Opinion
Argued March 7, 1974
April 19, 1974.
Workmen's compensation — Scope of appellate review — Violation of constitutional rights — Error of law — Findings of fact — Substantial evidence — Consistent findings — Words and phrases — Capricious disregard of competent evidence — Credibility — The Pennsylvania Workmen's Compensation Act, Act 1915, June 2, P. L. 736 — Rules — Claim petition — Failure to deny allegations.
1. In a workmen's compensation case review by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania is to determine whether constitutional rights were violated, an error of law was committed or any necessary finding of fact was unsupported by substantial evidence, and, where the decision of the compensation authorities is against the party with the burden of proof, judicial review is to determine whether findings are consistent with each other and with the legal conclusions and order and can be sustained without a capricious disregard of competent evidence. [189-90]
2. A capricious disregard of competent evidence is a wilful and deliberate disregard of competent testimony and relevant evidence which one of ordinary intelligence could not possibly have avoided in reaching the result. [190]
3. A workmen's compensation referee is not guilty of a capricious disregard of competent evidence in finding for a party producing no evidence and in disregarding testimony on essential matters presented by the party with the burden of proof when the credibility of the witness presenting such testimony was attacked on cross-examination. [190-1]
4. Under provisions of The Pennsylvania Workmen's Compensation Act, Act 1915, June 2, P. L. 736, prior to amendments in 1072 and under the rules of the Workmen's Compensation (Appeal) Board, neither the referee nor the Board is compelled to find that facts alleged in a workmen's compensation claim petition are true although they are not specifically denied by the opposing party. [191-2]
Argued March 7, 1974, before Judges WILKINSON, JR., MENCER and BLATT, sitting as a panel of three.
Appeal, No. 729 C.D. 1973, from the Order of the Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board in case of Gordon J. Isherwood v. Township of Penn Hills, No. A-66048.
Petition with Department of Labor and Industry for workmen's compensation benefits. Petition dismissed. Petitioner appealed to the Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board. Denial affirmed. Petitioner appealed to the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Held: Affirmed.
William A. Weiler, with him Glasso and Weiler, for appellant.
Carl B. Fried, with him Irwin M. Ringold, for appellees.
This is an appeal by Gordon J. Isherwood (Isherwood) from an order of the Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board (Board) denying him benefits.
Isherwood was employed by the Township of Penn Hills (Township) as a police officer. On February 3, 1970, he filed a claim petition with the Bureau of Workmen's Compensation, alleging that he injured his back on March 4, 1969 as a result of an accident in which he slipped on a step while carrying a stretcher during the course of his employment.
After two hearings were held, a referee denied compensation on the basis of his finding that Isherwood did not sustain a compensable accidental injury on March 4, 1969. The Board then affirmed the referee's determination. The present appeal follows the Board's denial of Isherwood's petition for a rehearing.
Our scope of review in workmen's compensation cases is limited to a determination of whether constitutional rights were violated, an error of law was committed, or any necessary finding of fact was unsupported by substantial competent evidence. Page's Department Store v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board, 11 Pa. Commw. 126, 309 A.2d 169 (1973). And where, as here, the Board has affirmed the findings and conclusions of the referee and has found against the party having the burden of proof, review by this Court is to determine whether the findings are consistent with each other and with the conclusions of law and the Board's order and can be sustained without a capricious disregard of competent evidence. Wilkes-Barre Iron Wire Works, Inc. v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board, 9 Pa. Commw. 612, 309 A.2d 172 (1973).
The claimant here has the burden of proving that his injury resulted from an accident as that term was used in The Pennsylvania Workmen's Compensation Act, Act of June 2, 1915, P. L. 736, as amended, 77 P. S. § 1 et seq. Hinkle v. H. J. Heinz Company, 7 Pa. Commw. 216, 298 A.2d 632 (1972).
The first two questions presented in this appeal concern the propriety of the referee's conclusion that there was no compensable accidental injury sustained by Isherwood on March 4, 1969. Since the referee found as a fact that there was no compensable accident, our limited scope of review compels us to sustain this finding if we can do so without a capricious disregard of competent evidence.
At the hearings before the referee, Isherwood offered his own testimony and that of two fellow police officers to support his claim that he sustained an accident on March 4, 1969 when he slipped while carrying a stretcher. He also presented the testimony of his doctor to establish causation between the above incident and his injuries. This testimony was not rebutted by the Township which chose not to present any evidence at the hearings before the referee.
There is no doubt that the referee disregarded the testimony given by Isherwood and his witnesses. However, under the circumstances of this case, we do not find that this disregard of testimony was capricious.
Although the Township offered no evidence of its own, it did attack Isherwood's credibility. On cross-examination, Isherwood admitted that when he saw his physician shortly after the alleged accident he did not recall telling the physician about slipping or falling. The physician stated on cross-examination that Isherwood gave no history of slipping when he was examined by the doctor on March 10, 1969.
A capricious disregard of competent evidence occurs when there is a wilful and deliberate disregard of competent testimony and relevant evidence which one of ordinary intelligence could not possibly have avoided in reaching the result. Wilkes-Barre Iron Wire Works, Inc. v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board, supra. In light of the doubt which was cast upon Isherwood's credibility during cross-examination, we cannot say that the referee's rejection of his testimony that he slipped and fell was such a flagrant disregard of the testimony as to be repugnant to a man of reasonable intelligence. Crain v. Small Tubes Products, 8 Pa. Commw. 157, 302 A.2d 925 (1973). After a review of the record, we conclude that the findings of the referee can be sustained without a capricious disregard of competent evidence.
This testimony was necessary for a conclusion that a compensable accident was sustained under The Pennsylvania Workmen's Compensation Act.
Isherwood also argues that the Board and referee erred in not finding that the Township admitted in the pleadings that Isherwood suffered an accidental injury. We find this argument to be without merit.
This argument is based on the Township's failure to specifically deny Isherwood's allegations of an accident in his claim petition. The Township simply used the word "denied" in its answer to Isherwood's allegations numbers 2 and 4. This is contended by Isherwood to be tantamount to an admission of these two allegations under Section 416 of The Pennsylvania Workmen's Compensation Act, 77 P. S. § 821, and Section 111.43 of the rules of the Board, 34 Pa. Code § 111.43. We do not agree.
Section 416, as it was in effect on April 15, 1970, the date of the Township's answer, read in pertinent part as follows: "Every fact alleged in a claim petition not specifically denied by an answer so filed by an adverse party shall be deemed to be admitted by him. But the failure of any adverse party or of all of them to deny a fact so alleged shall not preclude the board or referee before whom the petition is heard from requiring, of its or his own motion, proof of such fact." (Emphasis added.) Section 111.43 of the rules of the Board, which was in effect on April 15, 1970, provides: "The Board or the referee may, upon proper cause shown, extend the time for the filing of an answer or other pleading. Bare or blanket denials or statements that proof is demanded will not be deemed a compliance with this section nor with section 416 of the act ( 77 P. S. § 821) and every answer so filed shall set forth all defenses with clarity and particularity. The failure of any adverse party to deny facts, as alleged, shall not relieve the moving party from its burden of proof." (Emphasis added.)
We need not consider the 1972 amendment of this section since it was not in effect at the time the Township filed its answer.
We find that a careful reading of the above sections reveals that the referee and Board were not compelled to find as facts allegations in a claim petition which were not specifically denied. Therefore, the failure of the referee and Board to find as facts Isherwood's allegations of an accident when they were not specifically denied did not constitute error.
We therefore issue the following
ORDER
AND NOW, this 19th day of April, 1974, the May 17, 1973 decision of the Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board, relative to the claim of Gordon J. Isherwood, is hereby affirmed.