Nathan Wayne Smith v. Maremont Corporation

This Workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann._ 5-6-225 (e) (3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The Plaintiff filed this lawsuit alleging that he has suffered permanent partial disability as a result of an accident in the course and scope of his employment with the Defendant. The matter was heard by the trial court on May 1, 1993. The court awarded plaintiff 25% permanent partial impairment to the body as a whole. The trial court also awarded benefits paid in a lump sum. Within 3 days from the judgment of the trial court the plaintiff filed a motion to alter or amend the judgment; the substance of plaintiff's motion to alter and amend was that the court should have awarded a greater percentage of permanent partial impairment based on the proof. Later, in l995 the motion to amend and alter the judgment was amended to contain allegations of newly discovered evidence; this new allegation was based on alleged new discovery of a cervical problem, a slipped disc; plaintiff alleged that this new injury related back to the original lumbar back injury. The trial Judge heard the motion to amend and the later filed amended motion alleging newly discovered evidence. The motion was denied in October, 1996. The court ruled that T.C.A._ 5-6-231 provides that lump sum payments are final and dismissed plaintiff's motion. This appeal presents two issues: (1) Whether the court erred in awarding 25% permanent partial disability, and (2) Whether the court erred in not granting plaintiff's motion for a hearing based upon newly discovered evidence. The panel affirms the trial court on both issues. However, the Panel remands the question of whether the newly discovered cervical disc problem, that led to a subsequent cervical surgery which is the focal point of the motion to alter and to amend, relates back to the original lumbar back injury which, in turn, would render the defendant liable for medical expenses. The proof discloses that Mr. Smith, the plaintiff, at the time of the trial was 51 years old, and possessed a high school education. He has a variety of job skills including previous employment as a carpenter, employment with a termite company, electrical and other diverse jobs. At the 2 time of the injury involved in this lawsuit he was employed with Maremont having worked there from June, 1967 to October, 1988. The plaintiff has been unemployed since 1988.