Susan A. Stewart v. Kenco Group, Inc.

This appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-225(e)(3) (2008). While operating a forklift at her place of employment, an employee injured her back. She subsequently made a claim for workers' compensation benefits. The trial court granted an award of 30% permanent partial disability to the body as a whole. The employer appealed, contending that the trial court erred by (1) basing the award on an impairment rating offered by a physician who was not on the authorized list of the employer and (2) declining to apply the 1.5 multiplier cap described in Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-241(d)(1)(A) (2008). The employee sought additional medical expenses, including mileage, and temporary total disability benefits. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed as to the award of benefits and modified to include additional medical expenses. The cause is remanded for a determination of those expenses.