Jason D. Jones v. Multiplex, Inc.

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

FILED
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS July 17, 2013
RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
JASON D. JONES, OF WEST VIRGINIA

Claimant Below, Petitioner

vs.) No. 11-1438 (BOR Appeal No. 2045711)
(Claim No. 2011000136)

MULTIPLEX, INC.,
Employer Below, Respondent

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Petitioner Jason D. Jones, by Linda Garrett, his attorney, appeals the decision of the West
Virginia Workers’ Compensation Board of Review. Multiplex, Inc., by Alyssa Sloan, its
attorney, filed a timely response.

This appeal arises from the Board of Review’s Final Order dated September 21, 2011, in
which the Board affirmed a March 8, 2011, Order of the Workers’ Compensation Office of
Judges. In its Order, the Office of Judges affirmed the claims administrator’s July 27, 2010,
decision rejecting Mr. Jones’s claim for workers’ compensation benefits. The Court has carefully
reviewed the records, written arguments, and appendices contained in the briefs, and the case is
mature for consideration.

This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these
reasons, a memorandum decision is appropriate under Rule 21 of the Rules of Appellate
Procedure.

Mr. Jones alleges that on June 28, 2010, he injured his lower back when he tripped on a
pipe and fell into a five foot deep trench. Following the incident, he sought medical treatment
and was diagnosed with lumbosacral sprain/strain, thoracic sprain/strain, contusion to the back,
and lumbago. The evidentiary record in the instant case is extensive and indicates that Mr. Jones
has a very long history of back problems, including multiple injuries and a herniated disc, with a
non work-related back injury occurring in the days prior to the alleged June 28, 2010, injury.

1
 In its Order affirming the July 27, 2010, claims administrator’s decision, the Office of
Judges held that the preponderance of the evidence does not establish that Mr. Jones sustained an
injury in the course of and as a result of his employment on June 28, 2010. Mr. Jones disputes
this finding and asserts that the evidence of record demonstrates that he sustained a work-related
injury on June 28, 2010.

The Office of Judges found that the compensability of the claim is highly questionable.
The Office of Judges further found that although Mr. Jones’s preexisting back problems would
not preclude him from suffering a new injury on June 28, 2010, an investigation of the alleged
injury resulted in a finding that the accident could not have occurred in the manner presented by
Mr. Jones. The Office of Judges then found that Mr. Jones’s prior injuries and conditions could
explain the physical manifestations observed on June 28, 2010. The Board of Review reached the
same reasoned conclusions in its decision of September 21, 2011. We agree with the reasoning
and conclusions of the Board of Review.

For the foregoing reasons, we find that the decision of the Board of Review is not in clear
violation of any constitutional or statutory provision, nor is it clearly the result of erroneous
conclusions of law, nor is it based upon a material misstatement or mischaracterization of the
evidentiary record. Therefore, the decision of the Board of Review is affirmed.

Affirmed.

ISSUED: July 17, 2013

CONCURRED IN BY:
Chief Justice Brent D. Benjamin
Justice Robin J. Davis
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Allen H. Loughry II

2