Court Opinion

ID: 4092842
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-10-26 15:04:28.520192+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:06.128583
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

                          SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                    FILED
                                                                                 October 26, 2016

MICHELLE B. WILLIAMS,                                                         RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK

                                                                            SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

Claimant Below, Petitioner                                                      OF WEST VIRGINIA

vs.)   No. 15-1188 (BOR Appeal No. 2050563)
                   (Claim No. 2002049883)

WEST VIRGINIA OFFICE OF
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER,
Commissioner Below, Respondent

and

UNITED HOSPITAL CENTER, INC.,
Employer Below, Respondent

                             MEMORANDUM DECISION
      Petitioner Michelle B. Williams, pro se, appeals the decision of the West Virginia
Workers’ Compensation Board of Review. The West Virginia Office of the Insurance
Commissioner, by Jacqueline A. Hallinan, its attorney, filed a timely response.

       This appeal arises from the Board of Review’s Final Order dated October 28, 2015, in
which the Board affirmed a June 12, 2015, Order of the Workers’ Compensation Office of
Judges. In its Order, the Office of Judges affirmed the claims administrator’s August 1, 2014,
decision denying a request to reopen the claim for consideration of a permanent total disability
award. The Court has carefully reviewed the records, written arguments, and appendices
contained in the briefs, and the case is mature for consideration.

       This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these
reasons, a memorandum decision is appropriate under Rule 21 of the Rules of Appellate
Procedure.

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        Ms. Williams, a registered nurse, developed a severe latex allergy in the course of her
employment for United Hospital Center, Inc. The allergy led to the development of
dermatological and respiratory problems. Ms. Williams was granted a 34% permanent partial
disability award on August 15, 2005. On May 8, 2008, the Office of Judges reversed the decision
and granted Ms. Williams an additional 4% permanent partial disability for a total award of 38%.
Ms. Williams thereafter applied for a permanent total disability award on June 23, 2014.

        The claims administrator denied Ms. Williams’s request to reopen her claim for a
permanent total disability award on August 1, 2014. The Office of Judges affirmed the decision
in its June 12, 2015, Order. It found that Ms. Williams suffers from respiratory and
dermatological problems as a result of her occupational exposure to latex. She has also suffered
from anaphylactic shock and autoimmune disease. She was initially granted a 34% permanent
partial disability award. The Office of Judges then granted her an additional 4% for a total award
of 38% permanent partial disability. The Office of Judges found in this case that the first step a
claimant must overcome in order to reopen a claim for permanent total disability is to show that
they have received 50% or more in permanent partial disability awards. West Virginia Code §
23-4-6(n)(1) (2005). It found that Ms. Williams failed to meet this first threshold. The Office of
Judges further found that she did not timely file her reopening application. In accordance with
West Virginia Code § 23-4-16(a)(2) (2005), the application would have to have been filed within
the five year period after her initial award for permanent partial disability, which was dated
August 15, 2005. Ms. Williams did not file her application until June 23, 2014, clearly outside of
the timeframe. The Board of Review adopted the findings of fact and conclusions of law of the
Office of Judges and affirmed its Order.

         After review, we agree with the reasoning of the Office of Judges and conclusions of the
Board of Review. Though Ms. Williams submitted many medical records documenting her
treatment throughout the years, she is unable to meet the first threshold for a permanent partial
disability award.

        For the foregoing reasons, we find that the decision of the Board of Review is not in clear
violation of any constitutional or statutory provision, nor is it clearly the result of erroneous
conclusions of law, nor is it based upon a material misstatement or mischaracterization of the
evidentiary record. Therefore, the decision of the Board of Review is affirmed.

                                                                                        Affirmed.

ISSUED: October 26, 2016

CONCURRED IN BY:
Chief Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Robin J. Davis
Justice Brent D. Benjamin
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Allen H. Loughry II

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