APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Robert Lively v. Textron, Inc.

01S01-9604-CH-00070
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 of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The plaintiff appeals from the trial court's finding that the permanent impairment did not result from 1992 injuries at Textron Aerostructures. Finding no error in the trial court's decision, we affirm. Dr. Wesley Coker started treating the plaintiff in March 1994 for herniated discs that were causing nerve root pressure. The plaintiff was in bad shape when he first saw him, according to Coker, as he had to be helped into the doctor's office and told the doctor about two months of excruciating pain. After switching to the care of a chiropractor, the plaintiff returned to Coker who performed surgery in June 1994. Dr. Coker testified that the plaintiff suffers a 13% whole body impairment. But Dr. Coker did not offer any testimony about what caused the plaintiff's back trouble. The issue in this case is whether the plaintiff established by a preponderance of the evidence that his impairment resulted from two injuries at Textron, one on March 5, 1992 and another on October 3, 1992. The trial court decided that the plaintiff did not prove his case, and there is ample evidence to support the decision. The plaintiff and his wife were injured in a car wreck on the way to work on the morning of February 1, 1994. The plaintiff had worked regularly before the accident, but did not work any after it. This tends to suggest that the car wreck, not the injuries years earlier, caused the back trouble Dr. Coker treated. The plaintiff called Textron following the wreck to report that he was not coming to work. The reason, he said, was that he slipped a disc in his back while -2-
Authoring Judge: Robert S. Brandt, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Robert E. Corlew, III,
Rutherford County Workers Compensation Panel 10/22/96
Stephen Baxendale v. Universal Underwriters Insurance

01S01-9605-CH-00097
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. section 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting of findings of fact and conclusions of law. In this appeal, the employee or claimant, Baxendale, contends (1) the award of permanent partial disability benefits is inadequate and (2) the trial court erred in computing his compensation rate. The employer and its insurer contend the trial court erred in finding the employee suffered a compensable injury by accident on June 6, 1994. As discussed below, the panel has concluded the award of permanent partial disability benefits should be modified and the judgment otherwise affirmed. The claimant is a thirty-five year old laborer with a ninth grade education. He failed a test for a GED. At the time of the claimed injury, he was earning $6.39 per hour. Beginning in October of 1992, he suffered back pain at work, but continued working while being conservatively treated for pain. At one time the treating physician assigned to him a four percent permanent whole person impairment rating. He was awarded permanent partial disability benefits based on ten percent to the body as a whole and returned to work as a laborer at the same wage rate he was earning before the injury. On June 6, 1994, he became disabled to work because of severe back pain and was diagnosed as having suffereda gradually developing ruptured disc. The doctor surgically removed the ruptured disc and estimated his permanent whole person impairment at nine percent, from appropriate guidelines. After recovering from the surgery, the claimant again returned to work at the same wage as before the disabling injury, but with significant lifting, bending, stooping and twisting restrictions. Another orthopedic surgeon evaluated the claimant and assigned a whole person impairment rating of ten percent, using different but equally appropriate guidelines. The claimant continued to suffer back pain while working as a warehouseman. Upon consideration of the above facts, the chancellor awarded permanent partial disability benefits on the basis of ten percent to the body as a whole for the June 6, 1994 injury, and fixed the claimant's compensation rate at $159.47 per week. 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. section 5-6-225(e)(2). This tribunal is required to conduct an independent examination of the record to determine where the preponderance of the evidence lies.
Authoring Judge: Joe C. Loser, Jr., Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Irvin H. Kilcrease,
Davidson County Workers Compensation Panel 10/22/96
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Court of Appeals 10/22/96
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Hawkins County Court of Appeals 10/22/96
State v. Roger Dale Hill, No. 01C01-9508-Cc-00267 (Tenn. Crim. App. June 20, 1996),

02C01-9610-CC-00335
Lake County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/21/96
03A01-9607-CV-00227

03A01-9607-CV-00227

Originating Judge:Inman
Court of Appeals 10/21/96
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 10/21/96
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Court of Appeals 10/21/96
In April 1989. In The Present Appeal, The Petitioner, Relying In Part Upon State v. Roger

02C01-9610-CC-00333
Lake County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/21/96
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Court of Appeals 10/21/96
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Court of Appeals 10/21/96
01A01-9602-CV-00070

01A01-9602-CV-00070

Originating Judge:Thomas W. Brothers
Davidson County Court of Appeals 10/18/96
01A01-9604-CH-00181

01A01-9604-CH-00181

Originating Judge:Gerald L. Ewell, Sr.
Coffee County Court of Appeals 10/18/96
03C01-9506-CR-00169

03C01-9506-CR-00169

Originating Judge:James C. Witt
Campbell County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/18/96
01A01-9603-PB-00093

01A01-9603-PB-00093

Originating Judge:James R. Everett
Davidson County Court of Appeals 10/18/96
State vs. John Wayne Slate

03C01-9511-CC-00352
Sevier County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/18/96
01A01-9604-CH-00149

01A01-9604-CH-00149

Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Court of Appeals 10/18/96
01A01-9604-CH-00191

01A01-9604-CH-00191

Originating Judge:Ellen Hobbs Lyle
Davidson County Court of Appeals 10/18/96
State vs. John Wayne Slate

03C01-9511-CC-00352
Sevier County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/18/96
Honorable Hamilton v. Gayden, Jr., Judge

01A01-9605-CV-00201

Originating Judge:Hamilton V. Gayden, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 10/18/96
03C01-9512-CC-00381

03C01-9512-CC-00381
Sevier County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/18/96
James v. Ball

02C01-9510-CR-00291

Originating Judge:W. Fred Axley
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/17/96
02C01-9602-CC-00066

02C01-9602-CC-00066

Originating Judge:John Franklin Murchison
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/17/96
02C01-9507-CC-00203

02C01-9507-CC-00203
Benton County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/17/96
02C01-9601-CR-00038

02C01-9601-CR-00038
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 10/17/96