Court Opinion

ID: 9630645
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 10:16:22.255614+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:40:12.390951
License: Public Domain

Dissenting Opinion by
Justice WINTERSHEIMER.
I must respectfully dissent from the majority opinion because the award of the Administrative Law Judge was supported by substantial evidence and it should not have been disturbed on appeal. The decision of the ALJ was reversed by the Workers’ Compensation Board and that reversal was affirmed by an opinion of a panel of the Court of Appeals.
If the decision of the ALJ is supported by any substantial evidence of probative value, it may not be reversed on appeal. Special Fund v. Francis, Ky., 708 S.W.2d 641 (1986); Newberg v. Armour Food Co., Ky., 834 S.W.2d 172 (1992). The ALJ, as fact-finder, has sole authority to determine the weight, credibility, substance, and inferences to be drawn from the evidence. Paramount Foods, Inc. v. Burkhardt, Ky., 695 S.W.2d 418 (1985). When conflicting evidence is presented, the ALJ may choose whom and what to believe. Pruitt v. Bugg Brothers, Ky., 547 S.W.2d 123 (1977). The ALJ has the right to believe part of the evidence, and disbelieve other parts of the evidence whether it came from the same witness or the same total proof. Caudill v. Maloney’s Discount Stores, Ky., 560 S.W.2d 15,16 (1977).
Cepero, a native of Cuba now living in Kentucky, admitted having sustained a pri- or injury years earlier while performing *844martial arts in Cuba, but claimed that when he left there, he had no problem with his knee. When asked why he did not relate to Drs. Goddy and Box that he had injured his knee at Fabricated Metals, Cepero insisted that he did but that they simply did not understand him because of a language barrier.
The ALJ acknowledged the discrepancy in Cepero’s testimony, but still found him to be a credible witness regarding his claim that his present condition was work related. Based on his testimony, the records from Caritas Occupational Health Center, the report of Dr. Changaris, and the initial opinion of Dr. Ballard, the ALJ found that Cepero’s present disability from the left knee was caused by the work-related injury at Fabricated Metals. He granted benefits based on a 10% permanent partial disability rating.
The report by Dr. Changaris states that, “based upon client history, medical records, and physical examination, the above impairment is solely due to the work related injury of 12-23-97.” This 'Statement is substantial evidence to support the award. The Board and the Court of Appeals, however, found that in rendering his opinion, Dr. Changaris was never apprised of the prior martial arts injury and thus they concluded his opinion was not reliable. Fabricated Metals states that there is no evidence in the record that Dr. Changaris had the report from Dr. Goddy. I disagree.
In his report, Dr. Changaris states, “The client began having problems with his knee and was evaluated on 1-15-98 by Dr. Thomas Loeb.” My review of the record indicates that Dr. Goddy, not Dr. Loeb, performed the evaluation on the 15th. Dr. Loeb stated in his deposition that his partner, Dr. Goddy, took the initial history and saw Cepero again on February 12, but because Dr. Goddy was not doing ACL reconstructions at that time, he referred the patient to him. The improper attribution is of no consequence.
It is clear that Dr. Changaris reviewed the report by Dr. Goddy because he quotes parts of his one page, January 15, 1998 report almost verbatim. For instance, Dr. Goddy states in his report that his clinical impression is, “Disruption anterior cruciate ligament, disruption of lateral collateral ligament knee, left.” Dr. Changaris notes in his report that “[Dr. Loeb — read Dr. Goddy] diagnosed the client with a disruption anterior cruciate ligament, disruption lateral collateral ligament of the left knee and medical meniscus tear.” Also, Dr. Goddy recommends “progressive resistive exercises” and states that Cepero is “probably a candidate for and ACL reconstruction.” Dr. Changaris observes in his report that, “progressive resistive exercises were prescribed” and that Dr. Loeb indicated that Cepero was “a candidate for ACL reconstruction.”
Although Dr. Changaris’ report does not specifically mention the prior martial arts injury, I cannot reasonably infer that he failed to review it or consider it. The first paragraph of Dr. Goddy’s medical report noted the following:
A practitioner of martial arts, some 2-1/2 years ago while still a resident in Cuba, [Cepero] sustained a twisting vul-gas injury to the left knee. Following that, he had marked swelling and inflammation in the knee and spent some two months in a wheelchair.
Considering the history taken by Dr. Changaris from the January 15 report, the proper inference is that he was fully aware of Cepero’s prior martial arts injury After careful review of the record, I must conclude that the opinion and award of the ALJ was supported by substantial evi*845dence and should not have been disturbed on appeal.
LAMBERT, C.J., and STUMBO, J., join this dissent.