Court Opinion

ID: 2769783
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-01-14 15:05:29.183025+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:13:16.089151
License: Public Domain

IMPORTANT NOTICE
        NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OPINION

THIS OPINION IS DESIGNATED "NOT TO BE PUBLISHED."
PURSUANT TO THE RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
PROMULGATED BY THE SUPREME COURT, CR 76.28(4)(C),
THIS OPINION IS NOT TO BE PUBLISHED AND SHALL NOT BE
CITED OR USED AS BINDING PRECEDENT IN ANY OTHER
CASE IN ANY COURT OF THIS STATE; HOWEVER,
UNPUBLISHED KENTUCKY APPELLATE DECISIONS,
RENDERED AFTER JANUARY 1, 2003, MAY BE CITED FOR
CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT IF THERE IS NO PUBLISHED
OPINION THAT WOULD ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE ISSUE
BEFORE THE COURT. OPINIONS CITED FOR CONSIDERATION
BY THE COURT SHALL BE SET OUT AS AN UNPUBLISHED
DECISION IN THE FILED DOCUMENT AND A COPY OF THE
ENTIRE DECISION SHALL BE TENDERED ALONG WITH THE
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ACTION.
                                              RENDERED: OCTOBER 23, 2014
                                                    NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

              oStyrrtur        Court              fififittitt                  ■11

                              2013-SC-000772-WC            1J
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
                                                     DATE         APPEIIANT

                   ON APPEAL FROM COURT OF APPEALS
V.                    CASE NO. 2013-CA-000160-WC
                  WORKERS' COMPENSATION NO. 10-88863

JEFFREY GRANT;
HONORABLE EDWARD D. HAYS,
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE; AND
WORKERS' COMPENSATION BOARD                                          APPELLEES

                  MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT

                        REVERSING AND REMANDING

      Appellant, Ford Motor Company, appeals from a Court of Appeals

decision which upheld the award of permanent partial disability benefits to

Appellee, Jeffrey Grant, enhanced by the three multiplier. Ford argues that th

Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") erred by applying the three multiplier to

Grant's award because he returned to the same job he was performing at the

time of his injury and earns the same or greater wages. Specifically, Ford

argues that: 1) since Grant has returned to work at the same job he was

performing at the time of his injury, and continues to earn the same or greater

wages, the finding that he does not retain the physical capacity to continue

that same type of work is an error as a matter of law; 2) the case of Ford Motor
Company v. Forman, 142 S.W.3d 141 (Ky. 2004), is distinguishable from this

matter; and 3) the ALJ improperly shifted the burden of proof to the employer

while performing a Fawbush v. Gwinn, 103 S.W.3d 5 (Ky. 2003), analysis. For

the reasons set forth below, we reverse the Court of Appeals and remand this

matter to the ALJ for further proceedings.                                0

      Grant was employed by Ford when he suffered a work-related injury to

his right shoulder while lifting a transfer case. At the time he was injured,

Grant worked on the transfer case line where he rotated between three different

tasks — the "hoist" job, the "install" job, and the "tightening" job. Grant was

performing the "hoist" job when he was injured. As a result of his injury, Grant

was diagnosed with a right rotator cuff tear and bicep tendon tear. Grant has

undergone two surgeries to repair the damage, but these have had limited

success. Grant is now limited to lifting only five pounds with his right arm and

cannot perform any work above shoulder level.

      Grant returned to work at Ford, but now only performs the "hoist" job.

While Grant was off work, the "hoist" job was ergonomically modified so that

the position does not require any above shoulder work. Grant earns the same

or greater wages than he did at the time of his injury. Ford's Labor Relations

Specialist, Lonnie Corkum, testified as a part of this matter that there was no

reason to believe that Grant's job position would be eliminated any time in the

foreseeable future. Additionally, Corkum stated that since Grant has

seventeen years of seniority at the plant, he would have plenty of opportunities

to obtain a different job with Ford if necessary. However, in his deposition

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Grant expressed concern that he would not be able to find another job at Ford

if the "hoist" job was eliminated.

      The ALJ, after a review of the record, awarded Grant permanent partial

disability benefits based on a 10%, impairment rating. In deciding that Grant

was entitled to have the three multiplier applied to his award the ALJ wrote:

           Awards for permanent partial disability benefits are governed
      by KRS 342.730. Subsections (1)(c)1 and (1)(c)2 provide for
      enhancement of the basic award as follows:

             KRS 342.730(1)(c)1: If, due to an injury, an employee
             does not retain the physical capacity to return to the
             type of work that the employee performed at the time
             of the injury, the benefit for permanent partial
             disability shall be multiplied by three (3) times the
             amount otherwise determined under paragraph (b) of
             this subsection, but this provision shall not be
             construed so as to extend the duration of payments; or

             KRS 342.730(1)(c)2: If an employee returns to work at
             a weekly wage equal to or greater than the average
             weekly wage at the time of injury, the weekly benefit
             for permanent partial disability shall be determined
             under paragraph (b) of this subsection for each week
             during which that employment is sustained. During
             any period of cessation of that employment, temporary
             or permanent, for any reason, with or without cause,
             payment of weekly benefits for permanent partial
             disability during the period of cessation shall be two
             (2) times the amount otherwise payable under
             paragraph (b) of this subsection. This provision shall
             not be construed so as to extend the duration of
             payments.

            What is meant by the 'type of work' indicated in (1)(c)1?
      When trying to determine whether the 3x multiplier in KRS
      342.730(1)(c)1 applies, the AI,' is required to considered [sic]
      whether the claimant retains the physical capacity to return to the
      type of work that the employee performed at the time of the injury.
      In Ford Motor Co. v. Forman, Ky., 142 S.W.3d 141 (2003) [sic], the
      Kentucky Supreme Court clarified that for purposes of
      342.730(1)(c)1, the 'type of work' referred to means [sic] the 'actual
jobs' performed by the claimant and is not determined by whether
 the return to work is within the same job classification.
        At the hearing of this claim, Mr. Grant explained his work
 activities prior to the injury, as well as his work activities following
 the work injury. Prior to the injury, he was rotating between three
 different positions in the performance of the 'hoist' job. In order to
 reduce the physical wear and tear of performing the 'hoist' job, the
 plaintiff had, prior to his injury, rotated with two other co-
 employees. This job required him to move 120-pound
 transmission cases and install them on the back of transmissions.
 He worked on an assembly line which required him to repetitively
lift significant weight with both hands and to work above shoulder
level. There were actually three different jobs involved in the
position and he and his co-employees rotated between the three
jobs. The injury occurred on March 12, 2010 when the plaintiff
was picking up a transfer case with the use of the hoist. He heard
a popping and felt a ripping in his right shoulder. Although the
actual lifting was being done by a hoist, and plaintiff had simply
bent over to hook it and hit a lever which raised it up, while so
doing, his shoulder popped.
        Subsequent to the work-related injury and the two surgical
procedures, the claimant has returned to the same job position or
title, but the actual job or jobs which he has performed subsequent
to the injury are dramatically different. The claimant is restricted
from lifting more than 5 pounds with his right arm and he is
restricted from working above shoulder level.
        Subsequent to the surgeries, the plaintiff is doing one part of
the three-part job all of the time. He is able to do this because the
employer has lowered the pedestals on the conveyor and has
modified the job, thereby enabling him to perform it. The
Defendant has argued that plaintiff has returned to the same job
for which he was being paid. In essence, however, he is performing
only one of the three roles in the job. He is paid according to
 `classification' of the job. He is working within a classification of
 'vehicle assembly technician' and is being paid based on that
classification, not on the particular job which is he doing. Mr.
Corkum testified that Mr. Grant is not precluded by his injury from
returning to his classification, of which his job is only one of many
jobs that he was hired to do. Thus, the defendant argues that
plaintiff is capable of performing his job. However, in Ford Motor
 Co. v. Forman, 142 S.W.3d 141 (Ky. 2003) [sic], the Kentucky
Supreme Court held that the type of work that the employee
performed at the time of injury' refers to the actual jobs that the
employee performed as that phrase is used in workers'
compensation statute providing an enhanced permanent partial
disability benefit for those who lack the physical capacity to return

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to the type of work performed at the time of injury. The Supreme
Court went on to hold that since each classification contained in a
collective bargaining agreement included many different jobs, with
different physical requirements, proof of the claimant's present
ability to perform some jobs within the classification did not
necessarily indicate that the claimant retains the physical capacity
to perform the same type of work that he or she was performing at
the time of the injury with respect to the statute providing for
enhanced benefits. Thus, considering this application of the law,
the strict post-injury work restrictions imposed upon Mr. Grant,
and the fact that he has only been able to perform his present job
due to the modifications which the employer has made, the ALJ
finds that claimant does not retain the physical capacity to return
to the type of work or the type of jobs that he was performing at
the time of injury.
        In the case at hand, it is stipulated that Mr. Grant has
returned to work at a weekly wage equal to or greater than the
average weekly wage at the time of his injury. Thus, in the event of
a cessation of work due to a reason related to the claimant's
disabling injury [see Chrysalis House, Inc. v. Tackett, Ky., 283
S.W.3d 671 (2009)], Mr. Grant would be entitled to the 2x
multiplier provided for in KRS 342.730(1)(c)2.
        Having determined that both sections 1 and 2 are applicable,
the ALJ must next determine which of the multipliers is the most
appropriate under the facts of the case. Fawbush v. Gwinn, 103
S.W.3d 5 (2003). The ALJ must determine if the claimant is likely
to be able to continue earning the same or greater wage for the
foreseeable future. If the ALJ determines that it is unlikely the
claimant will be able to continue earning the same or greater wage
for the foreseeable future, then the 3x multiplier is applicable.
        In performing this analysis, the ALJ will consider various
factors, including, but not necessarily limited to, whether the
claimant's current job is within his medical restrictions, whether
he is on medications and the level of such medications, his own
testimony as to his ability to perform the job duties, the level of
accommodation provided by the current employer, and whether or
not the claimant's current position is a bona fide job or not. The
claimant is just 47 years of age and presumably has a long work
life in front of him. He is performing a job which is nearly a 'one-
armed job'. He can lift no more than 5 pounds with his right arm.
He cannot work above shoulder level with his right arm. But for
the accommodation of lowering the pedestals which his employer
has made and but for his being permitted to stay on the same job
and not rotate among the three different roles of the job, he would
be unable to perform the job and he would not be earning his
current wage. In fact, it is doubtful that he could be earning any

                                 5
       significant wage at all. Although the employer's attitude toward
       Mr. Grant has been commendable and the willingness of Ford
       Motor Company to alter the work station and to provide the
      accommodations which it has provided is praiseworthy, Mr. Grant
      finds himself at the mercy of the employer. If Mr. Grant should
      lose this job for any reason whatsoever, it is unlikely that he would
      be able to obtain any other employment which would compensate
      him within the same level or range. The ALJ must look to the
      likelihood of whether or not this current job will extend into the
      indefinite future. Although Mr. Corkum has nearly 'guaranteed' a
      job for the claimant, there are many factors of which Mr. Corkum
      has no control. If the general public's enthusiasm for the Ford
      product should diminish, then where does that leave Mr. Grant?
      Even though the general policy of Ford Motor Company has been
      to retain tenured employees and to make reasonable
      accommodations for such employees, there is no contractual duty
      for Ford Motor Company to do so and no guarantees of the
      continuation of such policy. Management may change, as well as
      company policy. The claimant has sustained an extremely serious
      injury which has required two major surgeries. Neither surgery
      was much of a success. As a result thereof, he has been relegated
      to the role of a job requiring essentially one arm only. He cannot
      work above shoulder level. He has been fortunate to be the
      recipient of Ford Motor Company's generosity, but he has no
      guarantee of knowing how long that will continue. If he should be
      transferred to another position in the plant, it is unlikely he would
      be able to do it. Plaintiff estimates he could only perform 2-3% of
      the jobs within the plant.
             Considering all of the factors stated above, the ALJ finds that
      claimant is entitled to the 3x multiplier.

      Ford appealed the ALJ's decision to the Workers' Compensation Board

which affirmed in a two to one decision. The majority held that while there was

evidence which contradicted the ALJ's decision, it was supported by

substantial evidence and therefore should be affirmed. However, the dissenter

believed that the ALJ misapplied Fawbush. In his analysis, the ALJ focused on

whether Grant would find other suitable employment if he lost his job and

ultimately concluded that his job at Ford might be affected by speculative

factors. The dissenter believed that the focus should have been whether

                                        6
Grant's employment at same or greater wages will continue into the foreseeable

future. The Court of Appeals affirmed, with Judge Moore concurring in result

only without opinion. This appeal followed.

    I. THE RECORD SUPPORTS THE FINDING THAT GRANT DOES NOT
    RETAIN THE PHYSICAL CAPACITY TO PERFORM THE JOB HE WAS
                    PERFORMING WHEN INJURED

      Ford first argues that the ALJ erred by finding Grant does not retain the

physical capacity to continue the same type of work because he has returned

to the job he was performing at the time of his injury. To properly address this

argument, we must first address Ford's second argument, whether this matter

is distinguishable from Forman, 142 S.W.3d 142.

      In Forman, the claimant suffered a work-related injury but, upon

returning to her employer, was placed in the same job classification she held at

the time of her accident and earned an equal or greater wage. She did however

have several physical restrictions which prevented her from performing all of

the job tasks she did before her injury. The ALJ found that the claimant was

not entitled to the three multiplier because she returned to the same job

classification. Id. at 143. The Board reversed holding that the ALJ's reliance

on the job classification was error. The Court of Appeals and this Court

affirmed. In affirming, we stated that when dealing with an award that is

based upon an objectively determined functional impairment, "the type of work

that the employee performed at the time of injury' was most likely intended by

the legislature to refer to the actual jobs that the individual performed."   Id. at

145. Thus, "proof of the claimant's present ability to perform some jobs within

                                         7
the classification does not necessarily indicate that she retains the physical

capacity to perform the same type of work that she performed at the time of

injury. On remand the ALJ must analyze the evidence to determine what job(s)

the claimant performed at the time of injury and to determine from the lay and

medical evidence whether she retains the physical capacity to return to those

jobs." Id.

      Forman is analogous to this matter. Like the claimant in Forman, Grant

has physical restrictions but has returned to work within the same job

classification he was in before suffering his work-related injuries. Accordingly,

the question is whether Grant retains the physical capacity to perform the

same type of work within that classification now, as he did prior to his

accident. The ALJ found that Grant does not have the capacity to perform all

of the same tasks. He based this finding on: the fact that Grant only performs

one of the three jobs he did at the time of his injury and the fact that Grant can

only perform the "hoist" job because Ford lowered the pedestals eliminating the

need for him to work above his shoulder level. These facts are supported by

the record, and are sufficient grounds for the ALJ to have held that Grant does

not retain the physical capacity to continue the same type of work he was

performing at the time of his injury.

 II. THE ALJ'S FAWBUSH ANALYSIS MISPLACED THE BURDEN OF PROOF
                          ON TO FORD

      Ford's last argument is that the AU misapplied Fawbush. Fawbush

provides that if both the multiplier provided in KRS 342.730(1)(c)1 and
342.730(1)(c)2 are applicable to a claimant's award, then the ALJ has the

discretion to choose which of the multipliers to apply. Fawbush, 103 S.W.3d at

12. "If the evidence indicates that a worker is unlikely to be able to continue

earning a wage that equals or exceeds the wage at the time of injury for the

indefinite future, the application of paragraph (c)1 is appropriate."   Id.

      The ALJ found that he needed to perform a Fawbush analysis because

Grant did not maintain the physical capacity to perform the job he was

performing when injured ((c)1) and that he was earning equal to or greater

wages now than at the time of his injury ((c)2). We agree with the ALJ that a

Fawbush analysis was appropriate.

      The ALJ then found the three multiplier was the better multiplier to

apply because he believed Grant would not be able to earn equal or greater

wages for the indefinite future. In so holding, the AU noted that although

Ford stated it would continue to employ Grant in some capacity, there were

many factors which could affect his employment that Ford had no control over.

In particular, the AU worried that the public may stop purchasing Ford

vehicles leading to the closure of the factory, that there is no contractual duty

for Ford to continue to employ Grant, that management changes may occur

which could lead to a more difficult work environment for Grant, and that he

does not have the physical capacity to perform similar jobs which might pay

comparable wages. Ford argues that this analysis effectively forced it to

present evidence that Grant was guaranteed the same job for the rest of his

career, something that no employer can do. We agree.

                                         9
      While Grant does have physical limitations in regard to the type of work

he can perform, the ALJ's analysis of whether he can earn the same or greater

wage for the foreseeable future is speculative. The ALJ's analysis is based on

events which may never occur. In contrast, the holding in Fawbush that the

claimant was not likely to be able to earn a comparable wage for the

foreseeable future was based on concrete evidence - that the only way he could

perform his job was to work outside of his medical restrictions and take more

narcotic pain medication than he was prescribed. Id. at 12. There is no

similar evidence that Grant's current job is outside of his medical restrictions.

Therefore, we reverse the determination that Grant was entitled to have his

award enhanced by the three multiplier, and remand this matter for the ALJ to

reconsider his findings. We note that on remand the ALJ is free to still decide

the three multiplier is appropriate as long as it is supported by the record.

      For the above stated reasons, we reverse the Court of Appeals and

remand this matter to the Administrative Law Judge for further proceedings.

      All sitting. Minton, C.J.; Abramson, Cunningham, Noble, Scott, and

Venters, JJ., concur. Keller, J., concurs in result only.

                                        10
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT,
FORD MOTOR COMPANY:

Peter J. Glauber
Philip J. Reverman, Jr.
Elizabeth M. Hahn

COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE,
JEFFREY GRANT:

James Delano Howes

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