Gaynell Finister v. Golden Nugget Lake Charles, LLC

STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT CA 23-578-WCA GAYNELL FINISTER VERSUS GOLDEN NUGGET LAKE CHARLES, LLC ********** APPEAL FROM THE OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION, DISTRICT 03 PARISH OF CALCASIEU, DOCKET 20-04616 HONORABLE MELISSA ST. MARY, WORKERS’ COMPENSATION JUDGE ********** LEDRICKA J. THIERRY JUDGE ********** Court composed of Shannon J. Gremillion, Jonathan W. Perry and Ledricka J. Thierry, Judges. AFFIRMED AS AMENDED. Jason E. Wilson Hayden D. Presley Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr & Smith 3861 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy., Ste. 300 Lafayette, LA 70503 (337) 735-1760 COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT Golden Nugget Lake Charles, LLC Marcus M. Zimmerman 949 Ryan St., Ste. 110 Lake Charles, LA 70601 (337) 474-1644 COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE Gaynell Finister 1 THIERRY, Judge. 2 An employer appeals a judgment rendered by the Office of Workers’ 3 Compensation (“OWC”) in favor of the Claimant, the injured employee. The 4 Claimant answered the appeal requesting additional attorney’s fees. For the reasons 5 that follow, we affirm as amended, reducing the past indemnity benefits award from 6 $94,640.00 to $58,240.00, and awarding an additional $5,000.00 in attorney’s fees 7 to Claimant. 8 FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY 9 In 2014, Gaynell Finister (“Ms. Finister”) was hired as an environmental 10 services (“EVS”) supervisor at the Golden Nugget in Lake Charles, Louisiana 11 (“GNLC”). An EVS supervisor’s job duties included maintaining the cleanliness of 12 the facilities and hiring, firing, and scheduling employees. Physically, an EVS 13 supervisor could be expected to sweep, mop, clean, and replenish bathroom supplies, 14 especially when work was busy. 15 On November 17, 2018, Ms. Finister sustained a shoulder injury at work while 16 attempting to break up an altercation between two other employees. GNLC paid her 17 benefits for that injury. She underwent a rotator cuff repair surgery on May 3, 2019, 18 with Dr. Brett Cascio (“Dr. Cascio”) and was placed on no work status until October 19 22, 2019, at which point Dr. Cascio released her to light duty work with restrictions 20 of “[n]o lifting, pushing, pulling, climbing until further notice.” She returned to work 21 at GNLC on November 8, 2019. 22 On November 16, 2019, just eight days after returning to work, Ms. Finister 23 sustained a second shoulder injury when reaching to grab her radio. GNLC accepted 24 her injury as compensable. Dr. Cascio placed Ms. Finister on no work status until 1 February 27, 2020, when he released her to light duty. On March 5, 2020, GNLC 2 reoffered her a job as EVS supervisor. 3 The EVS supervisor position mentioned in the March 5, 2020 offer was for 4 the graveyard shift, from approximately 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm, as opposed to her 5 usual swing shift, from approximately 11:00 pm to 7:30 am. Ms. Finister did not 6 accept the position, which GNLC assumed to be a voluntary resignation. GNLC 7 thereby suspended her workers’ compensation indemnity benefits. In response, Ms. 8 Finister filed a claim against GNLC, alleging entitlement to indemnity benefits and 9 requesting penalties and attorney’s fees. 10 The trial on this matter was held on March 23, 2023. In a judgment signed on 11 June 8, 2023, the Workers’ Compensation Judge (“WCJ”) rendered judgment in 12 favor of Ms. Finister. In her written reasons, the WCJ held that “the Environmental 13 Services Supervisor position offered to Claimant on March 5, 2020 by Defendant 14 was not a suitable or modified position that Claimant could perform within the 15 restrictions placed upon her by her treating physician.” The WCJ further stated, in 16 part: 17 When Claimant was offered to return to work on the graveyard shift in 18 the same EVS capacity as she had done two (2) prior times at this point, 19 Claimant had no reasonable basis for believing that the graveyard EVS 20 position would be any different than the swing shift EVS position, and 21 rightfully so – they are the same exact positions irrespective of whether 22 one shift is busier than the other at any given time. Moreover, there was 23 nothing in the March 5, 2020 offer letter suggesting that what she was 24 being offered was any different than what she had done the past two (2) 25 times she was released to return to work. It is not enough to 26 acknowledge a restriction and bring an employee back in the same 27 capacity with the caveat “just stay within your restrictions”, and refer 28 to it as a modified position. Defendant knew Claimant worked beyond 29 her restrictions when she returned after Injury #1. Because of the nature 30 of the job coupled with the “all hands on deck when necessary” culture, 31 absent an affirmative accommodation in the form of a legitimately 32 modified position, Claimant was at risk of re-injury each time she [2] 1 returned to the EVS position. Therefore, Claimant was not obligated to 2 accept the EVS position a third time, and her refusal to accept the same 3 position was not a voluntary withdrawal from the workforce. [4] 5 It is this ruling GNLC now appeals. Ms. Finister answered the appeal, asking 6 that she be awarded additional attorney’s fees for the appeal. 7 ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR 8 1. The WCJ was manifestly erroneous in her conclusion that GNLC’s job 9 offer of March 5, 2020 was unsuitable such that it was required to continue 10 to pay indemnity to Ms. Finister. [11] 12 2. The WCJ was manifestly erroneous[ ] in concluding that GNLC’s handling 13 of this claim was arbitrary and capricious such that penalties and attorney 14 fees were owed. [15] 16 3. The WCJ committed legal error in concluding that Ms. Finister had not 17 retired and thus her entitled to supplemental earnings benefits (SEB) was 18 not capped as of 104 weeks. [19] 20 ANALYSIS 21 Standard of Review 22 Factual findings in workers’ compensation cases are analyzed on appeal under 23 the manifest error standard of review. Timberlake v. Christus Health Cent. La, 13- 24 166 (La.App. 3 Cir. 10/30/13) , 124 So.3d 1201 . In applying this standard, “the 25 appellate court must determine not whether the trier of fact was right or wrong, but 26 whether the factfinder’s conclusion was a reasonable one.” Foster v. Rabalais 27 Masonry, Inc., 01-1394, p. 2 (La.App. 3 Cir. 3/6/02), 811 So.2d 1160, 1162 , writ 28 denied, 02-1164 (La. 6/14/02), 818 So.2d 784 . As this court has previously 29 explained: 30 Where there are two permissible views of the evidence, a factfinder's 31 choice between them can never be manifestly erroneous or clearly 32 wrong. Thus, “if the [factfinder's] findings are reasonable in light of the 33 record reviewed in its entirety, the court of appeal may not reverse, even 34 though convinced that had it been sitting as the trier of fact, it would [3] 1 have weighed the evidence differently.” Sistler v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., [2] 558 So.2d 1106, 1112 (La.1990). [4] Id. (internal citation omitted). 5 Assignment of Error Number One 6 It is well established that an employee is entitled to receive supplemental 7 earnings benefits (“SEB”) if she sustains a work-related injury that causes an 8 inability to earn at least ninety percent or more of her pre-injury wage. La.R.S. 9 23:1221(3)(a)(i); see also Banks v. Indus. Roofing & Sheet Metal Works, Inc., 96- 10 2840 (La. 7/1/97), 696 So.2d 551 . The employee bears the initial burden of proof to 11 show that the injury resulted in an inability to earn that amount. Once this burden is 12 met, the burden shifts to the employer who must prove that the employee is 13 physically able to perform a certain job and that such a job was offered to the 14 employee or available to the employee in her or the employer’s reasonable 15 geographic location. La.R.S. 23:1221(3)(c)(i); Banks, 696 So.2d 551 . Importantly, 16 “workers’ compensation is to be liberally construed in favor of coverage.” Daigle v. 17 Sherwin-Williams Co., 545 So.2d 1005, 1007 (La.1989). 18 In this case, neither party disputes that Ms. Finister sustained work-related 19 injuries on November 17, 2018 and again on November 16, 2019. Neither disputes 20 that Ms. Finister was entitled to benefits following those injuries. Rather, the issue 21 raised in this assignment of error is whether GNLC’s March 5, 2020 job offer was a 22 suitable one that accommodated her restrictions, and whether her refusal to accept 23 constituted a voluntary withdrawal from the workforce. The employer, GNLC, bears 24 the burden of proof pursuant to La.R.S. 23:1221(3)(c)(i). 25 The March 5, 2020 offer letter at issue stated: 26 Dear Ms. Finister, [4] 1 Golden Nugget Lake Charles (GNLC) is in receipt of a doctor’s 2 note from Dr. Cascio, indicating that you are able to return to light duty 3 work effective February 27, 2020. The doctor’s note indicates that you 4 are cleared to return to light duty work with the restriction of no use of 5 left arm. A copy of the doctor’s note is attached for your review. [6] 7 Please be advised that GNLC has a light duty position for you 8 with EVS at Golden Nugget Lake Charles, 2550 Golden Nugget Blvd, 9 Lake Charles, LA 70601. GNLC will pay your normal wage for the 10 above mentioned light duty position. The physical requirements of your 11 duties will include, but are not limited to, walking. [12] 13 If you are unable to report to work due to illness or injury, you 14 should notify your supervisor before the start of your next workday, if 15 possible. Your supervisor must also be contacted on each additional day 16 of absence. You are also required to attend all follow up doctors’ 17 appointments. If you are unable to attend, you must call to reschedule 18 your appointment as soon as possible. [19] 20 GNLC recognizes, is aware of, and will abide by the physical 21 limitations by which Dr. Cascio has authorized you to return to work. 22 Your job will not exceed the physical limitations as outlined by Dr. 23 Cascio on the report. GNLC will only assign tasks consistent with your 24 listed physical abilities, knowledge, and skills and will provide training 25 if necessary for the light duty position referenced herein. [26] 27 Please contact Justin Yelverton, Risk Manager, at (337) 50828 7917 upon receipt of this bona fide offer of employment to confirm 29 your return to work in the capacity described above. Failure to respond 30 to this offer will indicate that you have declined this offer and wish to 31 voluntarily terminate your employment with GNLC. [32] 33 Sincerely, [34] 35 Justin P. Yelverton [36] 37 Risk Manager [38] 39 This offer letter appears at first glance to be accommodating of Ms. Finister’s 40 work restrictions and injuries. Yet, Ms. Finister testified at trial that the very nature 41 of being an EVS supervisor, particularly on the graveyard shift, was physical and 42 would require her to work beyond her restrictions. [5] 1 Ms. Finister further testified that she had to “take up the slack” when the staff 2 was shorthanded or an employee was on a break. She explained, “You cannot leave 3 anything messy for the patrons to see, picking up casino glasses, clearing out 4 ashtrays, stocking the restrooms, yes.” Even though the written job description of 5 EVS supervisor did not explicitly state that she was required to assist the staff, she 6 testified that her understanding and experience of the EVS position—a position she 7 held for several years prior to her injuries and thus was intimately familiar with— 8 was that she was supposed to assist staff when the job required it. 9 As one example, upon returning to work after her first shoulder injury, Ms. 10 Finister testified that she had to work beyond her restrictions. She explained: “When 11 it’s in the restrooms, when you see tissue on the floor or need to be restocked or 12 water all on the mirrors, you have to jump in and clean it, especially if the lady is on 13 break or either she is tending the other part of the restroom.” She further testified 14 that she was working beyond her work restrictions at the time she re-injured her right 15 shoulder. 16 In regard to the March 5, 2020 offer of employment, although Ms. Finister 17 agreed on cross examination that she had no knowledge about the physical 18 requirements of the EVS supervisor graveyard position, she also testified that the 19 graveyard shift consisted of more work than the swing shift position she had 20 previously held. According to Ms. Finister, “the graveyard shift was the shift that 21 came and cleaned grounds at night when it’s not busy, cleaned the whole entire spa 22 area, cleaned restrooms, restaurant, such as shampooing some carpet in certain areas 23 and getting it all cleaned up for the morning shift.” 24 After a review of the record, we find that it was not manifestly erroneous for 25 the WCJ to find the March 5, 2020 offered position to be unsuitable employment for [6] 1 Ms. Finister, and that GNLC therefore failed to meet its burden under La.R.S. 2 23:1221(3)(c)(i) of proving that Ms. Finister was physically able to perform the EVS 3 supervisor graveyard position. Although GNLC put forth evidence to challenge Ms. 4 Finister’s testimony, we are not permitted to weigh the evidence under the manifest 5 error of review. We find that the WCJ was reasonable in concluding that it was “not 6 enough [for GNLC] to acknowledge a restriction and bring an employee back in the 7 same capacity with the caveat just stay within your restrictions, and refer to it as a 8 modified position.” Therefore, this assignment of error is without merit. 9 Assignment of Error Number Two 10 In its second assignment of error, GNLC claims that the WCJ was manifestly 11 erroneous in finding GNLC’s handling of this claim to be arbitrary and capricious 12 and subsequently awarding penalties and attorney’s fees. The WCJ in this case 13 awarded attorney’s fees of $15,000.00 and penalties of $8,000.00. Ms. Finister 14 opposes this assignment of error and further asserts that she is entitled to additional 15 attorney’s fees for this appeal. 16 As we stated in Colonial Nursing Home v. Bradford, 02-588, p. 11 (La.App. 17 3 Cir. 12/30/02), 834 So.2d 1262, 1271 , writ denied, 03-364 (La. 4/21/03), 841 So.2d 18 802 (internal citations omitted): 19 Penalties and attorney fees do not automatically result from an 20 employer's erroneous failure to pay benefits. The statutes only authorize 21 such penalties and attorney fees where the employer is arbitrary, 22 capricious, or without probable cause in terminating or refusing to 23 institute compensation benefits. The provisions are penal in nature and 24 must be strictly construed so that employers are not penalized for 25 contesting a close factual question in a workers' compensation 26 proceeding and relying on valid defenses. Nevertheless, in Stegall v. J 27 & J Exterminating, 94 1279 (La.App. 3 Cir. 3/1/95) , 651 So.2d 400 , 28 403, we held an employer “may not proceed with an attitude of 29 indifference to the injured worker's situation.” An unjustified belief that 30 an injury did not result from an accident does not excuse a failure to 31 pay workers' compensation benefits. The determination of whether an [7] 1 employee may be awarded penalties and attorney's fees is a question of 2 fact which we will not disturb on appeal absent a finding of manifest 3 error. [4] 5 Here, GNLC assigned Ms. Finister to the same position in which she 6 previously sustained two injuries. Although GNLC argues that the new job offer was 7 different, in that it did not require her to break her restrictions, the trial testimony 8 revealed that the very nature of an EVS supervisor requires physical work. The fact 9 that Ms. Finister sustained a second injury just eight days after returning to work 10 following her first injury in the EVS supervisor position indicates that the March 5, 11 2020 offer was not suitable employment. Therefore, we cannot say that it was 12 manifestly erroneous for the WCJ to find that GNLC arbitrarily and capriciously 13 handled Ms. Finister’s claim and to award penalties and attorney’s fees. 14 As to Ms. Finister’s request for additional attorney’s fees for work associated 15 with this appeal, we have previously held that “a workers’ compensation claimant 16 who is successful in defending an appeal may be entitled to an award of additional 17 attorney fees.” McCain v. Motel 6, 19-653, p. 11 (La.App. 3 Cir. 3/4/20), 297 So.3d 18 136, 143, writ denied, 20-764 (La. 10/6/20), 302 So.3d 535 ; see also Ryan v. Cajun 19 Indus., L.L.C., 20-617 (La.App. 3 Cir. 11/3/21) , 330 So.3d 324 ; Colonial Nursing 20 Home v. Bradford, 834 So.2d 1262 . Ms. Finister’s attorney prepared an answer to 21 the appeal, prepared an appellate brief, and participated in oral argument. We find 22 that an award of $5,000.00 to Ms. Finister is reasonable under these circumstances. 23 Assignment of Error Number Three 24 In its final assignment of error, GNLC alleges that the WCJ erred by failing 25 to find that Ms. Finister did not retire and by awarding her past and future indemnity 26 benefits in excess of 104 weeks. When a claimant retires, her supplemental earnings 27 benefits (“SEB”) are capped at 104 weeks, rather than 520 weeks. La.R.S. [8] 1 23:1221(3)(d)(iii) (“When the employee retires; however, the period during which 2 supplemental earnings benefits may be payable shall not be less than one hundred 3 four weeks.”). 4 In Breaux v. City of New Orleans, 97-273, pp. 6-7 (La.App. 4 Cir. 8/27/97), [5] 699 So.2d 482, 486 , writ denied, 97-2491 (La. 12/19/97), 706 So.2d 454 (internal 6 citations omitted), the court explained how to determine whether retirement in the 7 context of SEB occurs: 8 “Retirement” occurs for purposes of SEB entitlement when the worker 9 either “withdraws from the work force” or draws old age social security 10 benefits, whichever comes first. Determination of whether an 11 employee has “withdrawn from the work force” for purposes of SEB is 12 based on many factors, including age; the circumstances of each case 13 control. Generally, an employee who elects retirement benefits in lieu 14 of returning to work is considered to have retired. This rule also applies 15 if the employee states his intention to not look for another job despite 16 his doctor's opinion he could return to sedentary work. [17] 18 On the other hand, unemployment caused solely by employment 19 injury is not considered “retirement” for purposes of terminating SEB. 20 The “retirement” which restricts SEB payments is that based on age or 21 years of service resulting in some type of pension. The term 22 “retirement” connotes “total and permanent withdrawal from the work 23 force.” Significantly, in Mason, 662 So.2d 843 , the court found that the 24 worker had retired for purposes of SEB when he wrote a letter to his 25 employer stating that he was retiring, told his physician he had retired, 26 wrote “retired” in the space for employer on his health insurance form, 27 moved back home in a rural area, did not seek employment, and openly 28 conducted himself as a retiree. [29] 30 Stated another way, retirement under La.R.S. 23:1221(3)(d)(iii) “refers only 31 to a worker who has no intention of returning to work regardless of a disability.” 32 Kinchen v. City of Shreveport, 46,490, p. 10 (La.App. 2 Cir. 9/21/11), 73 So.3d 1011 , 33 1018, writ granted, 11-2262 (La. 12/2/11), 76 So.3d 1161 . When an employee 34 expresses an intention to stop working and not search for other employment, and 35 who makes no effort to search for another job, that employee is retired for purposes 36 of La.R.S. 23:1221(3)(d)(iii). Id. [9] 1 Ms. Finister’s counsel argues in the appellate brief that Ms. Finister was not 2 permanently withdrawn from the workforce. At trial, Ms. Finister testified that she 3 “would take” a “perfect job” if offered one that accounted for her disabilities. 4 Yet, on cross examination, Ms. Finister admitted that she has not looked for 5 any work since Dr. Cascio released her to light duty: 6 Q. Ms. Finister, the last day you worked was – or the last – well, the 7 last day you looked for employment or [were] involved in that was on 8 March 6th, [2020,] correct? You haven’t looked for any employment – [9] 10 A. Correct. [11] 12 Q. – since then? Yes? [13] 14 A. Yes. [15] 16 Q. And you haven’t looked for work even that would be within your 17 light duty restrictions, isn’t that right? [18] 19 A. That’s right. [20] 21 Q. So Dr. Cascio released you to light duty, which means that Dr. 22 Cascio, your choice of physician, said that you could work, but you 23 haven’t – you haven’t actually looked for any work even though it’s 24 been the case; isn’t that right? [25] 26 A. Right. [27] 28 During her deposition, Ms. Finister also admitted she had not searched for any 29 jobs within her restrictions: 30 Q. So, you know, as we sit here today, is there any type of work that 31 you think you’d be able to do right now that would fit these light-duty 32 restrictions? [33] 34 A. It would probably be secretary, like answering the phones, 35 something like that. [36] 37 Q. Have you looked for any jobs like that? [38] 39 A. No. [10] 1 Furthermore, Ms. Finister evidenced an intent to retire, as she admitted at trial 2 that she told Dr. Cascio she had retired. The medical records corroborate her 3 testimony, as Dr. Cascio states in a medical record dated March 30, 2021, that “[s]he 4 [Ms. Finister] is currently retired.” In addition, according to the trial testimony of 5 Shane Erwin, a nurse case manager who helped handle the medical aspect of Ms. 6 Finister’s workers’ compensation case, Ms. Finister verbally stated that she was 7 retired. In Mr. Erwin’s closure report on Ms. Finister, Mr. Erwin stated that the 8 “[i]njured worker has been placed in non-surgical MMI and has retired from her 9 job.” 10 Under La.R.S. 23:1221(3) and the jurisprudence’s interpretation of 11 “retirement,” we find that Ms. Finister is retired. She expressed an intention not to 12 return to the workforce when she told Dr. Cascio and Mr. Erwin she was retired. 13 Although she said she would take a job, if offered one within her restrictions, she 14 admitted she never searched for other employment. Simply put, she made no effort 15 to return to the workforce, and the record is absent of any evidence to the contrary. 16 Therefore, we find that Ms. Finister is retired pursuant to La.R.S. 17 23:1221(3)(d)(iii), and as such the WCJ manifestly erred by not capping her SEB at 18 104 weeks. We accordingly amend the WCJ’s June 8, 2023 judgment to reflect the 19 retirement cap of 104 weeks. The compensation rate used in the WCJ’s judgment 20 and stipulated to by the parties is $560.00. When the compensation rate of $560.00 21 is multiplied by the retirement cap of 104 weeks, encompassing a period of 22 approximately two years from March 6, 2020 through March 6, 2022, the total 23 amount of indemnity benefits owed to Ms. Finister is $58,240.00 ($560.00 x 104 = 24 $58,240.00). We thereby reduce the past indemnity benefits award of $94,640.00 to 25 $58,240.00, with no future benefits owed. [11] 1 To be clear, the portion of the WCJ’s June 8, 2023 judgment which we amend 2 is: 3 Calculation of Claimant’s indemnity benefits is based on the 4 stipulated average weekly wage rate of $840.00 with a corresponding 5 comp rate of $560.00. Claimant is entitled to past indemnity benefits in 6 the amount of $94,640.00, which amount is for the period of March 6, 7 2020 through June 2, 2023. Thereafter benefits are owed until such time 8 that it can be reduced or terminated in accordance with Louisiana 9 Workers’ Compensation Law. [10] 11 We amend the above-quoted portion of the judgment to the following: 12 Calculation of Claimant’s indemnity benefits is based on the 13 stipulated average weekly wage rate of $840.00 with a corresponding 14 comp rate of $560.00. Claimant’s indemnity benefits are capped at 104 15 weeks pursuant to La.R.S. 23:1221(3)(d)(iii). Claimant is entitled to 16 past indemnity benefits in the amount of $58,240.00, which amount is 17 for the approximate period of March 6, 2020 through March 6, 2022 18 and is calculated by multiplying the comp rate of $560.00 by 104. [19] 20 DECREE 21 For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the findings of the WCJ, as amended 22 above to reduce Gaynell Finister’s award of indemnity benefits from $94,640.00 to 23 $58,240.00. We award the amount of $5,000.00 to Ms. Finister for additional 24 attorney’s fees on appeal. Costs of this appeal are assessed against appellant, Golden 25 Nugget Lake Charles, LLC. 26 AFFIRMED AS AMENDED.