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Kenneth M. Ward v. Tangent Industries
01S01-9710-CH-00235
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 issues are whether the leg injury suffered by the plaintiff was properly apportioned to the body as a whole and whether the Court correctly ordered the award to be paid in a lump sum. A non-issue is whether the trial judge properly awarded interest on the judgment.1 The plaintiff is a 41-year-old single man whose testimony that he finished eighth grade was so suspect as to move the Chancellor to observe "I don't mean to disrespect you Mr. Ward, [but] you probably don't have an eighth grade education," and who is by virtue of that fact and other limitations capable only of basic manual and menial labor. On December 8, 1993 during the course of his job, a heavy bundle of steel fell from a forklift and crushed his left leg and foot. He was initially treated by Dr. Charles Emerson of Murfreesboro, and later by Dr. Joe Luna of Maryville, which was made necessary because he moved to the home of his sister in Blount County. Dr. Luna referred the plaintiff to Dr. Turner, under whose care he remains. To comply with an order to prosecute, the plaintiff was evaluated by an independent medical examiner, Dr. Steven C. Weissfield, on July 28, 1997, who graphically described the crushing injury. Reduced to the necessary, the leg bones were multi-fractured, refused to heal, pieces of them were removed subsequently, screws and pins were inserted; the lower portion of his leg filled with fluid which the experts could not alleviate. Four or more 1Much of the oral argum ent was given over to the propriety of the Court's action in awarding statutory interest on the "full amount," which the Court did not do. The issue of interest was neither raised nor addressed by the trial Court. The subject appeared, for the first time, in the brief of the appellee. 2
Authoring Judge: William H. Inman, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Don R. Ash |
Rutherford County | Workers Compensation Panel | 07/20/98 | |
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Sandra Gail Holmes V Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
01S01-9710-CH-00237
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 plaintiff sought workers' compensation benefits for plantar fasciitis, which she alleged was caused by standing on a concrete floor at work for twelve hours shifts. The defendant argued that plantar fasciitis is not caused by standing for long periods and therefore plaintiff's job did not cause her condition. The trial court, in a comprehensive and well-reasoned opinion, found the preponderance of the evidence proved the condition to be work-related and awarded benefits, which the defendant appeals. We affirm the judgment of the trial court. Sandra Gail Holmes ["Employee"] began working for Bridgestone ["Employer"] in 1987. Her job as a tire builder consisted of twelve hour shifts during which she stood on a concrete floor on a 1/4" rubber mat while building tires. She was not permitted to sit unless she was on break. In 1994 she began complaining of her feet, and on August 22, 1994, requested medical treatment at work owing to burning pain shooting through her heel and arc of her left foot, up through the calf muscle, and lesser symptoms in her right foot. The employer's on-site physician, Dr. Flynn, sent her to Dr. Mark Christofersen, an orthopedic surgeon, whom employee testified she saw once, for ten or 15 minutes, on September 1, 1994. Dr. Christofersen examined employee and found excellent joint motion and no swelling but with tenderness to palpation at the origin of the plantar fascia and arch on the left and to a lesser extent on the right. She had been on a 2
Authoring Judge: William H. Inman, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Robert E. Corlew, III |
Rutherford County | Workers Compensation Panel | 07/20/98 | |
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State vs. Rebecca Curevich
01C01-9707-CR-00276
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Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 07/20/98 | |
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Richard May v. Liberty Mutual Insurance & Southern Manufacturing
01S01-9709-GS-00193
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. Richard May filed this complaint alleging permanent partial disability after a mold dropped on his left hand at work, causing a crush injury. The trial court found he had sustained 45% permanent partial disability to the left arm and awarded temporary total, permanent partial, mileage and medical benefits, as well as discretionary costs. Southern Manufacturing Group ["Southern"] appeals and presents for our review the issues of (1) whether the preponderance of the evidence supports a lesser amount of permanent partial disability, and (2) whether the weekly benefit rate should be $24.76 rather than $226.52. On May 6, 1996, Mr. May was injured while working for Southern when his hand was crushed between two halves of a large metal mold weighing approximately 15 pounds. He notified his employer immediately and went to see Dr. Gregory Wiley, whom he selected from the employer's list of approved physicians. After a brief period of conservative treatment, Dr. Wiley referred Mr. May to Dr. Ramotsumi Makhene, a board-eligible plastic surgeon who also practices reconstructive surgery with a subspecialty in hand surgery. Dr. Makhene saw Mr. May on July 31, 1996 and noted swelling of his left hand and a nodule on the back of his hand above the knuckle, along with limited range of motion. He diagnosed tendinitis and prescribed a splint, anti- inflammatory medication, and occupational therapy. 2
Authoring Judge: William H. Inman, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Barry Medley |
Warren County | Workers Compensation Panel | 07/20/98 | |
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State vs. John Gilbreath
01C01-9801-CR-00034
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Davidson County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 07/17/98 | |
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State vs. Ralph Cooper
02C01-9709-CR-00339
Originating Judge:W. Fred Axley |
Shelby County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 07/17/98 | |
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Knight vs. Lancaster
01A01-9711-CH-00643
Originating Judge:L. F. Stewart |
Marion County | Court of Appeals | 07/17/98 | |
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Lessley vs. Shope, Jr.
01A01-9710-CV-00617
Originating Judge:Carol A. Catalano |
Robertson County | Court of Appeals | 07/17/98 | |
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Twanda Ward vs. State
01C01-9707-CC-00242
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Montgomery County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 07/17/98 | |
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Postelle vs. Snead, d/b/a: Emergency Chiro.
01A01-9708-CV-00446
Originating Judge:Thomas W. Brothers |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 07/17/98 | |
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01A01-9708-CH-00417
01A01-9708-CH-00417
Originating Judge:Henry F. Todd |
Court of Appeals | 07/17/98 | ||
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State vs. Chris W. Frame
01C01-9708-CC-00332
Originating Judge:Thomas W. Graham |
Franklin County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 07/16/98 | |
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State vs. McCarter
03C01-9707-CC-00238
Originating Judge:D. Kelly Thomas, Jr. |
Blount County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 07/16/98 | |
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01A01-9806-CH-00304
01A01-9806-CH-00304
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Court of Appeals | 07/16/98 | ||
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Ernestine Cole vs. State of TN
02A01-9801-BC-00004
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Court of Appeals | 07/16/98 | ||
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Liberty Mutual Ins. v. Larry Brinton, Jr.
03S01-9706-CH-00072
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. This appeal presents a novel issue arising from the provisions of T.C.A. _ 5- 6-238(b), which is one of the 1992 amendments to the Workers' Compensation Act. The appeal was perfected by the defendant, The Tennessee Department of Labor Second Injury Fund, from a ruling of the trial court awarding plaintiff, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, a judgment in the sum of $6,526.52. The complaint alleged plaintiff was the workers' compensation insurance carrier for Macawber Engineering, Inc. and one of their employees, Lonnie D. Roberts, contended he sustained a work-related injury (heart attack) on July 19, 1993, as a result of stress due to overtime work and excessive heat at his workplace; that upon reviewing the claim plaintiff denied the heart attack was work- related and declined to pay benefits and medical expenses; that the claim was reviewed by a workers' compensation specialist who ordered plaintiff to pay temporary total disability benefits of $6,526.52 for a period beginning July 2, 1993 to January 17, 1994, and plaintiff complied with this order; that sometime after February 14, 1994, the Department of Labor determined the claim was not compensable as the heart attack was not work-related; that plaintiff made a demand upon the state Second Injury Fund for a refund which was declined. The complaint alleges that a copy of the state department's order to pay, drafts issued by plaintiff in satisfaction of the order and a copy of the department's order denying plaintiff's claim were attached to the complaint as exhibits but the certified record does not contain any of these documents. Defendant answered the complaint by alleging it was without sufficient information or knowledge to form a belief as to the allegations and strict proof of same was demanded. For further answer it was alleged that T.C.A. _ 5-6-238 allowed a workers' compensation insurance carrier to receive a refund under circumstances as alleged in the complaint when the Defendant was furnished a copy of a court order finding the claim was not compensable and since no such order had been submitted to it, the claim for a refund was premature. 2
Authoring Judge: Roger E. Thayer, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Sharon Bell, |
Knox County | Workers Compensation Panel | 07/16/98 | |
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State vs. Leming
03C01-9709-CC-00426
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Sevier County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 07/16/98 | |
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Sarah Wilkerson vs. Robert Wilkerson
02A01-9709-CV-00231
Originating Judge:James E. Swearengen |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 07/16/98 | |
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Susan Todd/State vs. Weakley Co.
02A01-9708-CV-00197
Originating Judge:William B. Acree |
Weakley County | Court of Appeals | 07/16/98 | |
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State vs. Clark
03C01-9706-CR-00227
Originating Judge:Ben W. Hooper, II |
Sevier County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 07/16/98 | |
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State vs. Earnest Travis
01C01-9706-CC-00215
Originating Judge:James K. Clayton, Jr. |
Rutherford County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 07/15/98 | |
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Harpeth Valley Utilities Dist., vs. Metro. Gov't.
01A01-9712-CH-00699
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Court of Appeals | 07/15/98 | ||
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Deon Braden vs. State
01C01-9708-CC-00351
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Maury County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 07/15/98 | |
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Donoho vs. Donoho, Jr.
01A01-9802-CV-00070
Originating Judge:Bobby H. Capers |
Wilson County | Court of Appeals | 07/15/98 | |
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Mark S. Tidman and Evelyn J. Tidman v. The Salvation Army, Bertha Worthy, Kenneth E. Brewer, Fred Ruth - Concuring
01-A-01-9708-CV-00380
Two former Salvation Army officers, a husband and wife who had been demoted and discharged, sued their superior officers and The Salvation Army itself for invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and outrageous conduct. The Circuit Court of Davidson County dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. We affirm, and hold, in addition, that the defendants’ actions were protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Authoring Judge: Judge Henry F. Todd
Originating Judge:Judge Walter C. Kurtz |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 07/15/98 |