Opinion ID: 2135435
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Employment Opportunities

Text: In Shepherd, the claimant concededly made no efforts to find work. Petersen, on the other hand, did conduct a job search with potential employers prior to the Department's second hearing in 1992. This job search was conducted between October 28, 1991 and November 7, 1991. This brief job search notwithstanding, Petersen has not worked or otherwise attempted to find work since his injury in March of 1983. In addition, there was testimony at the Department's second hearing that Petersen may have sabotaged certain interviews during this job search. Even if this testimony is disregarded, Petersen's own testimony, along with the fact that he has spent less than two weeks actively seeking employment over a ten year period, seriously undermines his sincerity in becoming gainfully employed once again. Finally, we note that even though the claimant in Shepherd did not attempt to find work, he did enter into negotiations to purchase a Black Hills tourist business in 1986. The purchase was never consummated because a fire destroyed the facility which was the subject of the negotiations. Absent this unfortunate situation, the business would undoubtedly have employed the claimant and would have provided him with an independent income.