [insurance carriers] have a disagreement among themselves as to who the responsible carrier is, that should be decided in the District Court . . . [because] we are not authorized to make that determination in the Comp Court. Traveler's sought review of the ALJ's order before the Board. Travelers challenged the nature and extent of Mitchell's disabilities, the joint and several liability determination, and the ALJ's failure to award a scheduled injury under K.S.A. 44-510d. Royal and Mitchell did not cross-appeal.