Court Opinion

ID: 3634112
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 05:54:44.840633+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:07:44.541908
License: Public Domain

***********
The Full Commission has reviewed the prior Opinion and Award based upon the record of the proceedings before former Deputy Commissioner Young and the briefs and oral arguments before the Full Commission. The appealing party has not shown good ground to reconsider the evidence; receive further evidence; rehear the parties or their representatives; or amend the Opinion and Award, except for minor modifications. Accordingly, the Full Commission affirms the Opinion and Award of Deputy Commissioner Young, with modifications.
                               ***********
The Full Commission finds as fact and concludes as matters of law the following, which were entered by the parties as:
 STIPULATIONS
1. The parties are subject to and bound by the provisions of the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act.
2. An employment relationship existed between plaintiff and defendant at all relevant times herein.
3. Defendant was self insured at all relevant times herein.
4. Plaintiff was employed by defendant at its facility in Plymouth, North Carolina, from July 11, 1963, until August 22, 1966, and from October 8, 1968, until December 31, 1998. Plaintiff served in the United States military service from August 23, 1966, until he returned to Weyerhaeuser in 1968.
5. The parties stipulated that plaintiff was last injuriously exposed to asbestos during plaintiff's employment with defendant, and specifically, that plaintiff was exposed to asbestos for thirty days within a seven-month period, as set forth in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-57.
6. Defendant manufactures paper and paper products, including paper for crafts, bags, boxes, and pulp for baby diapers. The approximate size of defendant's plant in Plymouth, North Carolina, is 3/4 of a mile long. The entire facility is built on approximately 350 acres and encompasses about 20 different buildings. The newest building was built in the 1960s and the vast majority of the insulation used in the original construction of the buildings contained asbestos. Steam-producing boilers are used at the facility, along with hundreds of miles of steam pipes covered with asbestos insulation. The heat coming off the steam pipes is used, among other things, to dry the wet pulp/paper.
7. The parties stipulated that plaintiff's income 52 weeks prior to his retirement was $77,418.00, which is sufficient to justify the maximum rate allowable under the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act. The parties further stipulated that plaintiff's date of diagnosis was April 28, 2000.
8. The Pre-Trial Agreement of the parties for this case is stipulated into evidence.
9. The employment and income records of plaintiff are stipulated into evidence.
10. The transcript of Joseph Wendlick's testimony at civil trial, his curriculum vitae, and other documentation produced by defendant in discovery has been stipulated into evidence.
11. The relevant medical records of plaintiff, including documentation from Drs. Anderson, Bernstein, Weaver, and Dula have been stipulated into evidence.
12. Defendant stipulates that all the procedures used in defendant's asbestos medical surveillance program at its facility in Plymouth, North Carolina, were consistent with those outlined as part of the North Carolina Dusty Trades Program contained in N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 97-60 through 97-61.7. Further, that these procedures were in place during plaintiff's employment at the Plymouth facility.
13. Defendant stipulates that the medical monitoring procedures used in its asbestos medical surveillance program were the same in all Weyerhaeuser plants in the State of North Carolina.
14. Defendant stipulates that the Weyerhaeuser facilities that Mr. Joseph Wendlick referred to in his deposition transcript, which has been stipulated into evidence, included the facilities in North Carolina.
15. Plaintiff contends that he is entitled to an award of a 10% penalty pursuant to the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-12, and defendant stipulated that should the claim be found compensable, defendant would agree by compromise to pay an amount of 5% of all compensation, exclusive of medical compensation, as an award of penalty pursuant thereto.
16. The contested issues before the Commission are:
    (a) Did plaintiff suffer from a compensable asbestos-related occupational disease and/or diseases and/or a complication, aggravation, or acceleration of the disease? If so, what disease and/or diseases?
(b) What benefits is plaintiff entitled to receive, if any?
    (c) Whether plaintiff is entitled to the additional panel examinations as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-61.3 to determine what, if any, final compensation he may be due?
    (d) Whether plaintiff is entitled to attorney fees for unreasonably defending this matter?
    (e) Does N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 97-60 through 97-61.7 apply to plaintiff's claim for benefits, and regardless, are these statutes in violation of the Constitutions of the United States and North Carolina?
    (f) Is plaintiff engaged in an occupation that has been found by the Industrial Commission to expose employees to the hazards of asbestosis under the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 97-60 through 97-61.7?
    (g) At the time of the diagnosis, was plaintiff subject to removal from an occupation that exposed plaintiff to the hazards of asbestosis, as contemplated by N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 97-60 through  97-61.7?
                               ***********
Based upon all of the competent evidence of record and reasonable inferences flowing therefrom, the Full Commission makes the following:
 FINDINGS OF FACT
1. Plaintiff was employed by defendant at its facility in Plymouth, North Carolina, from July 11, 1963, until August 22, 1966, and from October 8, 1968, until December 31, 1998. Plaintiff served in the United States military service from August 23, 1966, until he returned to Weyerhaeuser in 1968.
2. Plaintiff was exposed to asbestos dust during his employment at defendant's facility in Plymouth, North Carolina. In the recovery area, plaintiff was exposed to asbestos dust while "punching spouts" in boilers, which were wrapped in asbestos. The boilers were very old and frequently vibrated, releasing lots of asbestos dust into the air. There were asbestos-insulated pipes surrounding the boilers that also trembled and shook, releasing asbestos dust off the pipes. Whenever the smelt flowed into the green liquor, it would cause an explosion, which would also shake the asbestos insulation and dust off the pipes and boilers. Plaintiff used an asbestos hood and asbestos gloves for protection against heat. As an electrician, he spent four years in the turbine room where he was exposed to asbestos from co-workers who broke down the turbines, which included removing the asbestos insulation. As an electrician, plaintiff was also routinely exposed to asbestos while working on the conduits alongside the asbestos-insulated pipes. Until he quit working for defendant in 1998, plaintiff continued to be exposed to asbestos from the asbestos-containing dryer felts, brake clutches, and asbestos-insulated pipes in the paper machine areas. Defendant did not provide plaintiff with any respiratory protection to protect him from asbestos exposure.
3. Plaintiff was exposed to asbestos-containing materials on a regular basis for more than 30 working days or parts thereof within seven consecutive months from 1963 to 1998.
4. Dr. Richard Bernstein diagnosed plaintiff with asbestosis on April 28, 2000. Dr. Bernstein's diagnosis was based upon plaintiff's long history of asbestos exposure and latency period, his x-ray findings, his dypsnea on exertion, and pulmonary function testing. Dr. Bernstein personally examined plaintiff's chest x-ray dated April 1, 2000, and found parenchymal abnormalities in the middle and lower lung zones consistent with asbestosis.
5. Dr. Lind Anderson performed the Advisory Medical Evaluation at East Carolina University on October 24, 2000, and determined that plaintiff had a significant asbestos exposure history and evidence on x-ray of possible mildly increased interstitial markings that would be consistent with asbestos-related disease. In her deposition on February 27, 2001, Dr. Anderson opined that plaintiff does suffer from asbestosis.
6. Dr. Michael Weaver, a certified B-reader at East Carolina University, interpreted chest x-rays dated July 12, 1989; July 11, 1990; January 21, 1992; and April 1, 2000, and determined that there were parenchymal abnormalities in the middle and lower lung zones consistent with pneumoconiosis. During his live deposition on April 6, 2001, Dr. Weaver confirmed the radiographic findings on his reports. Further, he testified that the abnormalities on the 1992 and 2000 films would be consistent with pneumoconiosis of asbestosis assuming the proper clinical setting.
7. Dr. Fred Dula interpreted a chest x-ray dated October 10, 2000, and determined that there were parenchymal abnormalities in the middle and lower lung zones consistent with pneumonconiosis. During his live deposition on April 24, 2001, Dr. Dula testified that these radiographic changes are consistent with asbestosis assuming an appropriate exposure and latency period.
8. Defendant failed to produce any conflicting medical evidence to refute these findings.
9. At the hearing before the deputy commissioner, plaintiff testified that he had problems with shortness of breath, dyspnea, and coughing while employed with defendant. Plaintiff also testified that he was put in the asbestos medical monitoring program in 1988. In 1989, plaintiff was moved to a salary job, working outside in the wood yard after having a chest x-ray and pulmonary function test performed by the company. In 1993, plaintiff was moved back inside the plant as a supervisor. Plaintiff testified that he was never told the results of any of his breathing tests or chest x-rays. Plaintiff also testified that he stopped working because he could no longer physically perform his job the way he thought it should be done. He had problems with shortness of breath while climbing stairs and walking the areas he was assigned to supervise. Plaintiff also began having frequent coughing spells, particularly when exposed to dry heat and dust. He stopped working when he felt he could no longer handle the physical demands of his job.
10. The medical records from the asbestos medical monitoring program show that plaintiff had abnormalities consistent with pneumoconiosis as early as 1989. In his report dated August 17, 1989, Dr. Shaw reported that plaintiff still had occasional contact with asbestos insulation. Further, Dr. Shaw recommended in 1989 that plaintiff use respirator protection to prevent further exposure to asbestos dust. However, the company medical records also reflect that plaintiff was restricted from using a respirator under conditions of heat stress or exertion on July 11, 1990, due to his breathing impairment. Despite these recommendations, plaintiff moved from the wood yard back into the plant as a supervisor and worked in the paper machine area in 1993, where he was further exposed to asbestos because he was unable to wear a respirator.
11. Dr. Anderson reviewed plaintiff's company medical records from the asbestos medical monitoring program. She testified that if an individual has been exposed to asbestos and has begun to develop asbestos-related changes radiographically, then that individual should not continue to be exposed. After reviewing the chest x-ray reports by Dr. Weaver from 1989, 1990, and 1992, Dr. Anderson testified that plaintiff either should have been removed from further exposure or should have been provided protective equipment. Further, she testified that if plaintiff was unable to wear a respirator, then he should have been removed from further exposure to asbestos.
12. Dr. Bernstein also reviewed plaintiff's company medical records from the asbestos medical monitoring program. Dr. Bernstein testified that he would have recommended that plaintiff not be exposed to any more asbestos-containing products based upon the findings of Dr. Weaver on plaintiff's 1990 and 1992 chest x-rays. Dr. Bernstein also testified that if plaintiff could not wear a respirator, he should have been removed from any areas where there was a potential for further asbestos exposure. Finally, Dr. Bernstein testified that after an individual has findings of asbestos-related interstitial disease, more exposure to asbestos would increase the risk of having more extensive damage from asbestos.
13. Plaintiff has only a high school education. He worked for defendant for over 33 years and was earning $77,418.00 a year when he was forced to retire early at the age of 55 because of his breathing problems and related fatigue. Plaintiff lives in a rural area where there are few, if any, comparable employment opportunities. At the hearing, plaintiff testified that he did not actively seek employment after he retired in 1998 because he was unable to perform his last job due to his increasingly severe shortness of breath, coughing, and problems with dry heat and dust.
14. Plaintiff's breathing problems have continued to worsen since he left the employment of defendant. He continues to suffer from shortness of breath on exertion and frequent coughing spells. Due to plaintiff's asbestosis, he is extremely limited in the activities he can perform. Further, since he cannot wear a respirator due to his breathing impairment, he cannot work in any environment where he could potentially be exposed to asbestos.
15. Plaintiff is incapable, due to his asbestosis, of earning the same wages he earned before his injury in the same or any comparable occupation.
16. Plaintiff developed asbestosis, an occupational disease, as a result of his employment with defendant. Plaintiff's employment with defendant placed him at an increased risk of developing asbestosis as compared to members of the general public.
17. Plaintiff developed asbestos-related pleural disease, an occupational disease, as a result of his employment with defendant. Plaintiff's employment with defendant placed him at an increased risk of developing asbestos-related pleural disease as compared to members of the general public.
18. Plaintiff's pulmonary impairment is permanent and likely to progress. Plaintiff would benefit from medical monitoring, evaluation, and some treatment in the future as a result of his asbestosis and asbestos-related pleural disease. Further, medical monitoring is reasonably necessary due to his increased risk of developing lung and other asbestos-related cancers.
19. Defendant's Plymouth facility was found to have high levels of friable asbestos dust by its own Industrial Hygienist, Joseph Wendlick. As a result of Mr. Wendlick's findings, an asbestos medical monitoring program was initiated to comply with the dusty trade provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 97-60 through 97-61.7.
20. Defendant, in lieu of participating in the North Carolina Dusty Trades Program as contained in N.C. Gen Stat. §§ 97-60 through 97-61.7, implemented its own asbestos medical surveillance program, which it asserts was consistent with the dusty trades statutory provisions. Defendant convinced the State of North Carolina that defendant need not be included in the state Dusty Trades Program since defendant's asbestos medical surveillance program served the same purpose. If defendant's medical surveillance program was in place during plaintiff's employment with defendant, then it is likely that plaintiff would have participated in the program by virtue of his employment with defendant.
21. Plaintiff may have relied upon defendant's representations to him and to his fellow employees that defendant's asbestos medical surveillance program would monitor his exposure to asbestos and would medically screen and monitor him for any signs of the development of asbestosis. In accordance with such program, plaintiff would have been seen by defendant's doctors on occasions throughout his employment with defendant, raising the possibility of discovery of plaintiff's asbestosis while he was still employed by defendant.
22. Plaintiff was likely not aware of his development of asbestosis until after he retired because defendant's medical surveillance program did not effectively monitor and track his development of asbestosis during his employment with defendant, that had defendant's program provided proper medical screening to inform plaintiff of his development of asbestosis, he would have been diagnosed with asbestosis while still in defendant's employ and thus subject to an order of removal and subsequent award. If plaintiff, to his detriment, relied upon the false representations of defendant in regard to its medical monitoring of plaintiff, then defendant may be equitably estopped from arguing that plaintiff is not entitled to the 104 week award pursuant to an order of removal. Additional evidence as to the elements of equitable estoppel would be required for the Commission to make a determination on the matter.
23. N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 97-60 through 97-61.7 are constitutional.
                               ***********
Based upon the foregoing stipulations and findings of fact, the Full Commission reaches the following:
 CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. Plaintiff contracted the occupational diseases of asbestosis and asbestos-related pleural disease as a result of his employment with defendant. N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 97-53(24) and 97-62.
2. Plaintiff was last injuriously exposed to the hazards of asbestos dust while employed by defendant, and for as much as 30 days or parts thereof, within seven consecutive months, which exposure proximately augmented his asbestosis. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-57; Clark v. ITTGrinnell Industrial Piping, Inc., 141 N.C. App. 417, 539 S.E.2d 369
(2000); Haynes v. Feldspar Producing Co., 222 N.C. 163, 22 S.E.2d 275
(1942); Barber v. Babcock  Wilcox Construction Company,101 N.C. App. 564, 400 S.E.2d 735 (1991).
3. The provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-60 et seq. are constitutional.
4. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-61.5 provides in pertinent part that following a first hearing determination by the Industrial Commission that a claimant has asbestosis, based upon either medical evidence or by agreement of the parties, the Commission "shall by order remove the employee from any occupation which exposes him to the hazards of asbestosis . . ." and that upon removal the employee shall be entitled to "weekly compensation equal to sixty-six and two-thirds percent of his average weekly wages . . . which compensation shall continue for a period of 104 weeks."
5. The North Carolina Supreme Court determined that a retiree who is no longer employed by the asbestos-exposing industry is not entitled to an order of removal and the subsequent award because he no longer faces the possibility of exposure. See Austin v. General Tire, 354 N.C. 344,553 S.E.2d 680 (2001). However, the instant case may be distinguishable from Austin in that plaintiff was likely not aware of his development of asbestosis until after he retired because defendant's medical surveillance program did not effectively monitor and track his development of asbestosis during his employment with defendant. Had defendant's program provided proper medical screening to inform plaintiff of his development of asbestosis, he might have been diagnosed with asbestosis while still in defendant's employ and, thus, subject to an order of removal and subsequent award. Plaintiff may have, to his detriment, relied upon the representations of defendant in regard to its medical monitoring of plaintiff. Thus, defendant may be equitably estopped from arguing that plaintiff is not entitled to the 104 week award pursuant to an order of removal.
The doctrine of equitable estoppel is a means of preventing a party from asserting a defense that is inconsistent with its prior conduct.Purser v. Heatherlin Properties, 137 N.C. App. 332, 337, 527 S.E.2d 689,692 (2000), cert. denied, 352 N.C. 676, 545 S.E.2d 428 (2000) (citingGodley v. County of Pitt, 306 N.C. 357, 360, 293 S.E.2d 167, 169
(1982)). In particular, the rule is grounded in the premise that `it offends every principle of equity and morality to permit a party to enjoy the benefits of a transaction and at the same time deny its terms or qualifications.' Id. (quoting Thompson v. Soles, 299 N.C. 484, 487,263 S.E.2d 599, 602 (1980)). The law of estoppel applies in workers' compensation cases, and may be used to ensure coverage of a work-related injury. Id. (citing Carroll v. Daniels and Daniels Constr. Co., Inc.,327 N.C. 616, 620, 398 S.E.2d 325, 328 (1990).
Defendant's argument to the effect that estoppel was raised too late in this case is to no avail. In Purser v. Heatherlin Properties, supra, the doctrine was raised for the first time by the Court of Appeals itself exmeru moto.
In Belfield v. Weyerhaeuser Co., 77 N.C. App. 332, 335 S.E.2d 44
(1985), the North Carolina Court of Appeals held that equitable estoppel was appropriate to prevent an employer from raising a time limitation when the employer misrepresented to the employee that his rights under the Workers' Compensation Act were being exercised on his behalf by the employer. See Id. at 337, 47. The court stated:
  The commonest type of case is that in which a claimant, typically not highly educated, contends that he was lulled into a sense of security by statements of employer or carrier representatives that `he will be taken care of' or that his claim has been filed for him or that a claim will not be necessary because he would be paid compensation benefits in any event. When such facts are established by the evidence, the lateness of the claim has ordinarily been excused.
Id. (quoting 3 A. Larson, The Law of Workmen's Compensation, Section 78.45 at 15-302 through 15-305 (1983)). In the case before the Commission, defendant similarly seeks to argue that the 104 week award pursuant to an order of removal is not timely because plaintiff was not diagnosed until after he retired. However, this Commission will not permit defendant to use a time limitation defense if there is evidence suggesting that defendant's own medical surveillance program failed to detect plaintiff's development of asbestosis while he was still in defendant's employ, or failed to disclose to plaintiff that he had developed asbestosis when defendant had knowledge thereof. Such acts may inequitably prevent plaintiff from receiving an order of removal and subsequent award that he otherwise deserved. For these reasons, defendant may be equitably estopped from arguing as to the timeliness of plaintiff's order or removal and subsequent award. Evidence as to the elements of estoppel is required before the Commission can make a determination on the matter. Therefore, this issue must be held in abeyance pending the presentation of such evidence.
6. Plaintiff is entitled to payment of all medical expenses incurred or to be incurred as a result of his asbestosis and asbestos related pleural disease for so long as such examinations, evaluations and treatments tend to affect a cure, give relief or lessen his disability. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-25; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-59.
7. Plaintiff is entitled to undergo subsequent examinations as provided by law, pursuant to the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 97-61.1 etseq. and is further entitled to any additional benefits due to plaintiff which shall be determined after additional examinations and hearings.
8. Plaintiff's claim for attorney's fees from defendant on the ground that defendant unreasonably defended this claim pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-88.1 is hereby held in abeyance until the final award is issued in this claim.
9. This claim must be remanded to a deputy commissioner for further hearing on the issue of estoppel, and for further hearing (if necessary) following subsequent examinations as required under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-61 et seq. Plaintiff's eligibility for further compensation in addition to medical and any other issues in controversy are hereby held in abeyance pending the outcome of further hearings.
                               ***********
Based upon the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, the undersigned enters the following:
 AWARD
1. Defendant shall pay all medical expenses incurred or to be incurred by plaintiff as a result of her asbestosis and asbestos related pleural disease for so long as such examinations, evaluations and treatments tend to affect a cure, give relief or lessen her disability.
2. Plaintiff shall undergo additional examinations as provided by law.
3. The Commission hereby retains jurisdiction in this matter to address the issue of permanent impairment, as plaintiff has not undergone the additional panel examination as required by law for such determination. Upon completion of such examinations, should the parties be unable to agree on what additional compensation, if any, is due, the parties may request a hearing before this Commission on this matter.
4. The Commission additionally retains jurisdiction in this matter to address the issue of equitable estoppel, as raised by plaintiff, as a means of awarding to plaintiff the 104 week award pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-61.5.
          5. Defendant shall pay the costs of this proceeding.                               *********** ORDER REMANDING
This claim is hereby remanded to a deputy commissioner for further hearing (if necessary) following subsequent examinations as required under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-61 et seq. Plaintiff's eligibility for further compensation under the Act beyond the medical compensation awarded herein and any other issues in controversy including equitable estoppel are hereby held in abeyance pending the outcome of further hearings.
This 21st day of October 2002.
                                  S/_____________ THOMAS J. BOLCH COMMISSIONER
CONCURRING:
  S/___________________ BERNADINE S. BALLANCE COMMISSIONER
DISSENTING:
  S/_______________ DIANNE C. SELLERS COMMISSIONER