The Travelers Ins. Co. v. Karen Morrisett 03S01-9708-CH-00097
Authoring Judge: Roger E. Thayer, Special Judge
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Chester S. Rainwater, Jr.
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 appeal has been perfected by the employee-defendant, Karen Morrisett, from a ruling of the trial court in dismissing her complaint for benefits against the plaintiff-insurance carrier, The Travelers Insurance Company. The Chancellor held the employee had failed to carry the burden of proof in establishing a physical and/or mental injury had occurred as a result of her employment activities. Defendant, 34 years of age, possessed a G.E.D. certificate and had worked for her employer, Rittenhouse, for about eight years. She did heavy work and operated a machine that cut large rolls of paper. On April 19, 1995, she testified she was rolling a 2-25 lb. roll of paper underneath a conveyor belt and as she pushed it, she felt a "pull" in her back and upon raising up, she felt pain. She reported the incident and was taken to the emergency room where she said she saw a Dr. Ellis. The next day she saw Dr. John W. Fetzer, the company doctor, who referred her to Dr. Sidney L. Wallace at the Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic. Later she saw several other doctors. She stated her job caused a lot of stress; that she had been told by her supervisor that if her production rate did not increase she would be fired. She also accused her supervisor of sexual abuse. When questioned about this allegation, she said "He liked to touch me." When asked how long this had been going on, she responded, "As long as he was supervisor, but I would always tell him to leave me alone." Counsel asked if anything ever happened between her and the supervisor to which she replied, "No." There were no other details concerning this subject. She also testified she experienced difficulty in walking and sometimes she could not get out of bed on her own movement; that her legs would be numb. On cross-examination, she admitted she had seen a therapist at Cherokee Mental Health Center on April 13, 1995, which was several days prior to the incident in question. She told the therapist she suffered from stress at work; that sometimes she could not swallow her food; that she had panic attacks while driving a vehicle; and she suffered from head pain and dizziness. She admitted she had been 2
Dyer vs. State 03C01-9712-CR-00515
Trial Court Judge: Richard R. Baumgartner
Knox
Court of Criminal Appeals
Scott M. Shultsz v. Baneberry Golf Course 03S01-9707-CV-00133
Authoring Judge: Roger E. Thayer, Special Judge
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Kendall Lawson,
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 employer, Baneberry Golf Course, and insurance carrier, U.S.F.&G. Company, have appealed from a judgment entered by the trial court awarding the employee, Scott M. Shultz, 5% permanent partial disability benefits to the body as a whole. The appeal presents issues concerning whether the court was in error in (1) awarding 5% disability, (2) exceeding the 2 _ multiplier provisions set forth in T.C.A. _ 5-6-241, (3) awarding certain unauthorized medical expenses and (4) awarding certain discretionary costs. Plaintiff was 32 years of age and left school before completing the 12th grade. He does not have a G.E.D. certificate and his work experience has been in the construction industry where he has been a general laborer. He was employed by the defendant golf course as a maintenance worker which required him to operate a large mower and a weedeater about the golf course. On August 23, 1995 while mowing, he noticed the mower deck had jumped its track. He stopped the tractor and squatted down to lift the deck up. As he lifted, he felt a sharp pain in his back and fell to the ground. A co-worker saw him and helped get him back to the shop and on to the hospital emergency room. He testified he worked some period of time after the accident although it was painful; that he was laid off in October or November due to the seasonable nature of his work; that he was furnished a list of physicians and went to see Dr. Kevin Bailey during October, 1995. The record indicates Dr. Bailey ordered an M.R.I. examination and the report showed a large central and right ruptured disc at the lowest disc level and a smaller herniation at the level above that. Dr. Bailey, a physical medicine specialist, did not believe surgery was necessary but referred him to Dr. Bishop, an orthopedic surgeon practicing in the same group, for a second opinion. Dr. Bailey gave a 7% medical impairment for his condition. Dr. Bishop recommended surgery and this was performed during March 1996. Plaintiff was eventually released to return to work on 2
Vickie Lewis v. Otis Campbell & Robert Dinwiddie M2000-03092-COA-R3-CV
Authoring Judge: Judge Holly M. Kirby
Trial Court Judge: Charles D. Haston, Sr.
This case involves allegations of medical malpractice and misrepresentation. In September 1998, the plaintiff patient began visiting the office of the defendant physician for medical treatment. In February or March 1999, the patient discovered that the person treating her was not the defendant physician. In June 1999, the patient discovered that the person treating her was a pharmacist. In April 2000, the plaintiff patient filed a lawsuit against the physician and the pharmacist, asserting medical malpractice and misrepresentation. The trial court granted summary judgment to the defendants based on the one-year statute of limitations. The plaintiff now appeals. We affirm, finding that plaintiff had sufficient knowledge in February or March 1999 to put her on notice of her cause of action, and, consequently, her April 2000 lawsuit was barred by the statute of limitations.
Warren
Court of Appeals
State vs. Don Allen Rodgers W2000-00714-CCA-R3-CD
Authoring Judge: Judge J. Curwood Witt, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Roy B. Morgan, Jr.
The defendant appeals the trial court's revocation of his community corrections sentence and the imposition of incarceration in the Department of Correction. Finding no abuse of the trial court's discretion in making either determination, we affirm.
