Court Opinion

ID: 1064159
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 19:16:35.026672+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:46:06.577334
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judge Frank, Senior Judge Willis and Retired Judge Hodges *

ESTATE OF COURTNEY HILTON RHOTON
                                                                MEMORANDUM OPINION * *
v.     Record No. 0484-07-3                                         PER CURIAM
                                                                    MAY 20, 2008
HIGHLANDS AMBULANCE SERVICE AND
 COMPANION PROPERTY & CASUALTY
 INSURANCE COMPANY

              FROM THE VIRGINIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COMMISSION

                 (Julia L. McAfee; Jeffrey A. Sturgill; Carl E. McAfee, P.C.; Sturgill
                 & Kennedy, on brief), for appellant. Appellant submitting on brief.

                 (Ramesh Murthy; Steven H. Theisen; PennStuart, on brief), for
                 appellees. Appellees submitting on brief.

       The Estate of Courtney Hilton Rhoton appeals a decision of the Workers’ Compensation

Commission awarding benefits to the Estate against Highlands Ambulance Service

(“Highlands”) and its insurer for payment of reasonable burial and transportation expenses as set

forth in Code § 65.2-512(B), and for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment as provided

in Code § 65.2-603. The Estate contends the commission erred in (1) finding that Courtney

Hilton Rhoton (“the decedent”) suffered a compensable injury as defined in the Workers’

Compensation Act (“the Act”); (2) finding that the decedent’s injuries and death arose out of her

employment; (3) failing to consider and find that assault upon the decedent by her co-worker,

       *
         Retired Judge William H. Hodges took part in the consideration of this case by
designation pursuant to Code § 17.1-400(D).
       **
            Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
Joshua Phillip Martin, was of a personal nature; and (4) finding the claim compensable, in that

the decedent’s death was precipitated by medical malpractice, neglect, or breach of the standard

of care to which she became entitled as a patient of Highlands.

       On January 11, 2008, the Virginia Supreme Court issued its opinion in a civil action

brought by the administrator of the decedent’s estate against Martin, Highlands, and Greta

Caudill, seeking to recover damages for personal injury and resulting death. See Hilton v.

Martin, 275 Va. 176, 654 S.E.2d 572 (2008). In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that the

decedent’s injury and death resulting from Martin’s assault did not arise out of the decedent’s

employment. Id. at 181, 654 S.E.2d at 575. Thus, the Supreme Court held that the circuit court

erred in sustaining the pleas in bar filed by Martin, Highlands, and Caudill, alleging that the

administrator’s sole remedy was provided by the Act. Id. The Supreme Court reversed the

circuit court and remanded the civil case for further proceedings consistent with its opinion. Id.

       Based upon the Supreme Court’s decision and for the reasons fully stated therein, we

reverse the commission’s award and its holding that the decedent’s injury and death arose out of

her employment. In light of this ruling, we need not address Question (4).

                                                                                          Reversed.

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