Bobby Riddick v. Jackson Metal Services

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 trial judge found the plaintiff had suffered a 25 percent permanent partial disability to his left foot. The defendant says the evidence preponderates against a finding the plaintiff had suffered any permanent impairment. We affirm the judgment of the trial court. On May 25, 1995, a steel beam fell upon the plaintiff's foot, causing a fracture of the foot. The medical testimony in this case is not extensive. Dr. Larry David Johnson, an orthopedic surgeon, was the treating physician. Dr. Johnson diagnosed the injury as a non-displaced fracture of the first metatarsal bone of the [left] foot. Dr. Johnson saw the plaintiff on May 23, 1995 for the initial exam and on four occasions after that. He testified the plaintiff recovered from the injury in due course. Dr. Johnson released the plaintiff to work on July 5, 1995 and found he had reached maximum medical recovery at that time. Dr. Johnson examined the plaintiff on August 16, 1995 and found the fracture had healed. Dr. Johnson found the plaintiff suffered no permanent impairment from the injury. Dr. Robert J. Barnett, an orthopedic surgeon, examined the plaintiff in June 1996. Dr. Barnett found that the plaintiff was continuing to have pain in his foot, that he has to walk on the outside of his foot, and that he had some swelling in his left foot. Dr. Barnett's testimony, when read in context of the injury in question, is that the plaintiff sustained a 14 percent permanent partial impairment to his left foot. The defendant asks that Dr. Barnett's testimony be depreciated because his notes showed the injury occurred May 22, 1994 rather than May 22, 1995. When the defendant asked Dr. Barnett if the injury occurred in 1995 rather than 1994 "then we'd be talking a little different situation, wouldn't we," Dr. Barnett answered "could be." The "could be" was never explored beyond this. Dr. Barnett testified subsequently that the differences in dates would not change any opinion he gave. 2