Title
CONSIDERATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL OF A COURT ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,070 REGARDING FRANK Q. CRAWLEY VS. THE CITY OF NORMAN, WORKERS' COMPENSATION COURT CASE NO. WCC-2013-04986 L
Body
BACKGROUND: Frank Q. Crawley is a Fire Captain for the City of Norman who filed Workers' Compensation Case No. WCC 2013-04986 L on May 9, 2013, alleging right shoulder injury in a single incident on May 1, 2013. The case has proceeded through the normal litigation process. A trial was held on June 25, 2014 and on July 8, 2014, the Court awarded Mr. Crawley the sum of $29,070. It is recommended this settlement offer be accepted.
DISCUSSION: Mr. Crawley was hired as a firefighter on May 13, 1985. He was promoted to Fire Driver Engineer on November 18, 1994 and the final promotion to Fire Captain was on September 8, 2002.
Nature of Claim. Mr. Crawley was injured in a single incident on May 1, 2013 when burning debris fell on his right shoulder while fighting a fire. He filed this Workers' Compensation claim alleging right shoulder injury from this incident.
Issues for Trial. There is no question that Mr. Crawley's injury arose out of and in the course his duties with the Fire Department. The issue to be tried before the Workers' Compensation Court was the nature and extent of Mr. Crawley's injury or the Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) to Mr. Crawley. Permanent partial disability is a factual determination made by the Workers' Compensation Court Trial Judge based on doctors' opinions and medical records regarding the extent of permanent partial impairment.
Evaluations. Mr. Crawley was evaluated by Dr. J. Arden Blough who opined impairment to Mr. Crawley for right shoulder injury with surgery at 39% PPD or $62,989. The City had Mr. Crawley evaluated by Dr. LeRoy Young who opined 11% PPD impairment to the right shoulder or $17,765.
Court Order.
This case was heard by the Workers' Compensation Court on June 25...
Click here for full text