Court Opinion

ID: 3208871
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-02 17:01:58.346054+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:19:19.657734
License: Public Domain

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.
  UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL
                  AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

                                     IN THE
              ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
                                  DIVISION ONE

                       ROYAL L. BENNETT, Petitioner,

                                         v.

      THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION OF ARIZONA, Respondent.

      FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION*,**, Respondent Employer.

       FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION*,**, Respondent Carrier.

                                No. 1 CA-IC 15-0080
                                  FILED 6-2-2016

                Special Action - Industrial Commission
                   No. 20131490219*, 20143110114**
        The Honorable Jonathan Hauer, Administrative Law Judge

                                   AFFIRMED

                                    COUNSEL

Royal Bennett, Peoria
Petitioner in propria persona

Jardine, Baker, Hickman, Houston, Phoenix
By Stephen M. Venezia
Counsel for Defendant/Appellee Employee and Carrier
                     BENNETT v. FEDERAL EXPRESS
                         Decision of the Court

                      MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Jon W. Thompson delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge Patricia A. Orozco and Judge Peter B. Swann joined.

T H O M P S O N, Judge:

¶1           This is a special action review of an Industrial Commission of
Arizona consolidated award and decision upon review 1) denying
petitioner Royal L. Bennett’s (Bennett) petition to reopen his May 2013
ankle injury claim and 2) determining that he was medically stationary
without permanent impairment after he sustained a second ankle injury in
April 2014. Because the evidence supports the administrative law judge’s
(ALJ) award, we affirm.

               FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2             Bennett worked as a courier for Federal Express. His job
duties included lifting and delivery packages weighing between 75 and 150
pounds. On May 11, 2013, Bennett injured his right ankle while stepping
out of his delivery vehicle. As Bennett stepped out of the vehicle and placed
his right foot down, “it twisted . . . inwards, hurting [his] ankle and below
[his] inner lower ankle.” Bennett reported the injury to his manager but
continued to work. When he continued to have ankle pain, he filed a
workers’ compensation claim and went to the doctor, who prescribed
physical therapy. Physical therapy and an ankle brace helped but did not
completely alleviate Bennett’s ankle pain. On May 28, 2013, the doctor
released Bennett back to full-time work without restrictions and his claim
was closed. Bennett had suffered from pain in both feet and ankles and
sought treatment prior to the 2013 injury.

¶3            On April 12, 2014, Bennett again injured his right ankle while
stepping out of his vehicle. When Bennett put his right foot down his ankle
rolled outwards and he experienced pain on both sides of the ankle and a
shooting leg pain. He finished his deliveries and informed a supervisor that
he had twisted his ankle. Bennett went back to work with an ankle brace.
His ankle pain persisted, and he went to see orthopedic surgeon Dr. Melissa
Galli in July 2014. After examining Bennett, Dr. Galli found that he had
ankle instability, pain along the medial aspect and the anterior aspect of his
right ankle, effusion of the right ankle, bilateral foot pain, and bilateral

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                       BENNETT v. FEDERAL EXPRESS
                           Decision of the Court

fallen arches. Dr. Galli ordered an MRI, which revealed an endstage
osteochondral lesion of the medial aspect of the talus measuring 8 by 13
millimeters and a subchondral depression.1 The MRI further revealed
thickening of fibers and irritation along the deep deltoid ligament and
irritation along the posterior tibial tendon. Dr. Galli performed surgery on
Bennett’s right ankle in December 2014.2

¶4             At the hearing Dr. Galli initially related Bennett’s need for
ankle surgery to his 2013 and 2014 industrial injuries, but on cross-
examination she could not express an opinion as to the 2013 injury. As to
the 2014 injury, Dr. Galli testified that the edema she found within Bennett’s
deep deltoid ligament was more commonly associated with a sprain, rather
than a chronic injury, although she could not rule out the possibility it was
caused by a chronic condition. Dr. Galli opined that Bennett’s 2014 ankle
sprain contributed to his osteochondral lesion because “it’s not common to
see this big of a defect in somebody who is flatfoot alone.”

¶5             Dr. Ronald M. Lampert, also an orthopedic surgeon,
examined Bennett in October 2014. Dr. Lampert opined that Bennett’s need
for surgery was unrelated to either the 2013 or 2014 injury. Dr. Lampert
testified that when he examined Bennett in October 2014, he was medically
stationary and without permanent impairment.

¶6           After the hearing, the ALJ found that there was insufficient
evidence to prove Bennett had any new, additional or previously
undiscovered conditions that were causally related to the 2013 industrial
injury. The ALJ denied Bennett’s request to reopen. The ALJ found that
Bennett’s 2014 injury was compensable, noting that both Drs. Galli and
Lampert agreed that Bennett sustained some form of ankle injury on April
2014. The ALJ found that Bennett’s April 2014 ankle injury became
medically stationary on October 15, 2014 without permanent impairment
and without the need for surgical intervention, supportive care, or work

1   Dr. Galli described an osteochondral lesion as being a nick to the cartilage.

2 Dr. Galli performed surgery for endstage osteochondral defects with
underlying subchondral bone collapse. The surgery involved removing
cystic bone and replacing it with cadaveric bone, resurfacing the bone, and
repairing ligaments. According to Dr. Galli, surgery was necessary because
“when you see a cartilage lesion with this much subchondral bone irritation
to it [it is time] to start surgical intervention because there’s really not good
bracing solutions. . . .” Dr. Galli further explained that physical therapy
does not help with subchondral issues.

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                    BENNETT v. FEDERAL EXPRESS
                        Decision of the Court

restrictions, after accepting the opinions and conclusions of Dr. Lambert as
more probably correct. The ALJ awarded Bennett medical, surgical and
hospital benefits arising out of the April 2014 injury, from the date of the
injury until October 15, 2014. Additionally, the ALJ awarded Bennett
temporary total or temporary partial disability compensation benefits
arising out of the April 12, 2014 injury until October 15, 2014.

¶7     Bennett filed a pro per request for review in which he asked the ALJ
for an extension of time to get a second opinion. (request for review). The
ALJ summarily affirmed the consolidated decision and denied the request
for extension of time. Bennett timely appealed. We have jurisdiction
pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) §§ 12-120.21(A)(2) (2003), 23-
951(A) (2012), and Arizona Rules of Procedure for Special Actions 10.3

                              DISCUSSION

¶8            In reviewing findings and awards of the ICA, we defer to the
ALJ’s factual findings, but review questions of law de novo. Young v. Indus.
Comm’n, 204 Ariz. 267, 270, ¶ 14, 63 P.3d 298, 301 (App. 2003). We consider
the evidence in a light most favorable to upholding the ALJ’s award. Lovitch
v. Indus. Comm’n, 202 Ariz. 102, 105, ¶ 16, 41 P.3d 640, 643 (App. 2002).

¶9            Bennett argues that 1) he told Dr. Lampert in confidence that
he had developed flat feet after nineteen years of working for Federal
Express and Dr. Lampert used the information against him when he
concluded Bennett had a preexisting condition, 2) Dr. Lampert did not
listen to him and made “false statements and false findings,” 3) Dr.
Lampert’s written report indicates the date of injury was April 18, 2014
instead of April 12, 2014, 4) previous x-rays and supporting medical
documents were not in evidence and would “adequately attribute to [a]
compensable condition to the respective date of injury,” and 5) the medical
records reveal “no other explanation for how OCL developed in [his] ankle
except for the injury that occurred in April 2014.”

¶10         At the outset, we note that Bennett’s opening brief (entitled
“Opening Statement”) fails to comply with the Arizona Rules of Civil

3Absent material revisions after the relevant dates, statutes and rules cited
refer to the current version unless otherwise indicated.

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                     BENNETT v. FEDERAL EXPRESS
                         Decision of the Court

Appellate Procedure.4 Arizona Rule of Civil Appellate Procedure (ARCAP)
13(a)(5) requires “[a] statement of facts relevant to the issues presented for
review, with appropriate references to the record.” Rule 13(a)(6) requires
“[a] statement of the issues presented for review.” Rule 13(a)(7) requires an
argument section containing the contentions of the appellant with respect
to the issues presented, and the reasons therefor, with citations to the legal
authorities and parts of the record relied on. Bennett’s opening brief fails
to provide a statement of facts or an issue statement. Nor does it contain
citations to the record or authorities. The opening brief fails to even
minimally comply with ARCAP 13. We may dismiss the appeal for this
reason. See Adams v. Valley Nat’l Bank of Ariz., 139 Ariz. 340, 342-43, 678 P.2d
525, 527-28 (App. 1984). However, to the extent that Bennett argues that the
ALJ erred by relying on the opinions of Dr. Lampert in denying his petition
to reopen the 2013 claim and in finding that the 2014 claim was medically
stationary with no permanent impairment, we find no error.

    A. Petition to Reopen the 2013 Claim

¶11           A claimant seeking to reopen an industrial claim has the
burden of proving a “new, additional or previously undiscovered
temporary or permanent condition,” as well as a causal relationship
between the new disability and the prior industrial injury. A.R.S. § 23-
1061(H); Sneed v. Industrial Comm’n, 124 Ariz. 357, 359, 604 P.2d 621, 523
(1980). Unless a causal connection is clearly apparent to a lay person, the
causal connection must be established by expert medical testimony.
Makinson v. Indus. Comm’n, 134 Ariz. 246, 248, 655 P.2d 366, 368 (App. 1982).

¶12          Dr. Galli initially concluded that Bennett needed surgery in
December 2014 due in part to his 2013 injury. She then testified, however,
that she “[could] not make a statement [as to the 2013 injury]” because
Bennett “was not under [her] care in direct relation to anything that
happened in 2013.”

¶13           Dr. Lampert testified that as of October 2014 when he
examined Bennett, there were no new, additional, or previously
undiscovered conditions related to the 2013 injury, and that Bennett’s need
for surgery had nothing to do with the 2013 injury. Instead, Dr. Lampert
opined that Bennett’s need for surgery was related to his preexisting
conditions: flat footedness and the osteochondral lesion.

4We hold pro per litigants to the to the same standard as attorneys. Higgins
v. Higgins, 194 Ariz. 266, 270, ¶ 12, 981 P.2d 134, 138 (App. 1999).

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                    BENNETT v. FEDERAL EXPRESS
                        Decision of the Court

¶14          Bennett failed to meet his burden of proving a new disability
related to the 2013 injury. Because Bennett did not submit sufficient
evidence to support the reopening, we affirm.

   B. The 2014 Award

¶15           The ALJ concluded that Bennett sustained a compensable
injury in April 2014. However, the ALJ adopted the opinions and
conclusions of Dr. Lambert as more probably correct, and found that
Bennett’s April 2014 injury became medically stationary on October 15,
2014, without permanent impairment and without the need for surgical
intervention, supportive care, or work restrictions.

¶16           Dr. Lambert testified that Bennett’s need for surgery was
unrelated to the 2014 injury. According to Dr. Lambert, the mechanism of
injury as explained by Bennett during the October 2014 examination was
inconsistent with Bennett’s need for surgery:

             [Dr. Lampert]: The 2014 injury was described
             as turning the foot inward, and [Bennett] having
             pain after . . . on the outer side, which is
             consistent with that type of mechanism and is
             the most common way to sprain an ankle. The
             deltoid ligament, which subsequently was
             found to be thickened, is on the inner side and
             would not in any way have been injured with
             that type of twisting of the foot inwards.

 Dr. Lambert further explained that Bennett’s osteochondral lesion was not
caused by the 2014 injury:

             You don’t develop an osteochondral lesion with
             an episode. You may have a fracture type of
             injury where you fracture the lateral malleolus
             or you fracture the talus. This isn’t a fracture.
             This is an entity whereby continued trauma
             over a period of many months has sort of
             pounded on this area and caused it to break
             down.

Dr. Lambert testified that a May 2013 x-ray showed that the osteochondral
lesion that had been developing for “many months” at that point.

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                      BENNETT v. FEDERAL EXPRESS
                          Decision of the Court

¶17           Although Dr. Galli agreed that Bennett had an “endstage”
pre-existing osteochondral lesion, she testified that the edema she found
within Bennett’s deep deltoid was more commonly associated with a
sprain, rather than a chronic injury, and she opined that Bennett’s 2014
ankle sprain contributed to his osteochondral lesion because of the size of
the lesion. In contrast with Dr. Lambert’s opinion, she believed that
Bennett’s pathology was consistent with how he said he was injured in
2014.

¶18           It is the ALJ’s duty, as the trier of fact, to resolve all conflicts
in the evidence and to draw all warranted inferences. Malinski v. Indus.
Comm’n, 103 Ariz. 213, 217, 439 P.2d 485, 489 (1968). When more than one
inference may be drawn from the evidence, the ALJ may choose either; this
court will not disturb the ALJ’s decision unless it is wholly unreasonable.
Id. When there is a conflict in expert medical testimony, it is the
responsibility of the ALJ to resolve it. Stainless Spec. Mfg. Co v. Indus.
Comm’n of Ariz., 144 Ariz. 12, 19, 695 P.2d 261, 268 (1985). Here, the ALJ
resolved the medical conflict by accepting the opinions of Dr. Lambert as
more probably correct and that decision was based on reasonable evidence.
Accordingly, we affirm the decision of the ALJ.

                                CONCLUSION

¶19          For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the ALJ’s consolidated
decision upon hearing and findings and award denying reopening and for
compensable claim and the decision upon review.

                                     :AA

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