{ "id": 9189937, "name": "REBECCA HARRISON, Plaintiff-Appellant v. LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES, Employer-Defendant, and LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES DISABILITY BENEFITS, Carrier-Defendant, Appellees", "name_abbreviation": "Harrison v. Lucent Technologies", "decision_date": "2003-02-18", "docket_number": "No. COA02-348", "first_page": "147", "last_page": "154", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "156 N.C. App. 147" } ], "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": "540 S.E.2d 785", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "788" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "141 N.C. App. 620", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 9442486 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "624" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/141/0620-01" ] }, { "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": "300 S.E.2d 455", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "456" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "61 N.C. App. 258", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8520432 ], "year": 1983, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "260" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/61/0258-01" ] }, { "cite": "519 S.E.2d 61", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1999, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "63" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "135 N.C. App. 112", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 11239310 ], "year": 1999, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "115" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/135/0112-01" ] }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-2", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "weight": 3, "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "(6)" }, { "page": "(6)" }, { "page": "(6)" } ], "opinion_index": 0 } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 709, "char_count": 15013, "ocr_confidence": 0.747, "pagerank": { "raw": 2.1198166445010298e-07, "percentile": 0.7644026736693915 }, "sha256": "8fad4ddda1ce59025f9b19f53ab7e507a4843d8800c66a2035190a67dd76e2d1", "simhash": "1:07b8448a7ee1060e", "word_count": 2380 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:05:49.893248+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges BRYANT and GEER concur." ], "parties": [ "REBECCA HARRISON, Plaintiff-Appellant v. LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES, Employer-Defendant, and LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES DISABILITY BENEFITS, Carrier-Defendant, Appellees" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "WYNN, Judge.\nUnder the North Carolina Workers\u2019 Compensation Act, an injury arising out of and in the course of employment is compensable only if caused by an \u201caccident.\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-2(6) (2001). In this appeal, Rebecca Harrison contends the North Carolina Industrial Commission erred in concluding that her injuries were not compensable under the Workers\u2019 Compensation Act because the injuries were not caused by an accident. We, however, find the full Commission\u2019s findings of fact support the conclusion that Ms. Harrison\u2019s injuries were not caused by a compensable accident; accordingly, we affirm the decision of the full Commission.\nThe underlying facts tend to show that Ms. Harrison had been an employee of Lucent Technologies, and its predecessor AT&T, since 1969. At the time of her alleged accident, Ms. Harrison worked as a secretary for Dale Posny in the Human Resources Department. Her duties included typing, faxing, making airline reservations, ordering and stocking supplies, and other similar activities.\nAccording to Ms. Harrison, on 21 May 1999, she sat at her cubicle, reached over the side of her chair to pick up a heavy box of manila folders, got up and began carrying the box. After taking a few steps, she felt a twinge in her left shoulder and neck that almost caused her to pass out. One of her co-workers, Wendy Neely, helped Ms. Harrison to the company\u2019s medical department for assistance.\nFive days later, Ms. Harrison went to her family physician and was examined by a physician assistant, Margie Trent. As a result of the examination, Ms. Trent ordered an MRI of her cervical spine (which revealed narrowing and degenerative changes at C5-6 but no evidence of disk herniation or spinal cord compression) and advised her to stay out of work from May 31 until June 7. Thereafter, Lucent Technologies\u2019 company doctor, Dr. Wilcockson, examined Ms. Harrison on 1 June 1999 and concluded that she could return to work the next day with restrictions of no lifting, pushing or pulling more than five pounds. Consequently, Ms. Harrison reported to work on 2 June 1999. During a return visit to Dr. Wilcockson, her weight restriction was raised to ten pounds.\nMs. Harrison continued working and did not seek further medical treatment until a 9 August 1999 visit with Dr. Wilcockson. At that time, she informed the doctor that although she had improved, she still had some left shoulder pain. As a result, Dr. Wilcockson continued her restrictions on a permanent basis.\nOn 11 August 1999, Ms. Harrison returned to her family physician with multiple complaints, including persistent pain in her left shoulder. Ms. Trent, concerned that Ms. Harrison might have rotator cuff syndrome, ordered an x-ray to help determine whether Ms. Harrison should be referred to an orthopedic surgeon.\nOn 19 August 1999, Ms. Harrison\u2019s supervisor, Ms. Posny, instructed Ms. Harrison to help clean out an office by emptying and removing several bound volumes. The binders varied in size with some several inches thick. Ms. Harrison began opening the binders, removing the papers and making several trips down the hall to take the papers to the appropriate containers. On each occasion she chose how much paper to carry and did not know the weights she lifted. By the time the job was complete, her left shoulder was bothering her more, but she did not complain of any problems to Ms. Posny. However, on 23 August 1999, she went to Dr. Wilcockson and complained she had developed soreness in her left shoulder while emptying the binders on 19 August. He referred her to Dr. Gramig, an orthopedic surgeon, who was under contract to render services to Lucent Technologies\u2019 employees.\nOn 26 August, Dr. Gramig examined Ms. Harrison who informed him that she could not lift her arm. According to Ms. Harrison, Dr. Gramig attempted a left shoulder manipulation without anesthesia (which Ms. Harrison claims traumatized her), diagnosed her with adhesive capsulitis of the left shoulder and ordered an MRI of the shoulder. However, because Lucent Technologies denied her claim and Dr. Gramig didn\u2019t accept her insurance, Ms. Harrison had to see a different doctor.\nMs. Harrison returned to her family physician on 21 September 1999 and was referred to Dr. Riggin, another orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Riggin saw her on 27 September 1999 and agreed that she had adhesive capsulitis. He treated her with a procedure where her shoulder was manipulated under anesthesia to break the adhesions. She then underwent aggressive physical therapy.\nUp until the spring of 1999, Ms. Harrison and Ms. Posny had a good working relationship. However, after her injury, Ms. Harrison felt that she was being harassed by her employer because of her medical problems. On 3 September 1999, Ms. Posny imposed a fifteen-minute time limit for errands and began to monitor Ms. Harrison closely. If Ms. Harrison was unable to complete her errands within fifteen minutes, she was to notify Ms. Posny of her location. Although Ms. Harrison believes this was harassment, Ms. Posny testified that the rule was imposed because she could not locate Ms. Harrison for three hours during a workday in April. In September 1999, Ms. Harrison received a verbal warning and an unsatisfactory conduct notation in her personnel file. Because of the imposition of the fifteen minute rule and the warning, Ms. Harrison filed two grievances with her union. Ms. Harrison\u2019s relationship with Ms. Posny became increasingly strained.\nAfter Ms. Harrison remained out of work pursuant to Dr. Riggin\u2019s orders, Lucent Technologies began calling Ms. Harrison on a daily basis to ascertain how she was doing and to determine when she would return to work. Then in December 1999, Lucent Technologies informed Ms. Harrison they were removing her from the payroll although her surgeon had advised her not to work. Thereafter, Ms. Harrison was admitted to the Forsyth Medical psychiatric ward with symptoms of anxiety and depression with suicidal threats. Dr. Williams, a psychiatrist, determined that Ms. Harrison had experienced symptoms of rapid heart-beat, anxiety and panic which had been aggravated by her shoulder injury, associated hospitalization and conflict with her employer to the point that she had developed a post-traumatic stress disorder with associated depression and panic disorder. Ms. Harrison was hospitalized and treated with medication and therapy until 31 December 1999.\nMs. Harrison filed workers\u2019 compensation claims for the 21 May and 19 August 1999 incidents. Although Lucent Technologies initially provided medical treatment for each injury, liability was ultimately denied. The full Commission awarded Ms. Harrison compensation for her neck only, and ordered Lucent Technologies to pay all medical expenses rendered for the neck injury. Lucent Technologies was also ordered to pay all medical expenses arising from the treatment by Dr. Wilcockson and Dr. Gramig, which Lucent Technologies authorized. However the full Commission denied any compensation for Ms. Harrison\u2019s psychological problems and her shoulder injury. Ms. Harrison appeals.\n\u201cUnder the North Carolina Workers\u2019 Compensation Act, an injury arising out of and in the course of employment is compensable only if caused by an \u2018accident\u2019 and the claimant bears the burden of proving an accident has occurred.\u201d N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-2(6) (2001); Calderwood v. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, 135 N.C. App. 112, 115, 519 S.E.2d 61, 63 (1999). \u201cAn accident is an unlooked for and untoward event which is not expected or designed by the person who suffers the injury.\u201d Id. \u201cThe elements of an \u2018accident\u2019 are the interruption of the routine of work and the introduction thereby of unusual conditions likely to result in unexpected consequences.\u201d Adams v. Burlington Industries, Inc., 61 N.C. App. 258, 260, 300 S.E.2d 455, 456 (1983).\nMs. Harrison contends the full Commission erred when it concluded Ms. Harrison did not have a compensable injury by accident to her shoulder. \u201cWhen considering an appeal from the Commission, its findings are binding if there is any competent evidence to support them, regardless of whether there is evidence which would support a contrary finding. Therefore, our Court is limited to two questions: (1) whether competent evidence exists to support the Commission\u2019s findings, and (2) whether those findings justify its conclusions of law.\u201d Shaw v. Smith & Jennings, Inc., 130 N.C. App. 442, 445, 503 S.E.2d 113, 116 (1998).\nIn this case, the Commission found\n13. On 21 May 1999, plaintiff lifted a box of manila envelopes in a normal manner. There was nothing unusual about the weight of the box or the circumstances when she lifted it. She routinely lifted and carried boxes of envelopes as part of her regular job duties of placing office supplies in the supply cabinet.\n15. On August 19, 1999 when plaintiff emptied the binders, she was performing one of her regular job duties. There was nothing unusual or out of the ordinary in the manner that she removed the papers from the binders or carried them to the bins on that occasion. She did not prove that she lifted an unusual or excessive amount of weight on that date. Consequently, she did not sustain a compensable injury to her shoulder on August 19, 1999.\nThese findings were supported by Ms. Harrison\u2019s testimony that her job duties included getting supplies out of the boxes on the floor and putting them in the supply closet, removing papers from binders and placing those papers in the appropriate bin. Ms. Harrison also testified that the other secretaries had similar duties. Ann Webster Whiddon, Lucent Technologies work force relations and staffing manager, testified the job description for a secretary position supporting a third-level manager, Ms. Harrison\u2019s position, included things such as organizing offices, cleaning out an office, taking proprietary materials to bins, stocking supply closets and transporting those supplies. Dale Posny testified the box of manila folders which allegedly caused the 21 May 1999 injury contained a hundred letter size manila envelopes and weighed five pounds. These facts constitute competent evidence to support the findings of fact.\nBased upon these findings of fact, the Commission concluded:\n4. However, a shoulder injury must meet the standards of an injury by accident in order to be compensable. An \u201caccident\u201d must involve more than merely carrying on the usual and customary duties in the usual way, but rather involves the interruption of the work routine and the introduction thereby of unusual conditions likely to result in unexpected consequences.\n5. On May 21, 1999, plaintiff did not sustain a compensable injury by accident to her shoulder arising out of and in the course of her employment with defendant-employer.\n6. Plaintiff is not entitled to benefits under the Workers\u2019 Compensation Act for her shoulder injury, except for the medical treatment authorized by defendant-employer.\n7. On August 19, 1999 plaintiff did not sustain an injury by accident to her left shoulder arising out of and in the course of her employment with defendant-employer. Consequently, plaintiff is not entitled to benefits under the Workers\u2019 Compensation Act for her shoulder injury or the subsequent psychiatric problems related to her shoulder injury.\n8. However, because defendant authorized the treatment by Dr. Wilcockson and Dr. Gramig, defendant is liable for payment to those providers.\nWe hold that the Commission\u2019s findings of fact justify its conclusions of law. Indeed, the record shows that at the time of Ms. Harrison\u2019s injuries, she was engaged in normal and routine job activities. Accordingly, the circumstances of Ms. Harrison\u2019s injury does not meet the criteria of injury by accident.\nNonetheless, Ms. Harrison argues that this Court\u2019s holding in Kanipe v. Lane Upholstery, 141 N.C. App. 620, 540 S.E.2d 785 (2000), mandates that if the employer directs the medical treatment of an employee allegedly injured at work, the employer is estopped from denying liability for a workers\u2019 compensation claim arising out of that alleged injury. We disagree.\nIn Kanipe, this Court held \u201can employer\u2019s right to direct medical treatment (including the right to select the treating physician) attaches once the employer accepts the claim as compensable.\u201d Kanipe, 141 N.C. App. at 624, 540 S.E.2d at 788. What Ms. Harrison would have us do in her case is to invert this holding to conclude that an employer accepts liability once the employer directs medical treatment. We decline to do so because neither the reasoning of Kanipe nor the facts of this case support the illogical conclusion that providing medical treatment means acceptance of liability. In this case, Lucent Technologies provided a medical department in its facilities for its employees which Ms. Harrison visited when she felt pain. Moreover, the Commission properly determined that since Lucent Technologies \u201cauthorized the treatment by Dr. Wilcockson and Dr-Gramig, [it] is liable for payment to those providers.\u201d These actions, however, do not estop Lucent Technologies from denying liability for injuries that the Commission determined were not caused by a compensable accident.\nAn employee\u2019s right to workers\u2019 compensation is determined by statute. In this case, the Commission\u2019s findings of fact support its conclusion that Ms. Harrison\u2019s shoulder injury did not meet the definition of injury as defined by N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 97-2(6) (2001) and as interpreted by case law. Therefore, Ms. Harrison was not entitled to workers\u2019 compensation benefits. Finally, we have considered plaintiff\u2019s other assignments of error and find they are without merit. Accordingly, the award of the full Commission is,\nAffirmed.\nJudges BRYANT and GEER concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "WYNN, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Law Offices of Kathleen G. Sumner, by Kathleen G. Sumner, for plaintiff", "Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, by Clayton M. Custer and Stan B. Green, for defendants." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "REBECCA HARRISON, Plaintiff-Appellant v. LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES, Employer-Defendant, and LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES DISABILITY BENEFITS, Carrier-Defendant, Appellees\nNo. COA02-348\n(Filed 18 February 2003)\nWorkers\u2019 Compensation\u2014 not an injury by accident \u2014 right to direct medical treatment not acceptance of liability\nThe Industrial Commission did not err in a workers\u2019 compensation case by denying plaintiff employee compensation for her shoulder injury and psychological problems allegedly stemming from her injury based on its findings and conclusion that plaintiff\u2019s injuries were not caused by an accident, because: (1) the record shows that at the time of plaintiff\u2019s injuries, she was engaged in normal and routine job activities; and (2) even though the employer directed medical treatment, it did not accept the claim as compensable and providing medical treatment does not mean acceptance of liability.\nAppeal by plaintiff from order entered 29 November 2001 by the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Heard in the Court of Appeals 28 January 2003.\nLaw Offices of Kathleen G. Sumner, by Kathleen G. Sumner, for plaintiff\nWomble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, by Clayton M. Custer and Stan B. Green, for defendants." }, "file_name": "0147-01", "first_page_order": 177, "last_page_order": 184 }