T. v. Swaw v. Trane Unitary Products Commercial, A/K/A

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. In this appeal, the employer and its insurer question the award of permanent partial disability benefits based on 75 percent to the body as a whole and insist the preponderance of the evidence supports only a lesser award of permanent disability benefits to the left knee. As discussed below, the panel has concluded the judgment should be affirmed. Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e) (21 Supp.) Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit Court Affirmed JOE C. LOSER, JR., SP. J., in which ADOLPHO A. BIRCH, JR., J., and WILLIAM H. INMAN, SR. J., joined. Wm. G. McCaskill, Jr., Taylor, Pigue, Marchetti & McCaskill, Nashville, Tennessee, for the appellants, Trane Unitary Products Commercial a/k/a Trane Company, and Travelers Indemnity Company of Illinois Julia Smith, Clarksville, Tennessee, for the appellee, T. V. Swaw MEMORANDUM OPINION The employee or claimant, Mr. Swaw, initiated this civil action to recover workers' compensation benefits for an alleged work-related injury to both legs occurring on September 29, 1997. The employer, Trane, and its insurer, Travelers, admitted liability for the injury to the claimant's left knee, but denied any other liability. Following a trial on February 5, 21, the trial court awarded, among other things, future medical benefits and permanent partial disability benefits based on 75 percent to the body as a whole. The employer and its insurer have appealed. For injuries occurring on or after July 1, 1985, appellate review is de novo upon the record of the trial court, accompanied by a presumption of correctness of the findings of fact, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(2) (21 Supp.). The reviewing court is required to conduct an independent examination of the record to determine where the preponderance of the evidence lies.