Court Opinion

ID: 3634699
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 05:55:03.879283+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:11.919822
License: Public Domain

I respectfully dissent from the majority's decision to reverse the Deputy Commissioner's ruling on credibility in this matter.
Though the Workers' Compensation Act vests the Full Commission with authority to review a Deputy Commissioner's credibility findings, even the North Carolina Court of Appeals acknowledges "that the hearing officer is the best judge of credibility of witnesses because he is a firsthand observer of witnesses whose testimony he must weigh and accept or reject."Pollard v. Krispy Waffle, 63 N.C. App. 354, 308 S.E.2d 762
(1983). Therefore, I am of the opinion that Commissioners sitting as the Full Commission should exercise great restraint when tempted to replace the evaluation of the deputy, who was actually present to observe the witnesses, with the opinion of the Commissioner, who has reviewed only a cold record and the brief arguments of the party or their counsel.
Based upon these reasons, I respectfully dissent from the majority's decision in this matter and would adopt the Deputy Commissioner's decision in full.
                                  S/ ________________ DIANNE C. SELLERS COMMISSIONER