Opinion ID: 77298
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Giddens's Two Claims

Text: 16 Giddens submitted two claims to Equitable under the Policies, one in February 1995 (the 1995 claim) and one in February 1999 (the 1999 claim). Giddens's 1995 claim asserted that he was disabled due to pain in his left hip; however, he failed to respond to Equitable's requests for information pursuant to the Policies. As a result, the district court granted Equitable summary judgment as to the 1995 claim. Giddens does not challenge the district court's conclusions on this issue on appeal. Thus, this appeal concerns only his 1999 claim. 17 In October 1998, Giddens began suffering from symptoms such as fatigue and abdominal pain. He sought treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, where Dr. Rolland C. Dickson diagnosed him with cryogenic cirrhosis, a condition of the liver. After being diagnosed, Giddens submitted the 1999 claim, asserting that he was on a waiting list for a liver transplant, was disabled, and was unable to pursue his professions of dentistry and real estate development. In May 1999, Giddens underwent liver-transplant surgery. Since the transplant, his liver test and renal functions have returned to normal, but Giddens still has numerous health problems. 18 As to his health problems, Giddens produced testimony and Rule 26 reports of two treating physicians, who both supported Giddens's disability claims. 1 Dr. James Richard Spivey, a gastroenterologist, treated Giddens during his post-transplant recovery at the Mayo Clinic. Dr. Spivey testified that notwithstanding Giddens's initially positive liver function following the implantation of the allograft, Giddens continues to experience numerous adverse symptoms, including numbness in his fingers, hand tremors, gastrointestinal difficulties, chronic sleep disturbances and fatigue, anxiety, depression, and short-term memory loss. Dr. Spivey opined that those symptoms were the result of both Giddens's disorder and the effects of his medication. Based on his review of the enumerated functional requirements and tasks of dentistry and real estate development discussed above, Dr. Spivey further opined that Giddens is unable to perform substantial portions of the duties of a dentist or real estate developer, or any other employment known to [Dr. Spivey] approximating the same livelihood as [those professions], given his personal circumstances, including his experience, education, and physical and mental capabilities. In his deposition, Dr. Spivey clarified that by substantial portions of the duties, he meant most of the duties. Dr. Spivey also explained how Giddens's health conditions and medications could affect cognitive functioning, including entrepreneurial vision, as well as energy and physical capabilities. 19 Giddens also presented testimony of a second treating physician, Dr. Mary Patrice Webster, who has served as Giddens's psychiatrist since 2000, treating his depression associated with his liver failure, transplant, and complications. Dr. Webster's affidavit presents essentially the same conclusions as that of Dr. Spivey with regard to Giddens's disability. In her deposition, Dr. Webster further testified that, in her opinion, Giddens could not perform the duties of either dentistry or real estate development on a consistent basis. Dr. Webster clarified that in her affidavit, when she said Giddens was unable to perform substantial portions of his duties, she meant the vast majority of the duties. She further stated: It could potentially mean all the duties, but my — I tend not to speak in absolutes. Dr. Webster noted that Giddens's primary problems, in her view, were his depression and cognitive problems. 20 In addition to his doctors' reports and testimony, Giddens also submitted his affidavit stating that he continues to be unable to work as a dentist or real estate developer, as follows: 21 Since my liver failure and liver transplant, I have been unable to perform most of the duties of either of my occupations, as a dentist or in residential real estate development. While I am not totally helpless, I am unable to resume either of these occupations, or any work of which I am aware approximating the same livelihood, in keeping with my background, circumstances, and physical and mental capabilities.