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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-77-0058Emma MEMEE MONNE MMEME mmmm smossikt CITY OF MIAMI. FLORIDA INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM JTseph Grassie City M-��"�'r Oe age F. Knox, Jr. City torney bATE December 9, 1976 sufitct: Gustavo Zeno2 'EI46L6SUttEb: ;h reviewing Mr. Gustavo Zenoz's file, it appears that: 1. He had a hearing before the Pension Board of the City of Miami on February 27, 1975. Attached is a cover sheet used in that hearing. Based on that cover sheet, it appears that Mr. Zenoz's application for disability pension was denied. 2. A rehearing was requested and granted Mr. Zenoz, and the rehearing was held on April 25, 1975 before the very same board. At that rehearing the board instructed the secretary to send the medical reports back to the doctors for further clarification. 3. Following the submission of the medical clarifications, `there was another hearing on May 30, 1975. At that hearing the System Board voted to deny Mr. Zenoz an accident disability pen- sion. PILE: 4. On July 24, 1975, Mr. Zenoz had another full rehearing on his case. At this rehearing he was represented by Mr. Norman Ciment, Esquire. A full transcript of this hearing is available. After rehearing all the evidence presented by Mr. Ciment, Commissioner Plummer asked the board: "Is there a motion?" Since no board member responded, apparently no one on the board wished to either rehear the matter or change the board's previous decision. 5. The City Commission apparently requested that the City. Attorney's Office look into the matter of Mr. Zenoz's application. On April 2, 1976, former City Attorney John Lloyd sent a memo to Commissioner Manolo Reboso, which once again re-examined the facts. That letter is attached herein. 7 40§tph Orassie, City Manager December 91 197e 6. On August 29, 1975, the City of Miami, et al., was served With a lawsuit, filed by Mr. Zenon regarding this matter. That suit continued until October 28, 1976, at which time the city`s tbtion for summary final judgment was granted by Judge John Red bake, terminating legal action in Circuit Court. ,vrrnuN s .V1* I.. PM ‘t.. MIAStl, VI.(iit11).k 33135 PRbith hAMnN LOPgi_, IttliNA MALL ti.kMitNft INCLAN HONORABLE MANOLO REBOSO City Commissioner City of Miami nO0 Pan American Drive Miami, Florida Re: GUSTAVO ZENOS vs. CITY O' MIAMI tr TELEI'll()N1::11,Silt.i.Ctil;.11:13 $ Dtember 13, 1976 Dear Mr. Reboso: Please be advised that our law firm has been retained by Gustavo Zenos, to represent him in connection utith the above captioned matter. It is our understanding that Mr. Zenos has written you a letter requesting that this matter be set on the Agenda to be heard at the Commissioners' meeting scheduled on December 18, 1976. The purpose of this letter is to request that the matter be taken off the Agenda and be rescheduled to be heard at the next Commissioners meeting, due to the fact that we have just been retained as counsel and therefore we have not had sufficient time to prepare our argument. matter will be most appreciated. Your courtesy and cooperation in rescheduling this, Very truly yours, LOPEZ & SALDISE Teresa Saldise HAND'DELIVERED iM9111, !MK !Milk Tat ON APPL)C../ .TION f=OR DI5A13iL 1l-Y RE 5nard of trustees The Miatni Ciy Ernploye.rs' Retlrr.tpnent System fw{ie yi, Florida F Pb rL. wT",' 12 (bATEE OF APPLICATION) 19.75. the (TITLE A3 IT APPEARS ON PAVROLLI SUb2equent to the above date, applicant was examined by Doctors: • .� 1 1 n r . IrfEM N T u A Gustavo it. Zer.o� !NAME OC APPLICANT) Pr1l,1t^P - • -t , '1 ... -' ,r IOEPARTMENT A CIv15ION1 Irs And os the result of such examinations, and after due consultation, the Medical Board respectfully reports and recommendations: )C DIAGNOSIS its conclusions rd .-q I.L-i s.,� cp '"� Q�� e&4 r POSITIVE PHYSICAL FINDINGS: czat FILL iN "A" IN ALL CASES, AND ALSO "l3" or "C", WHICHEVER 15 APPLICABLE, AND PERMANENTLY DISABLED. - A. State here wh!•ther or not applicant is totally end permanently incapacitated for further Police 3er-� nt IF APPLICANT I5 TOTALLY performance of duty, as a Date: 3/2 tS% Yes ries17— No STATE YES OR NO CROSS OUT ON Yes.? — No (Fide copi•s of this report are enclosed. Two copies are to be signed One copy is retained for each Doctor's file.) MD M.D M.D r`etoord Secretary. B. If disability is the result of a specific accident occurring in the line of duty, so state here, and *hot accident. C. If disability is )(shc,z Tr: • li(v41 C.rw. �-i C::r47 the result of heart disease, hypertension, or tuberculosis, so state here. �! //t ' t 1 e / L/9 V CITY OF hIAMI RETIRMENT BOARD MEETING In the Matter of: GUSTAVO ENOS, -vfi CITY OF tLIAItIIIPLOYBg8 .e: RETIRIZIEtir sYSTM4. -46 .... 4 .. . 66 66 r 66 4 4 4 66 64 46 4 66 46 4 416, Transcript of proceedings had in the above - styled matter, heard at Dinner Key City Ha11, Miami, Florida, on Friday, July 25, 1975, commencing at or about 2:00 o'clock P.M., with the following umbers of the Board present: ALSO PRESENT: J. L. Plummer Chairman Joel La rken Edwa rci D. Prince Vinc e Grimm RA)bert Jennings Robert Birtzel Char les Salerno , RON SILVER, ESQ., Assistant City Attorney NORMAN CINENT, ESQ., on behalf of Employee. BERNICE SESS, Court Reporter. aglINICE $ESS COURT 'FIEPORTE11 tql1AMI sses.c.H I-LC*110A = DJ_ 2 WHEREUPON, the following proceedings were had: Mr. Plummer read a letter from Norman Ciment, Esq., dated June 26, 1975, requesting a rehearing. MR. PLUNDER: We're always happy to have someone from across the bay come and join us, so if you will proceed, sir, in making your request. MR. cn1ENT : I'ru Norman Ciment of the firm of Grover, Ciiuent, Weinstein & Stauber, 820 41st Street, Miami Beach, Florida. I thank you for the opportunity you've accorded us in cowing here today and requesting this rehearing. I would like to briefly, in chronological order, give you a short synopsis of the history concerning Sgt. Zenos. His original accident took place on October 12th, 1962, which is approximately thirteen years ago. It seem to we from perusing the material that was given to me that ther was a question at the last Board Meeting as to what Doctor Harry Bel ler weant when he wrote his opinion on this report. Subsequent to that, this Couauission saw fit to turn it back to Doctor Beller asking him for a clarification as to why he wrote in his last report exactly what he did. I would like to read to you from his reply to your request. He states in the letter dated May 5, 1975: "You will note though in the reports of both Doctors Cullipher and Gregory the indefiniteness of findings to substantiate this pathology". RERNICE SESS COURT REFOPITLR MIAMI BEACH 0,LORIt7A Now, because of that one statement, I want to give you the chrohologic:a1 history of what has taken place. As fat back as 1968 Doctor Duke Baird found nu atrophy, and I'd like to explain, and I'll take it upon myself. Atrophy is an objective finding, gentlemen, it's not subjective. What atrophy means is that if a person has a fifteen inch thigh, and the other thigh is thirteen inches, it's something that he couldn't have created by himsel it had to cou:e about from something. He found no evidence of atrophy in 1968, but he diagnosed that far back the possibility of a disc. MR. PLUMMER: Excuse me Mr. Ciment, let we put this in prospective, sir, you're arguing the case. MR. CIMENT: No sir, because 1 would like to repeat to you if I ► ay, Mr. Chairman, the specific item that Doctor I3e11er bases his opinion on MR. PLUMMER: Excuse me, let me put it in more prospective, sir, so that I may help you. I'm only doing it for proper procedure, that I believe before we hear from you we will have to have a motion of this Board to reconsider, and it would be based on your contention of a misinterpretation of the medical reports. Then if this Board wishes to listen to you, then we would listen to you argue the case. I didn't realize it, but I believe proper prospective would be, because we are 'under a six month rule for re -application. I understand the particular merits of your t3ERNICE SESS COUrtT HEPONTtU tdIAMI Ea ACti FEOHIUA client's case that he wishes, of course, to be considered unde the old rules. So since the previous action of this Board was negative for your client, I think the Board would have to entertain a motion for reconsideration before I can allow you to argue the case. At this time you heard Counsel state he feels there were certain discrepancies involved in the original hear-+ ing, and it will be the ruling of the Chair, unless otherwise over -ruled, that we'll take a motion for reconsideration at this ti►e to allow Counsel to argue the case. Is there a motion at this time for reconsider- ation? MR. LARKEN : The last time the Board heard the case what status was it in at that point? Was it merely to request that we receive additional medical reports? r1R. PLUMMER If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Secretary, correct me, that it was a denial by this Board, and that's where it presently is, a denial or this Board. Let me say to the members of the Board, just because we make a motion to reconsider doesn't necessarily mean whether we agree or disagree, it's just a formality of allowing this wan to present his case. Once again I ask is there a reconsideration by this Board to reopen the case of Gustavo ?.epos? MR. LARKEN: I would like to suggest that perhaps the Secretary be instructed to provide this Board with 'eat s.:l,: material that pertaf r.s to this case. I don't have any- C..t CE SESS t ;,UfiT I-terO111FR .. At.. _ i Ft thing in my rile to give dignity to Counsel's remarks of what took plane. MR. CTi1INT: I have prepared for you gentlemen a complete synopsis. of the reports of all his treating doctors, and the basis for our request is very simply this. I firmly believe, it's not that I believe, it's that five other doctors who have been authorized by your City td treat this man wrote reports that were misinterpreted, u►is- Construed, and u►isquoted by Doctor Beller. And if you went back and asked Doctor Beller for a clarification, which he did nut give you, and I have it in his own writing, and that's the sole basis that we're here today is requesting that you reconsider what took place at the lAst hearing. MR. LARKEid: Mr. Chairu►an, I'd like Mr. Prince to determine at this point legally, si:ice this Board has denied this application, as to whether or not we can even have a motion to reconsider to take any action that was legally put in the form of disability. MR. PLUMMER: Mr. Silver. MR..SILVER: The determination is that the Board does have the discretionary authority under circumstances such as these, where we're not going to have any additional information presented, but we're just reviewing what has been press:rated where Counsel has brought forth that we may have 'misapplied or misinterpreted a particular position, only under Oloie c2 rCt!!vstancs . I. 4tcE SE55 C9URT ktNOHTF.0 •! +.(� T•I'As I1 r LtflL A 1 We cannot hear any additional evidence, or any additional presentation other than what we had already received, but we can, if this Board does desire, and it's within its discretion whether or not to grant the reconsideration based upon what Counsel has in writing. MR. PLUMMER : In other words, in simple language, he will just have the opportunity to reopen the case is what you're saying? MR. SILVER: No, we're not going to reopen the case:. What we're going to do is if you grant a rehearing, only reconsider what has been presented. MR. PUJi•li•1ER: Once again I ask is what is the pleasure of this Board? MR. JARENKO: I'd like to offer a possible solution to this. What if Doctor Gordon reviewed these opinions, and made a recommendation to the Board next week? MR. PLUMMER: Is that within the purview? MR. SILVER: No. Mr. Chairman, these are the old rules, and the only people that can render an opinion about this is the Medical Board. Now, if somebody on the Medical Board wants to put it to Doctor Gordon, they can. MR. PRINCE; In other words, another way would be, correct mU if I'm wrung Mr. Silver, for this Board to accept and waive the six months waiver or rule, and allow him to ►;:eke: application, which then he would come under the new 'rule, and then Doctor Gordon could review this case, is that correct/ LiERNICE SESS coUNT h PONTF.N MIAMI BEACH FLOHIDA 1I . g1LVI R: That's correct. 111(. P1IR1z•MER: That would be the option Of the MIt.' GfMEN'T : That's not what we're requesting. MIS. SALERNO: To accept the motion to reconside Would that have to come from a Board member that voted origi- nally? MR. SILVER: (No. ) MR. SALERNO: I move to reconsider. MR. PUJ U1ER: There's been a motion to reconsider by Salerno, is there a second? MR. PRINCE: I1r. Silver just gave a ruling that parliamentary procedure is such that it does require one who has voted to wake this motion for reconsideration. If we're operating unuer the rules of parliamentary procedure: and following the rules of the Board, then I tLink, 1.1r. Silver, your ruling; is in error. MR. SILVER: I'm trying to ascertain whether or not we are reconsidering the vote, or just granting the hearing to consider an interpretation of the evidence. MR. PLUMMER: Do you want to reopen it and hear what the attorney has to say, or don't you? Isn't that essentially your motion, whether it's to reopen it, or re- consider, or whatever it is, essentially Mr. Salerno's motion is to listen to the attorney make his presentation today. What is the pleasure of this Board? I+IR. lARKEN : The question is what is this Board BERNICE SESS COUNT t1ENOkT1 H ++, Aj4I t,EACN FL OHHIOA nio•IIIIM•I111 ecpected to do afters the presentation? Mk. PLUMMER: In other Words as I understand it this mat Would like to put in additional evidence supporting his case that. this Board did not act properly in the evaluation of the medical report, and I'm sure that the attorney has evidence which he feels will justify that position. Additional information, not additional evidence, additional justification of why this Board did not act correctly. MR. IARKI N : Well, would this Board then take that inforaation under. advisement? These files don't reflect the original contents of the case. MR. CIJ•IENT : What I'ui saying is if you let me present it to you, you can take it under advisement. You can even ask your own physician to help review with you and give yuu an opinion that you can render the next time you meet. MR. SILVER: They cannot give it to Doctor - MR. PLUM MER: The motion is seconded by Mr. Prince. Call the roll. MR. LARKEN: Is the motion to listen to the presentation and take it under advisement, is that the motion? MR. PL.UMMER: No -- the motion is to listen to the attorney make his presentation. Whatever this Board wishes to do after that, take it under advisement, reopen it, or whatever cue are legally empowered to do we can do, but all he wants to do now is to have the opportunity to present socue different justification why he thinks this Board acted in error BERNICE SESS COURT REPORT ER MIAMI HEAC>I FLO$IIA that's ail he wants to do, Gall the roll. The VOt°e Waa five to two in favoti of the motion. hllt. C1ditENT: Basically, I want to just repeat one sentence: You will note though in the reports of both Doctors Gullipher and Gregory the indefiniteness of findings to substantiate this pathology. That is what Doctor Beller quoted from their reports, and that's what he based his opinion on. Briefly in short chronological history, in 1968 Doctor Duke Baird found no evidence of atrophy on this individual. In 1972 Doctor Ortiz said that the patient h.id symptoms of a disc rupture. In 1975 of May, Doctor Ledford Gregory, one of the physicians that Doctor Beller quoted, states that in his exLu in«tion it reveals that objective corroboration of a herniated d_i:;c appears. Objective corroboration this is not subj`ctive. you cannot Subjective is where someone says in person measure pain. Objective is something that you can medically see for yourself as an objective finding. This is Doctor Gregory. Doctor c.ullipher in 1larch of 1975 recommended reti;'eaaent. He found that there was a tremendously large psychological overlay on this particular individual. He BERNICE SESS COUNT REPORTCR ♦1�AMI 9EACH FLORIDA r 1014 4.„ foufid objective findings of atrophy which did not exist in 1068 when Duke haird examined him. He found extreme tenderness, and stated that this patient, and I'quote, "probably has a lumbar disc". Doctor Diaz-Padron, a neurosurgeon who had beet treating him, ordered an electromyographic study to be taken of Sgt. Zenos. The el,dctromyographic studies were positive, gentlemen, an objective finding. Ue fouad positive evidence of atrophy, sub sac what Doctor Culliphet found. The question of atrophy i vil$:ro one vhigi- is taller than the other, and over vi...4o'ri le c.::.-omx.crene of 'ills thigh has , now cmo,' 1)0te.:LI CWO and three inches ii One of the key reports is Doctor Ledford Uregory wherein he stated; "In my opinion the wan should 'have a myelogram, ad should consider himself for surgery, as I feel the odds are fairly good that he might be rehabilitated to continue his duty as a policewan. However, one cannot wake a wan do that. In the event this wan refuses a myelograw and surgery, it is still my opinion :Ifter review of Doctor Beller's further report that he is incapacitated fur further duties as a police officer. Incidentally, my own findings reveal objective corroboration of the diagnosis of a herniated disc". Gentluelen, with all due respect, there are five !-:C'AVA rh, Utt14.,10 a disc in this r; .H.r.loirr-41-P‘qcrtzu C ;,ff 1.4 man. mats . Aft electrotuyographic study clearly shows that there are positive Findings -., atrophy is evident and has been increasint and one of the: reports that Doctor Kurzner issued he stated that if this condition were to continue without. Sgt. Zenos submitting to surgery, and you have the report in his files, his condition would become irreversible. This man could blow a disc and become paralyzed because he doesn't do something about it. Now, for Doctor Beller to take reports that all you gentlemen have in your file, and to actually misquote objective findings and say that none exist, is something that Y cannot fathom. And it is because of this, and because of all the objective findings that du exist, and for one other reason, you are bound by the code that was created by the City Conrnissi which states that if two out of three doctors who are on the Examining, Board find that a man is incapacitated, this man should be retired. And two out of the three physicians did exactly that. They found that he should be retired because he had objective findings of a disc. That's aside froiu the fact that there were three other doctors, one of which is a neurosurgeon, who also found objective findings, and said that this man does have a disc. And it is because of this, gentlemen, that I respectfully request that you reopen this case, review the F7._- A••'CL SESS CO•s is REF•CRTcR M°.. r ' AC.4 (=Lpif9.a J 11 12 teports that I have quoted, and render a decision that is fair for a man that has put: its as many years as he has with the City. I thank you. MR. PLUM11ER: What is the pleasure of this 'hoard at this time? MR. I.ARKEN : I have a question. Although he has had an electromyogram, has he ever submitted to a myelograu MR. CIFIENT : No sir. MR. PLUMMER: Do you wish to expound on that as to why?, MR. CIMENT : Yes sir, I would like to expound Gentlemen, here is something that I happen to have: more personal knowledge about than probably most of you. I sat as a Judge in the Industrial Claims Court for three years which deals with nothing but cases like this, Worktens' CQwpen- sati.on, and t Le two biggest problems that you rind with people like Sgt. Zeno are: Number one, fear that they could become further incapacitated, which as you know, nobody can tell you that you're guaranteed a cure if you go under the knife. And secondly, and worse than that I hate the fact that he's in the room, but they could go into a psychiatri overlay as a result of the injuries that they sustained if they don't undergo surgery. Doctor Padron, as well as the other doctors, submitted that they will not perform a utyelograw unless he sign OE_RNice sgss o��HT ►tFFOktett FA( t FL')Itt{JA EF 13 and agrees to go for surgery immediately thereafter. A Inye1ogruru is an extremely dangerous procedure. It's a matter of putting you on a table and inserting a dye into your spine, and there's a lot of complications that could come about as a result of it, and they will not do it unless he'll agree to the surgery thereafter. MR. LARKEN : Would you expect him to risk the chance if the pain would be diminished? MR. CIAIENT : A myelogre.ru is not a cure. MR. LARKEN: I didn't say that. If the myelogram, came up positive: then of course there would be no question at all. If he then went into surgical intervention, of course then perhaps there would be a chance that his dis- ability would be diminished, MR. CIMENr: That's a very good chance. There' also a chance that it could come about that it could be worse for him. But the problem is that if you check with the Industrial Claims Court, I have had fifteen thousand cases go through my particular court in three years, and I would say that everyone who had a disc that was diagnosed by eug, or with objective findings such as atrophy and what have you, these are objective: findings, these are things that just don't come about by themselves, you can't wake atrophy on a thigh. You cannot produce false resaits on electric frum an etcctrou►yuLraphic study. Pal. i V: me: to you -- there's a doctor r3 Rts:.E S .SS CUUFtT ftEFOHTLFt MIA113 6eACH f'LOHtDF 14 here, and I'm sure he can verify it off the record, a myelogram is only eighty five percent accurate. There are many many cases that have discs that are not found on myelograais, and subsequent to the taking of a myelogram which is negative, a docior will say We want to do an exploratory, and it's only then :het- they will actually find the damage, if any, that exists. So that a myelogram is not a hundred percent procedure, whereas an electrontyograph is between fifty and sixty five percent, and here they found objective findings on this man. Board? MR. PLUNL•II R: What is the pleasure of this No action -- it doesn't take a vote. If I hear no motion I will assume there is no action to be taken. Is there a motion? Is there a motion? Mr. Ciuuent, there is no motion. MR. CIAtrar : Gentlemen, I thank you for the privilege., A Thereupon, the hearing was concluded.) SCSS COURTREPORTFR M AM1 UEACH FLORIDA MN 1 1171-1 IEEE CERTIFICATE OIL REPORTER STATE OF ORIUA LSS t COUNTY OF DADE ). is BERNICE SESS, a Notary Public for the State of Florida at Large, do hereby certify that the preceding 14 pages constitute a ti.ue and correct transcription of my stenographic notes of proceedings had before the City of Miami Retirement board in the foregoing viatter, in the City of Miami, County of Dude, State of Florida. Dated this 2nd day of August, 1975. itRNICE SESS TO CrtY OF P".‘.j FI_.Or'�la INTEEtxCiFFICE MEMORANDUM #onOra ile Menolo p,eboso CeitiMiesioner 'ohm 8. Lloyd City Attorney April. 2 t 106 Disability retirement of Gus Zenos tNCLosuaEC. PILL We have reviewed the file concerning Mr. Zenos' application for ac- i.dental disability retirement. As provided in the ordinance governing retirement benefits, Mr • Zenos was submitted to a medical board of three doctors for examination and recommendation concerning his claimed total disability. The function Of the medical board was to determine: (1) did Mr. Zenos suffer from a total permanent disability which was continuous and (2) if so, was that disability the result of an accident occurring on duty at a specific time and place. The medical bc.-rd reported their opinion that Mr. Zenos was suffering from a degree of disability and specifically rejected any finding that the disability was the result of an accident occurring at a specific tire and place. Two of the three doctors indicated on the cover sheet of their report that Mr. Zenos was disabled and should be retired. However, a reading of the entire narrative report of the doctors revealed that their opinion did not support a conclusion that Mr. Zenos was totally and permanently disabled. The medical board did recommend further examination by a psychiatrist because of their concern that Mr. Zenos problems could be psychosomatic. Mr. Zenos was advised at the hearing, by Mr. Silver, the legal ad- visor, that the medical board had not found him to be totally dis- abled as the result of an accident and therefore the board did not consider approving Mr. Zenos' application for accidental disability. The board did review the entire file and found, by a majority vote, that Mr. Zenos was not disabled to the extent required to entitle him to be retired for ordinary disability. Mr. Zenos, throujli his attorney, continues to reiterate that he is disabled and should be retired. He has initiated a lawsuit litigating this position. He is suing for accidental disability retirement to which he is not entitled. EMBE f mONIF :1 Ro ibrab1.e Manol-o Ro iote5 Commissioner At this time Mr. Zenos has several altern ti esf by d MayUrtntit 1 with his lawsuit and have his case disposeddisability or acci� Zenos might also reapply for either ordinary rovidt that cn dental disability at this time since the rules p employee may reapply after an interval of six months since that hearing of his initial application. Due to the possibility Mr. Zenos' condition may have changed duringthe inteughivals he might well now be entitled to ordinary disability that the necessary facts could now be found to entitle him to an accidental disability retirement. Should Mr. Zenos determine to reapply it will, of course, be necessary for him to dismiss his lawsuit. rvMt' JSL:FHW:rh MEW MEW mmmw 5