Court Opinion

ID: 1069254
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 19:33:29.115034+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:39:43.742232
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present:    Judges Elder, Bray and Senior Judge Overton

JONATHAN L. LIPSCOMB
                                             MEMORANDUM OPINION*
v.   Record No. 2473-01-3                         PER CURIAM
                                              FEBRUARY 12, 2002
QUALITY FOODS COOPERATIVE, INC. AND
 SELECTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY OF
 THE SOUTHEAST

           FROM THE VIRGINIA WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION

             (Craig P. Tiller; Davidson, Sakolosky,
             Moseley & Tiller, P.C., on brief), for
             appellant.

             (W. Christopher Wickham; Robert Harrington &
             Associates, on brief), for appellees.

     Jonathan L. Lipscomb (claimant) contends the Workers'

Compensation Commission (commission) erred in denying him an

award of temporary total disability benefits on the ground that

he failed to adequately market his residual work capacity

beginning November 17, 2000.     Upon reviewing the record and the

parties' briefs, we conclude that this appeal is without merit.

Accordingly, we summarily affirm the commission's decision.

Rule 5A:27.

     A partially disabled employee is required to make

reasonable efforts to market his residual earning capacity to be

     * Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not
designated for publication.
entitled to receive continued benefits.    See National Linen

Serv. v. McGuinn, 8 Va. App. 267, 269, 380 S.E.2d 31, 33 (1989).

"In determining whether a claimant has made a reasonable effort

to market his remaining work capacity, we view the evidence in

the light most favorable to . . . the prevailing party before

the commission."   Id. at 270, 380 S.E.2d at 33.   "What

constitutes a reasonable marketing effort depends upon the facts

and circumstances of each case."    Greif Companies (GENESCO) v.

Sipe, 16 Va. App. 709, 715, 434 S.E.2d 314, 318 (1993).

     Unless we can say as a matter of law that claimant's

evidence sustained his burden of proof, the commission's

findings are binding and conclusive upon us.    See Tomko v.

Michael's Plastering Co., 210 Va. 697, 699, 173 S.E.2d 833, 835

(1970).

     On November 17, 2000, Dr. William E. Albers, an

orthopedist, released claimant to light-duty work, consisting of

"sit down work with [right] hand dominant work, . . . [changing]

positions when necessary."   Claimant asked employer whether any

light-duty jobs were available.    Employer told claimant there

were no light-duty positions available.   Claimant admitted that

he made no further efforts to find suitable employment.

     In light of claimant's failure to market his residual work

capacity, other than his one inquiry of employer, the

commission, as fact finder, could reasonably conclude that

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claimant did not make an adequate effort to find employment

within his restrictions.

     Based upon this record, we cannot find as a matter of law

that claimant's evidence sustained his burden of proving that he

adequately marketed his residual work capacity as of November

17, 2000.   Accordingly, we affirm the commission's decision.

                                                   Affirmed.

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