Opinion ID: 1711521
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Similarly, the WCAB stated:

Text: We find, as did the Magistrate in this matter, that defendant established, by a preponderance of the evidence, that it made a bona fide offer of favored work to plaintiff. We find that while plaintiff offered explanations as to why he refused to accept the favored work, they were unpersuasive, and we do not find them to be reasonable.... We find, through the testimony presented on the record, that the offer of favored work appeared to be within the restrictions placed on plaintiff. We note plaintiff has offered no testimony that would persuade us that the offered work would be, in any way, outside of plaintiff's restrictions. [Unpublished opinion, mailed December 11, 1990 (Decision No. 1578), p 8.] Plaintiff argues that the factfinders refer in their written opinions to the suitability of the job when discussing the reasonableness of plaintiff's refusal, rather than when discussing whether the offer was for reasonable employment. This, however, does not constitute error because the suitability of the job is pertinent to both determinations. After reviewing the record and detailed findings of the magistrate and the WCAB, we are convinced that the magistrate and the WCAB appropriately considered whether plaintiff was able to perform the job in determining that the offer was for reasonable employment. Whether a job offer is for reasonable employment and whether refusal of such an offer is reasonable are questions of fact. Pulver, supra at 77, 515 N.W.2d 728. The findings of fact of the WCAC [2] are conclusive in the absence of fraud and will not be disturbed if supported by competent evidence in the record. Bower v. Whitehall Leather Co., supra at 197, 312 N.W.2d 640; M.C.L. § 418.861; M.S.A. § 17.237(861). Because the proper standard was applied, and the findings are supported by competent evidence in the record, we would affirm them.
Regarding plaintiff's argument that the magistrate and the WCAB impermissibly shifted the burden of proof on critical issues from defendant to plaintiff, we find it unnecessary to evaluate the relative burdens and to determine whether they were appropriately allocated. [3] Again, our review of these factual findings is extremely limited in scope. Because the WCAB's findings are supported by competent evidence, they should not be disturbed.