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Uniroyal Goodrich Tire Co. v. Kemp3/5/1999
Michelin North America, Inc., asks for review of an order reopening a claim to allow Claimant Amiegene Kemp additional medical treatment. In a March 18, 1994 order, the Workers' Compensation Court awarded Claimant permanent partial disability benefits for a 1993 cumulative trauma injury to her back. The parties agree Claimant filed a 1998 claim (new claim) in which she alleged she had sustained a new cumulative trauma injury to her back. The Workers' Compensation Court entered an order on March 2, 1998, in the new claim, finding that she had not sustained a new injury to her back. That order is now final.
In April of 1998 Claimant filed a motion to reopen the 1993 claim, and a copy of the transcript from the hearing on the new claim was admitted into evidence at hearing. The workers' compensation court trial Judge found Claimant had sustained a change in the physical condition of her back for the worse and authorized additional medical treatment. Michelin filed an en banc appeal, and the three-Judge panel affirmed the trial Judge.
In this review proceeding, Michelin argues Claimant should have moved to reopen her 1993 claim in the new claim proceedings but instead elected to proceed on the issue of whether she had sustained a new injury. Having so elected, Michelin claims, she should now be estopped by res judicata from arguing that she has had a change of condition. It is not disputed that in the new claim Michelin denied Claimant had a new cumulative trauma injury to her back and argued, in the alternative, that her symptoms were a progression of her 1993 injury and that she should have filed to re-open her 1993 claim. Michelin points to this in support of its argument that res judicata applies. That doctrine bars a second action where the parties and the two causes of action are the same.
Michelin argues that the parties, issues, remedies, exposure to injury, and injury are the same in the new claim and this one and therefore the res judicata doctrine applies. Further, Michelin argues, Friar v. Sirloin Stockade, 1981 OK 117, 635 P.2d 597, makes clear that unless an injury is reserved for future determination, all injuries are at issue when a claim is heard. On the facts of this record, Friar provides no support for Michelin's arguments. In Friar the injured worker alleged he had suffered injuries to different parts of his body. Hearing proceeded, and the resulting order addressed only some of the alleged injuries. None were reserved for future determination. All the injuries were deemed to be at issue when the case was heard, and it was held the trial court erred in not entering specific findings as to each alleged injury. Here, injury to different parts of the body is not a factor.
Under the doctrine of res judicata, parties are barred from revisiting issues which were determined in a prior proceeding or which could have been raised in prior proceedings. Wilson v. Kane, 1993 OK 65, 852 P.2d 717. Michelin contends Claimant could have reopened her 1993 claim from within the new claim proceedings. To do so would require Claimant to plead, alternatively, that she either had a new injury or had experienced a change of condition for the worse. Michelin has cited us no authority, and we have found none, which would authorize proceeding on such alternate theories in the same case. Claimant's motion to reopen was not barred by res judicata or estoppel by judgment.
Michelin also argues the order is not supported by competent evidence and is erroneous as a matter of law. Michelin points to apparent inconsistencies between two reports of Dr. John W. Ellis in support of its contention that Dr. Ellis' reports are not credible and not probative
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