Court Opinion

ID: 4514216
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-03-10 14:17:13.024278+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:44:54.200865
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

              Present: Judges Petty, Russell and Malveaux
UNPUBLISHED

              Argued at Norfolk, Virginia

              PARKER MIZELLE
                                                                           MEMORANDUM OPINION* BY
              v.     Record No. 1115-19-1                               JUDGE MARY BENNETT MALVEAUX
                                                                                MARCH 10, 2020
              HOLIDAY ICE, INC. AND
               GRAPHIC ARTS MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY

                            FROM THE VIRGINIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COMMISSION

                               Carlton F. Bennett (Alexander R. McDaniel; The Law Firm of
                               Carlton F. Bennett, PLLC, on brief), for appellant.

                               Amanda Tapscott Belliveau (Joseph T. McNally; McCandlish
                               Holton, P.C., on brief), for appellees.

                     Parker Mizelle (“claimant”) appeals a decision of the Virginia Workers’ Compensation

              Commission (“the Commission”). Injured in a motor vehicle accident, claimant argues the

              Commission erred in finding that he was barred from an award of benefits because he willfully

              failed to put on a seat belt. He further argues the Commission erred in finding that his injuries were

              proximately caused by his failure to wear a seat belt. For the following reasons, we affirm the

              Commission’s decision.

                                                       I. BACKGROUND

                     “On appeal from a decision of the . . . Commission, the evidence and all reasonable

              inferences that may be drawn from that evidence are viewed in the light most favorable to the

              prevailing party below,” in this case, Holiday Ice, Inc. (“employer”). City of Charlottesville v.

                     *
                         Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
Sclafani, 70 Va. App. 613, 616 (2019) (alteration in original) (quoting Anderson v. Anderson, 65
Va. App. 354, 361 (2015)).

        So viewed, the evidence established that claimant worked for employer during the

summer of 2018. His job duties included delivering trailers of ice to various locations.

        Claimant testified that on September 6, 2018, employer needed a “party trailer” of ice

delivered to Smithfield. Claimant stated that he was told the delivery “needed to be done

quickly[,] . . . kind of like in a hurry.” However, he also stated that he thought the ice simply

“needed to be delivered by a certain time, just like most of the trailers that are sent out . . . need

to be delivered by a certain time.” Claimant “got in the truck and went” but did not put on his

seat belt.

        Claimant further testified that since first obtaining a driver’s license, he had known that

Virginia law “says you’re supposed to put [a seat belt] on before you start driving.” He

acknowledged his understanding that the seat belt law “still applied” and stated that when he

began driving the truck, he knew that he “had to put [his seat belt] on, . . . didn’t put it on yet, but

. . . intended to do so at some point.” He agreed that to his knowledge, nothing was wrong with

the truck’s seat belt and that he understood its purpose was to hold him in place, prevent him

from bouncing around, and keep him from being ejected in the event of an accident.

        Claimant stated that less than five minutes after he began driving the truck, he felt a

bump while traveling on a four-lane, divided highway. He looked in the driver’s side mirror and

saw that the trailer was “beside” him on the left side of his vehicle. Claimant attempted to

“recorrect the truck to try to get the trailer back behind.” When he did so, the truck veered from

the highway into the median. Claimant’s vehicle crossed the median into oncoming traffic and

collided head-on with a dump truck.

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        Claimant, who still was not wearing his seat belt when the collision occurred, testified

that he could not remember whether his body struck anything within the truck cab before he was

ejected from the vehicle. He did not feel any discomfort until he “came to,” at which point he

was lying on the pavement. Claimant was airlifted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital where he

was treated for numerous injuries, including kidney, liver, and spleen lacerations, a broken left

scapula and rib, and a pulmonary contusion.

        Claimant filed a claim seeking payment of unpaid medical bills and an award of medical

benefits and temporary total disability benefits from the date of the accident.

        Employer defended the claim, in part, on the ground that Code § 65.2-306(A)(4) barred

compensation due to claimant’s willful misconduct in “refus[ing] to perform a duty required by

statute”—specifically, his “failure to wear a seatbelt, as required by . . . Code § 46.2-1094,”

which “resulted in his injuries.”1 In support of its defense alleging willful misconduct, employer

entered into evidence a questionnaire completed by Dr. Michael Martyak, the trauma physician

who treated claimant at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. In responding to the questionnaire,

Dr. Martyak opined that claimant’s injuries were “consistent with being caused by an ejection

and impact with the ground” and that “it is more likely than not that use of a seatbelt would have

limited or avoided [claimant’s] injuries.”

        The deputy commissioner found that claimant had suffered a compensable injury by

accident and that employer had not met its burden of proving that claimant’s failure to wear a

seat belt constituted willful misconduct barring him from compensation. The deputy

commissioner awarded claimant lifetime medical benefits and temporary total disability benefits.

        1
         Code § 46.2-1094(A) provides, in pertinent part, that “[a]ny driver . . . of a motor
vehicle equipped . . . with a safety belt system . . . shall wear the . . . safety belt system at all
times while the motor vehicle is in motion on any public highway.”
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        Employer requested review by the full Commission.

        On review, the Commission reversed and vacated the award of benefits after finding that

claimant’s willful violation of a statute had proximately caused his injuries. Noting it was

uncontested that claimant knew he was required by law to use a seat belt and was not doing so at

the time of the accident, the Commission rejected claimant’s argument that his conduct was not

willful because he lacked “‘wrongful intent’ or a ‘wrongful state of mind.’” Relying on Layne v.

Crist Elec. Contractor, Inc., 64 Va. App. 342, 355 (2015), the Commission noted that to find

“willful[]” misconduct in the context of Code § 65.2-306 simply required proof that claimant had

known a rule and yet intentionally done what it had prohibited; employer was not required to

show that claimant had the rule in mind and was determined to break it. Further, to do

something “intentionally” meant to do it “purposely and not accidentally.” Id. at 356 (quoting

Smith v. Commonwealth, 282 Va. 449, 454 (2011)). With these principles in mind, the

Commission found that claimant’s failure to wear his seat belt had not been due to negligence or

inattention but to willful misconduct because he “knew of his obligation to wear the seatbelt. He

drove the truck with knowledge that he was not wearing his seatbelt and that he needed to put it

on. He admitted he intended to put [it] on, but nevertheless failed to do so.” Further, the

Commission found that “there was no exigency that would excuse . . . claimant’s failure to fasten

his seatbelt.”

        The Commission also found that based upon the medical evidence and claimant’s own

description of the accident, “claimant’s injuries were proximately caused by his failure to wear a

seatbelt and resulting ejection from the vehicle.” The Commission noted that the only impact

testified to by claimant was that of his body hitting the ground after he was ejected and that he

did not testify to experiencing any pain or injuries prior to that point. Further, Dr. Martyak’s

                                                -4-
opinion supported the conclusion that claimant’s injuries resulted from hitting the ground after

being ejected.

       Claimant appealed the Commission’s decision to this Court.

                                           II. ANALYSIS

       Claimant argues the Commission erred in finding that he willfully failed to put on his seat

belt and in finding that his failure to wear his seat belt proximately caused his injuries.

       “As the appellant in this case, . . . claimant bears the ‘burden of showing’ that the

Commission committed ‘reversible error.’ Further, this Court defers to the Commission in its

role as fact finder.” Jones v. Crothall Laundry, 69 Va. App. 767, 774 (2019) (citation omitted)

(quoting Burke v. Catawba Hosp., 59 Va. App. 828, 838 (2012)). Thus, in our analysis, factual

findings by the Commission are conclusive and binding if they are supported by credible

evidence. Id. “This principle applies ‘even [if] there is evidence in the record to support a

contrary finding.’ The appellate court simply does not ‘retry the facts, reweigh . . . the evidence,

or make [its] own determination of the credibility of the witnesses.’” Id. (alterations in original)

(citation omitted) (first quoting City of Waynesboro v. Griffin, 51 Va. App. 308, 317 (2008),

then quoting Layne, 64 Va. App. at 345). “Whether credible evidence exists to support a factual

finding is a question of law,” Hercules, Inc. v. Gunther, 13 Va. App. 357, 361 (1991), and this

Court “review[s] questions of law de novo,” Advance Auto and Indem. Ins. Co. of N. Am. v.

Craft, 63 Va. App. 502, 514 (2014).

       To obtain benefits for an injury under the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Act, an

employee must prove, “by a preponderance of the evidence[,] three elements: (1) that the injury

was caused by an accident; (2) that the injury was sustained in the course of the employment;

and (3) that the injury arose out of the employment.” Rush v. Univ. of Va. Health Sys., 64
Va. App. 550, 556 (2015) (quoting Southland Corp. v. Parson, 1 Va. App. 281, 283-84 (1985)).

                                                 -5-
“If the employee meets this burden, the employer can present certain defenses to defeat the

claim.” Jones, 69 Va. App. at 775. Relevant here, Code § 65.2-306(A)(4) provides, in pertinent

part, that no compensation shall be awarded to an employee for an injury caused by “[t]he

employee’s willful failure or refusal to . . . perform a duty required by statute.”

       To prevail when asserting a defense of willful misconduct under Code § 65.2-306(A), the

employer must prove that: (1) “the safety rule [or other duty] was reasonable”; (2) the rule or

duty “was known to [the employee]”; (3) the rule or duty “was for [the employee’s] benefit”; and

(4) the employee “intentionally undertook the forbidden act.” Buzzo v. Woolridge Trucking,

Inc., 17 Va. App. 327, 332 (1993) (alterations in original) (quoting Spruill v. C.W. Wright

Constr. Co., 8 Va. App. 330, 334 (1989)). The employer must also prove that such misconduct

was a proximate cause of the employee’s injury. Brockway v. Easter, 20 Va. App. 268, 271

(1995). Proximate cause, intent, and whether an employee was guilty of willful misconduct are

all issues of fact. Id. at 272; Layne, 64 Va. App. at 358.

                              A. Willful Failure to Wear a Seat Belt

       Claimant first argues the Commission erred in finding that he engaged in willful

misconduct because he “did not have the requisite intent when he failed to put on his seatbelt.”2

He contends that employer was required to prove his “deliberative intent” to refrain from putting

on his seat belt and that proof of such a “wrongful intention” required evidence of more than

mere negligence through inattention or inadvertence. Claimant asserts that the record is devoid

of such evidence.

       2
        The first three elements of the defense of willful misconduct are not before us in this
appeal. Consequently, we confine our analysis to the question raised by claimant in his first
assignment of error: whether he willfully failed to put on his seat belt before driving on the
highway, and thus intentionally undertook an act prohibited by Code § 46.2-1094(A).
                                               -6-
       Our Supreme Court has “interpreted the meaning of the word ‘willful’ from Section 14 of

the former Workmens’ [sic] Compensation Act—which is now Code § 65.2-306 of the current

Workers’ Compensation Act. The Supreme Court [has] explained that willful in this context

means ‘with deliberate intent.’” Layne, 64 Va. App. at 355 (quoting Riverside & Dan River

Cotton Mills, Inc. v. Thaxton, 161 Va. 863, 872 (1934)). The Court has further explained that if

an employee knows that an action is forbidden, “and yet intentionally does the forbidden thing,

he has willfully failed to obey.” Id. (quoting Riverside, 161 Va. at 872). It is unnecessary “for

the employer to show that the employee, having the rule in mind, determined to break it; it is

enough to show that, knowing the rule, he intentionally performed the forbidden act.” Id.

(quoting Riverside, 161 Va. at 872). Further, “the Supreme Court has explained [that] ‘The

adverb “intentionally” is defined as follows: “To do something purposefully and not

accidentally.”’” Id. at 356 (quoting Smith, 282 Va. at 454). Thus, “[a] wilful [sic] failure or

refusal to perform a duty required by statute . . . embodies the right of election. It is the rejection

of something demanded” and “involves the exercise of the will in making a choice, action rather

than mere inaction. It is not mere negligence, however gross.” King v. Empire Collieries Co.,

148 Va. 585, 590-91 (1927) (interpreting Section 14 of the former Workmen’s Compensation

Act, now Code § 65.2-306). Stated differently, “[t]he employee must will, or intend, not to

comply with the statute.” Id. at 591.

       Guided by these principles, we reject claimant’s argument that the Commission erred in

finding that he engaged in willful misconduct. Claimant testified that he was aware of the

statutory requirement that he wear a seat belt when driving a motor vehicle. He acknowledged

his understanding that the seat belt requirement applied to him and that he was supposed to put

his seat belt on before he began driving. He further acknowledged that while he intended to put

it on at some point, he did not do so prior to driving the truck. The Commission found that these

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circumstances established that claimant’s failure to wear his seat belt was willful, and we

conclude this finding was not in error. By his own admission, claimant knew that he was

forbidden to drive a motor vehicle without wearing a seat belt, and yet he “intentionally

undertook the forbidden act.” Buzzo, 17 Va. App. at 332 (quoting Spruill, 8 Va. App. at 334).

Further, by acknowledging that he intended to put his seat belt on at some point, and yet did not

put it on when he knew he was required to do so—i.e., when he began to drive the truck—

claimant demonstrated that he was violating Code § 46.2-1094(A) purposefully, not accidentally,

and with deliberate intent. See Layne, 64 Va. App. at 355, 356. Claimant’s conduct clearly

demonstrated his rejection of what the statute demanded and his willful choice not to comply

with the statute. See King, 148 Va. at 591. Therefore, because credible evidence in the record

supports the Commission’s factual finding that claimant willfully failed to wear his seat belt, and

thus willfully failed to comply with the requirements of Code § 46.2-1094, it is binding on this

Court, and we will not disturb it on appeal.3

                            B. Proximate Cause of Claimant’s Injuries

       Claimant further argues the Commission erred because there was insufficient credible

evidence to prove that his injuries were proximately caused by his failure to wear his seat belt.

He contends that although he only testified to one impact, which occurred when he hit the

ground after being ejected from the truck, given the nature of the collision and his loss of

       3
          At oral argument, counsel for claimant also contended that claimant’s failure to use his
seat belt was excused by an “exigent circumstance”—specifically, his need to quickly deliver the
trailer of ice. As noted above, the Commission found that no exigency excused claimant’s
failure to use his seat belt. Claimant has not assigned error to this finding by the Commission,
and his assignment of error does not encompass whether, even if willful, his failure to use his
seat belt was excused by exigent circumstances. Claimant has thus waived the issue of exigent
circumstances for purposes of our review. See Rule 5A:20(c); Ceres Marine Terminals v.
Armstrong, 59 Va. App. 694, 698 n.1 (2012) (noting that the employer did not assign error to a
ruling of the Commission and that “[u]nder our Rules, we only address arguments encompassed
by an appellant’s express ‘assignment[s] of error’ in his brief”).
                                                 -8-
consciousness, he would not have been “able to differentiate the impact from the collision and

the impact from hitting the ground.” Claimant also contends there is no credible evidence that

his injuries would have been prevented by wearing a seat belt. Additionally, claimant challenges

the weight given to Dr. Martyak’s opinion by the Commission because the questionnaire

completed by the doctor was prepared by employer’s counsel, lacked a narrative format, and

contained leading and conclusory assertions.4

       “Proximate cause ‘is that act or omission which, in natural and continuous sequence,

unbroken by an . . . intervening cause, produces the event, and without which that event would

not have occurred.’” Jones, 69 Va. App. at 776 (alteration in original) (quoting Office of the

Comptroller v. Barker, 275 Va. 529, 539 (2008)). Proximate cause of an injury may be proven

by circumstantial evidence, which is “as competent and is entitled to as much weight as direct

evidence, provided it is sufficiently convincing.” Basement Waterproofing & Drainage v.

Beland, 43 Va. App. 352, 357 (2004) (quoting Montague v. Commonwealth, 40 Va. App. 430,

439 (2003)).

       We are not persuaded by claimant’s argument. It is uncontested that claimant was not

wearing his seat belt when his accident occurred and that when he struck a dump truck, he was

ejected from his vehicle and landed on the pavement. The trauma physician who treated

claimant at the hospital, Dr. Martyak, opined that claimant’s injuries were “consistent with being

caused by an ejection and impact with the ground” rather than with other causative factors, such

       4
          Claimant also argues that he had no opportunity to cross-examine Dr. Martyak
regarding the questionnaire. Claimant has waived any argument with respect to this issue,
because neither at the hearing before the deputy commissioner, nor in his written position
statement submitted to the deputy commissioner, nor in his written statement on review before
the full Commission did claimant raise this issue. See Rule 5A:18; Newport News Shipbuilding
& Dry Dock Co. v. Wardell Orthopaedics, P.C., 67 Va. App. 404, 413 (2017) (holding that an
issue was barred from appellate consideration where it was “never raised . . . before the
Commission” and the claimant did not argue for application of the “good cause” or “ends of
justice” exceptions to Rule 5A:18).
                                               -9-
as the impact of the collision itself or claimant being struck by portions of his own truck or the

dump truck. Dr. Martyak further opined that it was “more likely than not that use of a seatbelt

would have limited or avoided [claimant’s] injuries.” Dr. Martyak’s medical opinion evidence

was uncontradicted, and the Commission was free to credit his opinion, as it did. See Vital Link,

Inc. v. Hope, 69 Va. App. 43, 64 (2018) (noting that a treating physician’s opinion is entitled to

great weight by the Commission); Paramont Coal Co. Va., LLC v. McCoy, 69 Va. App. 343, 358

(2018) (“The credibility of an expert witness and the weight assigned to an expert opinion are

factual matters within the purview of the Commission.”). The Commission found that claimant’s

injuries were proximately caused by his failure to wear his seat belt and his resulting ejection

from his truck, and the uncontested and uncontroverted evidence noted above supports that

finding. Because the Commission’s factual finding of the proximate cause of claimant’s injuries

is supported by credible evidence in the record, it is binding on this Court and we will not disturb

it on appeal.

                                       III. CONCLUSION

       Credible evidence supports the Commission’s finding that claimant willfully failed to

wear a seat belt and thus engaged in willful misconduct. Credible evidence further supports the

Commission’s finding that claimant’s injuries were proximately caused by his failure to wear a

seat belt. Consequently, we affirm the Commission’s decision that claimant’s willful misconduct

barred him from receiving an award of benefits.

                                                                                          Affirmed.

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