Mary Elizabeth Garnder v. Spotsylvania (County of) School Board

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA Present: Judges McClanahan, Haley and Retired Judge Hodges* MARY ELIZABETH GARDNER MEMORANDUM OPINION * * v. Record No. 2132-09-2 PER CURIAM FEBRUARY 23, 2010 SPOTSYLVANIA (COUNTY OF) SCHOOL BOARD AND VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL GROUP SELF-INSURANCE ASSOCIATION FROM THE VIRGINIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COMMISSION (Wesley G. Marshall, on briefs), for appellant. (Ralph L. Whitt, Jr.; Brandon R. Jordan; Whitt & Del Bueno, PC, on brief), for appellees. Mary Elizabeth Gardner appeals a decision of the Workers’ Compensation Commission finding that (1) employer was permitted to challenge authorization for treatment by Dr. Harold Young when it denied claimant’s treatment and disability were causally related to the workplace injury; (2) employer accepted responsibility for treatment costs for claimant’s workplace injury; (3) claimant’s treatment with Dr. Young was unauthorized and not the responsibility of the employer; (4) future treatment with Dr. Young would be unauthorized; and (5) claimant was responsible for payment for any treatment by Dr. Young. We have reviewed the record and the commission’s opinion and find that this appeal is without merit. 1 Accordingly, we affirm for the reasons stated by the commission in its final opinion. See Gardner v. Spotsylvania (Cty of) Sch. Bd., VWC File No. 227-95-17 (Aug. 25, 2009). We dispense * Retired Judge Hodges took part in the consideration of this case by designation pursuant to Code § 17.1-400(D). ** Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication. 1 By letter dated November 13, 2009, appellees filed a motion to strike (a) claimant’s attempt to designate “Carrier’s response to the orders, dated 12/31/07,” and (b) “the additional page of the employer’s response to the Commission’s 20-day order for inclusion in the appendix.” Pursuant to Rule 1.5(B)(2) of the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission, these documents were not a part of the with oral argument and summarily affirm because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the Court and argument would not aid the decisional process. See Code § 17.1-403; Rule 5A:27. Affirmed. record before the commission. Therefore, we grant appellees’ motion. -2-