Court Opinion

ID: 2739074
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-10-01 22:04:23.74631+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:33:59.129715
License: Public Domain

Illinois Official Reports

                                      Appellate Court

            Dig Right In Landscaping v. Illinois Workers’ Compensation Comm’n,
                               2014 IL App (1st) 130410WC

Appellate Court          DIG RIGHT IN LANDSCAPING, Appellee, v. ILLINOIS
Caption                  WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COMMISSION et al. (Jose Nunez,
                         Appellant).

District & No.           First District, Workers’ Compensation Commission Division
                         Docket No. 1-13-0410WC

Filed                    July 28, 2014

Held                       In proceedings on a workers’ compensation claim where the arbitrator
(Note: This syllabus initially denied the claim, the Workers’ Compensation Commission
constitutes no part of the reversed the arbitrator’s decision, and the trial court reinstated the
opinion of the court but arbitrator’s decision, the appellate court reversed the trial court and
has been prepared by the reinstated the Commission’s award of benefits based on the
Reporter of Decisions determination that the Commission’s finding that the claimant’s
for the convenience of condition of ill-being was causally related to his employment was not
the reader.)               contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence, even though the
                           Commission did not expressly find claimant credible, since the
                           Commission found that there was credible medical evidence
                           supporting causation, and the Commission’s description of claimant’s
                           testimony clearly indicated that it found him to be credible.

Decision Under           Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 12-L-50882; the
Review                   Hon. Margaret Brennan, Judge, presiding.

Judgment                 Circuit court reversed and Commission decision reinstated; cause
                         remanded to the Commission for further proceedings.
     Counsel on               Joshua E. Rudolfi and Howard H. Hankin, both of Ankin Law Office,
     Appeal                   LLC, of Chicago, for appellant.

                              Jigar S. Desai, of Rusin, Maciorowski & Friedman, Ltd., of Chicago,
                              for appellee.

     Panel                    PRESIDING JUSTICE HOLDRIDGE delivered the judgment of the
                              court, with opinion.
                              Justices Hoffman, Hudson, Harris, and Stewart concurred in the
                              judgment and opinion.

                                               OPINION

¶1          The claimant, Jose Nunez, filed an application for adjustment of claim under the Workers’
       Compensation Act (Act) (820 ILCS 305/1 et seq. (West 2010)), seeking benefits for right
       shoulder injuries which he allegedly sustained while working for Dig Right In Landscaping
       (employer). After a section 19(b) hearing, the arbitrator found that the claimant’s current
       condition of ill-being of his right shoulder was not causally related to his employment. The
       arbitrator denied the claim for benefits. The claimant sought review before the Illinois
       Workers’ Compensation Commission (Commission), which reversed the decision of the
       arbitrator and awarded the claimant temporary total disability (TTD) benefits, reasonable and
       necessary medical expenses, and prospective medical care. The employer then sought judicial
       review of the Commission’s decision in the circuit court of Cook County. The circuit court
       found that the Commission’s decision was against the manifest weight of the evidence and
       reinstated the arbitrator’s award. The claimant then filed a timely appeal with this court.
¶2          On appeal, the claimant maintains that the Commission’s finding that his current condition
       of ill-being was causally related to his employment was not against the manifest weight of the
       evidence. He asks this court to reverse the order of the circuit court and reinstate the
       Commission’s decision.

¶3                                              FACTS
¶4         The following factual recitation is taken from the evidence presented at the arbitration
       hearing conducted on May 13, 2011. The evidence included the testimony of the claimant and
       the claimant’s written medical records.
¶5         On July 14, 2008, the claimant was working as a laborer/driver for the employer. It was the
       claimant’s testimony that he sustained an injury to his right shoulder while loading a piece of
       equipment onto a truck.
¶6         The following day the claimant sought treatment from Dr. Manish Pandya, a chiropractor.
       According to Dr. Pandya’s treatment records, the claimant gave a history of injury to the right

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       shoulder while lifting an object weighing approximately 20 to 40 pounds. The claimant
       complained of right shoulder pain rated as 8 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being extreme pain.
       The records recorded no history of the claimant reporting a “pop” or popping sensation in his
       shoulder. Dr. Pandya diagnosed subluxation of the thoracic spine and rotator cuff syndrome.
       The claimant treated with Dr. Pandya again on July 16 and July 18, 2008, at which time he
       complained of both right shoulder pain and neck stiffness. Dr. Pandya diagnosed mild
       discomfort upon palpitation of the spine in the thoracic region and moderate spasm in the neck.
       Dr. Pandya recommended trigger-point therapy and an ultrasound of the right shoulder. The
       claimant did not treat with Dr. Pandya after July 18, 2008.
¶7         On July 22, 2008, the claimant sought treatment from Dr. Ehteshan Ghani, a general
       practitioner. Dr. Ghani’s treatment notes report that the claimant gave a history of injuring
       himself while loading a cultivator onto a truck. Dr. Ghani diagnosed shoulder pain, prescribed
       Celebrex and entered a notation in his treatment records to “consider MRI.” He released the
       claimant to return to work with a restriction of no lifting of more than five pounds with the
       right arm, and no repetitive pushing or pulling with the right hand.
¶8         The record established that the employer was able to accommodate the work restrictions
       imposed by Dr. Ghani. The claimant did not lose any time from work as a result of the July 14,
       2008, accident.
¶9         The claimant was examined again by Dr. Ghani on July 28, 2008, and August 5, 2008. The
       claimant reported some improvement in shoulder pain at the July 28 examination and a 75%
       improvement at the August 5 examination. Dr. Ghani reiterated the previous restrictions. The
       August 5 examination was the last time the claimant treated with Dr. Ghani.
¶ 10       On August 12, 2008, the claimant sustained several laceration injuries to his left hand in a
       work-related accident. He was treated by Dr. Hasan Kahn at LaGrange Medical Center. Dr.
       Kahn’s treatment records indicated that the claimant gave a medical history of diabetes, but
       made no mention of right shoulder pain or the July 14, 2008, accident. Dr. Kahn released the
       claimant with a restriction of no lifting of greater than 20 pounds with the left hand. The
       claimant testified that he was able to work thereafter within the restrictions for both his left
       hand and his right shoulder.
¶ 11       The claimant continued to treat for his left hand injury at LaGrange Medical Center from
       August 12, 2008, through October 6, 2008, at which time he was released to return to work
       without any restrictions. The LaGrange Medical Center records list no complaints of right
       shoulder pain or any restrictions related to the right shoulder during the time the claimant
       treated there.
¶ 12       On September 10, 2008, while he was still treating at LaGrange Medical Center for his left
       hand injury, the claimant was terminated for cause. Unrebutted testimony from the employer
       established that the claimant was terminated for performing unauthorized “side jobs” using
       company equipment. The employer’s representative further testified that the employer was not
       aware of any right shoulder complaints at the time of the claimant’s termination. The record
       also established that, at the time he was terminated, the claimant made no requests for medical
       treatment or TTD benefits related to his right shoulder. The claimant claimed to have contacted
       the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance adjuster but he could not recall when he
       made this contact or what he said to the adjuster.
¶ 13       On March 26, 2009, the claimant sought treatment for right shoulder pain at St. Anthony’s
       hospital. He gave a history of a backward fall six months previously (i.e., approximately

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       September of 2008). He reported intermittent right shoulder pain, rating his pain level as 8 out
       of 10. Treatment notes from the hospital indicated no observable deformity, bruising, swelling,
       hematoma, or tenderness to palpitation in the right shoulder. The claimant was given ibuprofen
       and referred to Dr. Mitchell Goldfleis, an orthopedic surgeon. The claimant never consulted
       with Dr. Goldflies. He testified that he was unable to follow up with Dr. Goldflies due to a lack
       of money or insurance.
¶ 14        On July 1, 2009, the claimant filed an application for adjustment of claim regarding the
       July 14, 2008, accident. On the recommendation of his attorney, the claimant sought treatment
       from Dr. William Vitello, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Vitello first examined the
       claimant on July 6, 2009. According to Dr. Vitello’s treatment notes, the claimant gave a
       history of injuring his right shoulder while falling backwards after putting away a shovel on
       July 22, 2008. The claimant denied giving a history of falling while putting away a shovel and
       maintained that he gave a history of injury while loading a cultivator onto a truck. The claimant
       reported a pain level of 10 on the 1-to-10 scale and an inability to sleep at night due to the pain.
       Dr. Vitello ordered an X-ray of the right shoulder. The X-ray appeared normal to Dr. Vitello.
       Dr. Vitello diagnosed a possible rotator cuff tear and placed the claimant on a restriction of
       lifting no more than 10 pounds with his right arm.
¶ 15        On August 12, 2009, Dr. Vitello ordered an MR arthrogram of the right shoulder, which
       revealed no acute pathology and no evidence of a rotator cuff tear. The test did reveal a
       degenerative impingement of the right clavicle joint. Dr. Vitello administered a pain injection
       in the right shoulder and prescribed a course of physical therapy.
¶ 16        On November 11, 2009, Dr. Vitello reexamined the claimant’s right shoulder. The
       claimant reported that the pain injection provided only temporary relief. Dr. Vitello observed
       that the claimant had participated in physical therapy from August 19, 2009, to October 9,
       2009, with no reduction in shoulder pain. Based on the claimant’s lack of improvement
       following physical therapy, Dr. Vitello recommended arthroscopic surgery on the right
       shoulder.
¶ 17        On November 23, 2009, the claimant was examined at the request of the employer by Dr.
       Jay Levin, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. The claimant gave a history of injuring his
       right shoulder in a fall. He reported feeling a “pop” in his shoulder at the time he fell. He
       further complained of constant pain in his right shoulder with a pain rating of 10 out of 10. Dr.
       Levin observed no objective signs of acute distress. He noted from the claimant’s medical
       records that he continued to work from July 14, 2008, until August 5, 2008, at which time he
       reported 75% improvement. After reviewing the claimant’s medical records, Dr. Levin
       diagnosed mild right shoulder subacromial bursitis. He opined that the claimant’s current
       condition of ill-being was not causally related to an employment related accident on July 14,
       2008. Dr. Levin further opined that the claimant’s condition had resolved by August 2008, and
       he was able work without restriction after that date.
¶ 18        On December 23, 2009, the claimant was again examined by Dr. Vitello, who continued to
       recommend surgery.
¶ 19        On June 14, 2010, Dr. Vitello issued a written report in which he diagnosed right shoulder
       impingement. He recommended right shoulder arthroscopy, subacromial decompression and
       debridement. He opined that the claimant’s current condition of ill-being of the right shoulder
       was causally related to the July 2008 industrial accident.

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¶ 20        Following the hearing, the arbitrator found that the claimant had failed to establish that his
       current condition of ill-being was causally related to the industrial accident on July 14, 2008.
       The arbitrator pointed out that: (1) after August 5, 2008, the claimant made no reports of right
       shoulder pain to his employer and received no treatment for right shoulder pain until March 26,
       2009; (2) even when his employment was terminated on September 10, 2008, the claimant did
       not report that he still had right shoulder pain; (3) no medical records from August 12, 2008,
       through October 6, 2008, had any notations regarding reported shoulder pain; and (4) from
       August 5, 2008, to September 10, 2008, the claimant worked under a restriction against the use
       of his left arm, relying entirely on the use of his right arm. The arbitrator noted that “[c]learly,
       if the [claimant] was placed on restrictions of no use of the left hand, and he had continuing
       complaints of the right arm and still had restrictions, he would have been taken off work
       completely. He was not.” (Emphases added.)
¶ 21        The claimant sought review before the Commission, which rejected the arbitrator’s
       findings and issued an award of benefits to the claimant. The Commission noted that claimant
       sought medical treatment for right shoulder pain immediately following the July 14, 2008,
       accident. The Commission further noted that the claimant had consistently reported right
       shoulder pain after the accident and had been given pain medication on several occasions
       thereafter. It also noted that at the time of his termination for cause, the claimant was still under
       a work restriction limiting the use of his right arm due to the reported shoulder pain. The
       Commission found Dr. Vitello’s causation opinion credible and persuasive. While the
       Commission made no express determination regarding the claimant’s credibility, it implicitly
       found the claimant credible when it noted without negative comment his testimony that prior to
       July 14, 2008, he had suffered no right shoulder pain, but had experienced continual pain since
       that date. Finally, the Commission found it significant that the claimant was still on light duty
       for his right shoulder injury when the employer terminated him for cause. The Commission
       noted that termination of employment for cause does not terminate a claimant’s eligibility for
       TTD benefits. Interstate Scaffolding, Inc. v. Illinois Workers’ Compensation Comm’n, 236 Ill.
2d 132, 146 (2010). The Commission awarded the claimant TTD benefits from September 11,
       2008, through March 26, 2009, and from July 6, 2009, through May 13, 2011, which was the
       date of the arbitration hearing. It further ordered payment of all medical expenses related to the
       claimant’s right shoulder condition, and it awarded prospective medical expenses for the right
       shoulder surgery and postsurgical treatment as recommended by Dr. Vitello.
¶ 22        The employer sought judicial review of the Commission’s decision in the circuit court of
       Cook County. On March 5, 2013, the circuit court set aside the Commission’s decision and
       reinstated the decision of the arbitrator. The circuit court explained that the Commission
       improperly relied upon Dr. Vitello’s opinion that the claimant’s right shoulder pathology was
       caused by the July 14, 2008, workplace accident. The court stated that the Commission failed
       to state the basis for its credibility determinations regarding the claimant and his treating
       doctors and failed to consider that the claimant reported 75% improvement in his shoulder
       condition approximately two weeks after the accident. The court also found that Dr. Vitello’s
       causation opinion was based upon uncorroborated and unreliable medical history given to him
       by the claimant. The court particularly noted that the claimant gave several versions of when
       and how the shoulder injury occurred. Additionally, the court noted that the claimant went
       seven months without any treatment, yet reported his pain level as 8 or 10 out of 10. The

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       claimant now appeals, arguing that the Commission’s award of benefits was not against the
       manifest weight of the evidence.

¶ 23                                             ANALYSIS
¶ 24        Neither party has questioned the court’s jurisdiction to review the Commission’s decision
       in this case. It is our obligation, however, to consider, sua sponte, matters which related to the
       subject matter jurisdiction over final decisions of the Commission. Consolidated Freightways
       v. Illinois Workers’ Compensation Comm’n, 373 Ill. App. 3d 1077, 1079 (2007). Moreover,
       subject matter jurisdiction cannot be waived, stipulated to, or consented to by the parties, and
       the failure of a party to object to the lack of subject matter jurisdiction cannot confer
       jurisdiction upon the court. Supreme Catering v. Illinois Workers’ Compensation Comm’n,
       2012 IL App (1st) 111220WC, ¶ 7.
¶ 25        The record in this matter contains a decision and award of benefits to the claimant signed
       by only two commissioners. Section 19(e) of the Act provides in pertinent part: “In the event
       either party requests oral argument, such argument shall be had before a panel of 3 members of
       the Commission ***. *** A decision of the Commission shall be approved by a majority of
       Commissioners present at such hearing ***.” 820 ILCS 305/19(e) (West 2010). While it is a
       jurisdictional requirement that three commissioners form a panel to hear oral arguments and a
       majority of that panel approve the resulting order, the writing and filing of the Commission’s
       order is a ministerial act and does not impact the jurisdictional validity of the Commission’s
       ruling. Zeigler v. Industrial Comm’n, 51 Ill. 2d 137, 142 (1972); Morton’s of Chicago v.
       Industrial Comm’n, 366 Ill. App. 3d 1056, 1062-63 (2006). In this case, the record sufficiently
       established that oral argument was requested and had before a panel of three commissioners.
       However, at the time the Commission’s decision was issued, the term of one of the
       Commissioners had expired. Since the remaining two commissioners who heard the oral
       argument were able to agree upon a disposition and signed the Commission’s order, the record
       is clear that a majority of the panel hearing the argument approved the resulting order. Had the
       two panel members not been in agreement, it would have been necessary for a replacement
       commissioner to concur with the decision of one of the commissioners who was present at the
       oral argument. Zeigler, 51 Ill. 2d at 142. That procedure was not necessary in this case. The
       fact that the order herein is signed by only two commissioners, therefore, does not impact the
       validity of the order in this matter. We find that we have subject matter jurisdiction over this
       appeal.
¶ 26        Turning to the merits of the appeal, the claimant argues that the Commission correctly
       found that he proved a causal connection between July 14, 2008, and his current condition of
       ill-being. He contends that the Commission correctly placed more weight on the opinion of Dr.
       Vitello and that it sufficiently weighed his credibility in light of the medical evidence. The
       employer counters that the Commission’s decision was against the manifest weight of the
       evidence because the medical evidence clearly established that his shoulder condition had
       completely resolved by August 2008 as reported by Dr. Levin. Although this is a close case,
       we agree with the claimant and find that the Commission’s award of benefits was not against
       the manifest weight of the evidence.
¶ 27        In a workers’ compensation case, the claimant has the burden of proving, by a
       preponderance of the evidence, all of the elements of his claim. O’Dette v. Industrial Comm’n,
       79 Ill. 2d 249, 253 (1980). Whether a causal relationship exists between a claimant’s

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       employment and his injury is a question of fact to be resolved by the Commission, and its
       resolution of such a matter will not be disturbed on appeal unless it is against the manifest
       weight of the evidence. Certi-Serve, Inc. v. Industrial Comm’n, 101 Ill. 2d 236, 244 (1984). In
       resolving such issues, it is the function of the Commission to decide questions of fact, judge the
       credibility of witnesses, and resolve conflicting medical evidence. O’Dette, 79 Ill. 2d at 253.
       For a finding of fact to be contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence, an opposite
       conclusion must be clearly apparent. Caterpillar, Inc. v. Industrial Comm’n, 228 Ill. App. 3d
288, 291 (1992). Whether a reviewing court might reach the same conclusion is not the test of
       whether the Commission’s determination of a question of fact is supported by the manifest
       weight of the evidence. Rather, the appropriate test is whether there is sufficient evidence in
       the record to support the Commission’s determination. Benson v. Industrial Comm’n, 91 Ill. 2d
445, 450 (1982). Although we are reluctant to set aside the Commission’s decision on a factual
       question, we will not hesitate to do so when the clearly evident, plain, and indisputable weight
       of the evidence compels an opposite conclusion. Montgomery Elevator Co. v. Industrial
       Comm’n, 244 Ill. App. 3d 563, 567 (1993).
¶ 28        In this case, the Commission’s finding that the claimant’s right shoulder pain and need for
       surgery was causally connected to his workplace accident is not against the manifest weight of
       the evidence. The Commission based its decision on: (1) Dr. Vitello’s opinion that the
       claimant’s right shoulder impingement manifested itself only after the July 14, 2008, accident;
       (2) the fact that the claimant’s reports of right shoulder pain were consistent from the time of
       the accident until the date of the hearing; and (3) despite the fact that the claimant reported a
       75% improvement within approximately two weeks after the accident he still was on a
       significant work restriction regarding his right shoulder when he was terminated for cause on
       September 10, 2008.
¶ 29        The Commission’s award of benefits in this matter is based primarily upon its
       determination that the claimant’s description of his symptoms to his treating physicians,
       particularly Dr. Vitello, was credible. We note that the circuit court found that the claimant was
       completely lacking in credibility, and that lack of credibility made Dr. Vitello’s causation
       opinion unreliable according to the circuit court. It is well settled, however, that while a
       reviewing court may view the credibility of the claimant differently than did the Commission,
       it is the exclusive function of the Commission to judge credibility and assign weight to medical
       opinion testimony. O’Dette, 79 Ill. 2d at 253. Here, while the claimant’s testimony and
       descriptions of the accident appear to be less than precise, the fact remains that he gave the
       same history and pain descriptions to both Dr. Vitello and Dr. Levin. Moreover, while it
       appears that there were no recorded reports of right shoulder pain while the claimant was
       treating for his left hand injury, the Commission correctly noted that on the last day of his
       employment, September 10, 2008, the claimant was working under a severe lifting restriction
       imposed by Dr. Ghani relative to the claimant’s right shoulder and there is no record that the
       restriction was ever lifted. Based on this evidence, and the inferences reasonably drawn from
       the evidence, the Commission’s finding that the claimant’s right shoulder impingement
       neuropathy was causally connected to his workplace accident of July 14, 2008, was not against
       the manifest weight of the evidence.
¶ 30        Since the Commission’s finding that the claimant was entitled to TTD and medical benefits
       for injuries sustained in a work-related accident on July 14, 2008, was not against the manifest
       weight of the evidence, we reverse the circuit court’s judgment and affirm the Commission’s

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       award. The matter is remanded to the Commission for further proceedings consistent with this
       decision.

¶ 31                                         CONCLUSION
¶ 32       The Commission’s finding that the claimant’s current condition of ill-being is causally
       related to his employment is not contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence. The
       Commission found credible medical evidence supporting causation, and while it did not
       expressly find the claimant credible, the Commission’s description of his testimony makes it
       clear that it found him credible. We therefore reverse the judgment of the circuit court, affirm
       the decision of the Commission and remand the matter to the Commission for further
       proceedings.

¶ 33     Circuit court reversed and Commission decision reinstated; cause remanded to the
       Commission for further proceedings.

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