Henry Mitchell Brummitt v. Lockheed Martin Energy Systems

This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with T.C.A. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The plaintiff alleged that he became totally disabled on account of anxiety and depression caused by several specific, acute and sudden stressful job-related incidents, all of which were denied by the defendant. The trial judge found that the plaintiff's mental problems were the result of a "gradual build-up of stress caused by the plaintiff's overreaction to his work," and hence not compensable. The plaintiff appeals the dismissal of his complaint. Review of the findings of fact made by the trial court is de novo upon the record of the trial court, accompanied by a presumption of the correctness of the finding, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. T.C.A. _ 5-6- 225(e)(2); Stone v. City of McMinnville, 896 S.W.2d 548, 55 (Tenn. 1995). The application of this standard requires this Court to weigh in more depth the factual findings and conclusions of the trial courts in workers' compensation cases. See Corcoran v. Foster Auto GMC, Inc., 746 S.W.2d 452, 456 (Tenn. 1988). I The plaintiff is 58 years old. In June 1976 he was employed by the defendant's predecessor as a fire truck driver. Promotions came his way and in 1984 he was named maintenance officer of all the fire and guard facilities at the Y-12 plant in Oak Ridge. 2