Court Opinion

ID: 9560368
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 17:48:21.942397+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:12:52.743633
License: Public Domain

McMurray, Presiding Judge,
dissenting.
I, respectfully, dissent from the judgment affirming the superior court’s reversal of the appellate division’s award of death benefits to the widowed claimant and her dependents in this workers’ compensation case. In my view, there was competent evidence to support the hypothetical questions posed to claimants’ medical experts. Consequently, the award of death benefits is itself supported by some evidence, and the superior court erred in failing to affirm under the “any evidence” standard of review.
Kenneth Kines, a 22-year veteran of the City of Rome Police Department, died after suffering a heart attack at home at the age of 44. Claimants maintain that the heart attack resulted from on-the-job stress. Claimants’ contention was embraced by the administrative law judge, who awarded the payment of death benefits. The appellate division adopted the award of the administrative law judge. But the superior court reversed the award of the appellate division based on its conclusion that there was no competent evidence which authorized that award. The superior court ruled that certain hypothetical questions posed to the physicians misstated the facts concerning Kenneth Kines’ family history with regard to cardiovascular problems. This discretionary appeal is taken from the superior court’s reversal of the appellate division.
“Georgia law recognizes three forms of competent evidence for establishing a causal connection between work activities and cardiovascular problems such as heart attack and stroke: (1) medical opinion, (2) lay observation and opinion and (3) the ‘natural inference through human experience.’ Hiers and Potter, Ga. Workers’ Compen*735sation — Law and Practice, § 6-2 citing Guye[ v. Home Indem. Co., 241 Ga. 213, 215 (244 SE2d 864)], and Carter v. Kansas City Fire &c. Ins. Co., 138 Ga. App. 601 (226 SE2d 755) (1976).” Reynolds Constr. Co. v. Reynolds, 218 Ga. App. 23, 24 (459 SE2d 612). Claimants primarily utilized the first of these forms, presenting the depositions of two physicians. Neither of the doctors had examined Kenneth Kines but offered their opinions, in response to hypothetical questions, that on-the-job stress could have contributed to the fatal heart attack. “As to hypothetical questions, the answer is not proof that the conclusion reached by the witness applies to or establishes any fact in the case on trial unless it also appears that there is evidence of the salient facts assumed in the hypothetical question. Central R. & Bkg. Co. v. Maltsby, 90 Ga. 630 (5) (16 SE 953).” Norman v. Allen, 118 Ga. App. 394, 396 (2), 397 (163 SE2d 859).
The physicians testified that family history is one of the major factors in determining risk for heart attacks. One physician was asked to assume that there was no family history of heart disease while the other was asked to assume a mild to moderate history, a classification which had earlier been elicited from that physician via a recital of claimants’ evidence on this issue. The claimants presented evidence as to the good health of Kenneth Kines, prior to the heart attack, and of his father and brothers. The claimants’ evidence was not entirely positive since Kenneth Kines’ mother had died of a stroke in her 50’s. As used to establish an inference concerning the family’s overall medical history, this was circumstantial evidence that Kenneth Kines did not have congenital heart problems. In opposition, the employer presented the testimony of a first cousin of Kenneth Kines, who related a significant family history of heart trouble, including genetic heart problems. The mother of Kenneth Kines was one of twelve children, ten of whom survived their infancy. From the ten, four of five males have died with heart trouble, while three of the five females have died from various cardiovascular diseases. Consequently, the circumstantial evidence presented by claimants is contrasted with the circumstantial evidence that defendant had congenital heart problems because four out of five males on his mother’s side had congenital heart problems.
“ ‘(R)eliance may be had upon circumstantial evidence for the proof of an essential fact in the framing of a hypothetical question. . . .’ Wells v. Alderman, 117 Ga. App. 724, 735 (11) (162 SE2d 18) (1968).” Hyles v. Cockrill, 169 Ga. App. 132, 136 (8) (312 SE2d 124). “Generally, ‘(w)here reliance is made upon circumstantial evidence alone for proof of one of the essential facts assumed in the framing of a hypothetical question, the trier of fact may consider the answer to the question only if it has first determined that the assumed fact has been satisfactorily established.’ Travelers Ins. Co. v. *736Hutchens, 106 Ga. App. 631 (127 SE2d 712) (1962). The trier of fact, and not the court, decides whether the assumed fact is actually proved by the circumstantial evidence. Shannon v. Kaylor, 133 Ga. App. 514 (211 SE2d 368) (1974). Nevertheless, it is for the court to decide whether a conclusion assumed is at least supported by the circumstantial evidence before allowing the matter to go to the jury [or factfinder] for its determination as to whether the evidence actually established the fact. Southeastern Fidelity Ins. Co. v. Stevens, 142 Ga. App. 562 (236 SE2d 550) (1977).” Warmack v. Mini-Skools Ltd., 164 Ga. App. 737 (1), 738 (297 SE2d 365).
Decided March 15, 1996
Mundy & Gammage, Miles L. Gammage, for appellants.
Brinson, Askew, Berry, Seigler, Richardson & Davis, Robert L. Berry, Jr., Hendrick L. Cromartie III, for appellees.
Hamilton, Westby, Marshall & Antonowich, Andrew J. Hamilton, Robert C. Buck, amici curiae.
In my view of the case sub judice, the opposing inferences authorized by the circumstantial evidence of the absence or presence of Kenneth Kines’ genetic heart problems do not vitiate the sufficiency of claimants’ evidence to support the non-existence of such congenital problems. “Although the circumstances proved might also support other conclusions, they were sufficient for the purpose of posing the hypothetical question[s] to the expert witness.” Krause v. Vance, 207 Ga. App. 615, 616 (1) (428 SE2d 595). In my opinion, the superior court erred in concluding that the physicians’ answers to the factually supported questions lacked foundation and any probative value. Since there is circumstantial evidence that Kenneth Kines did not necessarily have cardiovascular disease from his mother’s side of the family, the hypothetical questions put to the physicians by claimants are supported by evidence insofar as they assume a moderate level or absence of heart disease. I would reverse the judgment of the superior court with directions to reinstate the appellate division’s award of death benefits. As my colleagues in the majority would nevertheless affirm the judgment of the superior court in setting aside an award supported by competent evidence, I respectfully dissent.