1995. He was employed as a driver/pitcher for the Commercial Rear Loader line of business at the Cheyenne Transfer Station when he injured his shoulder, back and right knee on June 3, 2004, while lifting a trash can. Barnes was 41 years old at the time. Barnes went off of work the next day.
Barnes was evaluated by Dr. Robert Braden. Dr. Braden found that Barnes had severe to marked hip osteoarthritis and due to extreme loss of motion in the hip joint area, his lower spine was placed in a significant compensatory state. Dr. Braden told Barnes that his deteriorating hips would progress rapidly due to the nature of his job as a pitcher/driver and he would need a hip replacement at an early age. Dr. Braden recommendedthat Barnes engage in another type of job because he was in serious jeopardy of further injury to his spine. On June 14, 2004, Dr. Braden released Barnes for work on restricted/modified duty.
Barnes' termination date was noted as June 14, 2004, and he did not return to work. Instead, Romeo Vellutini, the workers' compensation administrator, called Barnes and told him that he was being fired and placed on vocational rehabilitation. Barnes was represented by counsel for the workers' compensation claim, and she asked to be provided with a reason for his termination. None was provided.
On August 23, 2004, Dr. Firooz Mashhood confirmed that Barnes had degenerative joint disease of the hips and knee. Dr. Mashhood noted that Barnes indicated he believed he could return to his previous job.