Castillo v. barlow/copperpoint

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.
UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL
AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

IN THE
ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION ONE

JOSE DONIS CASTILLO, Petitioner Employee,

v.

THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION OF ARIZONA, Respondent,

BARLOW, Respondent Employer,

COPPERPOINT INSURANCE CO, Respondent Carrier.

No. 1 CA-IC 19-0049
FILED 6-30-2020

Special Action - Industrial Commission
ICA Claim No. 20181-970103
Carrier Claim No. 300695
The Honorable Marceline A. Lavelle, Administrative Law Judge

AFFIRMED

COUNSEL

Jose Donis Castillo, Phoenix
Petitioner Employee

Industrial Commission of Arizona, Phoenix
By Gaetano J. Testini
Counsel for Respondent
CopperPoint Insurance Companies, Phoenix
By Deborah E. Mittelman
Counsel for Respondent Employer/Carrier

MEMORANDUM DECISION

Presiding Judge David D. Weinzweig delivered the decision of the Court,
in which Judge Jennifer M. Perkins and Judge James B. Morse Jr. joined.

W E I N Z W E I G, Judge:

¶1 Jose Donis Castillo petitions for special action review of an
Industrial Commission of Arizona decision finding his condition to be
stationary without permanent impairment. We affirm.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶2 Castillo fell backwards from a loading dock in June 2018,
injuring his back while working for Respondent Barlow Company, Inc. He
was treated at a local emergency room and referred to a clinic. He received
pain medication. Castillo claimed he fractured a bone, but imaging showed
no fracture. Castillo returned to work a few days later on “light duty.”
About two months later, he visited a doctor who found the injury should
have healed and Castillo was reporting more pain than would be expected
for the injury. In the end, this doctor concluded that Castillo’s complaints
were unsupported by objective findings.

¶3 Respondent CopperPoint Insurance Company accepted and
later closed the claim in December 2018 with no permanent impairment
after conducting its own independent medical examination (“IME”) in
November 2018. The IME concluded that Castillo was stationary with no
work restrictions, reporting that Castillo suffered a healing contusion.
Castillo challenged the decision. A hearing was scheduled. Castillo was
told to provide supporting medical records at least 25 days before the
hearing. He submitted none. Respondent filed the IME’s medical reports.
Only Castillo testified at the hearing. He said he continued to have lower
back pain, which affected his ability to perform routine tasks. He also said
a specialist had performed x-rays and recommended surgery. The ALJ
gave Castillo three more days to file medical records and a written request
for a doctor to testify. Castillo filed nothing. The ALJ closed the record.

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 CASTILLO v. BARLOW/COPPERPOINT
Decision of the Court

¶4 The ALJ issued a decision based on the evidence and
testimony, finding that Castillo was medically stationary without
permanent impairment or need for continued supportive care. Two days
later, Castillo filed medical records. The ALJ reaffirmed the decision,
concluding that Castillo “offered no explanation for his failure to comply
with the deadline.” Castillo petitioned for special action review. This court
accepted review. We have jurisdiction under A.R.S. §§ 12-120.21(A)(2), 23-
951(A) and Arizona Rule of Procedure for Special Actions 10.

DISCUSSION

¶5 An opening brief must contain a “statement of the issues
presented for review” and advance arguments on those issues with
supporting legal authority and citations to the record. ARCAP 13(a)(6)—
(7); Ariz. R.P. Spec. Act. 10(h)(k) (applying ARCAP 13 to petitions for
special action review). Instead of an opening brief, Castillo filed a collection
of documents, including many documents not entered in the record below.
He presents no issues for review, no statement of facts, no citations to the
record and no legal argument. A self-represented litigant must meet the
same rules as represented litigants. See Kelly v. NationsBanc Mortg. Corp., 199 Ariz. 284, 287, ¶ 16 (App. 2000).

¶6 We exercise our discretion, however, to review the record and
reach a decision. We will not set aside an ALJ’s award unless it “cannot be
supported by any reasonable theory of the evidence.” Gamez v. Indus.
Comm’n, 213 Ariz. 314, 315, ¶ 9 (App. 2006). We defer to an ALJ’s factual
determinations, Brown v. Indus. Comm’n, 199 Ariz. 521, 523, ¶ 10 (App.
2001), and view the evidence in the light most favorable to upholding the
ALJ’s award, Lovitch v. Indus. Comm’n, 202 Ariz. 102, 105, ¶ 16 (App. 2002).

¶7 The record includes ample evidence to support the ALJ’s
decision. Castillo bore the burden of establishing each element of a claim.
Yates v. Indus. Comm’n, 116 Ariz. 125, 127 (App. 1977). Respondent filed
medical records, including an IME report. Castillo presented no expert
testimony or timely medical records.

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 CASTILLO v. BARLOW/COPPERPOINT
Decision of the Court

CONCLUSION

¶8 We affirm the ALJ’s award and decision.

AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court
FILED: AA

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