Opinion ID: 2222251
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: single judge's findings

Text: Dawes filed a petition in the Workers' Compensation Court in March 2000, and an operative amended petition in September. On December 4, 2001, the single judge of the compensation court entered an award providing workers' compensation benefits to Dawes for disability resulting from the 1999 injury. Specifically, the single judge determined that the heavy labor that [Dawes] performed over the years with [Wittrock] resulted in a repetitive trauma injury to his low back and specifically a new injury on October 25, 1999. The single judge determined that Dawes was entitled to temporary total disability benefits for the period between October 25, 1999, and June 20, 2000, and permanent partial disability benefits thereafter based on a 40-percent loss of earning capacity. The single judge based this determination on a letter dated June 20, 2000, releasing Dawes to return to work with a 15-pound lifting restriction. The letter was signed by Dr. Watt's nurse practitioner, dictating for Dr. Watt. The single judge also ordered payment of certain medical expenses incurred after the October 1999 injury. The single judge found that Dawes' health insurance carrier was entitled to reimbursement for any expenses it may have paid. The single judge also determined that the 1996 injury was the result of a work-related accident. However, since the last payment made as a result of that accident occurred in February 1998, and Dawes' first petition was filed in March 2000, the single judge determined that any claim relating to the 1996 injury was time barred by Neb.Rev.Stat. § 48-137 (Reissue 1998). The single judge therefore found it unnecessary to determine if the compromise between Dawes and Union was, in fact, payment of benefits within the meaning of § 48-137. The single judge eliminated all medical expenses incurred prior to the October 1999 injury. However, the single judge determined that since Dawes returned to work without restrictions in 1996, all of Dawes' disability following the 1999 injury was attributable to the 1999 injury.