Faye Butterfield v. Crawford & Company

In this appeal, the employer-appellant insists the trial court erred in (1) considering an evaluating physician's opinion of the extent of the employee's medical impairment, as not being based on statutorily approved guidelines, and (2) the award of permanent partial disability benefits based on 42 percent to the body as a whole is excessive under the circumstances. As discussed below, the panel has concluded the award exceeds the maximum prescribed by statute and the judgment should be vacated and the cause remanded with instructions.