Court Opinion

ID: 1077300
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 20:22:30.068445+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:00:30.549875
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present:   Judges Benton, Coleman and Willis

KATIECORP, INC.
AND
INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE                       MEMORANDUM OPINION *
 STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA                             PER CURIAM
                                                DECEMBER 17, 1996
v.   Record Nos. 1568-96-3 and
                 1821-96-3
TINA WADE

         FROM THE VIRGINIA WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION
           (Robert M. McAdam; Wooten & Hart, P.C., on
           brief), for appellants.

           (Philip B. Baker; Joseph A. Sanzone
           Associates, P.C., on brief), for appellee.

     Katiecorp, Inc. and its insurer (hereinafter collectively

referred to as "employer") contend that the Workers' Compensation

Commission erred in finding that Tina Wade was totally disabled

from working as of January 2, 1996 as a result of her compensable

February 22, 1994 injury by accident.   On cross-appeal, Wade

contends that the commission erred in denying her benefits for

the period August 17, 1995 through January 1, 1996.     Upon

reviewing the record and the briefs of the parties, we conclude

that these appeals are without merit.   Accordingly, we summarily

affirm the commission's decision.   Rule 5A:27.

     On appeal, we view the evidence in the light most favorable

to the prevailing party below.   R.G. Moore Bldg. Corp. v.
Mullins, 10 Va. App. 211, 212, 390 S.E.2d 788, 788 (1990).
     *
      Pursuant to Code § 17-116.010 this opinion is not
designated for publication.
Factual findings made by the commission will be upheld on appeal

if supported by credible evidence.   James v. Capitol Steel

Constr. Co., 8 Va. App. 512, 515, 382 S.E.2d 487, 488 (1989).

     In awarding temporary total disability benefits to Wade

commencing January 2, 1996, the commission found as follows:

                                I.
          As early as January 2, 1996, Dr. [Joseph H.]
          Wombwell was considering possible open
          patella realignment surgery and surgery was,
          in fact scheduled for later that month. Then
          on March 5, 1996, Dr. Wombwell again
          reiterated the employee's need for a surgical
          solution to her knee problem. While he did
          not specifically take Wade out of work in
          January (most likely because she was not
          working), we can infer from the medical
          records leading up to this recommendation
          that from that time forward the employee was
          totally disabled.

     Dr. Wombwell's medical records provide credible evidence to

support the commission's factual findings.   Moreover, the

commission could reasonably infer from these medical records that

Wade was totally disabled beginning January 2, 1996.   "Where

reasonable inferences may be drawn from the evidence in support

of the commission's factual findings, they will not be disturbed

by this Court on appeal."   Hawks v. Henrico County Sch. Bd., 7
Va. App. 398, 404, 374 S.E.2d 695, 698 (1988).

                               II.

     In order to establish an entitlement to benefits, a

partially disabled employee must prove that he or she has made a

reasonable effort to procure suitable work but has been unable to

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do so.   Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. v. Bateman, 4 Va. App.
459, 359 S.E.2d 98 (1987).   The commission found that from August

17, 1995 through January 1, 1996, Wade failed to make that

required effort.   The record supports this finding.   During that

time she possessed marketable capability.   She had employment

experience and access to an automobile.   The record supports the

further finding that during that time, her only significant

attempt to find employment was to contact a job placement agency.
     For these reasons, we affirm the commission's decision.
                                                       Affirmed.

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