Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Electronically Filed
Supreme Court
SCWC-13-0003629
22-MAY-2018
08:20 AM
---oOo---
________________________________________________________________
vs.
SCWC-13-0003629
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT
(CAAP-13-0003629; CIV. NO. 12-1-3294)
I. Introduction
her elbow, arm, and hand, which manifested on April 17, 2007
HRS § 88-336.
2
See Lopez v. Bd. of Trs., Emps.’ Ret. Sys., 66 Haw. 127, 130, 657 P.2d
1040, 1043 (1983) (“An accident is an unlooked for mishap or untoward event
which is not expected or designed.” (citing Chun Wong Chu v. Yee Wo Chan, 26
Haw. 785 (1923))). “Accident” is similarly defined in Hawaiʻi Administrative
Rule (“HAR”) § 6-22-2 (1989) as follows: “‘Accident’ means an unlooked for
mishap or untoward event which is not expected or designed, occurring while
in the actual performance of duty at some definite time and place.”
2
place.” We therefore affirm the ICA’s July 14, 2016 Judgment on
II. Background
A. Factual Background
later expanded it to Maui and the Big Island. As she did not
3
a federally funded project was due in mid-April 2007, Pasco’s
point that she typed seven hours per day from April 12 to April
Pasco’s workshift, she was injured when she used her computer
located in her right inner elbow and led down to her fourth and
and painful that she had difficulty using her right arm and hand
This was the first time Pasco had experienced pain in this
17, 2007, Pasco did not have any pre-existing injuries to her
4
occupational therapists on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, and the mainland, as
May 2, 2007, by May 14, 2007, Pasco reported that her left arm
however, the software made frequent errors and she used her left
of burning pain in her left arm, and was diagnosed with complex
5
B. Pasco’s Application for Benefits
program. Clerk not yet hired, full computers not yet purchased.
at the Kapaʻa Neighborhood Center while Pasco was “on duty”; the
not extended.
Retirement System (“ERS Board”) dated August 19, 2009, the ERS
6
Medical Board (“Medical Board”) concluded that Pasco’s
syndrome of the arms, and not the medial epicondylitis that had
retirement.
February 16, 2010, Pasco, pro se, timely filed an appeal with
7
related myofascial pain syndrome was correct. Dr. Chinn also
did not occur at any definite place and time, as the injury was
injury.”
that Pasco did not have pre-existing injuries to her elbow, arm,
and hands prior to April 17, 2007, and that typing was part of
8
hearing officer found that Pasco was not a malingerer as she
as a last resort.
Haw. 94, 704 P.2d 902 (1985), a case in which this court
9
period of time by noting that the Supreme Court had determined
in Lopez, 66 Haw. 127, 657 P.2d 1040, that “an accident did not
retirement benefits.
hearing on November 13, 2012, the ERS Board issued its Final
benefits.
10
C. Circuit Court Proceedings
D. ICA Proceedings
2013. In its June 17, 2016 Memorandum Opinion, the ICA noted
3
The Honorable Rhonda A. Nishimura presiding.
11
that HRS § 88-336 uses analogous and identical language to that
134 Hawaiʻi 1, 332 P.3d 144 (2014), the exact moment of injury
the Emps. Ret. Sys., No. CAAP-13-0003629, at 8–9 (App. June 17,
2016) (mem.).
she was injured some time during her October 8–9, 2004 work
shift. Id.
Based on Panado, the ICA concluded here that Pasco was able
injury:
4
HRS § 88-79 is the service-connected disability retirement statute for
Class A and Class B members of the ERS, whereas HRS § 88-336 is the service-
connected disability retirement statute applicable to Class H members.
12
“April 2007” when this activity intensified, leading up to
the point, on April 17, 2007, that the pain from her injury
was so severe that it caused her to seek medical attention.
Her employer, DOH, did not contest these assertions.
its decision.
E. Issues on Certiorari
that Pasco was injured on April 17, 2007. Rather, the ERS Board
argues that Dr. Chinn and the Medical Board had agreed with Dr.
13
workshift.
required under the statute. The ERS further argues that because
was that Pasco began to have pain symptoms” while working, which
retirement. The ERS Board also asserts that because the ERS
545, 319 P.3d 464 (2014), and Lawhead v. United Air Lines, 59
Haw. 551, 584 P.2d 119 (1978), are also applicable to her case.
A. Interpretation of a Statute
14
Appeals, 114 Hawaiʻi 184, 193, 159 P.3d 143, 152 (2007) (citation
IV. Discussion
5
Neither of the parties contests the hearing officer’s findings, which
include: (1) Pasco did not have pre-existing injuries of her elbow, arm and
hands prior to the alleged accident of April 17, 2007; (2) Pasco’s testimony
was credible when she testified “that the unnatural positioning of elbows . .
. while typing for extended periods of time could result in elbow pain”; (3)
Pasco began to feel pain in her right arm, wrist, and hand on April 17, 2007
while typing at work; and (4) Pasco did initially have medial epicondylitis,
which eventually led to complex regional pain syndrome.
Given these findings by the hearing officer, the ERS Board’s assertion
that the hearing officer had found that “Pasco failed to prove by a
preponderance of the evidence that her permanent incapacity was ‘the natural
and proximate result’ of her claimed accident of April 17, 2007,” is plainly
incorrect.
16
“accident occurring while in the actual performance of duty at
6
“Mishap” is defined as “[a] small accident or mistake, esp. when the
consequences are not severe; a relatively trivial instance of bad luck,
mischance.” Black’s Law Dictionary 1151 (10th ed. 2014).
17
recommendations, the ERS Board concluded that an “accident”
Haw. 127, 657 P.2d 1040, this court concluded that “an accident
1030 (1983), as both cases were issued by this court on the same
Myers, 68 Haw. 94, 704 P.2d 902, this court referred to both
7
The court also disagreed with the engineer’s argument that his job
pressures and stresses amounted to an occupational hazard. See Lopez, 66
Haw. at 129, 657 P.2d at 1042.
18
resulted in the appellant’s present incapacity. It is not
appeal to this court, the ERS Board argued the stabbing was not
19
was “out to get him.” 66 Haw. at 113, 657 P.2d at 1032. This
that the “warning” had been given by the assailant’s sister five
time, and none of the witnesses on the date of the stabbing had
20
Pasco began the job, “[her] deteriorating physical conditions
began far earlier than April 12, 2007” and therefore her “severe
elbow injury could not have been unexpected.” The record does
injuries to her elbow, arm, and hands prior to April 17, 2007.
constitutes an “accident.”
21
pot as part of his normal and routine preparation for conducting
by the ERS Board. The circuit court later reversed the ERS
contending that the incident involving the coffee pot was not an
at 96 & n.1, 704 P.2d at 904 & n.1 (emphasis added). The weight
22
strain is required to show that an “accident” befell an
mishap” was the “sharp pains across his left lower back into the
his right leg” that he experienced when setting down the coffee
Pasco’s job. Pasco also did not expect the onset of pain on
April 17, 2007 while she typed, just as the employee in Myers
did not expect to suffer severe back pain from lifting a coffee
8
Indeed, after our decision in Myers, the ERS Board removed the sentence
underlined below from its September 26, 1983 definition of “accident” in
effect at the time of the case:
HAR § 6-22-2 (emphasis added). The second sentence of the definition was
removed effective February 9, 1989. See HAR § 6-22-2 (am. Feb. 9, 1989).
23
Emps.’ Ret. Sys., Civil No. 79302, Findings of Fact &
however, does not comport with this court’s rejection of the ERS
24
analogous to the relevant facts in Panado, 134 Hawaiʻi 1, 332
P.3d 144, where we held that an applicant had shown her injury
and place” even though the employee could not identify the exact
moment of injury.
shift, and she was therefore required to lift between ten and
felt pain in her lower back, upper back, shoulder, neck, and
right arm. She experienced pain the day after her shift, and on
treated for neck and low back pain, and was subsequently unable
conceded that she could not “pinpoint to the exact box” that was
at 141. Thus, the issue before this court was whether the
25
statute requires an employee to establish the exact moment she
was injured.
We held that it does not. See 134 Hawaiʻi at 13, 332 P.3d
“definite time and place,” does not mean the exact moment of
injury, but rather requires that the time and place of injury be
not indicate the ‘some definite time and place’ language was
26
permanently incapacitated as the cumulative result of an
To illustrate, we noted:
Id.
Panado, the fact that Pasco’s “onset of pain did not occur
immediately” does not mean it was not “the natural and proximate
27
physiological capacity, the injury occurred “while in the actual
April 17, 2007. Even if the pain had manifested the day after a
does not mean that her accident did not occur “while in the
V. Conclusion
28
retirement to Pasco and for proceedings consistent with the ICA’s
29
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Electronically Filed
Supreme Court
SCWC-13-0003629
22-MAY-2018
08:22 AM
---o0o---
KIMBERLY A. PASCO,
Respondent/Petitioner-Appellant,
vs.
SCWC-13-0003629
Majority at 2.
worded language of the statute, our case law, and the facts of
retirement.
I. BACKGROUND
application, she claimed that during April 2007, she injured her
1
HRS § 88-336(a) (Supp. 2007) provides in relevant part:
(Emphasis added.)
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19, 2012.
Court of the First Circuit (circuit court), where she argued that
2
HAR § 6-22-2 (effective 1989) defines “accident” as “an unlooked for
mishap or untoward event which is not expected or designed, occurring while in
the actual performance of duty at some definite time and place.”
4
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and order filed on September 17, 2013, the circuit court affirmed
the ERS Board’s decision, but on June 17, 2016, the Intermediate
II. DISCUSSION
health educator and that her permanent incapacity was not the
3
Pasco did not argue on appeal that the ERS Board erred when it
determined that she failed to prove that she suffered an “occupational hazard”
within the meaning of HRS § 88-336.
4
The ERS Board argues that “Pasco failed to prove by a preponderance of
the evidence that her permanent incapacity was the ‘natural and proximate
result’ of her claimed accident of April 17, 2017.” While the hearing officer
concluded that “[t]here was no accident . . . that resulted in [Pasco’s]
permanent incapacity,” the hearing officer did find credible that Pasco’s
“typing for extended periods of time could result in elbow pain.” This
suggests that the hearing officer concluded that typing at work was the
natural and proximate cause of her incapacity –- CRPS.
Even if it can be argued that the hearing officer never made an explicit
finding that overtyping caused Pasco’s CRPS, because Pasco did not suffer an
“accident” within the meaning of HRS § 88-336(a), see infra, I need not reach
the causation issue to affirm the decision of the circuit court.
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88-336(a) and our precedent indicate that Pasco’s injury was not
A. Pasco’s injury was not the result of “an unlooked for mishap
or untoward event which is not expected or designed.”
5
At that time, the applicable disability retirement statute was HRS § 88-
77(a), which provided substantially similar language to the present HRS § 88-
336. It read:
6
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of Trs. of Emps.’ Ret. Sys., 66 Haw. 111, 657 P.2d 1030 (1983);
Lopez v. Bd. of Trs., Emps.’ Ret. Sys., 66 Haw. 127, 657 P.2d
5
(...continued)
in the actual performance of duty at some definite time and
place, or as the cumulative result of some occupational
hazard, through no wilful negligence on his part, may be
retired by the board of trustees for service-connected total
disability.
6
Similarly, the HAR later adopted this definition. See supra note 2.
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the ERS Board’s determination that Lopez’s mental illness did not
Trs. of Emps.’ Ret. Syst., 68 Haw. 94, 704 P.2d 902 (1985). In
Myers, there was no dispute that the claimant was injured when he
P.2d at 903. “At that point, [the claimant] heard a snap in his
back. He experienced sharp pains across his left lower back into
8
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Kikuta, Pasco’s pain, which manifested on April 17, 2007, was not
is far from clear that Pasco could not have expected that she
overtyping at work.
put tremendous stress on her elbow, arm, and hand months before
7
Notably, these cases do not explicitly engage in the second part of the
analysis –- whether the accident took place at a “definite time and place” as
HRS § 88-336 requires. But there was no reason for this court to engage in
that particular analysis because the accidents that occurred in those cases
clearly resulted from single acts.
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occurring “[d]uring [the month of] April 2007 [when she] was
that time, Pasco noted that she “attempted again to hire staff,”
but no help was given. Pasco also stated that she did not have a
setup.
her office not being operational put further strain and stress on
10
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desk setup was “not ideal” because the L-shaped desk was uneven,
and the right portion sat several inches lower than the rest of
the desk. Therefore, Pasco stated that when she typed, her right
elbow was on the lower part of the desk, while presumably her
April 17, 2017, and was asymptomatic until that time,” as the
8
The Majority posits that just as the claimant in Myers “did not expect
to suffer severe back pain from lifting a coffee pot when, prior to the
accident, he could lift sixty-five-pound bags of coral sand and ninety-five-
pound bags of mortar mix without discomfort of any kind,” here, Pasco could
not have expected the onset of pain on April 17, 2007 while she typed.
Majority at 23 (emphasis added).
But as just discussed, the record demonstrates that in the weeks
preceding the onset of pain on April 17, 2007, Pasco actually did experience
significant discomfort while typing. This further distinguishes Pasco’s
alleged “accident” from the claimant’s accident in Myers.
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B. The injury did not occur at some definite time and place.
indicates that Pasco did not prove that her injury occurred at a
definite time and place, which also makes her ineligible for
disability retirement.
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during that one work shift and was permanently incapacitated for
determined that all that the claimant must prove is that the time
doubtful.” Id. at 13, 332 P.3d at 156 (citing The New Oxford
pinpoint the exact time that her injury occurred or the exact box
9
As such, we did not address whether the accident was “not expected or
designed.” See HAR § 6-22-2.
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period caused her injury, we concluded that the time period was
injury manifested as arm pain at some time after the moment she
does not mean that her accident did not occur ‘while in the
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Panado, 134 Hawai#i at 15, 332 P.3d at 158. We also stated that
accident occurred, but [was] unsure of which exact act caused his
from her neck and back injuries a day after she lifted the heavy
15
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Pasco’s injury from the one in Myers, where the claimant there
16
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actions, any one of which could have caused the injury), but is
stress injury from the overuse of her arm and hand could not have
131, 657 P.2d at 1043 (“It is not enough, under the retirement
law, that work pressures and stresses over a period time were
III. CONCLUSION
2007, she lost her clerk, was forced to take on more typing
2007, she spent long hours typing on an uneven desk that forced
10
The Majority points out that in Panado, this court offered a slight
variation on the facts in Myers and stated that even if the claimant in Myers
had lifted the coffee maker twice and could not point to which one of the two
lifts caused his incapacity, he should not be denied disability retirement if
he could establish that it was either lift that caused the injury. Majority
at 27 (citing Panado, 134 Hawai#i at 15, 332 P.3d at 158).
But as noted previously, the facts of this case present a significant
deviation from the facts in Myers, involving weeks (and perhaps months) of
overtyping at work. Therefore, denying disability retirement benefits in this
particular situation would not, in my opinion, be “unjust and unreasonable in
its consequences.” Contra Panado, 134 Hawai#i at 15, 332 P.3d at 158.
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of her own, the injury she sustained, and the onset of pain that
more. The claimant must prove that his or her injury was a
11
If the Legislature wishes to allow a claimant who suffers a “cumulative
stress” injury over a long period of time to recover under the disability
retirement statute, the Legislature may amend the statute and remove language
such as “accident” or “some definite time and place.” However, as written,
the plain language of the statute constrains my ability to interpret it in
Pasco’s favor. See State v. Dudoit, 90 Hawai#i 262, 271, 978 P.2d 700, 709
(1999) (“We cannot change the language of the statute, supply a want, or
enlarge upon it in order to make it suit a certain state of facts. We do not
legislate or make laws.”).
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respectfully dissent.
19