Laquita Ferris vs. Baxter County Regional Hospital, Inc

NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE THE ARKANSAS WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION CLAIM NO. G500916 LAQUITA I. FERRIS, EMPLOYEE CLAIMANT BAXTER COUNTY REGIONAL HOSPITAL, INC., EMPLOYER RESPONDENT NO. 1 RISK MANAGEMENT RESOURCES, INSURANCE CARRIER/TPA RESPONDENT NO. 1 DEATH & PERMANENT TOTAL DISABILITY TRUST FUND RESPONDENT NO. 2 OPINION FILED JUNE 20, 2024 Upon review before the FULL COMMISSION in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. Claimant represented by the HONORABLE FREDERICK S. “RICK” SPENCER, Attorney at Law, Mountain Home, Arkansas. Respondents No. 1 represented by the HONORABLE WALTER A. MURRAY, Attorney at Law, Little Rock, Arkansas. Respondents No. 2 represented by the HONORABLE CHRISTY L. KING, Attorney at Law, Little Rock, Arkansas. Decision of Administrative Law Judge: Affirmed and Adopted. OPINION AND ORDER Claimant appeals an opinion and order of the Administrative Law Judge filed September 12, 2023. In said order, the Administrative Law Judge made the following findings of fact and conclusions of law: 1. The Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission has jurisdiction over this claim.

FERRIS - G500916 2 2. That an employer/employee relationship existed on February 1, 2015, when the claimant sustained a compensable injury to her right knee. 3. Claimant earned an average weekly wage of $398.36, entitling her to compensation rates of $266.00 for temporary total disability and $200.00 for permanent partial disability. 4. That the claimant has proven, by a preponderance of the credible evidence, that she is entitled to additional reasonable and necessary medical treatment consisting of conservative treatment and management under the direction of Dr. Chris Arnold and the conservative treatment and management is causally related and reasonably necessary for the treatment of the work- related left knee injury. 5. The claimant has failed to satisfy the burden of proof that she is permanently and totally disabled. 6. All other issues are moot. 7. If not already paid, the respondents are ordered to pay for the cost of the transcript forthwith. We have carefully conducted a de novo review of the entire record herein and it is our opinion that the Administrative Law Judge's September 12, 2023 decision is supported by a preponderance of the credible evidence, correctly applies the law, and should be affirmed. Specifically, we find from a preponderance of the evidence that the findings of fact made by the Administrative Law Judge are correct and they are, therefore, adopted by the Full Commission.

FERRIS - G500916 3 Therefore we affirm and adopt the decision of the Administrative Law Judge, including all findings and conclusions therein, as the decision of the Full Commission on appeal. IT IS SO ORDERED. ___________________________________ SCOTTY DALE DOUTHIT, Chairman ___________________________________ M. SCOTT WILLHITE, Commissioner ___________________________________ MICHAEL R. MAYTON, Commissioner