Name
Joseph Fernands v. Riverview Psychiatric Center
Insurance Company
State of Maine
Date Decided
January 8, 2021
Panel Members
David Hirtle
Tom Pelletier
Mike Stovall
Categories
Medical Evidence Mental Stress InjuryTags
File Size
108 KB
DownloadSummary from the Troubh Heisler Attorneys
Fernands injured his shoulder when he fell to the floor while separating two patients who were fighting. He filed petitions, and Judge Elwin granted them as to the physical injury and resulting depression but not as to his alleged PTSD. She discounted the LCSW’s opinion on that issue because of her qualifications, and because her PTSD opinion was based on an incorrect history that Fernands was assaulted. Fernands appealed, but the Appellate Division affirmed Judge Elwin’s decision. The panel cited Maine Supreme Court opinions in Bradbury (1966) and Dailey (1974) holding that an ALJ can accept only certain parts of a witness’s testimony and reject other parts, even in the absence of contrary evidence.