Opinion ID: 4569702
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: In October 2002, Frans was injured in an accident arising out of and in the course of his employment when a garage door struck him on the top of his head. He initially reported injuries to his head, neck, and back. In 2008, Frans filed a petition in the Workers’ Compensation Court against his employer, Waldinger Corporation, and its workers’ compensation insurance carrier (collectively Waldinger), alleging he was injured in the 2002 work accident. The parties later entered into a joint settlement agreement in which they agreed that Frans injured his lower back in the 2002 work accident and “to resolve, on a final basis, all issues except [Frans’] entitlement to receive reasonable and necessary medical treatment as a result of [his] low back condition.” The agreement stated that Waldinger would be “fully discharged from all further liability, except for future reasonable and necessary medical care pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. §48-120, . . . on account of the accident and injury(s) of 10/30/02, whether now known or to become known in the future, whether physical or mental.” The compensation court entered an order approving the settlement agreement and dismissing the petition. Years later, Frans filed a petition in the compensation court seeking reimbursement for what he claimed was continuing medical treatment related to the 2002 work accident. In an amended petition, Frans alleged he had injured his head, neck, and lower back and requested “continuing medical treatment including but not limited to treatment for depression arising as a result of the 10/30/02 back injury as well as other treatment related to the back injury.” A trial was held and evidence was adduced, including, among other things, medical records and expert opinions of - 576 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 306 Nebraska Reports FRANS v. WALDINGER CORP. Cite as 306 Neb. 574 medical professionals. Following trial, the compensation court entered an award. The compensation court referenced an earlier order in which it stated that the parties’ 2008 settlement agreement did not preclude Frans from seeking ongoing medical treatment, including treatment for depression and anxiety, if such injuries were a result of his low-back condition. The compensation court found that Frans was entitled to reimbursement for treatment of his current low-back pain. It ordered Waldinger to pay for certain medical treatment and physical therapy for his lower back. The compensation court also found that there was sufficient evidence to establish Frans’ depression and anxiety were caused by his low-back condition and that he was thus entitled to recover for treatment of his depression and anxiety. It found the evidence was insufficient, however, to show that Frans’ head and neck injuries were causally related to his low-back condition and concluded Frans was not entitled to reimbursement for medical treatment for such injuries. On appeal, the Court of Appeals found that the compensation court did not err in determining the 2008 settlement agreement did not preclude Frans from seeking medical treatment for depression and anxiety if such treatment was reasonable and necessary as a result of Frans’ low-back condition. The Court of Appeals disagreed, however, that the evidence was sufficient to establish Frans’ depression and anxiety developed as a result of his low-back condition, and it thus concluded Frans was not entitled to medical treatment for his depression and anxiety. The Court of Appeals did not address or find error in the compensation court’s finding that Frans was entitled to reimbursement for treatment for his low-back pain. The Court of Appeals reversed the judgment of the compensation court and remanded the cause “with directions to dismiss Frans’ amended petition.” Similar language appears in the opinion’s introduction. Frans petitioned for further review. Among other assignments of error, he assigned that the Court of Appeals erred - 577 - Nebraska Supreme Court Advance Sheets 306 Nebraska Reports FRANS v. WALDINGER CORP. Cite as 306 Neb. 574 in directing that his amended petition, in which he sought reimbursement for future medical treatment for his low-back condition, be dismissed. We granted Frans’ petition for further review solely as to that assignment of error. ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR As noted, the sole assignment of error on which we have granted further review is Frans’ contention that the Court of Appeals erred by directing the dismissal of his amended petition.