Opinion ID: 1858821
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether ray had the capacity to earn wages?

Text: Although there are numerous proceedings discussed here, this Court notes that the Administrative Judge and Full Commission awarded permanent partial disability February 10, 1986, on the evidence of Ray's termination from employment with the Board of Health and on her inability to perform her job. Both administrative hearings contained evidence of Ray's inability to lift McCown and perform the physical activities necessary to be a Home Health Aide. The evidence showed that her son and others performed these physical tasks. Permanent partial disability was awarded and affirmed on appeal by order of October 20, 1986. The employer requested and received permission to reopen the case after McCown's death and Ray's receipt of her inheritance. On the reopening of the case, the Administrative Judge heard no additional proof on Ray's incapacity, but heard only the details of her inheritance from McCown. The administrative judge found that the receipt of the estate could not result in wages and/or post-injury earnings as defined by the [MWC] Act; thus, the judge readopted the findings of its order of February 10, 1986, awarding permanent partial disability. On the employer's appeal of the second order of the administrative judge's awarding of permanent partial disability, the Full Commission found that Ray's attendant care for McCown included every aspect, duty, and responsibility that she was performing while in the employ of the [Board of Health]. The care claimant provided McCown required her to lift and turn her patient, bath [sic] and feed him as well as all other physical demands incidental to attending a patient as incapacitated as McCown. However, the testimony in the record does not support by substantial evidence this conclusion; rather, it is contradicted by it. The evidence pertaining to Ray's health was considered only in the February 6, 1986, order when Ray said she could not and did not perform any physical activity. A summary is attached as Exhibit A to this opinion. This Court concludes that there is no factual basis for the Commission to reverse its previous award of permanent partial disability. Not only is there an absence of substantial evidence, there is an absence of any evidence that Ray could perform the physical requirements of a home health aide. Under our substantial evidence standard of review, the Commission's order of March 5, 1990, denying permanent partial disability benefits is reversed, as well as the Circuit Judge's order affirming the Commission's order. Marshall Durbin, Inc. v. Hall, 490 So.2d 877 (Miss. 1986). The Commission order of October 20, 1986, is reinstated.