Opinions

Butler vs. Dept. of Correction
01A01-9804-CH-00172

Trial Court Judge: Ellen Hobbs Lyle

Rogers vs. State
01A01-9803-BC-00160

Knoble vs. Taylor
01A01-9803-CH-00153

Trial Court Judge: Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.

Cora Moton v. Kellogg USA, Inc.
02S01-9803-CV-00023
Authoring Judge: John K. Byers, Senior Judge
Trial Court Judge: Hon. James S. Russell,
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. 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 findings, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. Tenn. Code Ann. _ 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 court in a workers' compensation case. See Corcoran v. Foster Auto GMC, Inc., 746 S.W.2d 452, 456 (Tenn. 1988). The trial court found that the plaintiff did not make a meaningful return to work and therefore that the statutory cap of 2.5 times the anatomical impairment rating did not apply. The trial court awarded the plaintiff benefits based on 3.5 times Dr. Weems' rating of fifteen percent for a total permanent partial disability award of 52.5 percent to the body as a whole. The defendant raises the following issues: 1. Whether the trial court erred in finding that Plaintiff did not make a meaningful return to work? 2. Whether the trial court erred in relying on the deposition testimony of Dr. Thomas D. Weems rather than the deposition testimony of Dr. James T. Galyon? 3. Whether the trial court erred in awarding Plaintiff a permanent partial disability rating for vocational disability purposes of 52.5%? We affirm the judgment of the trial court. BACKGROUND The plaintiff, age 37 at the time of trial, is a high school graduate. She took over five years of college classes in English, Biology, and Chemistry from various institutions, but she holds no degrees. She is certified as a pharmacy technician and has worked in that field at a rate of $9.5 per hour. She also has work experience as a chemical analyst. In January 199, the plaintiff went to work for the defendant as an FMC operator in the manufacturing process of frozen waffles. She earned $11.65 per 2

Helen Mccurrie v. Eaton Corporation
02S01-9805-CH-00047
Authoring Judge: John K. Byers, Senior Judge
Trial Court Judge: Hon. George E. Ellis,
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.

01C01-9708-CR-00329
01C01-9708-CR-00329

Trial Court Judge: J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.

Jerry E. Biggs vs. State
01C01-9711-CR-00514

Trial Court Judge: Cheryl A. Blackburn

Charles Haynes vs. State
01C01-9803-CC-00142

State vs. Charles Hayes
01C01-9804-CC-00176

State vs. Leslie R. Holt
01C01-9804-CR-00188

Trial Court Judge: J. O. Bond

Suerth v. Red Kap
03S01-9803-CH-00024
Authoring Judge: Roger E. Thayer, Special Judge
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Frank V. Williams, III,
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.

Hopson v. Philips
03S01-9710-CV-00141
Authoring Judge: Roger E. Thayer, Special Judge
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Ben K. Wexler,
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 resulted from the action of the trial court in awarding plaintiff, Linda S. Hopson, 55% permanent partial disability to the left arm as a result of an accident while working for defendant, Philips Consumer Electronics. The circuit judge dismissed the case against the Second Injury Fund. Plaintiff, being dissatisfied with the award of benefits, contends the award should be increased. Linda Hopson was 42 years of age and is a high school graduate. She does not have any vocational training. She sustained a prior injury to her back during 1991 and was awarded 75% permanent partial disability to the body as a whole during a contested hearing in the Chancery Court for Greene County. The injury in the present action occurred on defendant's production line where she was required to use an air gun and to make repetitive arm movements. Her injury was to her left wrist and she is left-handed. She underwent surgery on November 8, 1994, when Dr. Christopher T. Lechner, an orthopaedic surgeon, repaired a partial tear of the ligament and noticed she had some synovitis (swelling); she was seen on regular basis and was still complaining of pain four months later. The doctor testified by deposition and said pain that late after surgery was not normal. He x-rayed her arm and noticed changes consistent with Kienbach's disease, which is a condition where the blood supply to lunate is not normal and the bone collapses. He stated this was a painful condition and required further surgery. The second surgery was performed on March 28, 1995 when the lunate was removed and the wrist was stabilized "by fusing three of the remaining six bones together". He also described the event as "taking the painful bone out and then to give her a stable wrist, although she knew that it would be a stiffer wrist as well". This surgery went well but she still had discomfort after a reasonable healing period and Dr. Lechner recommended she get a second opinion from another hand surgeon. Plaintiff saw Dr. Joseph C. DeFiore, Jr. and his report was introduced into evidence. He concurred with Dr. Lechner's diagnosis and treatment and stated "it is 2

State vs. Rema Morgan
03C01-9803-CR-00123

Trial Court Judge: W. Lee Asbury

State vs. Brian Thomas Kluever
03C01-9805-CC-00170

Trial Court Judge: D. Kelly Thomas, Jr.

State vs. Delivetrick Blocker
03C01-9803-CR-00120

Tn Farmers Mutual Ins. vs. Inman
03A01-9808-CV-00246

03A01-9804-CV-00145
03A01-9804-CV-00145

03A01-9804-CV-00145
03A01-9804-CV-00145

Sherer vs. Linginfelter
03A01-9805-CV-00168

Ellis vs. Trentham
03A01-9806-CH-00204

Stewart vs. Stewart
03A01-9806-CV-00180

Vanderbilt University Medical Center v. The County of Macon, Lafayette, Tennessee - Concurring
A01-9712-CH-00707
Authoring Judge: Judge Hewitt P. Tomlin, Jr.
Trial Court Judge: Chancellor Irvin H. Kilcrease

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (“Vanderbilt”) filed suit in the Chancery Court of Davidson County against Macon County (“County”) seeking a judgment against County in the amount of $20,671.95 for medical services rendered by Vanderbilt in Nashville to an inmate who had been in the  custody of County and who had been brought to Vanderbilt for treatment. Both Vanderbilt and County filed motions for summary judgment,  supported by affidavit or affidavits. Following a hearing, the chancellor denied County’s summary judgment motion and granted summary  judgment in favor of Vanderbilt. On appeal, County has raised two issues which are as follows:

1. Did the trial court err in ruling that venue was proper in Davidson County; 2. In granting Vanderbilt’s motion for summary judgment.

A.D. Barker vs. State of Tennessee
03C01-9604-CC-00177
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Trial Court Judge: Judge William R. Holt, Jr.

The Petition er, A. D . Barke r, appe als the order o f the Se vier County Circuit Court dismissing his petition fo r post-conviction relief. We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

State vs. Tyrone Chalmers
02C01-9703-CR-00109

Trial Court Judge: James C. Beasley, Jr.

State vs. Francesca Turner & Charles Taylor
02C01-9806-CC-00189