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REL: 10/02/2009

Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o formal r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r .

ALABAMA COURT OF CIVIL
SPECIAL TERM, 2009

APPEALS

2080529

Steam & Process Repairs v. M i c h a e l V. Cayton Appeal from Mobile C i r c u i t (CV-05-3550.51) THOMPSON, P r e s i d i n g J u d g e . Steam & P r o c e s s Repairs ("S&P") a p p e a l s from t h e t r i a l In i t s Court

c o u r t ' s judgment i n t h i s w o r k e r s ' compensation a c t i o n . appeal, S&P c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e t r i a l

c o u r t e r r e d i n t h e way i t

gave c r e d i t t o S&P f o r t e m p o r a r y - t o t a l - d i s a b i l i t y p a y m e n t s S&P

2080529 made t o employee M i c h a e l V. C a y t o n a f t e r Cayton had reached

maximum m e d i c a l i m p r o v e m e n t The p e r t i n e n t facts

("MMI"). From May 22, 2004,

a r e as f o l l o w s .

t o A p r i l 1 8 , 2008, S&P v o l u n t a r i l y p a i d C a y t o n $ 5 1 3 . 5 4 a week in temporary-total-disability benefits for a back injury

Cayton had s u s t a i n e d i n a w o r k - r e l a t e d a c c i d e n t . weekly payments were made while this matter

Most o f t h e was being

litigated.

I n i t s judgment,

the t r i a l

court determined that d i s a b i l i t y as a 4,

Cayton had s u s t a i n e d a 7 5 % permanent p a r t i a l

r e s u l t o f t h e i n j u r y a n d t h a t he h a d r e a c h e d MMI on A p r i l 2006. credit The t r i a l

c o u r t a l s o f o u n d t h a t S&P was e n t i t l e d t o a total

" t o the e x t e n t t h a t b e n e f i t s p a i d f o r temporary after the date o f maximum medical

disability

improvement The

e x c e e d e d b e n e f i t s due f o r p e r m a n e n t p a r t i a l d i s a b i l i t y . " trial court directed the parties

t o confer t o determine the

amount o f c o m p e n s a t i o n owed t o C a y t o n i n l i g h t o f t h e c r e d i t due t o S&P. S&P a r g u e d t h a t i t was e n t i t l e d t o a c r e d i t i n t h e form

o f a r e d u c t i o n i n payment e q u a l t o t h e a c t u a l d o l l a r amount i t h a d o v e r p a i d C a y t o n a f t e r he h a d r e a c h e d MMI. Cayton argued

t h a t S&P was e n t i t l e d t o c r e d i t i n t h e f o r m o f a d e d u c t i o n o f

2

2080529 the number of weeks i t had paid Cayton temporary-total-

d i s a b i l i t y b e n e f i t s f r o m t h e t o t a l number o f weeks C a y t o n was entitled to receive permanent-partial-disability benefits. discussed

The p a r t i e s ' r e s p e c t i v e methods o f c a l c u l a t i o n a r e more fully below.

The p a r t i e s were u n a b l e t o a g r e e on t h e They r e t u r n e d a hearing, S&P to the t r i a l the t r i a l had p a i d court court Cayton that

amount o f c o m p e n s a t i o n owed. to resolve an the issue. amended order

After

entered

finding that benefits

temporary-total-disability C a y t o n was benefits entitled

f o r 204 weeks

and

to receive

permanent-partial-disability to

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Alabama Law