COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
Present: Judges Kelsey, Petty and Senior Judge Bumgardner
WALTER EVERETT CHILDRESS
MEMORANDUM OPINION*
v. Record No. 0117-06-3 PER CURIAM
OCTOBER 17, 2006
APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY
FROM THE VIRGINIA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COMMISSION
(Walter E. Childress, pro se, on brief).
(Richard D. Lucas; Lucas Law Firm, PLC, on brief), for appellee.
Walter Everett Childress (claimant) appeals decisions of the Workers’ Compensation
Commission dated June 5, 2003, November 4, 2004, and March 3, 2006.1 Claimant’s brief
contains eleven Questions Presented, three of which are marked as “Withdrawn,” and
corresponding lengthy argument related to those questions. Claimant contends (1) he was denied
due process; (2) the commission erred in finding no evidence of an equipment malfunction
during claimant’s August 30, 2002 hearing and no prejudice to claimant; (3) the commission
erred in not allowing claimant to withdraw his claim; (4) the commission erred in adjudicating
certain claims of which claimant had no notice; (5) the commission was biased towards claimant;
(6) a deputy commissioner should not be allowed to hear a case and then let another deputy
commissioner hear parts of the case or discuss the case with an outside party; and (7) once
Appalachian Power Company (employer) admitted it owed claimant monies or admitted medical
*
Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
1
This Court in previous appeals ruled the June 5, 2003 and November 4, 2004 opinions
were interlocutory.
treatment was related to the injury, it was unnecessary for him to prove his case. In summarily
affirming the commission’s decisions, we have considered only those questions and arguments
that were raised before the commission, germane to the decisions appealed from, and considered
by the commission in those decisions.2
In so doing, we have reviewed the record and the commission’s opinions and find that
this appeal is without merit. Accordingly, we affirm for the reasons stated by the commission in
its opinions dated June 5, 2003, November 4, 2004, and March 3, 2006. See Childress v.
Appalachian Power Company, VWC File No. 120-42-06 (June 5, 2003, Nov. 4, 2004, and Mar.
3, 2006). We dispense 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.
2
We also note that in his brief, claimant did not challenge the underlying merits of the
commission’s June 5, 2003 ruling affirming the deputy commissioner’s findings that claimant
failed to prove employer was responsible for certain mileage reimbursement, prescription drug
costs, and medical expenses. Accordingly, the commission’s finding in that regard is binding
and conclusive upon us on appeal. See Rule 5A:18.
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