{ "id": 6136648, "name": "Felicia WOOD and Ruth Carolyn Wood v. WEST TREE SERVICE", "name_abbreviation": "Wood v. West Tree Service", "decision_date": "2000-04-12", "docket_number": "CA 99-708", "first_page": "29", "last_page": "34", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "70 Ark. App. 29" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "14 S.W.3d 883" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark. Ct. App.", "id": 13370, "name": "Arkansas Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "333 Ark. 41", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 703836 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/333/0041-01" ] }, { "cite": "61 Ark. App. 190", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark. App.", "case_ids": [ 6139880 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark-app/61/0190-01" ] }, { "cite": "14 Ark. App. 88", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark. App.", "case_ids": [ 6137783 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1985, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark-app/14/0088-01" ] }, { "cite": "960 S.W.2d 453", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 377681, 6138433 ], "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/332/0370-01", "/ark-app/60/0150-01" ] }, { "cite": "60 Ark. App. 150", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark. App.", "case_ids": [ 6138433 ], "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark-app/60/0150-01" ] }, { "cite": "Ark. Code Ann. \u00a711-9-102", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Ark. Code Ann.", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(5)(B)(iv)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "55 Ark. App. 400", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark. App.", "case_ids": [ 6143473 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1996, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark-app/55/0400-01" ] }, { "cite": "60 Ark. App. 138", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark. App.", "case_ids": [ 6138314 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark-app/60/0138-01" ] }, { "cite": "50 Ark. App. 13", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark. App.", "case_ids": [ 6136288 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1995, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark-app/50/0013-01" ] }, { "cite": "44 Ark. App. 5", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark. App.", "case_ids": [ 6135992 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1993, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark-app/44/0005-01" ] }, { "cite": "39 Ark. App. 24", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark. App.", "case_ids": [ 6136359 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1992, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark-app/39/0024-01" ] }, { "cite": "Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 11", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "Ark. Code Ann.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "8 S.W.3d 36", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.3d", "case_ids": [ 6141229, 6141309 ], "year": 1999, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ark-app/68/0346-01", "/ark-app/68/0350-01" ] }, { "cite": "68 Ark. App. 350", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark. App.", "case_ids": [ 6141309 ], "year": 1999, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ark-app/68/0350-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 590, "char_count": 9608, "ocr_confidence": 0.738, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.256484381137802e-07, "percentile": 0.6114113216639271 }, "sha256": "6d4346e59c8e018eae2e128cfa1dae716a144e07793a8479845ec66024d3bc03", "simhash": "1:bc8aaf457c7c77aa", "word_count": 1626 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T22:52:11.491630+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Pittman, Jennings, Bird, and Neal, JJ., agree.", "ROAF, J., dissents." ], "parties": [ "Felicia WOOD and Ruth Carolyn Wood v. WEST TREE SERVICE" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Terry Crabtree, Judge.\nOn March 4, 1997, George Wood was electrocuted by a downed power line. Mr. Wood was an employee of West Tree Service and was cleaning up debris that was left by a recent tornado. The coroner\u2019s report stated that the decedent was struck in the face as an energized wire fell off the tree branch he had picked up.\nMr. Wood\u2019s body was taken to Southwest Regional Medical Center where the Coroner\u2019s office inspected the body and took blood and urine samples. A bag of marijuana and a package of ZigZag cigarette rolling papers were found in the pockets of Mr. Wood\u2019s pants. Tests performed on the samples by the State Crime Lab revealed that marijuana metabolites were present in the samples taken from Mr. Wood\u2019s body. These findings were confirmed by the UAMS Toxicology Department.\nAppellee, West Tree Service, disputed compensability of the claim of appellant Felicia Wood for dependency benefits, but stipulated that should Mr. Wood\u2019s death be ruled compensable, appellant Felicia Wood, Mr. Wood\u2019s daughter by a previous marriage, should qualify as a dependent child.\nThe Workers\u2019 Compensation Commission found that the presence of marijuana metabolites in Mr. Wood\u2019s system constituted the presence of an illegal drug and therefore invoked the rebut-table presumption found in Ark. Code Ann. \u00a7 11 \u2014 9\u2014 102(5)(B)(iv)(b)(Repl. 1996) that Mr. Wood\u2019s death was substantially occasioned by the use of marijuana. The full Commission denied benefits on that basis. Appellant asserts three points on appeal: (1) whether the Commission properly performed its function of determining the credibility of the witnesses and the proper weight to be given their testimony; (2) whether the Commission correctly interpreted the testimony of Jimmie Valentine, Ph.D.; and (3) whether substantial evidence exists to support the findings and decision of the Commission. We affirm.\nThis court reviews decisions of the Workers\u2019 Compensation Commission to see if they are supported by substantial evidence. Deffenbaugh Indus. v. Angus, 39 Ark. App. 24, 832 S.W.2d 869 (1992). Substantial evidence is that relevant evidence which a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion: Wright v. ABC Air, Inc., 44 Ark. App. 5, 864 S.W.2d 871 (1993). The issue is not whether this Court might have reached a different result from that reached by the Commission, or whether the evidence would have supported a contrary finding. If reasonable minds could reach the result shown by the Commission\u2019s decision, we must affirm the decision. Bradley v. Alumax, 50 Ark. App. 13, 899 S.W.2d 850 (1995).\nIt is now clear that testing positive for marijuana metabolites is sufficient to establish a rebuttable presumption that Mr. Wood\u2019s injury was substantially occasioned by the use of marijuana. Brown v. Alabama Electric Co., 60 Ark. App. 138, 959 S.W.2d 753 (1998); Weaver v. Whitaker Furniture Co., Inc., 55 Ark. App. 400, 935 S.W.2d 584 (1996). This court has addressed Ark. Code Ann. \u00a711-9-102(5)(B)(iv) a number of times. It has found that when the urine sample is tested for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, if the result is positive, this evidence establishes the rebuttable presumption.\nIn both Brown, supra, and Graham v. Turnage Employment Group, 60 Ark. App. 150, 960 S.W.2d 453 (1998), this court affirmed the Commission\u2019s decision denying compensability because metabolites were found in the appellants\u2019 urine samples.\nThe appellants argue on appeal that the Commission erred by finding that the testimony of two witnesses, both related to the decedent, did not sufficiendy rebut the presumption of intoxication. This argument is without merit. The question of whether the testimony of an interested party is sufficient to rebut the presumption remains a question for the trier of fact. Lambert v. Gerber Products Co., 14 Ark. App. 88, 684 S.W.2d 842 (1985). We cannot find that the Commission erred in its decision.\nFor her second point on appeal, the appellants argue that the Commission misinterpreted the testimony of Jimmie Valentine, Ph.D. It is the function of the Commission to determine the credibility and weight due a witness and his testimony, and its findings as to the inferences to be drawn from the testimony, once made, have the force and effect of a jury verdict. Service Chevrolet v. Atwood, 61 Ark. App. 190, 966 S.W.2d 909 (1998). Dr. Valentine was the only expert who testified, and his opinion was that the decedent was impaired at the time of his accident. The appellants did not carry their burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the decedents death was not substantially occasioned by the use of marijuana.\nFor their third point on appeal, the appellants argue that the Commission\u2019s decision was not supported by substantial evidence. Substantial evidence was presented through the toxicology reports and the doctor\u2019s testimony. A decision by the Workers\u2019 Compensation Commission is not reversed unless it is clear that fair-minded persons could not have reached the conclusion if presented with the same facts. Golden v. Westark Comm. College, 333 Ark. 41, 969 S.W.2d 154 (1998). We cannot find that the Commission erred.\nAffirmed.\nPittman, Jennings, Bird, and Neal, JJ., agree.\nROAF, J., dissents.", "type": "majority", "author": "Terry Crabtree, Judge." }, { "text": "ANDREE Layton Roaf, Judge,\ndissenting. I would reverse and remand this case for an award of benefits in line with the ALJ\u2019s opinion in this case. As in Clark v. Sbarro, 68 Ark. App. 350, 8 S.W.3d 36 (1999), the circumstances surrounding Mr. Wood\u2019s unfortunate accident and death are sufficient to rebut the presumption that his death was substantially occasioned by the use of marijuana.\nOnce again, the Commission has played fast and loose with the evidence before it in reaching its decision to deny benefits to Mr. Wood\u2019s family. The record reflects that Mr. Wood and his crew were engaged in removing debris and tree limbs from a downed power line that was dead the day before and, while they were working on it again the next morning, the line suddenly became energized. According to Jason Sullivan, the only witness to testify about the circumstances of this event:\nI don\u2019t know if I was walking under the wire or if I was crossing over it but when it left my hand and hit the ground, it started shooting sparks all over the place. I was like, whoa, and everybody said the line is hot, the line is hot run. ... When I looked up, everybody was scattering. I took off running. I probably ran a quarter or fifty feet and stood up on a big tree that was out of the water so I could find out what was going on. About that time I heard them holler for the decedent and everybody said he was hurt.\nAccording to the coroner, his investigative report stated that Mr. Wood \u201ctried to pick up a tree limb and tried to remove the wire from the limb and ... was struck in the face as the wire fell off the tree branch and the wire was said to- have fallen on him.\u201d\nIn his opinion awarding benefits, the ALJ stated:\nWitnesses testified that the power line in question was dead the evening before when they worked on the same right-of-way; however, the next morning when they returned to clear debris at the same site and began working, sparks were noted coming from the line, and everyone shouted that the line was hot and tried to get out of the way, but Decedent Claimant was either struck by the line or was holding the line to move it, about at the time he was fatally injured.\nHowever, the Commission seemed to read a great deal more into the evidence than did the ALJ:\nIn the process of clearing the debris an electrical line became energized. Someone shouted that the line was \u201chot\u201d and everyone managed to get out of the way except the decedent.... Furthermore, the evidence reflects that both Mr. Hall and Mr. Sullivan heeded the warning of the \u201chot\u201d line, something which claimant did not do.... Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Hall both testified that after being warned of the \u201chot wire,\u201d they were able to avoid it. However, claimant\u2019s actions did not prove him to be as nimble.\nThe first problem with these findings is that William Hall gave no testimony whatsoever about the downed power fine, but testified only that he saw Mr. Wood changing a tire that morning before commencing work and that he did not appear to be impaired. This inexcusable misstatement of the facts suggests an attempt by the Commission to bolster its entirely speculative and illogical conclusion that, because Mr. Wood was the only person killed by the hot wire, \u201ceveryone\u201d else must have \u201cheeded\u201d the warnings and managed to get out of the way of the wire, but that Mr. Wood was not \u201cnimble\u201d enough to do so because of his drug usage.\nOf course, the warning shouts came after the line had suddenly become energized and had fallen, not before. According to Mr. Sullivan, the shouts came only after the fine left his hand, fell to the ground, and began shooting sparks; he did not have to \u201cavoid\u201d it because it had already fallen onto the ground. Unfortunately, the line fell onto Mr. Wood\u2019s face rather than the ground, and he did not survive. I must, however, agree with the Commission\u2019s analysis in one respect \u2014 Mr. Wood was not \u201cnimble\u201d enough to outrun electricity.\nI would reverse and remand for an award of benefits.", "type": "dissent", "author": "ANDREE Layton Roaf, Judge," } ], "attorneys": [ "Ben E. Rice, for appellant Felicia Wood.", "Roland E. Darrow II, for appellant Ruth Carolyn Wood.", "Barber, McCaskill, Jones & Hale, P.A., by: Robert L. Henry, III and Richard A. Smith, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Felicia WOOD and Ruth Carolyn Wood v. WEST TREE SERVICE\nCA 99-708\n14 S.W.3d 883\nCourt of Appeals of Arkansas Divisions I and IV\nOpinion delivered April 12, 2000\nBen E. Rice, for appellant Felicia Wood.\nRoland E. Darrow II, for appellant Ruth Carolyn Wood.\nBarber, McCaskill, Jones & Hale, P.A., by: Robert L. Henry, III and Richard A. Smith, for appellee." }, "file_name": "0029-01", "first_page_order": 59, "last_page_order": 64 }