Opinion ID: 1693150
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: conclusion

Text: It is readily apparent from a plain reading of the statutes at issue that the single-judge court had no authority to modify its original award after the running of the statutory time period. Furthermore, there was no plan of vocational rehabilitation in place, from either the employer or the court, when appellee voluntarily undertook to enroll in noncredit ESL classes. The January 1996 award of the single-judge court was clear that no court-approved plan of vocational rehabilitation would be enacted until after appellee completed a credit-level ESL class. As such, there was no approved plan in place at the time appellee attended noncredit ESL classes, and no temporary total disability benefits may be awarded during that time. Pursuant to § 48-185, an appellate court may modify, reverse, or set aside a Workers' Compensation Court decision only when (1) the compensation court acted without or in excess of its powers; (2) the judgment, order, or award was procured by fraud; (3) there is not sufficient competent evidence in the record to warrant the making of the order, judgment, or award; or (4) the findings of fact by the single judge court do not support the order or award. Sheridan v. Catering Mgmt., Inc., 252 Neb. 825, 566 N.W.2d 110 (1997). The single-judge court's award of August 28, 1996, violated subsection (1) of the above portion of the Act, and we, therefore, reverse that award, along with that portion of the review panel's decision taxing attorney fees to appellants. REVERSED.