JAMES R. COGAR
v. Docket No. 95-HHR-207
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES
Grievant, James R. Cogar, employed by the Department of Health
and Human Resources (DHHR) as a Health Service Assistant at the
William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital, appealed the termination of his
employment directly to level four on May 24, 1995. An evidentiary
hearing was conducted on September 25, 1995, and the matter became
mature for decision on December 18, 1995, the deadline for filing
proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law.
The facts of this matter are not in dispute.
1. Grievant suffered hip and back injuries on May 11, 1990,
while providing direct care to a combative patient.
2. Grievant was reinjured on July 24, 1990, but continued to
work through August 11, 1990.
3. Grievant began receiving temporary total disability
benefits from Workers' Compensation, effective August 12, 1990.
4. On August 29, 1990, Grievant began a medical leave withoutpay.
5. On February 29, 1991, Grievant began a personal leave,
without pay, for medical reasons.
6. Effective October 29, 1991, the temporary total disability
benefits ceased and Grievant was awarded a ten percent permanent
partial disability. This award was increased to fifteen percent
permanent partial disability on November 12, 1992.
7. By decision dated April 27, 1995, a Workers' Compensation
Administrative Law Judge reopened the May 11, 1990, claim.
8. By letter dated April 13, 1995, Hospital Administrators
notified Grievant that unless he could obtain a physician's release
and return to work, his employment would be terminated effective
May 1, 1995.
9. A physician's statement dated May 23, 1995, indicated that
Grievant would be able to return to work on July 1, 1995, so long
as he was not required to engage in heavy lifting or prolonged
standing.
10. Grievant's duties as a Health Service Assistant require
that he engage in heavy lifting and prolonged standing on a regular
basis.
At hearing Grievant testified that he continues to receive
Workers' Compensation benefits, but that he hopes to ultimately
return to work with successful treatment and therapy. He concedes
that he cannot perform the essential functions of a Health Service
Assistant, but asserts that he will accept any position at the
Hospital which he can perform with his disabilities. At the timeof the hearing, he had not applied for reinstatement or for any
other position.
DHHR argues that Grievant was afforded all the medical and
personal leave to which he was entitled and that his employment was
properly terminated when the temporary total disability benefits
were discontinued in April 1995. Because he cannot perform the
essential duties of his position, and because no permanent light-
duty assignments are available, DHHR concluded that it was no
longer economically feasible to keep the position open.
W. Va. Code §23-5A-3 addresses this situation as follows:
(a) It shall be a discriminatory practice
within the meaning of section one [§23-5A-1]
of this article to terminate an injured
employee while the injured employee is off
work due to a compensable injury within the
meaning of article four [§23-4-1 et seq.] of
this chapter and is receiving or is eligible
to receive temporary total disability
benefits, unless the injured employee has
committed a separate dischargeable offense. .
. .
(b) It shall be a discriminatory practice
within the meaning of section one of this
article for an employer to fail to reinstate
an employee who has sustained a compensable
injury to the employee's former position of
employment upon demand for such reinstatement
provided that the position is available and
the employee is not disabled from performing
the duties of such position. If the former
position is not available, the employee shall
be reinstated to another comparable position
which is available and which the employee is
capable of performing. A comparable position
for the purposes of this section shall mean a
position which is comparable as to wages,
working conditions and, to the extent
reasonably practicable, duties to the position
held at the time of injury. A written
statement from a duly licensed physician that
the physician approves the injured employee'sreturn to his or her regular employment shall
be prima facie evidence that the worker is
able to perform such duties. In the event
that neither the former position nor a
comparable position is available, the
employee shall have a right to preferential
recall to any job which becomes open after the
injured employee notifies the employer that he
or she desired reinstatement. Said right of
preferential recall shall be in effect for one
year from the day the injured employee
notifies the employer that he or she desires
reinstatement. . . .
Grievant submitted no documentary evidence in this matter.
DHHR submitted a Workers' Compensation determination dated
October 30, 1991, which advised Grievant that he was granted a ten
percent permanent partial disability award. This apparently closed
the claim arising from the May 1990 injury. DHHR Exhibit 4, a
Chronology Chart of Grievant's multiple claims, indicates that on
April 27, 1995, an Administrative Law Judge reopened the claim for
the May 1990 injury. Grievant stated at hearing that he continues
to receive Workers' Compensation benefits, but did not identify
their type or source.
Because the termination of Grievant's employment was for a
non-disciplinary reason, Grievant bears the burden of proving that
the action was improperly taken. Payne v. W.Va. Dept. of Energy,
Docket No. ENGY-88-015 (Nov. 2, 1988). He has failed to prove that
any benefits he may be receiving are for a temporary total
disability. Grievant readily admits that he cannot return to his
former position and this claim is supported by a physician's
statement which restricts Grievant from engaging in heavy lifting
and prolonged standing. Based upon the record in its entirety, itcannot be determined that the termination of Grievant's employment
was in violation of any statute, rule, regulation, or policy, or
was otherwise improper.
(See footnote 1)
In addition to the foregoing facts and discussion it is
appropriate to make the following conclusions of law.
1. In non-disciplinary dismissals the Grievant bears the
burden of proving that the action was contrary to law. Payne v.
W.Va. Dept. of Energy, Docket No. ENGY-88-015 (Nov. 2, 1988).
2. Grievant has failed to prove that the termination of his
employment, nearly five years after his last working day, was in
violation of any statute, rule, regulation, or policy.
3. Grievant is entitled to "preferential recall to any job
which [he] is capable of performing which becomes open after [he]
notifies the employer that he . . . desire[s] reinstatement." This
entitlement is valid for a period of one year from the date he
notifies DHHR that he desires reinstatement. W.Va. Code §23-5A-
3(b).
Accordingly, the grievance is DENIED.
February 27, 1996