Opinion ID: 2036587
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: findings and decision of workers' compensation court

Text: On April 28, 1999, the trial judge entered an order finding that Guico was entitled to benefits under the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Act. In its order, the court specifically noted that no Nebraska case addresses whether the failure to follow a safety rule is willful negligence as a matter of law. Applying analytical principles discussed in 2 Arthur Larson & Lex K. Larson, Larson's Workers' Compensation Law § 33 (2000), the trial judge determined that Excel failed to meet its burden of proving willful negligence on the part of Guico. The trial judge also found that the evidence did not establish that Guico was terminated for reasons other than his injury. Finally, the trial judge determined there was no reasonable controversy with respect to the compensability of Guico's claim and thus awarded him waiting-time penalties and attorney fees. The final award granted Guico $310.76 per week for 142/7 weeks of temporary total disability, an additional $310.76 per week for 19.25 weeks for an 11-percent permanent partial disability to the right hand, all medical and hospital expenses incurred as a result of the accident, a 50-percent penalty on all outstanding compensation due and owing, and an attorney fee of $2,000. Excel appealed the decision to a three-judge review panel of the Workers' Compensation Court. The panel issued an order of affirmance on November 3, 1999, in which it found that the trial judge's findings of fact were not clearly wrong, that there was no error of law, and that a detailed opinion would have no precedential value. The review panel also assessed a $2,000 attorney fee against Excel based upon its finding that the appeal did not bring about a reduction of the award. Excel perfected this timely appeal, which we removed to our docket on our own motion pursuant to our authority to regulate the dockets of the appellate courts. See Neb.Rev.Stat. § 24-1106(3) (Reissue 1995).