APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Sharon Abbott v. Quebecor Printing

01S01-9805-CV-00087
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. The employer, Quebecor, insists the trial judge erred in finding that the plaintiff suffered a permanent compensable injury and that the claim is barred by the last injurious injury rule. As discussed below, the panel has concluded the judgment should be affirmed. The employee or claimant, Abbott, initiated this action for the recovery of workers' compensation benefits for a gradually occurring injury to her right arm. After a trial on the merits, the trial court awarded, inter alia, permanent partial disability benefits based on twenty-five percent to the right arm. Appellate review is de novo upon the record of the trial court, accompanied by a presumption of correctness, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. Tenn. Code Ann. section 5-6-225(e)(2). The claimant began working for this employer in March of 1994, feeding loads of paper into feeding pockets to make magazines. She worked four twelve hour shifts and was off for three days, then worked three twelve hour shifts and was off for four days. From the repetitive use of her right hand and arm, she gradually developed disabling pain and was referred by the employer to Dr. Cooper Beazley, who prescribed steroid injections. She was unable to work for about four weeks. Shortly after returning to work, she was involved in an automobile accident. After that accident, she did not return to work for the employer. Dr. Beazley diagnosed lateral epicondylitis or tennis elbow. He was equivocal as to whether the injury was permanent. Dr. Dewey Thomas, who examined and evaluated the claimant, assigned a permanent impairment rating of ten percent to the right arm. His testimony established a causal connection between the injury and the repetitive use of the claimant's right arm at work and was supported by the lay proof offered by the claimant. The only evidence offered at trial by the employer was the testimony of its insurance administrator, who testified that the claimant did not complain after the steroid injections. At the time of the trial, the claimant was working with pain for another employer. She testified that her disability had not increased as a result of her new job. Where a condition develops gradually over a period of time resulting in a definite, work-connected, unexpected, fortuitous injury, it is compensable as an injury by accident. Brown Shoe Co. v. Reed, 29 Tenn. 16, 35 S.W.2d 65 (1961). Trial courts are not required to accept the opinion of a treating physician over any other conflicting expert medical testimony. The trial judge did not abuse his discretion by accepting the testimony of Dr. Thomas concerning causation and permanency. The first issue is resolved in favor of the claimant. The successive or "last injurious" injury rule is that where an employee 2
Authoring Judge: Joe C. Loser, Jr., Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. James E. Walton,
Montgomery County Workers Compensation Panel 01/19/99
State vs. Steve Paige

W2001-03045-CCA-R3-CD
In an indictment returned by the Shelby County Grand Jury on August 9, 2001, Defendant, Steve Paige, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault. The indictment alleged that both offenses occurred on January 16, 1999. At a hearing on December 6, 2001, the criminal court, sua sponte, dismissed the indictment because of the State's failure to prosecute. In its order of dismissal, the criminal court found that Defendant was arrested on January 16, 1999, the case was bound over to the grand jury on May 25, 1999, but he was not indicted until twenty-seven months later. The trial court further found that Defendant was arraigned on November 13, 2001, but the State did not have a file on the case and it had to be continued twice for that reason. When the case was called on December 6, 2001, the State could still not produce a file on the case. Accordingly, the trial court dismissed the case with prejudice for the State's failure to prosecute pursuant to Rule 48(b) of the Tennessee Rules of Criminal Procedure. The State appealed. After review, we affirm the trial court's order dismissing the case, but reverse that portion of the order dismissing the case with prejudice, and remand this case for the trial court to enter an amended order dismissing the case without prejudice.
Authoring Judge: Judge Thomas T. Woodall
Originating Judge:James C. Beasley, Jr.
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/16/99
Greg Morgan vs. State

03C01-9611-CR-00404

Originating Judge:Mayo L. Mashburn
Bradley County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/15/99
Reba Rector v. Dacco

01S01-9804-CV-00083
Authoring Judge: William H. Inman, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. John Maddux,
Putnam County Workers Compensation Panel 01/15/99
Gary Harris vs. State

03C01-9803-CR-00085

Originating Judge:Lynn W. Brown
Unicoi County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/15/99
State vs. Wembley

03C01-9803-CC-00088
Blount County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/15/99
Dennis/Cheryl Caire vs. McLemore Food Stores

02A01-9804-CV-00103

Originating Judge:Robert A. Lanier
Shelby County Court of Appeals 01/15/99
State vs. Holloway

03C01-9712-CC-00533

Originating Judge:W. Lee Asbury
Anderson County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/15/99
State vs. Strickland

03C01-9801-CC-00556
Blount County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/15/99
Spruce vs Spruce

03A01-9807-CV-00211
Knox County Court of Appeals 01/14/99
Edmondson vs. Solomon

01A01-9802-CV-00097

Originating Judge:Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/14/99
Clark & Associates Architects, Inc. vs. Lewis

01A01-9802-CH-00088

Originating Judge:Carol A. Catalano
Montgomery County Court of Appeals 01/14/99
Hampton vs. TN Truck Sales

01A01-9712-CH-00721

Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/14/99
Brooks vs Brooks, Jr.

03A01-9801-CH-00008
Court of Appeals 01/14/99
Sara Evelyn Evans (Young) v. Bobby Hugh Young, D.K. Hailey Wrecking Company, Inc. and Levy Industrial Contractors, Inc.

01A01-9711-CV-00638

Intervenors D. K. Hailey WreckingCompany (Hailey Wrecking) and Levy Industrial Contractors, Inc. (Levy Industrial) appeal an order of the trial court requiring them to pay the attorney fees of Plaintiff Sara Evelyn Evans incurred in a proceeding to enforce a judgment obtained by Ms. Evans against Bobby Hugh Young. For the reasons stated below, we affirm the ruling of the trial court.

Authoring Judge: Judge David R. Farmer
Originating Judge:Judge Muriel Robinson
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/14/99
Alexander vs Armentrout, Jr.

03A01-9807-CV-00205
Washington County Court of Appeals 01/14/99
State vs. Aaron Carroll

02C01-9805-CR-00140

Originating Judge:Bernie Weinman
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/13/99
State vs. Connie Wilson

02C01-9706-CC-00217
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/13/99
State vs. Grace Matthews

02C01-9801-CR-00013
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/13/99
Palmer vs. So. Central Correctional Facility Disciplinary Bd.

M1999-01611-COA-R3-CV
Petitioner, an incarcerated prisoner at South Central Correctional Facility, appeals the dismissal by the trial court of his petition for a writ of certiorari to review a disciplinary decision made by the Correctional Facility Disciplinary Board and approved by the Tennessee Department of Correction ("T.D.O.C."). The defendant filed a Rule 12.02(6), Tenn. R. Civ. P., motion asserting the failure of Petitioner to state a claim for which relief may be granted. The trial court sustained this motion to dismiss. We reverse.
Authoring Judge: Judge William B. Cain
Originating Judge:Robert L. Holloway
Wayne County Court of Appeals 01/13/99
State vs. Roy Keough

02C01-9708-CR-00317
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/13/99
R & E Properties vs Jones

03A01-9804-CV-00133
Court of Appeals 01/13/99
State vs. Howard Epps

02C01-9710-CR-00410
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 01/13/99
Woods vs Walldorf

03A01-9803-CH-00085
Court of Appeals 01/13/99
Bryant vs. McCord, et al

01A01-9801-CV-00046

Originating Judge:Walter C. Kurtz
Davidson County Court of Appeals 01/12/99