Court Opinion

ID: 4645996
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-12-23 15:13:17.620897+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:00:55.351317
License: Public Domain

IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Dorothy Marie Sexauer                         :
                                              :
                      v.                      :
                                              :
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,                 :
Department of Transportation,                 :
Bureau of Driver Licensing,                   :   No. 1497 C.D. 2019
                         Appellant            :   Submitted: October 16, 2020

BEFORE:        HONORABLE MARY HANNAH LEAVITT, President Judge
               HONORABLE ANNE E. COVEY, Judge
               HONORABLE ELLEN CEISLER, Judge

OPINION BY
JUDGE COVEY                                                FILED: December 23, 2020

               The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation,
Bureau of Driver Licensing (DOT) appeals from the Allegheny County Common Pleas
Court’s (trial court) September 26, 2019 order sustaining Dorothy Marie Sexauer’s
(Sexauer) appeal and affording her a third opportunity to pass her driver skills test.
DOT presents one issue for this Court’s review: whether this Court should vacate the
trial court’s order and remand for additional proceedings because DOT’s counsel
misstated a material fact regarding DOT’s awareness of Sexauer’s medical forms.
After review, we vacate and remand.
               On December 10, 2018, after conducting a medical examination of 95-
year-old Sexauer on December 5, 2018, internal medical specialist G. Richard
Zimmerman, II, M.D. (Dr. Zimmerman),1 completed a DOT DL-13 Initial Reporting
Form notifying DOT that Sexauer had cardiovascular disease (coronary artery disease
(CAD) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)). See Reproduced Record (R.R.)

      1
          Sexauer had been Dr. Zimmerman’s patient since 2014.
at 26a.   Further, under “[o]ther [m]edical [c]onditions that would interfere with
[Sexauer’s] ability to drive . . . ,” Dr. Zimmerman specified: a recent left orbital
fracture, degenerative disc disease, left knee osteoarthritis, poor balance, and unsteady
gait. Id. Dr. Zimmerman indicated in the Initial Reporting Form that Sexauer did not
need to stop driving immediately, but recommended that her medical infirmities
warranted DOT’s further investigation of her driving competency, including re-taking
her driver skills test. See id.
               DOT provided Sexauer a Physical Examination Certificate, Part I of
which required vision screening, and Part II of which required a medical examination.
See R.R. at 25a. On December 17, 2018, Sexauer passed her vision screening test. See
id. On December 26, 2018, Dr. Zimmerman conducted her medical examination. See
id. Therein, Dr. Zimmerman checked “No” in response to the following inquiries:

               DOES  THIS PERSON        HAVE       ANY   OF   THE   FOLLOWING
               CONDITIONS:

               ....
               2. Any Cardiac or Circulatory disorder including
               Hypertension such as to prevent reasonable control of a
               motor vehicle?
               ....
               9. Immobility . . . of an Appendage? . . . .
               10. Does this person have any other condition that would
               prevent control of a motor vehicle? . . . .

R.R. at 25a.
               On December 28, 2018, Dr. Zimmerman issued a letter stating:

               [Sexauer’s] past medical history includes coronary artery
               disease, hypertension, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and
               right total knee arthropathy and left knee osteoarthritis.

                                               2
               She recently had a mechanical fall in late November 2018[,]
               sustaining [a] left orbital fracture and left hip contusion.
               Because of her poor balance and unsteady gait, I would
               recommend occupational therapy evaluation for driving
               privilege[] and re[-]taking her driver[][skills] test at this time.

R.R. at 24a.
               On December 29, 2018, DOT issued a notice recalling Sexauer’s driving
privilege due to medical incompetence pursuant to Section 1519(c) of the Vehicle
Code,2 effective January 5, 2019 (Notice). The Notice stated, in pertinent part:

               Your driving privilege is hereby recalled until you have
               demonstrated your condition meets [DOT’s] minimum
               medical standards.
               This decision has been made by comparing your medical
               information with the standards recommended by our Medical
               Advisory Board and adopted by [DOT]. This action will
               remain in effect until [DOT] receives medical information
               indicating that your condition has improved, and you are able
               to safely operate a motor vehicle. [DOT] may also require
               you to take and pass a driving examination before it will
               restore your driving privilege.
               If you feel our records are incorrect, you may have your
               health care provider submit updated information detailing
               your medical condition.

R.R. at 5a. DOT enclosed with the Notice a Cardiovascular Form DL-120, General
Medical Form DL-123, General Neurologic Form DL-124, and Orthopedic Form DL-
26 (collectively, Medical Forms). See R.R. at 22a.
               On January 4, 2019, Sexauer underwent an Adaptive Driving Program
On-Road Assessment at the University of Pittsburgh School of Health and
Rehabilitation Sciences.          See R.R. at 46a-48a.       Thereafter, Certified Driving

      2
          75 Pa.C.S. § 1519(c).
                                               3
Rehabilitation Specialist Amy Lane (Lane) issued a report (Assessment Report),
summarizing:

               At this time based on the assessment today, [Sexauer] does
               not demonstrate the necessary skills required to safely
               operate a motor vehicle. She [] acknowledged that she was
               making many mistakes, but was adamant that she does not
               typically drive in this manner. She inquired about re-
               evaluation. Unfortunately, she is under medical recall
               effective tomorrow. Additionally, she has multiple medical
               forms in need of completion.
               She was counseled that she should not be driving at this time
               due to her performance today and due to her license recall
               effective 1/5/19. If she truly wants to try a driving re-
               evaluation, she was recommended to call [DOT] and request
               a 30[-]day extension on her medical recall. If so, she could
               attempt a driving re-evaluation. It is unlikely [DOT] will
               allow the extension. If that is denied, [DOT] may require her
               to obtain a dual control permit, which is a restricted type of
               permit issued to [sic] the driving school. She was counseled
               that this is a lengthy and expensive process and that another
               driving assessment may reveal the same results.
               ....
               The results of this evaluation are indicative of her
               performance as observed on this time and date. These results
               may not necessarily be predictive of any unanticipated
               medically related issues, roadway conditions or interactions
               with other roadway users.

R.R. at 48a.
               On January 23, 2019, Dr. Zimmerman completed the Medical Forms. On
the Cardiovascular Form DL-120, Dr. Zimmerman confirmed that Sexauer had
cardiovascular disease (CAD and CABG) and a history of dyspnea. See R.R. at 42a.
Under “[a]ny other signs or symptoms that would impair [her] ability to operate a motor
vehicle?,” Dr. Zimmerman indicated: “Ꝋ.” R.R. at 42a. On the General Medical Form
DL-123, Dr. Zimmerman listed that Sexauer had CAD and CABG, lumbar

                                             4
degenerative disc disease, left knee osteoarthritis, glaucoma, macular degeneration,
hypertension, and right tka.3 See R.R. at 43a. In response to the question: “Do the
diseases/conditions/disorders interfere with the patient’s mental or physical ability to
operate a motor vehicle?,” Dr. Zimmerman wrote, “Yes” and referred to the
Assessment Report. R.R. at 43a. On the General Neurologic Form DL-124, Dr.
Zimmerman recorded that Sexauer’s left knee osteoarthritis causes her pain and
decreased range of motion, which affects her ability to operate a motor vehicle because
she has difficulty getting in and out. See R.R. at 45a. On the Orthopedic Form DL-26,
Dr. Zimmerman recorded that Sexauer’s reaction time and her extremity movement
coordination are impaired. See R.R. at 44a. In response to the question of whether
Sexauer “should cease driving immediately” as a result thereof, Dr. Zimmerman
marked, “Yes.” R.R. at 44a.
               On January 28, 2019, Sexauer appealed from DOT’s Notice to the trial
court. See R.R. at 3a-7a. By February 4, 2019 letter, DOT notified Sexauer that, based
upon its review, a “Dual Mirror” restriction must be added to her driver’s license. R.R.
at 20a. By March 14, 2019 letter, DOT informed Sexauer that it was necessary for her
to take and successfully pass a driver skills test in order for DOT to determine if she
met its medical standards for driving a motor vehicle. See R.R. at 32a. The letter
declared: “This letter will allow you three opportunities to take the test. If a test is
failed, it cannot be retried the same day.” Id.
               On April 24, 2019, Dr. Zimmerman faxed the Medical Forms and the
Assessment Report to DOT. See R.R. at 42a-45a. On April 25, 2019, Sexauer took a
driver skills test and failed. See R.R. at 12a, 33a-34a. The trial court scheduled a
hearing for May 2, 2019, which was continued for Sexauer to take the driver skills test
a second time. See R.R. at 8a-9a. Sexauer took the driver skills test again on May 7,

      3
          “[T]ka” was not defined on the General Medical Form DL-123. See R.R. at 43a.
                                                5
2019, and failed. See R.R. at 12a, 38a-40a. On May 23, 2019, DOT notified Sexauer
that, based on her Medical Forms, she did not meet DOT’s medical standards, and her
driving privilege could not be restored at that time. See R.R. at 37a. In response to
Sexauer’s request to restore her driving privilege, DOT enclosed additional medical
forms for Sexauer to have completed and returned to DOT. See R.R. at 36a.
               The trial court hearing was conducted on September 26, 2019. See R.R.
at 10a-18a. At the hearing, Sexauer’s counsel represented to the trial court that Sexauer
desired to take her third driver skills test, since “[s]he took the test once and she did
[not] pass. We had [the hearing] continued. She didn’t pass the second time because
of parallel parking. I had arranged for her to have lessons.” R.R. at 12a. He added:

               We were arranging this because she’s only going to have one
               more shot. And what happened was [DOT] informed her
               without any evidentiary basis that she cannot take it for
               medical reasons. So she will testify that there has been no
               change in her medical conditions. [DOT] had all of the
               documents.

R.R. at 13a.
               DOT’s counsel presented certified copies of Sexauer’s records, including
the Medical Records and Assessment Report.4 See R.R. at 13a. DOT’s counsel further
stated that Sexauer’s Medical Records were sent to DOT in January 2019 and, thus,
were stale, so DOT’s Medical Advisory Board wanted updated Medical Records before
allowing Sexauer to take the driver skills test the third time. See R.R. at 13a, 15a.
               The trial court declared from the bench: “We have one piece of medical
advi[c]e that basically says she shouldn’t be driving. And we have another piece of
medical advi[c]e that says she should be driving. So right now we have medical
testimony that she should be driving. Let her take the test.” R.R. at 16a. “[S]he cannot

       4
          Notably, the notes of testimony from the September 26, 2019 hearing do not reflect that the
trial court admitted DOT’s records into evidence.
                                                 6
park, but she is okay to drive. That’s the state of the record.” R.R. at 17a. Neither
party presented further evidence. On September 26, 2019, the trial court sustained
Sexauer’s appeal. See R.R. at 49a. DOT appealed to this Court.5
               The trial court ordered DOT to file its Concise Statement of Errors
Complained of on Appeal pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure (Rule)
1925(b), which DOT did on November 13, 2019. On December 19, 2019, the trial
court issued its opinion in accordance with Rule 1925(a) (Rule 1925(a) Opinion). See
R.R. at 62a-67a.
               DOT argues that this Court should vacate the trial court’s order and
remand for additional proceedings because DOT’s counsel misstated a material fact
regarding DOT’s awareness of Sexauer’s Medical Forms, which were completed in
January 2019 but faxed to DOT on April 24, 2019, and DOT should not be estopped
from correcting this error.
               Section 1518(b) of the Vehicle Code mandates:

               All physicians . . . authorized to diagnose or treat disorders
               and disabilities defined by the Medical Advisory Board shall
               report to [DOT], in writing, the full name, date of birth and
               address of every person over 15 years of age diagnosed as
               having any specified disorder or disability within ten days.
75 Pa.C.S. § 1518(b). Section 83.5 of DOT’s Regulations specifies, in pertinent part:
               (b) Disqualification on provider’s recommendation. A
               person who has any of the following conditions will not be
               qualified to drive if, in the opinion of the provider, the

       5
           “Our review is limited to determining whether the trial court’s necessary findings are
supported by substantial evidence and whether the court committed a reversible error of law or abused
its discretion.” Helwig v. Dep’t of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 99 A.3d 153, 157 n.4 (Pa.
Cmwlth. 2014).
        On October 14, 2020, this Court issued an order precluding Sexauer from filing a brief because
she failed to comply with the Court’s August 17, 2020 Order directing her to file her brief within 14
days.
                                                  7
condition is likely to impair the ability to control and safely
operate a motor vehicle:
    (1) Loss of a joint or extremity as a functional defect
    or limitation.
    (2) Impairment of the use of a joint or extremity as a
    functional defect or limitation.
       (i) The provider should inform the patient of the
       prohibition against driving due to the functional
       impairment.
       (ii) The provider shall inform [DOT] in writing
       of the impairment if the condition has lasted or
       is expected to last longer than 90 days.
    (3) Rheumatic, arthritic, orthopedic, muscular,
    vascular or neuromuscular disease.
       (i) The provider should inform the patient of the
       prohibition against driving due to the functional
       impairment.
       (ii) The provider shall inform [DOT] in writing
       of the impairment if the condition has lasted or
       is expected to last longer than 90 days.
    (4) Cerebral vascular insufficiency or cardiovascular
    disease which, within the preceding 6 months, has
    resulted in lack of coordination, confusion, loss of
    awareness, dyspnea upon mild exertion or any other
    sign or symptom which impairs the ability to control
    and safely perform motor functions necessary to
    operate a motor vehicle.
....
(c) Driving examination. A person who has any of the
conditions enumerated in subsection (b)(1), (2), (3) or (8)
may be required to undergo a driving examination to
determine driving competency, if [DOT] has reason to
believe that the person’s ability to safely operate a motor
vehicle is impaired. The person may be restricted to driving
only when utilizing appropriate adaptive equipment.

                              8
67 Pa. Code § 83.5.
            “Section 1519 of the Vehicle Code provides [DOT] with the statutory
authority for determining a licensee’s competency to operate a vehicle.” Neimeister v.
Dep’t of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 916 A.2d 712, 714 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2006).
Section 1519(c) of the Vehicle Code mandates:

            [DOT] shall recall the operating privilege of any person
            whose incompetency has been established under the
            provisions of this chapter. The recall shall be for an
            indefinite period until satisfactory evidence is presented to
            [DOT] in accordance with regulations to establish that such
            person is competent to drive a motor vehicle. [DOT] shall
            suspend the operating privilege of any person who refuses or
            fails to comply with the requirements of this section until that
            person does comply and that person’s competency to drive is
            established. Any person aggrieved by recall or suspension of
            the operating privilege may appeal in the manner provided in
            [S]ection 1550 [of the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § 1550].
            The judicial review shall be limited to whether the person is
            competent to drive in accordance with the provisions of the
            regulations promulgated under [S]ection 1517 [of the
            Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § 1517] (relating to [the] Medical
            Advisory Board).

75 Pa.C.S. § 1519(c).

            In a recall proceeding, it is DOT’s burden to prove by a
            preponderance of the evidence that the licensee is medically
            incompetent to drive. Byler v. Dep’t of Transp., Bureau of
            Driver Licensing, 883 A.2d 724 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2005). A
            preponderance of the evidence standard, the lowest
            evidentiary standard, is tantamount to ‘a more likely than
            not’ inquiry. Carey v. Dep’t of Corr., 61 A.3d 367, 374 (Pa.
            Cmwlth. 2013).
            DOT may make a prima facie case of medical incompetency
            by introducing the medical report submitted to DOT by a
            healthcare provider. Meter v. Dep’t of Transp., Bureau of
            Driver Licensing, 41 A.3d 901 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2012). Once
            DOT establishes a prima facie case, the burden of production
                                           9
            then shifts to the licensee to establish that she was competent
            to drive on the date of the recall or has since become
            competent to drive. Id. If the licensee is successful, the
            burden shifts back to DOT to present additional evidence of
            incompetency to satisfy its ultimate burden of proof. Byler.
            Notwithstanding the shifting burden of production, ‘[t]he
            burden of persuasion never leaves [DOT], but the medical
            report itself is sufficient to meet and overcome [DOT]’s
            initial burden to establish a prima facie case.’ Meter, 41 A.3d
            at 905-[]06 (quoting Reynolds v. Dep’t of Transp., Bureau of
            Driver Licensing, 694 A.2d 361, 364 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1997)).
            The trial court is the ultimate finder of fact. Byler. It is
            within the trial court’s discretion to make credibility and
            persuasiveness determinations.        Id.     In making a
            determination of whether a licensee is competent to drive, a
            trial court may consider ‘the timing and issuance of multiple
            forms, the conflicting statements contained on the forms and
            the lack of clarity regarding the extent to which [a]
            [p]hysician’s opinion were based on current examinations.’
            Turk v. Dep’t of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 983
            A.2d 805, 815 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2009).
            A trial court’s decision to sustain a recalled licensee’s appeal
            must be supported by substantial evidence. Meter; Dewey v.
            Dep’t of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 997 A.2d 416
            (Pa. Cmwlth. 2010); Byler. Substantial evidence is such
            relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as
            adequate to support a conclusion. Zaleski v. Dep’t of
            Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 22 A.3d 1085 (Pa.
            Cmwlth. 2011).

Helwig v. Dep’t of Transp., Bureau of Driver Licensing, 99 A.3d 153, 158-59 (Pa.
Cmwlth. 2014).
            In the instant matter, DOT presented certified copies of the Medical
Records and the Assessment Report. The trial court concluded based on DOT’s records
and counsels’ representations:

            During the hearing[,] [DOT] entered into evidence records
            that included the [M]edical [F]orms it had received and the
            letters it sent to [Sexauer]. In response to the recall letter,
            [Sexauer] had medical providers complete additional forms
                                          10
            in January of 2019, which were sent to [DOT]. On March
            14, 2019, [DOT] sent a letter to [Sexauer] informing her that
            she was required to pass a vision test, which she passed, and
            take a driver skills test. Importantly, the letter stated ‘[t]his
            letter will allow you three opportunities to take the test. If a
            test is failed, it cannot be retried the same day.’ There were
            no other conditions in this letter or time restraints that limited
            the time period she had to pass the driver [skills] test.
            [Sexauer] took the driver skills test on April 25, 2019, but
            she failed the test. She took it again on May 7, 2019, and
            failed it due to parking. [Sexauer] had one remaining
            opportunity to take the test after May 7, 2019. [Sexauer] has
            not used her final opportunity to take the driver[] skills test.
            On May 23, 2019, [DOT] sent [Sexauer] a letter stating her
            driving privilege[] will not be restored because she does not
            meet [its] medical standards. On June 28, 2019, [DOT] sent
            [Sexauer] a letter with additional forms that her medical
            professionals need to complete before [DOT] will determine
            whether she meets the medical standards it requires.
            However, [Sexauer] still has one remaining opportunity to
            take the driver[] skills test pursuant to [DOT’s] letter of
            March 14, 2019. There were no changes to [Sexauer’s]
            health reported to [DOT] between the March letter and
            the May letter. During the hearing, [DOT] stated that
            additional medical forms were required because the medical
            forms that [DOT] received in January [] had become stale by
            June. The [R]egulations regarding recall of operating
            privilege[] do not set a time period after which the medical
            information submitted to [DOT] becomes ‘stale[.]’[]
            [DOT] did not receive information between January and
            June of 2019 to suspect [Sexauer’s] medical condition had
            deteriorated. The only additional information that [DOT]
            received during this period was the results of the driver
            skill[s] test that [Sexauer] took twice and failed. However,
            [DOT] permitted [Sexauer] to take the driver skills test three
            times. Therefore, this Court sustained [Sexauer’s] appeal
            and Ordered that she be given a third opportunity to pass her
            driver skills test as authorized by [DOT’s] letter of March 14,
            2019.

R.R. at 65a-67a (emphasis added; internal record citation omitted).

                                           11
              The trial court was clearly under the impression that DOT received
Sexauer’s Medical Forms and Assessment Report after they were completed in January
2019, that DOT nevertheless notified Sexauer in March 2019 that she would have three
opportunities to take and pass a driver skills test, see R.R. at 32a, and then DOT
reversed its position in May 2019 without any basis. See R.R. at 37a. Although it is
unclear whether the Medical Forms and the Assessment Report were submitted to DOT
in January 2019,6 it is evident that DOT’s counsel was unaware at the time of the
hearing that they had been faxed to DOT on April 24, 2019. Those documents reflected
a significant change in Dr. Zimmerman’s opinion of Sexauer’s ability to drive since he
completed the Initial Reporting Form in December 2018.                    If DOT received the
documents in January 2019, then the trial court’s decision was supported by the
evidence. If, however, DOT received the Medical Forms and the Assessment Report
for the first time in April 2019, those documents would have been the intervening
change between March and May that the trial court believed did not exist.
              “It is well settled in Pennsylvania that driving is a privilege, not a property
right. To obtain the benefit of such a privilege, a driver must abide by the laws of the
Commonwealth relating to the privilege.” Renfroe v. Dep’t of Transp., Bureau of
Driver Licensing, 179 A.3d 644, 648 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2018) (citation omitted); see also
Commonwealth v. Vivio, 224 A.2d 777, 778 (Pa. Super. 1966) (“A license to operate a
motor vehicle is a limited right to use the public highway, and it is for the
Commonwealth, acting through the legislature, to direct the conditions under which
this right shall be exercised.”). “The primary purpose of the [Vehicle Code] and its
amendments is to protect and promote public safety and property within the
Commonwealth.” Commonwealth v. DeFusco, 549 A.2d 140, 142 (Pa. Super. 1988).

       6
        Notably, Sexauer’s counsel did not make any representations to the trial court to confirm or
deny DOT’s understanding, and this Court does not have the benefit of Sexauer’s position on appeal,
as she was precluded from filing a brief.
                                                12
Finally, remand for a hearing is necessary when an appellate court cannot determine
whether the trial court relied on inaccurate information. Commonwealth v. Cowan, 418
A.2d 753, 753-54 (Pa. Super. 1980).
             Under circumstances in which DOT appears to have made a material
misrepresentation to the trial court, the trial court did not admit DOT’s records into
evidence and rendered its decision based solely on DOT’s representations, and the lives
of Sexauer and other citizens are at stake, we agree with DOT that the trial court’s
decision must be vacated and this matter remanded to the trial court for a new hearing.
             Based on the foregoing, this Court vacates the trial court’s order and
remands for the trial court to conduct a new hearing consistent with this opinion.

                                       ___________________________
                                       ANNE E. COVEY, Judge

                                          13
           IN THE COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Dorothy Marie Sexauer                        :
                                             :
                   v.                        :
                                             :
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,                :
Department of Transportation,                :
Bureau of Driver Licensing,                  :   No. 1497 C.D. 2019
                         Appellant           :

                                       ORDER

             AND NOW, this 23rd day of December, 2020, the Allegheny County
Common Pleas Court’s (trial court) September 26, 2019 order is vacated, and this
matter is remanded to the trial court for a new hearing consistent with this opinion.
             Jurisdiction is relinquished.

                                        ___________________________
                                        ANNE E. COVEY, Judge