City of Enterprise v. Herring
City of Enterprise v. Herring
Opinion
This is a workmen's compensation case. Plaintiff received an injury to his back while moving logs. He was determined by the trial court to have sustained as a result of the injury a permanent partial disability resulting in a sixty-five percent loss of ability to earn. We affirm.
The issue is whether the evidence sustains the award or, put another way, whether the court could lawfully find a sixty-five percent loss of ability to earn when medical evidence of physical disability did not exceed ten percent of the body as a whole.
The evidence was that claimant had worked for the City of Enterprise for a total of about seventeen years. He was classified as a heavy equipment operator. He was forty-eight years of age at the time of injury and had always worked at manual labor. He had only a third grade education. After his injury he immediately reported to his supervisor and sought medical attention the next day. He thereafter went to two orthopedists for treatment and submitted to a myelogram. The physicians found extensive arthritic spurs of the lumbar region and diagnosed his injury as a back strain aggravating his arthritis. He was advised to wear back braces and take certain exercises. Lifting was limited to no more than twenty-five pounds. After continuing to report severe back pain radiating into his leg without improvement, claimant was advised to try a pain-blocking device called a percutaneous stimulator. He has used the device regularly and receives some relief from pain but not total. There was testimony that he could do light work but could not do heavy manual labor. He testified that he had sought light work with the City and others but was unable to secure such work. The City, for six months after the injury, supplemented his compensation insurance sufficiently to total his regular wages before his injury. After six months, compensation and employment were terminated.
The City contends on this appeal that there was insufficient proof to sustain the finding of a sixty-five percent permanent partial disability. It is to be noted that the trial court correctly pointed out in its judgment that the testimony as to physical disability of the body is not the sole determinative factor in reaching the required factual conclusion as to the percentage loss of earning capacity. There are other factors such as education, age, experience, etc. which affect employability and thus earning capacity, which are to be considered by the court. This has been said in prior decisions.Brooks v. Crimson Homes, Inc.,
It has been said that the trial court is not bound in its ultimate conclusion of disability by expert testimony. CarrollConstruction Co., Inc. v. Hutcheson,
Defendant contends the finding of fact and conclusions of law made by the trial judge are insufficient under the requirements of §
Defendant contends the court erred in entering judgment for medical expense. We find no error here. Defendant's complaint is that medical expense was not shown to be reasonable. We find no objection to the admission of the evidence on that ground. The trial court cannot be charged with error except upon its rulings and orders. Since it was not called upon to rule upon the admissibility of the testimony as to medical expense on the ground now charged, it cannot be charged with error on appeal. Rule 4 (a)(3), ARAP.
AFFIRMED.
BRADLEY and HOLMES, JJ., concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- City of Enterprise, a Municipal Corporation v. Robert L. Herring.
- Cited By
- 7 cases
- Status
- Published