Court Opinion

ID: 4428660
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-20 19:10:32.782613+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:50:49.321110
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                               APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
        This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the
     internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                                        SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                        APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                        DOCKET NO. A-4478-17T4

JOAN HAGGERTY,

          Petitioner-Respondent,

v.

CROTHALL SERVICE GROUP,

     Respondent-Appellant.
_______________________________

                   Argued March 12, 2019 – Decided May 3, 2019

                   Before Judges Suter and Geiger.

                   On appeal from the New Jersey Department of Labor
                   and Workforce Development, Division of Workers'
                   Compensation, Claim Petition No. 2014-4978.

                    Francis W. Worthington argued the cause for appellant
                   (Worthington & Worthington, attorneys; Francis W.
                   Worthington, on the brief).

                   Lindsay T. Byrne argued the cause for respondent
                   (Goldenberg, Mackler, Sayegh, Mintz, Pfeffer, Bonchi
                   & Gill, attorneys; Lindsay T. Byrne, on the brief).

PER CURIAM
      Crothall Service Group (Crothall) appeals the order for medical benefits

that required it to pay for stem cell therapy for petitioner Joan Haggerty. We

reverse the court's May 25, 2018 order for medical benefits and remand for

further proceedings.

      Petitioner tore her left rotator cuff and bicep tendon shaking a heavy

bedspread as a housekeeper for the Cape May Regional Medical Center, and had

surgery to repair the tears. A few months later, she sustained an injury to her

cervical spine and another left shoulder injury "while making a bed and

stretching the sheets," and had a second surgery on her left shoulder. Petitioner

complained her right shoulder was injured due to overuse resulting from the left

shoulder injuries. She filed separate worker's compensation claims for the

shoulder injuries, and amended them more than a year later to add the derivative

right shoulder injury claim. Petitioner had surgery on her right shoulder.

      An order for medical and disability benefits was entered in 2015 (2015

order) that approved treatment for petitioner's right shoulder by Dr. Matthew

Pepe, an orthopedist.     He referred petitioner to Dr. Peter Corda for pain

management, who then referred her to Dr. Charles Krome. Dr. Krome's report

indicated petitioner had osteoarthrosis and a partial tear of the right rotator cuff.

He recommended, and workers' compensation approved, four platelet-rich

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plasma injections. When petitioner did not obtain relief from these, Dr. Krome

recommended she undergo stem cell treatment for the right shoulder as "an

appropriate next conservative measure," although she would "probably require"

total shoulder replacement surgery in a few years.

      Petitioner filed a motion for medical benefits (2018 motion) seeking to

compel Crothall to pay for the stem cell therapy and then amended the motion

to add a request to enforce the 2015 order. Petitioner's motion included a report

by Dr. Krome where he recommended stem cell therapy as her "last option

before another surgery is done." Crothall's opposition included a copy of an

article about stem cell treatment that said it was not approved by the U.S. Food

and Drug Administration (FDA) except in limited circumstances involving

blood production disorders. Dr. Krome provided a supplemental report that

continued to endorse the use of stem cell therapy for petitioner as "medically

necessary" because it was the only option for her other than total shoulder

replacement.

      The worker's compensation judge conferenced the case in chambers on

May 4, 2018. Because the judge had questions for Dr. Krome, petitioner's

counsel called Dr. Krome from the judge's chambers.           The judge asked

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questions, but Dr. Krome was not under oath nor was the conversation recorded.

Neither counsel asked any questions of Dr. Krome.

      Three weeks later, the judge conducted a hearing on petitioner's 2018

motion for medical benefits and to enforce the 2015 order. Only petitioner

testified. On May 25, 2018, the judge ordered that "stem cell therapy [was]

authorized at the expense of the respondent, to be supplied by Dr. Krome."

      In his Amplification of Decision of May 25, 2018 for Medical Treatment,

issued a few weeks later, the judge found petitioner was credible when she

testified she did not want another shoulder surgery, and that she needed to work

to keep her health insurance because her husband was terminally ill. Although

petitioner claimed she was aware of and accepted the risks of stem cell therapy,

and knew it was not FDA approved, she was not aware the treatment "may only

provide temporary relief" and that she may still need replacement surgery on her

right shoulder. The judge referenced correspondence from Dr. Corda, who noted

that stem cell treatment was "widely used in professional sports."

      The judge found Dr. Krome was "polite and credible" in the May

conference in chambers. Dr. Krome acknowledged that the stem cell treatment

was not FDA approved for shoulder treatment, and that petitioner will need

shoulder replacement surgery in four years even if the stem cell therapy is

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successful. The judge noted that Crothall did not submit an expert report or

testimony.

      The judge found that both Dr. Krome and Dr. Corda recommended stem

cell treatment for petitioner.    Dr. Krome's report said it was "medically

necessary" because there was no other treatment except for shoulder

replacement surgery. The judge found the treatment was "reasonable" given her

"three prior shoulder surgeries," and need to continue working to maintain her

health benefits.   The court approved the treatment, finding it "will relieve

petitioner's work related condition."1

      On appeal, Crothall contends the court erred by determining that Dr.

Krome was credible without taking medical testimony. It argues that stem cell

treatment was not reasonable or necessary medical treatment. Crothall claims

the treatment does not satisfy "the test articulated" in Frye v. United States, 293

F. 1013 (D.C. Cir. 1923), because it is not FDA approved and has not been

accepted in the relevant scientific community to treat petitioner's condition.

      We are bound to uphold the findings of the worker's compensation judge

if they "'could reasonably have been reached on sufficient credible evidence

1
    Subsequently, the court denied Crothall's motion to stay, and denied
petitioner's motion to enforce, without prejudice.

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present in the record,' considering 'the proofs as a whole,' with due regard to the

opportunity of the one who heard the witnesses to judge of their credibility."

Close v. Kordulak Bros., 44 N.J. 589, 599 (1965) (quoting State v. Johnson, 42

N.J. 146, 162 (1964)). And although we "defer to the [judge's] expertise in

analyzing medical testimony," Kaneh v. Sunshine Biscuits, 321 N.J. Super. 507,

511 (App. Div. 1999), the judge's findings "must be supported by articulated

reasons grounded in the evidence." Lewicki v. N.J. Art Foundry, 88 N.J. 75, 89-

90 (1981). "Accordingly, if in reviewing an agency decision an appellate court

finds sufficient credible evidence in the record to support the agency's

conclusions, that court must uphold those findings even if the court believes that

it would have reached a different result." In re Taylor, 158 N.J. 644, 657 (1999).

      Under the Workers' Compensation Act (the Act), N.J.S.A. 34:15-1 to -

146, an employer must furnish an injured worker with medical treatment and

services necessary "to cure and relieve the worker of the effects of the injury

and to restore the functions of the injured member or organ" if possible. N.J.S.A.

34:15-15. The Act is to be liberally construed in favor of employees. Squeo v.

Comfort Control Corp., 99 N.J. 588, 596 (1985).

      A motion for medical benefits "shall evidence that petitioner is currently

temporarily totally disabled and/or in need of current medical treatment."

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N.J.A.C. 12:235-3.2(a). The motion is to contain "[a]ffidavits or certifications

made in personal knowledge by the petitioner or the petitioner's attorney, as well

as the report(s) of a physician(s) stating the medical diagnosis and the . . .

treatment being sought." N.J.A.C. 12:235-3.2 (b) (2). Respondent shall file an

answer within certain time frames.              N.J.A.C. 12:235-3.2(d).      Under the

regulations,

               [a]ffidavits, certifications and medical reports
               submitted . . . may constitute a prima facie case and
               may be sufficient basis for the issuance of an order
               compelling the respondent to provide the relief sought
               unless respondent files supporting affidavits or
               certifications to oppose said motion on a legal or factual
               basis, or files medical reports if there is a medical basis
               to oppose said motion.

               [N.J.A.C. 12:235-3.2 (f).]

      We held with respect to a similar regulation that "a motion for temporary

disability or medical benefits accompanied by supporting documentation can

prevail without plenary hearing only if opposing documents are facially

insufficient to fairly meet, contradict or oppose the material allegations of the

documents in support of the motion." Hogan v. Garden State Sausage Co., 223

N.J. Super. 364, 367 (App. Div. 1988). Where there is opposition, "[t]he [j]udge

of [c]ompensation may not decide the motion by assigning greater weight to one

physician's report or another." Ibid. Unless the facts are uncontradicted or

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respondent waived the right for cross-examination, "the [j]udge must give the

petitioner the opportunity to present witnesses for respondent's cross-

examination and, if petitioner so elects, for direct examination." Ibid.

        Crothall submitted a certification from counsel raising the issue that stem

cell treatment was not FDA approved. Crothall also reserved "the right to cross-

examine all physicians upon whom the petitioner will rely in proof of the claim."

Under the regulations, the judge was required to hold a hearing where Crothall

could cross-examine witnesses.

        Critical to the court's order was its finding that Dr. Krome was credible

based on the phone conversation the judge had with Dr. Krome that was not

recorded and was not under oath. "Credibility findings [are] . . . influenced by

. . . observations of the character and demeanor of witnesses and common human

experience that are not transmitted by the record." State v. Locurto, 157 N.J.

463, 474 (1999) (citing State v. Jamerson, 153 N.J. 318, 341 (1998)). We

generally will not disturb credibility findings except based on a conviction "that

the judge went so wide of the mark, a mistake must have been made." Clowes

v. Terminix Int'l, Inc., 109 N.J. 575, 589 (1988) (quoting Johnson, 42 N.J. at

162).

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      This credibility finding was based on testimony taken over the phone.

Even if credibility could be determined in that manner, without a record there is

no ability to review what was said. See R. 1:2-2 (providing that "[i]n the trial

divisions of the Superior Court . . . all proceedings in court shall be recorded

verbatim" with few exceptions). In Fehnel v. Fehnel, 186 N.J. Super. 209, 217

(App. Div. 1982), we reminded

             counsel and the trial judge of their joint and mutual
             obligation to make a record and to request and provide
             for record notation of events occurring in chambers.
             Depending on the nature of those events, they should
             be either transcribed or summarized so that, among
             other purposes which such record preservation fulfills,
             a reviewing court will also have the benefit thereof.

Where an important issue is discussed in chambers, "a record must be made or

a summary placed on the record as to what transpired in chambers. Only then

is effective appellate review insured." Klier v. Sordoni Skanska Const., 337 N.J.

Super. 76, 86 (App. Div. 2001). We see no reason why the same caution should

not apply where the motion for medical benefits is contested and a hearing is

necessary.

      We recognize that under the Act, "hearing evidence, exclusive of ex parte

affidavits, may be produced by both parties, but the official conducting the

hearing shall not be bound by the rules of evidence." N.J.S.A. 34:15-56. We

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                                       9
also have held that "[w]hile the technical rules of evidence may be relaxed at

workmen's compensation proceedings, they may not be relaxed to the point of

infringing on the parties' due process rights or other fundamental rights." Paco

v. Am. Leather Mfg. Co., 213 N.J. Super. 90, 95-96 (App. Div. 1986) (citing 3

Larson, The Law of Workmen's Compensation, § 79.25(c) (1983)).                  This

includes the right of cross-examination. See id. at 96; see also California v.

Green, 399 U.S. 149, 158 (1970) (describing cross-examination as "the greatest

legal engine ever invented for the discovery of truth" (quoting 5 Wigmore on

Evidence § 1367 (3d ed. 1940))); State v. Castagna, 187 N.J. 293, 309 (2006)

(emphasizing importance and efficacy of cross-examination).

      Crothall opposed stem cell treatment because it was not FDA approved.

Dr. Krone's testimony in chambers was not recorded and it was not taken under

oath, yet it was found to be credible by the judge without affording Crothall the

opportunity for cross-examination.        We find that the procedures lacked

fundamental fairness. We reverse the order and remand the motion for medical

benefits to the workers compensation division for further proceedings consistent

with this opinion. We do not express an opinion in support of or against

petitioner's claim for stem cell treatment in light of the inadequacy of this record.

      Reversed and remanded. We do not retain jurisdiction.

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