Opinion ID: 2613102
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: the commission applied the proper test for prima facie evidence of total permanent disability

Text: Pomerinke argues the Commission incorrectly applied the three prong test for prima facie evidence of total permanent disability set forth in Huerta v. School Dist. No. 431, 116 Idaho 43, 773 P.2d 1130 (1989). Pomerinke contends that an injured claimant may prove that suitable employment is unavailable by proving one of the three prongs of the Huerta test: (1) the claimant attempted work that he was [in]capable of performing; (2) the claimant searched for other work and it was unavailable; or (3) the claimant does not have to search for other employment because the claimant's efforts would be futile. Huerta, 116 Idaho at 49, 773 P.2d at 1136. Pomerinke argues that the Commission required him to prove each prong of the Huerta test. The above test to which Pomerinke refers is gleaned from the text of Huerta which reads as follows: In establishing a prima facie case as an odd-lot worker, it was Huerta's burden to prove the unavailability of suitable work. Huerta could have carried this burden by showing that he had attempted other work that he was capable of performing, or that he had searched for other work, and it was not available. It would have been sufficient for Huerta to have proved that he had used vocational counselors, employment agencies, or the Job Service to conduct searches for other employment. However, we leave to the Commission the weighing of the evidence produced by the claimant. We will not participate in weighing the evidence concerning the availability of employment, except to apply the substantial competent evidence rule. We have also held that a claimant may be relieved of the burden of proof required in Gordon [2] , if his efforts to find suitable employment would have been futile. 116 Idaho at 49, 773 P.2d at 1136. The Commission correctly applied Huerta in a manner consistent with that suggested by Pomerinke. In its findings of fact, the Commission held: As [Pomerinke] argues, Huerta stands for the proposition that the Claimant must do more than assert that he cannot perform his previous type of employment, and that in doing so, he may prove that suitable work is unavailable to him by one of three methods, including showing what other types of employment he has attempted; or, showing that vocational counselors, employment agencies, or the Job Service has searched for other work on his behalf and that such work was not available; or that the efforts of the employee to find suitable employment would have been futile. (Emphasis added). The Commission then found that Pomerinke proved none of the above methods. We do not find any error in the Commission's interpretation and application of Huerta. Moreover, we find that substantial and competent evidence supports the Commission's finding that Pomerinke failed to make a prima facie showing that suitable work was unavailable.