{ "id": 9250147, "name": "BRENDA JOYCE HOLLEY, Employee, Plaintiff-Appellee v. ACTS, INC., Employer, LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Carrier, Defendant-Appellants", "name_abbreviation": "Holley v. ACTS, Inc.", "decision_date": "2002-08-20", "docket_number": "No. COA01-931", "first_page": "369", "last_page": "379", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "152 N.C. App. 369" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "330 S.E.2d 450", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "465" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "313 N.C. 516", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4719603 ], "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "538" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/313/0516-01" ] }, { "cite": "324 S.E.2d 829", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "833" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "312 N.C. 770", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4755941 ], "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "777" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/312/0770-01" ] }, { "cite": "345 S.E.2d 204", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "212" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "317 N.C. 206", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4778695 ], "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "218" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/317/0206-01" ] }, { "cite": "278 S.E.2d 268", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "273" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "52 N.C. App. 88", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 12170012 ], "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "95" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/52/0088-01" ] }, { "cite": "127 S.E.2d 548", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1962, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "549" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "257 N.C. 767", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8571181 ], "year": 1962, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "767-68" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/257/0767-01" ] }, { "cite": "514 S.E.2d 517", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1999, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "522" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "133 N.C. App. 23", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11215486 ], "year": 1999, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "28" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/133/0023-01" ] }, { "cite": "538 S.E.2d 912", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "915" }, { "page": "916" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "353 N.C. 227", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 135777 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "230" }, { "page": "233" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/353/0227-01" ] }, { "cite": "265 S.E.2d 389", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "391" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "300 N.C. 164", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8559969 ], "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "167" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/300/0164-01" ] }, { "cite": "388 S.E.2d 454", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1989, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "325 N.C. 706", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2491752, 2490697, 2488168, 2489207, 2489951 ], "year": 1989, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/325/0706-02", "/nc/325/0706-03", "/nc/325/0706-05", "/nc/325/0706-01", "/nc/325/0706-04" ] }, { "cite": "384 S.E.2d 549", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "553" }, { "page": "552" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "96 N.C. App. 28", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8520030 ], "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "35" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/96/0028-01" ] }, { "cite": "525 S.E.2d 175", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "349 N.C. 363", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 571714, 571611 ], "year": 1998, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/349/0363-02", "/nc/349/0363-01" ] }, { "cite": "503 S.E.2d 113", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "116" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "130 N.C. App. 442", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11468190 ], "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "445" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/130/0442-01" ] }, { "cite": "519 S.E.2d 777", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1999, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "780", "parenthetical": "quoting Shaw v. Smith and Jennings, Inc., 130 N.C. App. 442, 445, 503 S.E.2d 113, 116, disc. review denied, 349 N.C. 363, 525 S.E.2d 175 (1998)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "135 N.C. App. 296", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11240405 ], "year": 1999, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "301", "parenthetical": "quoting Shaw v. Smith and Jennings, Inc., 130 N.C. App. 442, 445, 503 S.E.2d 113, 116, disc. review denied, 349 N.C. 363, 525 S.E.2d 175 (1998)" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/135/0296-01" ] }, { "cite": "256 S.E.2d 189", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "200" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "297 N.C. 458", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8571831 ], "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "475" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/297/0458-01" ] }, { "cite": "532 S.E.2d 207", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "210", "parenthetical": "citing Booker v. Medical Center, 297 N.C. 458, 475, 256 S.E.2d 189, 200 (1979)" }, { "page": "211", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "138 N.C. App. 593", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11080920 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "597", "parenthetical": "citing Booker v. Medical Center, 297 N.C. 458, 475, 256 S.E.2d 189, 200 (1979)" }, { "page": "599" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/138/0593-01" ] }, { "cite": "468 S.E.2d 269", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "274" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "122 N.C. App. 143", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11916022 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "149" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/122/0143-01" ] }, { "cite": "509 S.E.2d 411", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "414" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "349 N.C. 676", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 571666 ], "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "681" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/349/0676-01" ] }, { "cite": "535 S.E.2d 602", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "604" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "140 N.C. App. 130", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 12122648 ], "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "132-33" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/140/0130-01" ] }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-31", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "weight": 14, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(24)" }, { "page": "(24)" }, { "page": "(24)" }, { "page": "(24)" }, { "page": "(24)" }, { "page": "(24)" }, { "page": "(15)" }, { "page": "(24)" }, { "page": "(24)" }, { "page": "(15)" }, { "page": "(24)" }, { "page": "(24)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "311 S.E.2d 881", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "887", "parenthetical": "stating that an expert is not competent to testify regarding causal relation based on mere speculation or possibility" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "66 N.C. App. 556", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8525640 ], "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "567", "parenthetical": "stating that an expert is not competent to testify regarding causal relation based on mere speculation or possibility" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/66/0556-01" ] }, { "cite": "138 S.E.2d 541", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1964, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "545-46" }, { "page": "545" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "262 N.C. 663", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8570996 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1964, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "669" }, { "page": "668" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/262/0663-01" ] }, { "cite": "127 S.E.2d 548", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1962, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "549" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "257 N.C. 767", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8571181 ], "year": 1962, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "767-68" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/257/0767-01" ] }, { "cite": "538 S.E.2d 912", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "916", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "353 N.C. 227", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 135777 ], "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "233", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/353/0227-01" ] }, { "cite": "388 S.E.2d 454", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "plaintiff has the burden of proving each element of compensability" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "325 N.C. 706", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2491752, 2490697, 2488168, 2489207, 2489951 ], "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "plaintiff has the burden of proving each element of compensability" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/325/0706-02", "/nc/325/0706-03", "/nc/325/0706-05", "/nc/325/0706-01", "/nc/325/0706-04" ] }, { "cite": "384 S.E.2d 549", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "553", "parenthetical": "plaintiff has the burden of proving each element of compensability" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "96 N.C. App. 28", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8520030 ], "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "35", "parenthetical": "plaintiff has the burden of proving each element of compensability" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/96/0028-01" ] }, { "cite": "532 S.E.2d 207", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "210" } ], "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "138 N.C. App. 593", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11080920 ], "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "597" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/138/0593-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 936, "char_count": 23055, "ocr_confidence": 0.762, "pagerank": { "raw": 9.908326972284656e-08, "percentile": 0.5357242835393106 }, "sha256": "eac150fee284b71f3aecea5accc53a61137f0251fbb026474bc29b615cb3e9b7", "simhash": "1:d083250271fb5e5a", "word_count": 3832 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T14:40:03.287783+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Chief Judge EAGLES concurs.", "Judge TYSON concurs in part and dissents in part with a separate opinion." ], "parties": [ "BRENDA JOYCE HOLLEY, Employee, Plaintiff-Appellee v. ACTS, INC., Employer, LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Carrier, Defendant-Appellants" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "McGEE, Judge.\nACTS, Inc. (defendant-employer) and its insurance carrier Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (collectively defendants) appeal from the opinion and award of the North Carolina Industrial Commission (Industrial Commission) awarding workers\u2019 compensation benefits to Brenda Joyce Holley (plaintiff). Plaintiff was hired by defendant-employer in January 1996 to work at Plantation Estates, a medical care facility, as a Certified Nurses Assistant I.\nPlaintiff was at Plantation Estates on 13 July 1996 when she saw a patient on the floor. As plaintiff walked down the hall to help lift the patient off the floor, plaintiffs foot became stuck on the carpet. She turned suddenly and injured her lower left leg in the calf. Plaintiff testified she \u201ccould hardly walk\u201d and her left leg was in pain. Plaintiff returned to work on 14 July 1996. The pain in her leg continued to worsen and she noticed some swelling. She was examined by Dr. Jason Ratterree (Dr. Ratterree) at Presbyterian Hospital Matthews. Dr. Ratterree diagnosed plaintiff as suffering from muscle strain. He prescribed medication, told plaintiff to wear an ace bandage and use crutches, and ordered plaintiff to stay off her left leg for three days.\nPlaintiff returned to work on 22 July 1996 and continued to work for defendant-employer. On 3 September 1996, plaintiff went to the doctor, and while at the doctor\u2019s office she experienced acute pain and swelling in her left lower leg and had to be hospitalized for three days. While at the hospital, plaintiff was diagnosed with deep venous thrombosis (DVT), which is a disorder involving a thrombus or blood clot in one of the deep veins of the body, causing an obstruction of the blood flow and often resulting in the pooling of blood in a lower extremity. Plaintiff saw Dr. Dietlinde W. Zipkin (Dr. Zipkin) and plaintiff returned to work on 16 November 1996. Plaintiff continued to experience leg pain and was hospitalized again on 16 June 1997 for chronic DVT.\nPlaintiff\u2019s claim was heard before a deputy commissioner on 22 March 2000. The deputy commissioner filed an opinion and award concluding that \u201cplaintiffs DVT was not the result of the plaintiffs injury by accident to her left leg arising out of and in the course of her employment.\u201d Plaintiff appealed to the Industrial Commission.\nThe Industrial Commission heard the matter on 24 January 2001 and issued an opinion and award concluding that \u201cplaintiffs DVT was the result of the plaintiffs injury by accident to her left leg arising out of and in the course of her employment.\u201d The Industrial Commission ordered defendants to pay to plaintiff $20,000.00 plus interest pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-31(24), and seventeen and one-seventh weeks of temporary total disability at the rate of $162.40 per week plus interest. The Industrial Commission also ordered defendants to pay plaintiffs attorneys twenty-five percent of the compensation due plaintiff and to pay plaintiffs medical expenses and expert witness fees. Commissioner Laura Kranifeld Mavretic issued a dissenting opinion. Defendants appeal from the Industrial Commission\u2019s opinion and award.\nOn an appeal from an opinion and award of the Industrial Commission, the standard of review for this Court \u201cis limited to a determination of (1) whether the Commission\u2019s findings of fact are supported by any competent evidence in the record; and (2) whether the Commission\u2019s findings justify its conclusions of law.\u201d Goff v. Foster Forbes Glass Div., 140 N.C. App. 130, 132-33, 535 S.E.2d 602, 604 (2000). The Industrial Commission\u2019s findings of fact are binding on review if the record contains any competent evidence in their support. Adams v. AVX Corp., 349 N.C. 676, 681, 509 S.E.2d 411, 414 (1998). This is true even when the record offers evidence that would support findings to the contrary. Id. The Industrial Commission\u2019s conclusions of law, however, are reviewable de novo. Lewis v. Craven Regional Medical Center, 122 N.C. App. 143, 149, 468 S.E.2d 269, 274 (1996).\nI.\nDefendants first argue that the Industrial Commission erred in describing the circumstances surrounding plaintiff\u2019s alleged injury by accident.\nThe parties entered into stipulations at the hearing before the deputy commissioner which the Industrial Commission incorporated as findings of fact and conclusions of law in its opinion and award. Stipulation number five states that \u201c[t]he parties stipulated that the plaintiff injured her left lower leg in the calf area when she turned suddenly while walking down the hall at her place of employment with the defendant-employer on July 13, 1996.\u201d\nThe opinion and award additionally stated in finding number four that\n[o]n July 13, 1996, the plaintiff was working for the defendant-employer as a floater. The plaintiff was assigned to help lift a patient off of the floor. As the plaintiff helped to lift the patient, the plaintiffs foot became stuck on the carpet as she turned suddenly and she injured her lower left leg in the calf. . . . The foot becoming stuck on the carpet as she turned suddenly constituted an accident and the resulting injury was an injury by accident within the meaning of the Workers\u2019 Compensation Act.\nThe Industrial Commission concluded in conclusion of law number one that \u201c[o]n July 13, 1996, the plaintiff sustained an injury by accident to her left leg arising out of and in the course of her employment with defendant-employer.\u201d\nDefendants argue on appeal that the sentence in finding of fact number four that \u201cas the Plaintiff helped to lift the patient, Plaintiff\u2019s foot became stuck on the carpet as she turned suddenly[,]\u201d is not supported by competent evidence in the record. They contend that \u201cat the very least, [the opinion and award] should be modified to the extent it is necessary for a decision in this case.\u201d\nAt the hearing before the deputy commissioner, plaintiff testified as follows:\nQ: Do you remember on July 13, 1996?\nA: Yes, I do.\nQ: Why do you remember that, Ms. Holley?\nA: I was working there, and I was on the special care unit, which is the Alzheimer[\u2018s] unit. I had [gone] over to go to the bathroom, and Jan Waggey, the nurse there, asked me to go down and check with Ms. Bowman. She couldn\u2019t understand \u2014 which was a patient that \u2014 I was a floater. I floated from both sides. Asked me if I would check and see what she was saying. She couldn\u2019t understand her. At that time, I went down and talked with Mrs. Bowles. And as I was coming back up the hall to report to Ms. Waggey what she had said, I [saw] a patient on the floor....\nQ: What do you mean \u201con the floor\u201d?\nA: She had fallen. We\u2019re not to remove a patient [] unless we get the nurse. So Peggy Lee was a CNA, and Jan \u2014 we went down and picked her up. But as I hurried up the hall, I turned to go back; and, when I did, it was like my foot stuck to the carpet. They had [] new carpet put down; and, when I swerved around, I felt a pull in my leg, and I told Peggy when we got to the room \u2014 I said, \u201cI have pulled my leg.\u201d\nQ: Can you tell us specifically where in your leg?\nA: In the calf of my leg.\nQ: Which leg?\nA: Left leg.\nQ: All right. At that point, what did you do?\nA: Helped get the patient up off the floor, and then I went back to special care. At that time, I could hardly walk. My leg was hurting[.]\nThe specific sentence defendants are challenging on appeal is not supported by competent evidence in the record. However, even if we set aside this sentence, there remains competent evidence in the record to support the remainder of finding of fact number four; namely, that plaintiffs foot became stuck on the carpet as she turned suddenly, which was an accident and the resulting injury was an injury by accident. Further, we note that both parties stipulated, and the Industrial Commission additionally found as fact that plaintiff \u201cinjured her left lower leg in the calf area when she turned, suddenly while walking down the hall at her place of employment[.]\u201d (emphasis added). This stipulation as incorporated in the opinion and award is fully supported by plaintiffs testimony and this stipulation supports conclusion of law number one. Defendants do not dispute that plaintiffs injury by accident arose out of and in the course of her employment with employer-defendant. Defendants\u2019 assignments of error as to this issue are overruled.\nII.\nDefendants next argue that the Industrial Commission erred in finding and concluding that plaintiff\u2019s injury by accident caused her DVT because the medical evidence in this case is insufficient to establish a causal link between plaintiff\u2019s injury and her DVT.\nTo establish \u201ca compensable claim for workers\u2019 compensation, there must be proof of a causal relationship between the injury and the employment.\" Peagler v. Tyson Foods, 138 N.C. App. 593, 597, 532 S.E.2d 207, 210 (2000) (citing Booker v. Medical Center, 297 N.C. 458, 475, 256 S.E.2d 189, 200 (1979)). An injury is therefore compensable if \u201c \u2018it is fairly traceable to the employment\u2019 or \u2018any reasonable relationship to the employment exists.\u2019 \u201d Rivera v. Trapp, 135 N.C. App. 296, 301, 519 S.E.2d 777, 780 (1999) (quoting Shaw v. Smith and Jennings, Inc., 130 N.C. App. 442, 445, 503 S.E.2d 113, 116, disc. review denied, 349 N.C. 363, 525 S.E.2d 175 (1998)). The plaintiff has the burden of proving each element of compensability. Harvey v. Raleigh Police Dept., 96 N.C. App. 28, 35, 384 S.E.2d 549, 553, disc. review denied, 325 N.C. 706, 388 S.E.2d 454 (1989).\nIn cases \u201c \u2018where the exaqt nature and probable genesis of a particular type of injury involves complicated medical questions far removed from the ordinary experience and knowledge of laymen, only an expert can give competent opinion evidence as to the cause of the injury.\u2019 \u201d Id. at 34, 384 S.E.2d at 552 (quoting Click v. Freight Carriers, 300 N.C. 164, 167, 265 S.E.2d 389, 391 (1980)). \u201cHowever, when such expert opinion testimony is based merely upon speculation and conjecture, it can be of no more value than that of a layman\u2019s opinion.\u201d Young v. Hickory Bus. Furn., 353 N.C. 227, 230, 538 S.E.2d 912, 915 (2000).\nThe \u201cexpert testimony need not show that the work incident caused the injury to a \u2018reasonable degree of medical certainty.\u2019 \u201d Peagler, 138 N.C. App. at 599, 532 S.E.2d at 211 (citation omitted). \u201cRather, the competent evidence must provide \u2018some evidence that the accident at least might have or could have produced the particular disability in question.\u2019 \u201d Id., (quoting Porter v. Fieldcrest Cannon, Inc., 133 N.C. App. 23, 28, 514 S.E.2d 517, 522 (1999)). Our Courts have \u201callowed \u2018could\u2019 or \u2018might\u2019 expert testimony as probative and competent evidence to prove causation.\u201d Young, 353 N.C. at 233, 538 S.E.2d at 916. However, \u201c \u2018could\u2019 or \u2018might\u2019 expert testimony [is] insufficient to support a causal connection when there is additional evidence or testimony showing the expert\u2019s opinion to be a guess or mere speculation.\u201d Id. (citing Maharias v. Weathers Bros. Moving & Storage Co., 257 N.C. 767, 767-68, 127 S.E.2d 548, 549 (1962)).\nIn the case before us, Dr. Ratterree testified as an expert in emergency medicine and general medicine. Dr. Ratterree examined plaintiff on 14 July 1996, the day following her accident at work. In his deposition, the following exchange took place:\nQ: Dr. Ratterree, based upon your examination and the history related to you by [plaintiff], could the DVT that you found have been caused by the incident that she related to you, that is, the turning?\nA: It\u2019s possible.\nQ: And I think you had indicated that there was a possibility, in your opinion, that [plaintiff] suffered from DVT. What symptoms specifically was it in your examination that you felt indicated DVT?\nA: Anytime somebody has had some injury as she had and has some tenderness on exam, you know, tenderness on the posterior calf as she did, the possibility is there, but the problem is that it\u2019s not one of those things that develops over a period of hours or minutes. . . .\nQ: ... Can you say to a reasonable degree of medical certainty or a reasonable degree of medical probability that the incident related to you by [plaintiff] was a significant contributing factor in causing DVT?\nA: I can\u2019t say that, no.\nQ: It\u2019s just that it\u2019s a possibility?\nA: It\u2019s a possibility. It\u2019s a possibility.\nQ: Is it a reasonable possibility?\nA: It\u2019s reasonable. . . .\nDr. Zipkin also testified as an expert witness in the field of internal medicine and general medicine. Dr. Zipkin treated plaintiff after her DVT was diagnosed and testified as follows:\nQ: [D]o you have an opinion satisfactory to yourself and to a reasonable degree of medical certainty as to whether the accident described in the reports from Presbyterian Hospital and from Dr. Kaldy on July 13, 1996 could or might have caused the DVT?\nA: I don\u2019t know if it caused the DVT or not.\nQ: Do you have an opinion whether it could or might have caused it?\nA: It could have caused it or it could have happened despite it.\nQ: [I]f the evidence shows that [plaintiff] was walking down a hall and she quickly turned and experienced pain in her left calf, and at that point obtained medical treatment and a DVT was present \u2014 if the evidence should show that all that is true, do you have an opinion satisfactory to yourself whether or not that event could or might have caused the DVT?\nA: We have nothing showing that DVT was present at the time of her injury, so isn\u2019t this kind of a moot point?\nQ: My question is, though, could those events that I just described, could or might that have caused the DVT to form?\nA: It\u2019s possible that that scenario of [plaintiff\u2019s] injury could have caused a DVT to form, but I don\u2019t know that it did.\nDefendants argue that this evidence is insufficient to establish a causal link between plaintiff\u2019s injury by accident and her diagnosis of DVT because the medical testimony was \u201ccouched in terms of \u2018coulds\u2019 and \u2018mights\u2019 which was speculative in nature and not competent evidence of causation.\u201d We disagree. In this case, there is sufficient evidence that the accident might have or could have caused plaintiff\u2019s DVT. Although DVT can arise from several different causes, \u201c[a]ll that is necessary is that [the] expert express an opinion that a particular cause was capable of producing the injurious result.\u201d Buck v. Procter & Gamble, Co., 52 N.C. App. 88, 95, 278 S.E.2d 268, 273 (1981). Both doctors testified as to the multiple causes of DVT, but both also testified that plaintiff\u2019s DVT could have been caused by her accident on 13 July 1996.\nThe Industrial Commission\u2019s finding of fact that plaintiff\u2019s accident on 13 July 1996 caused her DVT is supported by competent evidence in the record and is not based on mere speculation or conjecture. Further, the Industrial Commission did not err in concluding that plaintiffs DVT was a result of her 13 July 1996 accident. Defendants\u2019 assignments of error as to this issue are overruled.\nIII.\nFinally, defendants contend the Industrial Commission erred in awarding plaintiff benefits under N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-31(24). The Industrial Commission found as fact and concluded as a matter of law that \u201c[d]amage to the innermost layer of the vein constitutes permanent injury to an internal organ or part of the body for which no compensation is payable under any other subdivision of N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-31(24).\u201d The Industrial Commission awarded plaintiff the full amount of compensation allowed in N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-31(24).\nN.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-31(24) (1999) states that\n[i]n case of the loss of or permanent injury to any important external or internal organ or part of the body for which no compensation is payable under any other subdivision of this section, the Industrial Commission may award proper and equitable compensation not to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).\n\u201cBy employing the word \u2018may\u2019 in N.C.G.S. \u00a7 97-31(24) the legislature intended to give the Industrial Commission discretion whether to award compensation under that section.\u201d Little v. Penn Ventilator Co., 317 N.C. 206, 218, 345 S.E.2d 204, 212 (1986). Thus, the Industrial Commission has discretion as to whether an award under N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-31(24) is warranted, and its decision will not be overturned on appeal unless it \u201c \u2018is manifestly unsupported by reason,\u2019 \u201d or \u201c \u2018so arbitrary that it could not have been the result of a reasoned decision.\u2019 \u201d Id. (quoting White v. White, 312 N.C. 770, 777, 324 S.E.2d 829, 833 (1985) and State v. Wilson, 313 N.C. 516, 538, 330 S.E.2d 450, 465 (1985)).\nDefendants argue that because plaintiff was entitled to compensation under N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-31(15), which provides an employee compensation for the loss of the use of her leg, the Industrial Commission abused its discretion in awarding her benefits under N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-31(24). The language of N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-31(24) is clear that an award under this subsection, although discretionary, is only permitted if \u201cno compensation is payable under any other subdivision\u201d of N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-31 as a scheduled injury. It is not clear from the record if the Industrial Commission considered whether an award to plaintiff under N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-31(15) for loss of the use of her leg was not proper before it determined that an award under G.S. \u00a7 97-31(24) was appropriate; we therefore cannot determine whether the Industrial Commission abused its discretion in its award to plaintiff under N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-31(24). We remand this case to the Industrial Commission in order that it first consider whether plaintiffs injury is a scheduled injury under N.C.G.S. \u00a7 97-31(15) before considering whether an award to plaintiff is appropriate pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-31(24).\nRemanded.\nChief Judge EAGLES concurs.\nJudge TYSON concurs in part and dissents in part with a separate opinion.", "type": "majority", "author": "McGEE, Judge." }, { "text": "TYSON, Judge,\nconcurring in part, dissenting in part.\nI concur in parts I and III of the majority\u2019s opinion. I respectfully dissent from part II. Plaintiff failed to introduce competent evidence to establish a causal relationship between the compensable injury by accident and the ensuing deep venous thrombosis (DVT). The expert testimony was mere speculation and possibility, and failed to establish the required causal connection.\nPlaintiff must produce competent evidence establishing a causal relationship between the injury and the employment. Peagler v. Tyson Foods, Inc., 138 N.C. App. 593, 597, 532 S.E.2d 207, 210 (2000). Testimony of an expert that is merely speculative or that raises no more than a mere possibility is not admissible as to the issue of causal relationship. Lockwood v. McCaskill, 262 N.C. 663, 669, 138 S.E.2d 541, 545-46 (1964); see also Ballenger v. Burris Indus., Inc., 66 N.C. App. 556, 567, 311 S.E.2d 881, 887 (1984) (stating that an expert is not competent to testify regarding causal relation based on mere speculation or possibility). \u201cCould\u201d or \u201cmight\u201d refers to probability and not mere possibility. See Lockwood, 262 N.C. at 668, 138 S.E.2d at 545. Here, both experts testified only as to possibility and not probability.\nOur Supreme Court has previously \u201callowed \u2018could\u2019 or \u2018might\u2019 expert testimony as probative and competent evidence to prove causation.\u201d Young v. Hickory Bus. Furniture, 353 N.C. 227, 233, 538 S.E.2d 912, 916 (2000) (citations omitted). However, \u201c \u2018could\u2019 or \u2018might\u2019 expert testimony [is] insufficient to support a causal connection when there is additional evidence or testimony showing the expert\u2019s opinion to be a guess or mere speculation.\u201d Id. (citing Maharias v. Weathers Bros. Moving & Storage Co., 257 N.C. 767, 767-68, 127 S.E.2d 548, 549 (1962)). Here, additional testimony shows the experts\u2019 opinions to be mere guess and speculation.\nIn addition to the testimony cited by the majority, Dr. Ratterree also testified in response to a question of whether he had an opinion \u201cas to whether the twisting injury on July 13,1996 could or might have been a significant contributing factor to deep venous thrombosis,\u201d that \u201c[i]n my opinion it probably is not, but I cannot say, you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt. ...\u201d and\n[i]n my opinion it would be unlikely .... I cannot say that she had turned and this had been brewing even before that, because a lot of DVTs are totally asymptomatic for a long time ... I know these clots take time to develop, so I can\u2019t say that she wasn\u2019t brewing something even before then. It\u2019s just a galaxy of possibilities.\n(Emphasis supplied).\nThe expert medical testimony does not show a causal relationship between the injury by accident and the DVT. See Harvey v. Raleigh Police Dept., 96 N.C. App. 28, 35, 384 S.E.2d 549, 553, disc. review denied, 325 N.C. 706, 388 S.E.2d 454 (1989) (plaintiff has the burden of proving each element of compensability). There is no competent evidence to support the Industrial Commission\u2019s finding and conclusion that plaintiff\u2019s DVT was causally related to her twisting injury. I would reverse the Opinion and Award of the Commission. I respectfully dissent.", "type": "concurring-in-part-and-dissenting-in-part", "author": "TYSON, Judge," } ], "attorneys": [ "Griffin, Smith, Caldwell, Helder & Lee, P.A., by Annika M. Brock andR. Kenneth Helms, Jr., for plaintiff-appellee.", "Hedrick, Eatman, Gardner & Kincheloe, L.L.R, by Neil P. Andrews and Terry L. Wallace, for defendant-appellants." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "BRENDA JOYCE HOLLEY, Employee, Plaintiff-Appellee v. ACTS, INC., Employer, LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY, Carrier, Defendant-Appellants\nNo. COA01-931\n(Filed 20 August 2002)\n1. Workers\u2019 Compensation\u2014 findings \u2014 partially unsupported \u2014 no prejudicial error\nThere was competent evidence in a workers\u2019 compensation action to support an Industrial Commission finding about the circumstances of the injury where a specific sentence was not supported by the evidence, but there was competent evidence in the record to support the remainder of the finding and both parties stipulated to a statement of how the injury occurred.\n2. Workers\u2019 Compensation\u2014 causation \u2014 \u201ccould\u201d and \u201cmight\u201d testimony\nThe Industrial Commission\u2019s finding in a workers\u2019 compensation action that plaintiff\u2019s deep venous thrombosis (DVT) was a result of an accident at work was supported by competent evidence and was not speculative even though it was couched in \u201ccoulds\u201d and \u201cmights.\u201d \u201cCould\u201d or \u201cmight\u201d expert testimony is insufficient to support causation only when there is additional evidence showing the opinion to be speculation.\n3. Workers\u2019 Compensation\u2014 deep venous thrombosis \u2014 compensation\nAn Industrial Commission opinion awarding benefits for permanent injury to an internal organ under N.C.G.S. \u00a7 97-31(24) for plaintiff\u2019s deep venous thrombosis was remanded for consideration of whether plaintiff\u2019s injury was a scheduled injury under N.C.G.S. \u00a7 97-31(15) for loss of use of her leg because an award under subsection (24) is permitted only if no compensation is payable under any other subsection of N.C.G.S. \u00a7 97-31.\nJudge Tyson concurring in part, dissenting in part.\nAppeal by defendants from opinion and award entered 26 February 2001 by the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Heard in the Court of Appeals 20 May 2002.\nGriffin, Smith, Caldwell, Helder & Lee, P.A., by Annika M. Brock andR. Kenneth Helms, Jr., for plaintiff-appellee.\nHedrick, Eatman, Gardner & Kincheloe, L.L.R, by Neil P. Andrews and Terry L. Wallace, for defendant-appellants." }, "file_name": "0369-01", "first_page_order": 397, "last_page_order": 407 }