Court Opinion

ID: 5153458
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-02 02:07:03.50646+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:25:11.530372
License: Public Domain

HILL, Chief Justice,
dissenting, with whom BURKE, Justice, joins.
[¶ 24] I respectfully dissent because I am not convinced that we should continue to recognize or apply the now dated and largely discredited rule that we adopted in Smith v. Husky Terminal Restaurant, Inc., 762 P.2d 1193, 1196-97 (Wyo.1988). Moreover, even if this Court is to continue to recognize that rule, it is my view that it does not apply to the circumstances of this case. In Smith, we set out the rule in these terms:
Considering this precedent, it is apparent that there are limited situations in which an employer can put on evidence to refute an employee’s preponderance showing that the work causing her injury occurred within the scope of her employment because a work restriction was violated. We hold that an employee can be found to have acted outside the scope of employment by violating a work restriction when the following elements are shown: (1) the *1250employer expressly and carefully informs the employee that she must not perform a specific task or tasks while in his employ; (2) the employee knows and understands the specific restriction imposed; (3) the employer has not knowingly continued to accept the benefit of a violation of the restriction by the employee; and, (4) the injury for which benefits are claimed arises out of conduct that clearly violates the specific restriction.
Smith, 762 P.2d at 1196 (emphasis in original).
[¶ 25] We cited these facts, proved up by Smith’s employer, as falling within the reach of the rule:
In this case the presence of these four elements is supported by sufficient evidence. Before [Smith] began working as a cook, which she was doing when she rein-jured her back, her employer gave her specific and express instructions not to lift anything heavier than fifteen pounds. Her employer did not rehire her as a cook until it received written confirmation from her doctor of what her physical capabilities would be. Her employer discussed this with her and posted her doctor’s letter above the manager’s desk. Employee’s own testimony was that she understood the restriction on lifting the bucket of chickens; further, she had asked other restaurant employees to drain the bucket of chickens for her on occasion before she injured herself at work. Employee considered this restriction on the night of her injury, as illustrated when she tried to awaken Mr. Stockmeyer to lift the bucket for her before she tried to lift it herself. Employee failed to present any evidence, other than her own opinion, to substantiate her fear that by failing to drain the chickens she might be fired. Employer was not shown to have accepted the benefit of any previous violation of the specific lifting restriction before employee injured herself lifting the bucket. The district court heard all of the testimony and determined that employee, despite her complete understanding of the lifting restriction, disregarded the restriction and caused the type of injury the restriction was intended to prevent. We must accept these findings of fact by the district court; they support the conclusion that employee’s injury did not occur within the scope of her employment.
Smith, 762 P.2d at 1197.
[¶ 26] To begin with, I conclude that this case got a bit off track from the very outset because of the loose use of technical trade terminology that needed to be treated more precisely. Central to the occupation of nursing is the matter of “patient handling” or “patient transfers.” See, e.g., http://www.uvsc.edu/nurs/reportPhysicalDe-mands.hyml (Patient Transfers); http:// www. hit h.gov. be. catassisted/pdf/'guide-lines/pdf (Definitions and Selections of Safe Client Transfer/Lift); Delmar’s Fundamental & Advanced Nursing Skills (2nd ed.2004), Skill 4-17, Assisting from Bed to Wheelchair, Commode, or Chair; Sandra F. Smith, Donna J. Duell, and Barbara C. Martin, Clinical Nursing Skills, Basic to Advanced Skills (2004); and Audrey Nelson, Ph.D., RN, FAAN (Director, Patient Safety Center of Inquiry, Ergonomics Research Laboratory, VAMC Tampa FL), Safe Patient Handling and Movement. Of course, we may not and do not rely on these extra-record materials as evidence in this case. See Tarraferro v. Wyoming Medical Commission, 2005 WY 155, ¶14, 123 P.3d 912, 918 (Wyo.2005) Nonetheless, we include them here to illustrate the kind of evidence that is missing in this case and, furthermore, to demonstrate that the Division’s theory of the case, i.e., that “the employer expressly and carefully inform[ed] the employee that she must not perform a specific task or tasks while in his employ” is not supported by substantial evidence in the record, as well as the invalidity of the Division’s argument that the incident at issue was outside the course and scope of Perry’s employment.
[¶ 27] Moreover, I am unable to conclude that Perry knew and understood the specific restriction imposed, simply because the record does not include any specifics about the employer’s rule. Furthermore, Perry claimed that her employer had knowingly continued to accept the benefit of violations of that restriction by her, and the only evidence that rebuts that was the employer’s *1251disclaimer that it was “not aware of’ any such behavior. Finally, my conclusion is that the injury for which benefits are claimed arose out of conduct that was in the employer’s best interests, that the rule is primarily for the protection of patients (and only of secondary benefit for employees) and could not have violated the specific restriction, because the restriction was at best general and in no way confined Perry’s work efforts by carefully defined or specialized instruction.
[¶ 28] As we noted in Smith, 762 P.2d at 1196: “[T]here are limited situations in which an employer can put on evidence to refute an employee’s preponderance showing that the work causing her injury occurred within the scope of her employment because a work restriction was violated.” In her opening statement, Perry’s attorney more or less conceded that Perry had performed a “two-person lift.” Of course, one person cannot do a “two-person lift” because by definition it requires two persons. As the materials we cited above ably demonstrate, there are a number of alternatives to a “two-person lift,” many of which require only one person. In this instance, the great weight of the evidence suggested that Perry decided that the circumstances that presented themselves to her required her to do a patient transfer, or patient assist, that required only one person, because she was the only person available to do the task at the time the task needed to be done. Perry testified that she had done such transfers or assists on several other occasions. What Perry described in her testimony is what is generally called a pivot assist from bed to wheelchair (which may also be done from wheelchair to commode, from commode to wheelchair, and from wheelchair back to bed). The difficulty, or emergency, arose only when the wheelchair moved and the patient began to fall, apparently because the wheelchair brakes had not been set or were inoperative.
[¶ 29] It was the employer’s position that Perry had received “extensive training” and clearly understood “lifting.” Perry denied that she had been afforded “extensive training:” “... [T]he only orientation we had on lifting was looking at a book showing us proper ways of lifting. No techniques. We were told to sign it to state we were showed the proper ways of lifting.” Perry made it very clear in her testimony that it was her professional assessment at the time this event occurred that she needed to assist the patient at issue so that the patient could use the bathroom. The materials that were used in this “training” process, if indeed there were any, are not a part of this record on appeal. The record on appeal also provides no information about the patient.that Perry was assisting, so it is at best speculation that the patient required a “two-person lift” in order to be transferred from her bed to a wheelchair.
[¶ 30] For the most part, the Division relied on Perry’s testimony that she knowingly violated the “two-person lift” rule in order to refute her prima facie case that she was injured in the course and scope of her employment. It is my view that Perry’s testimony does not support the Division’s position and, as noted above, the training materials and the exact status of the patient in question were not made a part of the record by the Division. The Executive Director of Mountain Towers Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center testified for the Division. There is no indication in the record that she possessed any special skills or expertise with respect to patient handling or patient transfers. It came as no surprise to the Executive Director that there were only three employees available to provide care, during the nighttime hours, to the approximately 50 residents on the floor where Perry worked (This accident occurred at about 2:30 a.m.). When asked if she was present at the orientation that Perry attended, the Executive Director admitted that she was not. When asked if the orientation normally included lifting techniques, the best answer she could give was, “As far as I know, yes.” The Executive Director also testified that during the day, most of the residents on the floor where Perry worked “are up ambulating,” (Thus, there is increased staffing during the day, whereas at night the patients are in bed, so staffing is considerably reduced.). From the record extant, it is a fair conclusion that the patient at issue in this matter was at least partially ambulatory, whether the time of day was daytime or nighttime.
*1252[¶ 31] It is of some significance that after Perry filed her claim for worker’s compensation benefits, Mountain Towers notified the Division that it was “formally objecting to this workman’s [sic] compensation claim ... due to the fact the employee failed to report the incident, there are no witnesses to the incident, she failed to report to the facility to fill out an employee incident report until November 5, 2003.” Thus, the matter of the employer rule was not broached in Mountain Towers’ “formal” objection. We also note that it is painfully clear that there was at least one witness to the incident (the patient), other than Perry, but neither Mountain Towers nor the Division attempted to present evidence from that witness or about that witness/patient.
[¶ 32] In its final determination, the Division noted that there are “inconsistencies between what [Perry] reported and information from [Perry’s] employer.” The inconsistencies are not identified. The Division also stated that the employer had no record of the occurrence, and that the incident did not meet the definition of an injury. The Division also noted that it had not received all medical notes/documentation, although what it deemed to be missing was not identified. The final determination went on to note that Perry had not timely reported to her employer or the Division. The Division intimated that Perry suffered from a preexisting injury. Thus, the Division denied the claim on those bases.
[¶ 33] Perry challenged the final determination and her case was set for, hearing. In its pretrial disclosure statement, the Division raised ten issues: (1) That Perry had the burden of proof as to each essential element necessary to sustain her claim for benefits; (2) that Perry didn’t timely report the injury to the employer; (3) that Perry did not timely report the injury to the Division; (4) that failure to report indicates that no injury occurred; (5) that Perry only worked for the employer for 20 days and was absent three times during that time period; (6) and (7) that Perry engaged in doctor shopping; (8) the Division found it inexplicable that Perry could get to work on 17 days, but could not get to her employer to report her injury (this was cleared up because Perry could not ambulate during some of this time on account of her injury, and because there was also a blizzard at the time that prevented Perry from getting to town to file a report); (9) that Perry had a preexisting condition; and (10) that Perry violated an employer’s rule by single-handedly performing a two person lift.
[¶ 34] The hearing officer concluded that Perry proved by a preponderance of the evidence that she was injured in the course of her. employment and that her testimony was credible in all respects, as well as that all of her reports were timely, that she did not have a preexisting injury, and that she had not “doctor shopped.” However, the hearing officer also concluded that Perry’s violation of the employer’s “two-person lift” rule “takes her outside the course and scope of her employment.” Thus, her claim for worker’s compensation benefits was denied. Perry appealed to the district court under W.R.A.P. 12, and the district court affirmed the determination made by the hearing officer.
[¶ 35] The next step in this analysis is to explore the underpinning of our decision in Smith and to ascertain what the vitality of that decision is today, and, in particular, what application it has to the circumstances presented here. In Smith, our decision relied in significant part on a citation to Professor Larson’s treatise. Smith, 762 P.2d at 1196. This is what Professor Larson’s treatise has to say on that subject now:
§ 33.02 Misconduct Which Is Not a Deviation from Employment
[1] Distinction Between Prohibited Thing and Method
We have here to do with a simple distinction: that between “thing” and “method.” Rules and prohibitions may define the ultimate “thing” which the claimant is employed to do, or they may describe the methods which he may or may not employ in accomplishing that ultimate “thing.” The only tricky feature of this distinction is that it can, by a play upon words, be converted into a contradiction of itself. For example, it seems clear enough that if the claimant’s main job it to lift flour *1253sacks, the raising of the flour sacks is the “thing” for which he is employed. If, in violation of instruction, he rigs up a rope hoist to do the job, it should be clear enough that his departure is merely from the method prescribed.
Yet the argument will sometimes be seen that the violation is one of a rule limiting the “thing,” because the “thing” for which the claimant is employed is “to lift flour sacks by hand and not by hoist.” Of course, by so blending ultimate object and method, one can convert all instructions on method into delimitations of scope of employment, and end by reducing the distinction to absurdity. One can say that a lineman is employed only to repair lines while he has his gloves on, that an errand boy is employed to deliver a message by way of Street A and not by way of street B, and that an oiler is employed to oil only machines that are standing still and not those that are in motion. Actually, as the review of cases below will show, this sophistry has had very little success, and the great weight of present authority respects the plain meaning of the distinction between method and ultimate objective.
[2] Prohibited Methods, Tools, or Materials
A brief catalog of the kinds of forbidden misconduct which, since they related only to method, have not blocked compensation, will serve to show better than anything else the extent to which modern compensation law has eliminated the employee-fault concept from the test of compensability. Each of the following items of conduct was not only rash in itself, but was specifically forbidden by the employer: sitting upon a fender to operate a dangerous machine instead of standing as ordered; climbing onto a basketball goal to paint the roof of a gymnasium; attempting to move a large metal charging board with a forklift; operating a meat-grinding machine with the guard removed; oiling machinery in motion; using alcohol to light a fire; carrying a gun; reaching into a machine without stopping it; speeding up iron-moulding to do five-hours’ work in four; jumping a railing instead of following a stairway; climbing a fence rather than walking 300 feet to the gate; getting on or off a moving vehicle; riding on top of the cab of a truck or on the running board; leaving a trolley in such condition that it might move when a connection was made; washing a ear with inflammable liquid without disconnecting the battery; failing to use a respirator and getting lead poisoning from fumes; using an emery wheel for a job for which the employer had said it was unsuitable; using sulphuric acid to clean a urinal instead of Gold Dust; climbing a tree without tying oneself in with a rope; and pouring gasoline into the tank of a motor while the motor was running. At least one court has even included becoming intoxicated in the category of forbidden misconduct that will not preclude compensation.
There are almost no contra holdings. The case of Plumb v. Cobden Flour Mills Company Limited, denying compensation to a foreman who used a rope and revolving shaft to lift flour sacks when the pile became too high, is so distinctly out of line with other British decisions on forbidden method that it probably is of no present importance. And the Massachusetts cases denying compensation to the claimants who jumped on or off moving vehicles were based on a different principle, the now obsolescent “added risk” doctrine.
2 Larson’s Workers’ Compensation Law, § 33.02[1] and [2] at 33-10 — 33-12 (2005).
[¶ 36] Along these same lines, in the case, Fondulac Nursing Home v. Industrial Commission, 99 Ill.2d 519, 77 Ill.Dec. 447, 460 N.E.2d 751 (Illl.1984), the Illinois Supreme Court held as follows. Nurse Levi returned to work at a nursing home after recovering from a back injury. She was repeatedly instructed not to lift patients. Two weeks after she returned to work, Levi was making rounds which involved assisting patients who wanted to go to sleep. A patient who was normally able to ambulate asked Levi for help in pivoting from her wheelchair to her bed. Levi assumed she could help the patient without actually “lifting” her. However, in the course of the maneuver the patient collapsed or commenced to fall, and in order to save the patient from dropping to the floor, Levi held on to her and lifted her into *1254bed. Levi reinjured her back in the process. The Illinois Supreme Court reversed a decision of the Industrial Commission to deny benefits on the basis that the determination that Levi’s back injury did not arise out of and in the course of her employment was against the manifest weight of the evidence:
Even assuming that the claimant undertook a task she was not authorized to perform when she attempted to help the patient, the fact that the employer has in general terms forbidden an employee to undertake an act is not by itself sufficient to remove the act from the scope of the employment.... In this case the evidence demonstrates that she would not have lifted the patient had an emergency not arisen when the patient started to fall. The claimant faced a choice at that point of coming to the rescue of the patient or doing nothing and thereby preventing bodily injury to herself but allowing the patient to sustain an injury, perhaps a severer one, while under the care of Fondulac. Her decision and conduct at the time of the emergency served her employer’s interest as well as that of the patient by protecting Fondulae’s patient and saving Fondulac from a possible suit for injuries the patient might otherwise have suffered.
... Because what the claimant did in this case was in the vital interest of Fondu-lac as her employer and was not a gross deviation from the ordinary tasks of a nursing home employee, it was consequently not beyond the scope of her employment, even if it may have exceeded the limitations placed upon her by Fondulac.
Id., 77 Ill.Dec. 447, 460 N.E.2d at 753-54; and see generally King v. Grand Cove Nursing Home, 640 So.2d 348, 352 (La.App. 3 Cir.1994) (worker’s compensation benefits affirmed where nurse violated “lifting” policy, but employer did not show that the safety device was provided solely as a guard or protection for the employee and that the employee had knowledge of its function and adequacy and deliberately failed to use it. Also, employer failed in its burden to show that claimant had a willful and wanton intent to injure herself.).
[¶ 37] Although not referenced by either party here, this subject is thoroughly annotated. Linda A. Sharp, Annotation, Violation of Employment Rule as Barring Claim for Workers’ Compensation, 61 A.L.R.5th 375, esp. §§ 5, 10[b], and 14[b] (1998 and Supp.2005). Smith is included in that annotation as a case that stands generally for the proposition that an employment rule sets the boundaries of employment, and when violated, results in noncompensability because the accident did not arise out of or in the course of employment. It is given more detailed consideration in a section that concerns cases dealing with prohibitions against doing another’s work, when unrelated to the employee’s work (Smith was expected to have other fellow employees lift the buckets of chickens, although in rushed and hectic circumstances, which only benefited the employer, she thoughtlessly ■ picked up a bucket of chickens.). That annotation further demonstrates that our decision in Smith is not in line with the modern cases on this subject. It is of some significance as well that the Smith case itself, as well as the other cases we cited in it in 1988 to justify its resolution, have never since been cited in support of the rule adopted therein — in this jurisdiction or in any other.
[¶ 38] In sum, I think this Court should consign the rule articulated in Smith to history or specifically limit its application to the rare sorts of instances condoned by reason and good conscience. If the Court is not inclined to do that, I deem it readily recognizable that it should not be applied to the circumstances of Perry’s case.
[¶ 39] For these reasons, I would reverse the order of the district court affirming the hearing examiner and direct that the district court remand the case to the hearing examiner and the Division with directions that Perry’s claim for benefits be paid.