Opinion ID: 2222251
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: end date of temporary total disability

Text: Dawes' fourth assignment of error, and Wittrock's second assignment of error on cross-appeal, are that the review panel erred in remanding the issue of Dawes' temporary total disability to the single judge. Dawes argues that the single judge erred in finding that Dawes' period of temporary total disability ended on June 20, 2000, but that the review panel should have determined, as a matter of law, that Dawes' temporary total disability lasted until the date of his maximum medical improvement on August 8, 2000. Wittrock, on the other hand, argues that the single judge was correct and that the review panel should have affirmed the single judge's finding. Because the parties' separate assignments of error are directed at the same issue, we consider them together. The single judge determined that Dawes' period of temporary total disability ended on June 20, 2000, based upon a letter from Dr. Watt's nurse practitioner, dictating for Dr. Watt. The letter cleared Dawes to return to work subject to certain restrictions on his lifting and movement. The review panel, however, determined that this matter should be remanded to [the single judge] for further consideration. The review panel did not conclude that the single judge's finding was incorrect. Rather, the review panel simply requested that the single judge consider that the letter on which the single judge relied was prepared by Dr. Watt's nurse practitioner instead of Dr. Watt and whether Dawes was employable within the restrictions imposed by the letter. The review panel also pointed the parties to other evidence that the single judge could consider on remand. Temporary disability is the period during which the employee is submitting to treatment, is convalescing, is suffering from the injury, and is unable to work because of the accident. Frauendorfer v. Lindsay Mfg. Co., 263 Neb. 237, 639 N.W.2d 125 (2002). Total disability exists when an injured employee is unable to earn wages in either the same or a similar kind of work he or she was trained or accustomed to perform or in any other kind of work which a person of the employee's mentality and attainments could perform. Id. Dawes argues that he was unable to work within the restrictions imposed by the June 20, 2000, letter. However, the record contains competent evidence to support the finding of the single judge. The report of the court-ordered vocational rehabilitation counselor set forth the occupations for which, in the opinion of the counselor, Dawes was qualified. Several of those occupations, according to the report, would impose only light or sedentary physical demands within the physical restrictions imposed in the June 20 letter. The determination as to the length of temporary total disability is one of fact. Yager v. Bellco Midwest, 236 Neb. 888, 464 N.W.2d 335 (1991). The record contains competent evidence supporting the single judge's finding that June 20 was the end date of Dawes' temporary total disability, and if the record contains evidence to substantiate the factual conclusions reached by the single judge in workers' compensation cases, an appellate court is precluded from substituting its view of the facts for that of the compensation court. See Frauendorfer, supra . Dawes' assignment of error is without merit. For many of the same reasons, however, Wittrock's assignment of error on cross-appeal does have merit. The findings of fact made by a single judge of the Workers' Compensation Court are not to be disturbed upon appeal to a Workers' Compensation Court review panel unless they are clearly wrong on the evidence or the decision was contrary to law. See, § 48-179; Wilson v. Larkins & Sons, 249 Neb. 396, 543 N.W.2d 735 (1996). While remanding a case and directing the single judge to reconsider a finding of fact is not, taken literally, a reversal of the single judge's order, under the circumstances presented here, it has the same effect. While a review panel has the statutory authority to remand a case, see U S West Communications v. Taborski, 253 Neb. 770, 572 N.W.2d 81 (1998), we are of the view that a review panel exceeds that authority when it remands a case with directions to reconsider a decision without first concluding that the single judge made an error of fact or law. As previously stated, the findings of the single judge regarding temporary total disability were not clearly wrong. Furthermore, no error of law underlying the single judge's finding has been identified. While a single judge's order may be contrary to law within the meaning of § 48-179 if it fails to satisfy the requirements of rule 11, see Owen v. American Hydraulics, 254 Neb. 685, 578 N.W.2d 57 (1998), the single judge's finding on this issue was consistent with rule 11. The single judge made a clear finding of fact and identified the evidence in the record on which that finding was based, literally complying with the requirement that the decision clearly and concisely state and explain the rationale for the decision and specify the evidence upon which the judge relies. See rule 11. In the absence of an error of fact or law, the review panel erred in directing the single judge, on remand, to reconsider the ending date of Dawes' temporary total disability. The single judge's finding was clearly stated and supported by the record. The order of the review panel is reversed to the extent that it directs the single judge to reconsider that finding.