Opinion ID: 1704421
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Temporary total.

Text: Hendrix argues that he is entitled to temporary, total disability benefits from April 7, 1990 (his last date of employment with Graham) through June 15, 1990 (the date of the FCA). Under the odd-lot doctrine, a person is totally disabled if his physical condition, in combination with his age, training, and experience, and the type of work available in his community, causes him to be unable to secure anything more than sporadic employment resulting in an insubstantial income. Shepherd, 467 N.W.2d 916, 918 (S.D.1991) (quoting Wendel v. Domestic Seed & Supply, 446 N.W.2d 265, 270 (S.D. 1989); Hanson v. Penrod Constr. Co., 425 N.W.2d 396, 398 (S.D.1988); Barkdull v. Homestake Mining Co., 317 N.W.2d 417, 418 (S.D.1982)); Tiensvold v. Universal Transport, Inc., 464 N.W.2d 820, 822 (S.D.1991). The claimant has the burden to make a prima facie showing that his physical impairment, coupled with his education, training, and age place him in an odd-lot category. Tiensvold, 464 N.W.2d at 822. The burden then shifts to the employer to show that some form of suitable work is regularly and continuously available to the claimant. However, the burden only shifts when a [claimant] makes a prima facie case of total disability by producing substantial evidence that [he] is not employable in the competitive market. Id. at 822-23. [I]f the claimant's physical condition, coupled with his education, training and age, make it obvious that he is in the odd-lot total disability category, the burden of production shifts to the employer to show that some suitable employment is actually available in claimant's community for person with claimant's limitations. If, on the other hand, the claimant's medical impairment is so limited or specialized in nature that he is not obviously unemployable or relegated to the odd-lot category, then the burden remains with the claimant to demonstrate the unavailability of suitable employment by showing that he has unsuccessfully made reasonable efforts to find work. Shepherd, 467 N.W.2d at 918 (citations omitted). [1] Whether the claimant made a prima facie showing that he belongs in the odd-lot total disability category is a question of fact. Shepherd, 467 N.W.2d at 919 (citing Schepanovich v. United States Steel Corp., 669 P.2d 522, 529 (Wyo.1983)). Department concluded that Hendrix offered no medical evidence that he was temporarily, totally disabled at any time since he terminated his employment and therefore, he failed to sustain his burden of proof in regard to the claim for temporary benefits. [2] Hendrix was not obviously unemployable. While the Attending Physician's Statement advises Hendrix to consider changing to a different type of work, Hendrix testified that he was never completely restricted from work by any physician. See Tiensvold, 464 N.W.2d at 823 (noting that the doctor testified that Tiensvold should not return to truck driving, but never opined that Tiensvold was disabled from employment in other occupations). Therefore, the burden remained with Hendrix to show that he unsuccessfully made reasonable efforts to find work. See Shepherd, 467 N.W.2d at 918. Since leaving employment with Graham, Hendrix never actually applied for a job. He never completed a job application, and his previous employer was never contacted for a reference. While Department found that Hendrix is on file with Job Service and checks job listings on a regular basis, Rick Ostrander (Ostrander), a vocational rehabilitation counselor, testified that only 10 to 25 percent of all jobs in the Mitchell market are advertised through Job Service. Ostrander also testified that there are jobs, and have been jobs, within Hendrix's limitations in Mitchell since 1990. Hendrix failed to demonstrate the unavailability of suitable employment by showing that he has unsuccessfully made reasonable efforts to find work, Shepherd, 467 N.W.2d at 918, and the burden of proving the availability of regular employment within Hendrix's capabilities never shifted to Graham. Therefore, Department's determination that Hendrix failed to sustain his burden of proof in regard to the claim for temporary benefits is not clearly erroneous.