Legal Case

Union Carbide Corporation, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company v. Christina Dearien (Decedent) and Thomas Dearien (Dependent)

Court

Intermediate Court of Appeals of West Virginia

Decided

June 4, 2025

Jurisdiction

SA

Practice Areas

Workers' Compensation
Occupational Disease Claims
Administrative Law
Civil Procedure

Case Summary

IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA FILED Spring 2025 Term June 4, 2025 _____________________ released at 3:00 p.m. ASHLEY N. DEEM, CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS No. 24-ICA-269 OF WEST VIRGINIA _____________________ UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION, a subsidiary of THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY, Employer Below, Petitioner, v. CHRISTINA DEARIEN (Decedent) and THOMAS DEARIEN (Dependent), Claimant Below, Respondent. ___________________________________________________________ Appeal from the West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Board of Review JCN: 2022005028 AFFIRMED _________________________________________________________ Submitted: April 30, 2025 Filed: June 4, 2025 Timothy E. Huffman, Esq. R. Dean Hartley, Esq. Jackson Kelly PLLC Hartley Law Group, PLLC Charleston, West Virginia Wheeling, West Virginia Counsel for Petitioner Counsel for Respondent JUDGE GREEAR delivered the Opinion of the Court. JUDGE WHITE concurs and reserves the right to file a separate opinion. GREEAR, Judge: Petitioner, Union Carbide Corporation, a subsidiary of the Dow Chemical Company (“Carbide”), appeals the May 30, 2024, order of the West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Board of Review (“Board”) granting fatal dependent’s benefits (“dependent benefits”) to Thomas Dearien, husband of Christina Dearien (“decedent”). On appeal, Carbide argues that the Board erred by granting Mr. Dearien such benefits, as his claim was barred by the West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Office of Judges’ (“OOJ”) final order affirming the rejection of the decedent’s claim for occupational disease benefits made during her lifetime. Further, Carbide contends that the Board’s final order was clearly wrong in view of the reliable, probative, and substantial evidence on the record. After our review of the record and applicable law, we affirm the Board’s May 30, 2024, order. I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND On March 11, 2019, the decedent filed an application for workers’ compensation benefits (“living claim”) against Carbide, claiming that she was diagnosed with colon cancer, an occupational disease, while employed by Carbide.1 A review of the decedent’s medical records was conducted, in relation to her living claim, by Mohammed Ranavaya, M.D. Dr. Ranavaya concluded that no credible or reliable evidence existed to establish that the decedent’s diagnosis of colon cancer was causally related to her 1 The decedent’s living claim was assigned claim number 2019020262-OD. While employed at Carbide, from 2006 to 2018, decedent worked in various job positions including a weighmaster, operator, and scheduling technologist. 1 employment at Carbide. Based upon the opinion of Dr. Ranavaya, the claim administrator (“CA”) denied the decedent’s living claim by order entered on June 5, 2020. The decedent timely filed a protest of this determination to the OOJ. On August 24, 2021, counsel for the decedent submitted a request to withdraw the protest due to the decedent’s death on June 2, 2021. By Order dated August 27, 2021, the OOJ dismissed the protest based upon the motion to withdraw.2 On September 10, 2021, Mr. Dearien filed an application for dependent benefits, pursuant to West Virginia Code § 23-4-10 (2010), and argued that the decedent “developed colorectal cancer as a result of her exposure to toxic chemicals” while employed by Carbide.3 On September 24, 2021, the CA rejected Mr. Dearien’s application for dependent benefits based on Dr. Ranavaya’s prior report, which found no direct causal connection between the decedent’s diagnosis of colon cancer and her employment with Carbide. Further, the CA concluded that the dependent’s claim was barred by the principle of collateral estoppel. According to the CA, the OOJ’s August 27, 2021, final order dismissing the protest of the decedent’s living claim constituted a final resolution to the 2 In its Order Dismissing Protest, the OOJ found that upon consideration of the decedent’s motion to withdraw

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Case Details

Case Details

Legal case information

Status

Decided

Date Decided

June 4, 2025

Jurisdiction

SA

Court Type

federal

Legal Significance

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Citations
22
Legal Topics
Workers' Compensation Benefits
Dependent Benefits
Occupational Disease
Collateral Estoppel
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AddedJun 4, 2025
UpdatedJun 4, 2025

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Legal Topics

Areas of law covered in this case

Workers' Compensation Benefits
Dependent Benefits
Occupational Disease
Collateral Estoppel
Res Judicata

Case Information

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Court Proceedings

Date FiledJune 4, 2025
Date DecidedJune 4, 2025

Document Details

Times Cited
22

Legal Classification

JurisdictionSA
Court Type
federal

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5

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Cash-Kaeo v. Barrett

80% match
Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals
Jun 2025

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80% match
Court of Appeals of Kentucky
Jun 2025

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Desiree Durga v. Memberselect Insurance Company

80% match
Michigan Court of Appeals
Aug 2025

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Very Similar Similarity

Nick Merrifield v. Ats Advisors

80% match
Michigan Court of Appeals
Aug 2025

If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports. STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS NICK MERRIFIELD and MERRIFIELD UNPUBLISHED MACHINERY SOLUTIONS, August 12, 2025 10:19 AM Plaintiffs-Appellants, v No. 368355 Oakland Circuit Court ATS ADVISORS, JAMES SULLIVAN, and LC No. 2021-191816-NM SHANE RANDELL, Defendants-Appellees. Before: REDFORD, P.J., and RIORDAN and BAZZI, JJ. PER CURIAM. In this accounting malpractice action, plaintiffs, Nick Merrifield (“Merrifield”) and Merrifield Machinery Solutions (“MMS”) (collectively “plaintiffs”), appeal as of right from an October 18, 2023 order, which dismissed plaintiffs’ first-amended complaint in favor of defendants, ATS Advisors, James Sullivan (“Sullivan”), and Shane Randell (“Randell”) (collectively “defendants”). On appeal, plaintiffs challenge the trial court’s July 12, 2023 order, which granted summary disposition in favor of defendants on plaintiffs’ original complaint under MCR 2.116(C)(10) (no genuine issue of material fact). We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand to the trial court for further proceedings. I. BACKGROUND In 2007, Merrifield opened MMS, which provided service and repair work for “CNC milling and turning machinery.” Richard Rohn (“Rohn”) later became part owner of MMS. According to Merrifield, Rohn had the primary responsibility for MMS’s finances and accounting, including a line of credit from Oxford Bank. In 2017, MMS hired defendants. According to Sullivan, ATS Advisors’ owner, ATS Advisors was hired to prepare tax returns based on information received from MMS’s representatives. Randell, a certified public accountant (CPA) who worked for ATS Advisors, helped prepare certain tax returns for MMS. He also served as MMS’s interim controller for a brief period of time. -1- In late 2018, or early 2019, Merrifield decided that he no longer wanted to partner with Rohn. Merrifield, who admittedly was not “intimately familiar” with MMS’s “books,” did not consult with legal counsel, or other professionals, to determine MMS’s value. After Merrifield and Rohn entered into a purchase agreement, and Merrifield paid Rohn a portion of the agreed price for his ownership interest in MMS, Merrifield discovered that there were issues with MMS’s financial reports. It also was discovered that MMS fell “out of formula” on its line of credit with Oxford Bank. MMS hired a turnaround expert, Fred Leeb (“Leeb”), and CPA Ronald Schlaupitz (“Schlaupitz”) to address MMS’s accounting issues. Meanwhile, Rohn and Merrifield reached a new agreement concerning the amount Merrifield would pay Rohn for his ownership in MMS. In September 2021, plaintiffs filed suit against defendants, alleging accounting malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty. Plaintiffs alleged that they sustained myriad damages, including: (1) tax penalties and interest; (2) an Internal Revenue Services (IRS) audit and associated expenses; (3) attorney fees and costs; (4) accounting fees; and (5) overpayment by Merrifield for Rohn’s ownership interest in MMS. Defendants answered the complaint, and they generally denied liability. Discovery commenced. In May 2023, defendants moved for summary disposition, arguing that plaintiffs could not establish causation or damages. Plaintiffs opposed the motion, arguing that genuine issues of material fact existed for trial. In so arguing, plaintiffs generally referred to the entirety of Schlaupitz’s deposition transcript, which was 214 pages in length. After hearing oral arguments, the trial court granted defendants’ motion for summary disposition, concluding that plaintiffs failed to meet their burden under MCR 2.116(G)(4) to set forth specific facts showing there was a genuine issue for trial. Citing Barnard Mfg Co, Inc v Gates Performance Engineering, Inc, 285 Mich App 362, 376; 775 NW2d 618 (2009), the trial court held that it was not obligated to “scour the lower court record in search of a basis for denying the moving party’s motion.” The trial court entered the July 12, 2023 order, granting defendants’ motion for summary disposition. Plaintiffs moved for reconsideration. In doing so, they included page citations to the record evidence. Plaintiffs also filed a first amended complaint, the allegations of which are not relevant to the issues raised on appeal. Defendants opposed the motion for recons

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Frank Mayer v. City of Clarksburg

80% match
Intermediate Court of Appeals of West Virginia
Jun 2025

IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA FILED FRANK MAYER, June 27, 2025 Claimant Below, Petitioner ASHLEY N. DEEM, CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS OF WEST VIRGINIA v.) No. 24-ICA-462 (JCN: 2023021874) CITY OF CLARKSBURG, Employer Below, Respondent MEMORANDUM DECISION Petitioner Frank Mayer appeals the October 30, 2024, order of the Workers’ Compensation Board of Review (“Board”). Respondent City of Clarksburg (“Clarksburg”) filed a response.1 Mr. Mayer did not reply. The issue on appeal is whether the Board erred in affirming the claim administrator’s order, which denied authorization for a right reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. This Court has jurisdiction over this appeal pursuant to West Virginia Code § 51- 11-4 (2024). After considering the parties’ arguments, the record on appeal, and the applicable law, this Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these reasons, a memorandum decision affirming the Board’s order is appropriate under Rule 21 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. On May 24, 2023, while employed by Clarksburg, Mr. Mayer was mowing when he slipped and fell, landing with his leg bent underneath him. Mr. Mayer was seen at the United Hospital Center Emergency Room on the date of the injury, with a chief complaint of left knee pain and right shoulder pain. The assessment was a patella fracture and right shoulder strain. Mr. Mayer filed an Employees’ and Physicians’ Report of Occupational Injury dated May 24, 2023, indicating that he suffered an injury to his right shoulder and left leg when he was cutting grass on a hillside, and he fell when the bank gave way. The physician’s portion was signed at United Hospital Center and notes an occupational injury to the right shoulder and left knee. On May 26, 2023, Mr. Mayer was seen by William Dahl, M.D., who assessed a rupture of the left quadricep, a closed fracture of the left patella, and an injury of the right shoulder. Dr. Dahl opined that Mr. Mayer would benefit from surgical fixation of the left 1 Mr. Mayer is represented by J. Thomas Greene, Jr., Esq., and T. Colin Greene, Esq. Clarksburg is represented by James W. Heslep, Esq. 1 quadriceps rupture. The claim administrator issued an order dated May 31, 2023, holding the claim compensable for a strain of muscle, fascia, and tendon involving the right shoulder and upper arm; a strain of the left quadriceps; and a closed fracture of the left patella. Mr. Mayer was seen by Joshua Sykes, M.D., on November 27, 2023, for a follow up subsequent to a left quadriceps repair performed on June 1, 2023. Mr. Mayer reported a constant sharp, burning, and throbbing pain that he rated 5/10, and is worse with activity; that he had numbness and tingling when sitting; that his knee continued to swell; and that he was progressing with physical therapy. On December 28, 2023, Mr. Mayer underwent a CT of his right shoulder, which had the impression of severe acromioclavicular and mild glenohumeral osteoarthritis, retracted tears of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons, a suspected full thickness tear of the superior bundle of the subscapularis, and suspected extensive degenerative labral tearing. On January 23, 2024, Dr. Sykes assessed Mr. Mayer with status post tendon repair, rupture of left quadriceps, and right rotator cuff tear. Dr. Sykes noted that Mr. Mayer has had a work-related shoulder tear for over twenty years that had progressed from his previous MRI. On February 7, 2024, Mr. Mayer was evaluated by Kelly Agnew, M.D. Dr. Agnew noted that Mr. Mayer has a large retracted, irreparable right rotator cuff tear, that was documented in 2003, and that this tear was never repaired. Dr. Agnew opined that there was nothing on the recent CT scan with arthrogram of the right shoulder to suggest an acute injury and that all the changes were chronic. Dr. Agnew further opined that there was no evidence of a lingering strain and that the findings were expected from the chronic rotator cuff disruption. Dr. Agnew found that Mr. Mayer had reached maximum medical improvement from the shoulder and upper arm portion of his injury. Dr. Agnew noted that Mr. Mayer had been offered total shoulder arthroplasty by Dr. Sykes, and he opined that any such treatment would be for the underlying chronic pathology that dates back to 2003; and that arthroplasty could not possibly be ascribed to any identifiable injury involving the right shoulder from May 24, 2023. Mr. Mayer followed u

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