Court Opinion

ID: 9558098
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 17:02:50.592679+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:08:19.466481
License: Public Domain

Utter, J.
(concurring in the dissent) — I concur with Justice Dolliver's dissent. However, since the case focuses on whether the trial court decision was decided on the merits or on motion for summary judgment, attention has been diverted from the appropriate legal standard for burden of proof in a disability hearing. It appears to me both the majority and dissent agree on that standard. As the majority states, the plaintiff must initially prove by preponderance of the evidence that "he is incapable of performing light or sedentary work of a general nature." Majority opinion, at 919. If the plaintiff carries that burden successfully, the burden then shifts to the State to prove "that there is special work that he can in fact obtain." Majority opinion, at 919, quoting from Kuhnle v. Department of Labor & Indus., 12 Wn.2d 191, 198-99, 120 P.2d 1003 (1942).
Since no more rigorous burden on the plaintiff is espoused by anyone, we must respect the trial court's statement that its ruling was on the merits. Spring was unable to meet the threshold burden of showing "he is incapable of performing light or sedentary work of a general nature." The trial court's ruling on the merits is supported by substantial evidence and for this reason I believe *926the dissent is correct.
Reconsideration denied March 23, 1982.