Court Opinion

ID: 3110819
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 06:48:21.989315+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:52:19.462897
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS
                         SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS
                              FORT WORTH

                             NO. 02-11-00155-CV

SECURITY NATIONAL                                                   APPELLANT
INSURANCE COMPANY

                                       V.

DUNCAN MURRELL                                                       APPELLEE

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          FROM THE 17TH DISTRICT COURT OF TARRANT COUNTY

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                        MEMORANDUM OPINION1

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                                I. INTRODUCTION

      This is an appeal from a worker’s compensation case in which a jury found

that Appellee Duncan Murrell was not intoxicated when he fell through a roof on

a jobsite and sustained injuries. Appellant Security National Insurance Company

argues in four issues that (1) the judgment, which concludes that Murrell was not

      1
       See Tex. R. App. P. 47.4.
intoxicated at the time of his injury, is not supported by legally sufficient evidence;

(2) the definition of “intoxication” submitted to the jury was incomplete and failed

to track the statutory definition; (3) the judgment, which concludes that Murrell

had disability, should be reversed; and (4) the judgment, which awards fee

shifted attorneys’ fees, should be reversed. We will affirm.

                   II. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

      Warnick Metal Building Erector employed Murrell to construct an aluminum

roof on a warehouse in Mansfield where airplane parts would be built. Security

National insured Warnick for workers’ compensation claims. Prior to beginning

his employment with Warnick and one month before he was injured, Murrell

provided a urinalysis. The urinalysis was negative for drugs.

      On Friday evening, October 5, 2007, after he received his first paycheck,

Murrell testified that he relaxed in his backyard with his cousin, smoked a

marijuana joint that his cousin had brought him, and drank a beer. Murrell said

that the months prior to that had been stressful because he had been

unemployed and had five children to take care of.

      Three days later, on the morning of Monday, October 8, 2007, Murrell

woke up at 4:30 a.m. and walked a mile to his carpool, which then took fifteen to

twenty minutes to reach Warnick’s headquarters. Murrell sat through a ten- to

fifteen-minute safety meeting and then rode thirty to forty-five minutes to the

jobsite. After arriving at the jobsite, Murrell laid out all the tools, made sure

everything was ready for the roof to be installed, and put on his H-harness and

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his hard hat.   Murrell testified that it had rained over the weekend and was

misting that morning, causing the sheet metal to be “dewy and real slippery.”

      Murrell was working with a partner, carrying the sheet metal, approximately

forty feet in the air. After he had been working for about three hours, his foot

slipped out from under him, and he could not grab anything.2 He recalled “falling

real slow,” trying to break his fall, and “hitting the ground real hard.” He landed in

a sitting position and broke his pelvis in half, broke four lumbar discs in his back,

shattered his ankle, flattened his heel, and shattered both wrists. Murrell was

taken by CareFlite to Harris Methodist Hospital.

      Murrell was in the hospital for a month. He was on a ventilator to help him

breathe because his body had shut down.            Murrell did not recall having a

urinalysis because he “didn’t wake up for a week and a half, two weeks.” The

urine drug screen, which was taken on October 8, 2007, at 11:30 a.m. at the

hospital, revealed the presence of cannabinoids, which are metabolites of

marijuana. Tony Edwards worked with Murrell from 6:00 until 10:30 a.m. when

Murrell was injured and said that Murrell appeared normal the whole time.

Another Warnick employee, David Alexander Bonner, testified that he did not see

      2
       Murrell said that since he and the crew were “trying to kill two birds with
one stone,” he made the mistake of going up on the roof while the safety line was
being tied on, which prevented the H-harness from being able to protect him.
The supervisor was making efforts to get the cinder blocks tied down from one
end of the building to the other so that the employees could hook to it and walk
along without falling through the opening, but none of the workers were tied
down.

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any problems with Murrell on October 8, 2007, and that he believed that Murrell

fell because he was “just trying to do too much at one time, just trying to hustle.”

      By the time of the trial, Murrell had lost three of the toes on his left foot and

continued to receive medical treatment for osteomyelitis in his left foot.

Amputation of his left foot was a possibility because osteomyelitis had returned in

the heel of his foot. Additionally, Murrell could not bend his left hand because he

had no wrist; his right wrist only bent down, not up. Murrell also could not bend

the lower part of his back.

      Based on the positive urine drug screen, Security National denied

compensability, and Murrell invoked administrative remedies. At the Contested

Case Hearing (CCH) on June 5, 2008, the parties presented evidence on the

issue of intoxication, as well as testimony recounting the events on the day

Murrell was injured. The CCH officer determined that Murrell had sustained a

compensable injury and was not intoxicated at the time of his injury. Security

National appealed the decision to the Texas Workers’ Compensation

Commission (TWCC) Appeals Panel, which affirmed the decision of the CCH

officer by operation of law. Security National then sought judicial review.

      The trial court granted Murrell a partial summary judgment against Security

National on the disability issue, finding that Murrell had “disability as a result of

his injury sustained at work on October 8, 2007, beginning on October 9, 2007

and continuing through the date of the CCH (June 5, 2008).”             The issue of

intoxication was tried to a jury, which found that Murrell was not intoxicated from

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a controlled substance at the time his injury occurred on October 8, 2007. This

appeal followed.

III. LEGALLY SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE SUPPORTS JURY’S FINDING OF NO INTOXICATION

      In its first issue, Security National argues that the evidence is legally

insufficient to support the judgment that Murrell was not intoxicated at the time of

his injury. In support of its contention, Security National argues that the trial court

failed to apply the intoxication presumption.

                              A. Standard of Review

      We may sustain a legal sufficiency challenge only when (1) the record

discloses a complete absence of evidence of a vital fact; (2) the court is barred

by rules of law or of evidence from giving weight to the only evidence offered to

prove a vital fact; (3) the evidence offered to prove a vital fact is no more than a

mere scintilla; or (4) the evidence establishes conclusively the opposite of a vital

fact. Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Co. v. Martinez, 977 S.W.2d 328, 334 (Tex. 1998),

cert. denied, 526 U.S. 1040 (1999); Robert W. Calvert, “No Evidence” and

“Insufficient Evidence” Points of Error, 38 Tex. L. Rev. 361, 362–63 (1960). In

determining whether there is legally sufficient evidence to support the finding

under review, we must consider evidence favorable to the finding if a reasonable

factfinder could and disregard evidence contrary to the finding unless a

reasonable factfinder could not. Cent. Ready Mix Concrete Co. v. Islas, 228
S.W.3d 649, 651 (Tex. 2007); City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 807, 827

(Tex. 2005).

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      Anything more than a scintilla of evidence is legally sufficient to support the

finding. Cont’l Coffee Prods. Co. v. Cazarez, 937 S.W.2d 444, 450 (Tex. 1996);

Leitch v. Hornsby, 935 S.W.2d 114, 118 (Tex. 1996). When the evidence offered

to prove a vital fact is so weak as to do no more than create a mere surmise or

suspicion of its existence, the evidence is no more than a scintilla and, in legal

effect, is no evidence. Kindred v. Con/Chem, Inc., 650 S.W.2d 61, 63 (Tex.

1983). More than a scintilla of evidence exists if the evidence furnishes some

reasonable basis for differing conclusions by reasonable minds about the

existence of a vital fact. Rocor Int’l, Inc. v. Nat’l Union Fire Ins. Co., 77 S.W.3d
253, 262 (Tex. 2002).

                   B. Workers’ Compensation Act Appeals

      The Texas Supreme Court has held that a TWCC Appeals Panel’s final

decision may be appealed to the courts under a “modified de novo review.” Tex.

Workers’ Comp. Comm’n v. Garcia, 893 S.W.2d 504, 530 (Tex. 1995). Under

this modified de novo review, all issues regarding compensability of the injury

may be tried by the jury or court.       Id. at 528; see Tex. Lab. Code Ann.

§§ 410.301, .304 (West 2006). Modified de novo review means: (1) the trial

court is informed of the TWCC Appeals Panel’s decision, (2) evidence of the

extent of impairment is limited to that presented to the TWCC, unless the court

makes a threshold finding that the claimant’s condition has substantially

changed, and (3) the court is required to adopt the specific impairment rating

arrived at by one of the physicians in the case. Tex. Lab. Code Ann. §§ 410.304,

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.306 (West Supp. 2011), .307; Garcia, 893 S.W.2d at 528. The court, although

informed of the TWCC’s decision, is not required to accord it any particular

weight. Garcia, 893 S.W.2d at 515. The factfinder does not review the TWCC

Appeals Panel’s decision for “reasonableness” but rather independently decides

the issues by a preponderance of the evidence. Id. at 531. The party appealing

the TWCC Appeals Panel’s ruling bears the burden of proof by a preponderance

of the evidence. Tex. Lab. Code Ann. § 410.303 (West 2006). Because Security

National’s claim was denied at the administrative level, it had the burden of

proving by a preponderance of the evidence that Murrell was intoxicated at the

time of his fall. See id.

                                 C. Intoxication

      The workers’ compensation laws prohibit the recovery of compensation

where, at the time of injury, an employee is intoxicated.      Id. § 406.032(1)(A)

(West 2006).

      “Intoxication” means the state of

      (1) having an alcohol concentration to qualify as intoxicated under
      Section 49.01(2), Penal Code; or

      (2) not having the normal use of mental or physical faculties resulting
      from the voluntary introduction into the body of:

          (A) an alcoholic beverage, as defined by Section 1.04, Alcoholic
          Beverage Code; [or]

          (B) a controlled substance or controlled substance analogue, as
          defined by Section 481.002, Health and Safety Code.

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Id. § 401.013(a) (West 2006).      Marijuana is a controlled substance included

under section 481.002 of the health and safety code. Tex. Health & Safety Code

Ann. § 481.002 (West 2010).

       In cases involving controlled substances, there is no level or test defined

by the statute that establishes per se if a person has lost use of his physical and

mental faculties. Am. Interstate Ins. Co. v. Hinson, 172 S.W.3d 108, 115 (Tex.

App.—Beaumont 2005, pet. denied). The statutory standard for marijuana is

relatively subjective. See id.; see also Tex. Lab. Code Ann. § 401.013(a)(2).

                           D. Rebuttable Presumption

       The Texas Labor Code includes a rebuttable presumption that states: “On

the voluntary introduction into the body of any substance listed under Subsection

(a)(2)(B), based on a blood test or urinalysis, it is a rebuttable presumption that a

person is intoxicated and does not have the normal use of mental or physical

faculties.” Tex. Lab. Code Ann. § 401.013(c). In enacting the amendment that

created section 401.013(c) in 2005, the Texas Legislature codified former case

law.   See Tex. Workers’ Comp. Comm’n, Appeal No. 032618, 2003 WL
23011731, at *1 (Nov. 19, 2003) (stating that an employee is presumed sober at

time of injury, but when carrier rebuts presumption of sobriety with probative

evidence of intoxication, burden shifts to employee to prove he was not

intoxicated at time of injury); Tex. Workers’ Comp. Comm’n, Appeal No. 021751,

2002 WL 31115380, at *1 (Aug. 26, 2002) (same); see also Tex. Workers’ Comp.

Comm’n, Appeal No. 012208, 2001 WL 1472150, at *1 (Oct. 23, 2001) (stating

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that a positive test for controlled substance will generally shift burden to claimant

to prove he was not intoxicated at time of injury).

      The trial court, however, declined to apply this rebuttable presumption.

Moreover, when the trial court defined “intoxication” in the jury charge, it did not

include the presumption of intoxication, and Security National complains of this

exclusion in its second issue. Security National orally objected to the charge, but

it did not submit a proposed correct definition in writing. Texas Rule of Civil

Procedure 278 states in pertinent part, “Failure to submit a definition or

instruction shall not be deemed a ground for reversal of the judgment unless a

substantially correct definition or instruction has been requested in writing and

tendered by the party complaining of the judgment.” Tex. R. Civ. P. 278; accord

Transcon. Ins. Co. v. Crump, 330 S.W.3d 211, 226 (Tex. 2010) (holding that

because Transcontinental’s definition included the critical but-for component, and

was otherwise a correct statement of law, it was “substantially correct” and

sufficed to preserve its complaint of charge error on appeal). Because Security

National did not present a proposed correct definition in writing, it waived the

error, if any, in the trial court’s failure to instruct the jury on the rebuttable

presumption regarding intoxication. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 278; Bayer Corp. v. DX

Terminals, Ltd., 214 S.W.3d 586, 603 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, pet.

denied) (holding that oral statements regarding the addition of instructions to the

charge failed to preserve error).      We therefore overrule Security National’s

second issue.

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                                  E. Jury Charge

      Absent an objection to the jury charge, the sufficiency of the evidence is

reviewed in light of the charge submitted. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Sturges, 52
S.W.3d 711, 715 (Tex. 2001); City of Fort Worth v. Zimlich, 29 S.W.3d 62, 71

(Tex. 2000).

      The court’s charge included the following definition and instructions:

            “Intoxication” means not having the normal use of mental or
      physical faculties resulting from the voluntary introduction into the
      body of a controlled substance.

             You are instructed that the Texas Department of Insurance,
      Division of Workers’ Compensation determined that the claimant
      was not intoxicated at the time of his injury.

            You are further instructed that marijuana is a controlled
      substance.

The sole question presented to the jury was “Do you find that Duncan W. Murrell

was intoxicated from a controlled substance at the time his injury occurred on

October 8, 2007?” The jury answered, “No.” Security National contends that the

evidence is legally insufficient to support the jury’s finding that Murrell was not

intoxicated at the time his injury occurred on October 8, 2007.

                               F. Evidence at Trial

      Security National’s evidence consisted of the positive urine test and an

expert, Dr. James Kelaher, who testified that based on the urine test, Murrell was

intoxicated at the time of the accident.

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      To controvert that evidence, Murrell presented the videotaped deposition

of a special TWCC examiner in industrial toxicology cases, Dr. Stevan Cordas,

who testified that Murrell was not intoxicated at the time of the accident based on

the results of the urine test showing metabolites of marijuana.         Dr. Cordas

explained that marijuana is first converted into a psychoactive substance that

causes mood changes and other physical and endocrine changes that “are pretty

much dissipated” after six hours, and then the marijuana converts to a

psychoactively inactive substance, meaning that it does not have any influence

on the physical or mental body and is inert. Dr. Cordas explained that most “of

what we measure in the urine is a[n] inert metabolite after the first two days.”

The screening test done at the hospital did not measure intoxication; it measured

exposure. Thus, the lab results revealed that Murrell tested positive for opiates

because he was given them for his pain and that he tested positive for

cannabinoids (a metabolite of marijuana), showing that he had been exposed to

and had used marijuana in the past.       Even though the lab report showed a

qualitative amount of cannabinoids—fifty nanograms—Dr. Cordas testified that

Murrell was not intoxicated based on those results because the test was

measuring an inactive metabolite to screen the potential for Murrell’s having used

marijuana.   Dr. Cordas therefore could not say within a reasonable medical

probability that Murrell was intoxicated based solely on the hospital’s urine drug

analysis screen, and there was not a confirmatory test in this case.3

      3
       The urine drug screen (UDS) report from the hospital states, “If

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        Murrell testified that he had smoked “just the one joint” three days prior to

the fall from the roof; he did not smoke any marijuana on October 6, 7, or 8. He

described everything that he did on the morning of the fall, which included waking

at 4:30 a.m., walking a mile to the carpool, riding with a co-worker to the Warnick

headquarters, sitting through a safety meeting, riding with a co-worker to the

jobsite, laying out all the tools, making sure that everything was ready for the roof

to be installed, and putting on his H-harness and his hard hat. Two of Warnick’s

employees testified that Murrell did not appear to be intoxicated on October 8,

2007.

        We conclude that a reasonable factfinder could conclude that Murrell was

not intoxicated at the time of his injury as set forth in the jury charge given. The

scientific and expert evidence introduced during the trial in this case is not

conclusive as a matter of law that Murrell was intoxicated from a controlled

substance at the time his injury occurred on October 8, 2007. Murrell rebutted

the presumption of intoxication to the satisfaction of the CCH officer and the

TWCC Appeals Panel, and the jury found in his favor as well. We hold that the

evidence is legally sufficient to support the jury’s finding that Murrell was not

intoxicated from a controlled substance at the time his injury occurred on October

8, 2007. See Tex. Lab. Code Ann. § 401.013(a)(2)(B); Tex. Mut. Ins. Co. v.

confirmation of positive UDS results is desired, the clinical laboratory must be
notified within 24 hours to ensure an appropriate sample can be sent to a
reference laboratory for confirmatory testing by another method (e.g., GC/MS;
HPLC; etc.).”

                                          12
Havard, No. 01-07-00268-CV, 2008 WL 598347, at *4 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st

Dist.] Mar. 6, 2008, no pet.) (mem. op.) (holding that evidence was legally

sufficient to support trial court’s finding that employee rebutted presumption of

intoxication after urinalysis showed presence of cocaine). We overrule Security

National’s first issue.

                                IV. CONCLUSION

      Having held that the jury’s finding is supported by legally sufficient

evidence and that any jury charge error was not preserved, we need not reach

Security National’s third and fourth issues, and we affirm the trial court’s

judgment.

                                                 SUE WALKER
                                                 JUSTICE

PANEL: DAUPHINOT, GARDNER, and WALKER, JJ.

DELIVERED: August 2, 2012

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