APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

Please enter some keywords to search.
Carol Strong vs. Timothy Strong

02A01-9701-CV-00005

Originating Judge:George H. Brown
Shelby County Court of Appeals 08/18/97
State vs. Tyrone Clay

02C01-9608-CC-00261

Originating Judge:J. Steven Stafford
Lake County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/97
State vs. Tyrone Clay

02C01-9608-CC-00261

Originating Judge:J. Steven Stafford
Lake County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/97
Janice Farmer v. S&R of Tn, et al

02S01-9701-CH-00005
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated Section 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The only issue upon this appeal is the degree of compensation to be awarded to the claimant. As a result of developing bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, the claimant was referred by her employer to Dr. William L. Bourland for treatment. Dr. Bourland performed surgery in the form of carpal tunnel releases to each hand, on April 12 and April 26, 1994, respectively. Dr. Bourland was of the opinion that she had no permanent impairment to her left hand and five percent (5%) impairment to her right hand as a result of the condition and surgery. She returned to work with the same employer at the same wage. Some fourteen months later, she was referred by her attorney to Dr. Robert Christopher of Memphis for evaluation of her continuing complaints. Dr. Christopher examined her and gave her some tests and opined that she had a ten percent (1%) impairment of each upper extremity, which, based upon his reference to the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 4th Ed., translated to nineteen percent (19%) of the "combined values tables," and converts to an eleven percent (11%) impairment to the body as a whole. He felt that she should avoid any kind of work that required repeated wrist bending, either flexion or extension, and felt that bending her wrists many, many times per hour would be placing her at risk for further problems with her hands. He said that she should avoid jobs that require her to do repeated lifting of objects weighing more than twenty pounds, as well as pushing or pulling objects weighing more than twenty pounds and should avoid work that requires her to lift her arms above her shoulder height on a repeated basis. He said that she should not do work that required her to do severe exertion with her hands, such as squeezing tools or opening jars, or things of that sort, several times an hour. The employer concedes that the claimant has some permanent disability in her right arm, but feels that the award by the trial court was too great. 2
Authoring Judge: Robert A. Lanier, Circuit Judge
Originating Judge:Chancellor
Lauderdale County Workers Compensation Panel 08/18/97
Paul King v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

02S01-9611-CH-00100
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to this Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with T.C.A. _ 5- 6-225 (e) (3) for hearing and reporting of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The first issue presented on this appeal is whether or not the requirements of T.C.A. _ 5-6-241, limiting an award of permanent partial disability to 2 _ times the medical impairment rating, should have been applied to the award in this case. It is not disputed that the claimant sustained an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of his employment with the defendant employer when, on July 11, 1994, w hile working as a tirebuilder, he sustaine d an injury to his left shoulder. He subse quently saw Dr. James R. Wilkinson, an orthopedic surgeon. On October 6, 1994, Dr. Wilkinson performed a surgical procedure on his shoulde r which in volved dis secting the d eltoid muscle, removing the coracoac romial ligam ent and ch anging the anatomic construct of the shoulder. Dr. Wilkinson gave his o pinion that the claimant had sustained a permanent anatomical impairment of 6% to the left upper e xtremity due to joint crepitation, which amounted to 4% of the body as a whole. He agreed that, based upon his range of motion, his impairment should be an extra 2%. Dr. Wilkinson testified that he would expect claimant to have some weakness in his shoulder and would benefit from possibly avoiding overhead and heavy lifting and push ing a nd p ullin g aw ay fro m hi s bod y. He felt that claimant could have some problems with his shoulder performing his previous job. Dr. Wilkinson's rating conv erts to 4% physical impairment to the body as a whole. On January 6, 1995, claimant was released by Dr. Wilkinson to return to work, and he did return to w ork with th e defend ant emplo yer at his previous job, earning the same wages. On Ma y 1, 1995, claimant saw D r. Robert Barnett one time at the suggestion of his attorney. Claimant gave a history to Dr. Barnett of popping and creaking in his shoulder, which had impro ved, but said that he still felt the s ensation of it when he moved h is shoulder. 2
Authoring Judge: Robert A. Lanier, Circuit Judge
Originating Judge:Lanier, Judge
Wayne County Workers Compensation Panel 08/18/97
Gary Higginbotham v. Grinnell Corp.

02S01-9611-Ch-00101
This worker's compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated _ 50-6-225 (e) (3) for hearing and reporting of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The first issue for this panel to decide is whether or not this action is barred by thelimitations contained within the Workers' Compensation Act, T.C.A. _ 50-6-203 and _ 50-6-224. Those sections read as follows:
Authoring Judge: Robert A. Lanier, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Joe C. Morris
Chester County Workers Compensation Panel 08/18/97
State vs. George Martin Jr.

02C01-9512-CC-00389

Originating Judge:John Franklin Murchison
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/97
Gary Higginbotham v. Grinnell Corp.

02S01-9611-Ch-00101
This worker's compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated _ 50-6-225 (e) (3) for hearing and reporting of findings of fact and conclusions of law.
Authoring Judge: Robert A. Lanier, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Joe C. Morris
Chester County Workers Compensation Panel 08/18/97
Sharon Rivers v. Cigna Property & Casualty Co.

02S01-9612-CV-00105
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated Section 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The first issue presented to the Court is whether or not the trial court erred in finding that the plaintiff was entitled to benefits for permanent partial disability based upon fif ty percent (5%) to the left lower extremity. It is not disputed that the claimant sustained an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of her employment with the defendant on January 24, 1995, when her left foot became crushed between pieces of equipment. She did not have a fracture but had a crush injury of the soft tissue to the left foot. She was placed in a cast and given medication and recommendations for exercise and warm soaks. She eventually returned to work around March 1, 1995. She was under the treatment of the physician provided by the employer but was released to resume her work and she did resume her regular work as a stacker machine operator for approximately one year. She continued to have complaints of pain and irritation in her ankle from time to time and saw the company doctor. Some time after July 11, 1995, her supervisor told her that the employer would not be responsible for her doctor's bill for the preceding visit to the company doctor. Subsequent to that, however, she returned to see the company doctor, who saw her without expense to her. He felt that she reached maximum medical recovery on July 25, 1995 and opined that she had not suffered any permanent impairment. He concluded that she had sustained a soft tissue injury without any fracture or disarrangement of the joint. On January 17, 1996, Plaintiff's attorney referred her to a rheumatologist in Memphis without prior notice or consultation with the employer. She was subsequently seen and treated by the rheumatologist. She had been satisfied with the treatment given to her by the company doctor before her supervisor told her that his bill would not be paid. The rheumatologist has testified that the claimant suffered a fifteen percent (15%) permanent impairment to her left lower extremity. He based his opinion upon his 2
Authoring Judge: Robert A. Lanier, Circuit Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Whit S. Lafon
Madison County Workers Compensation Panel 08/18/97
State vs. Anthony Allen/Tyrone Henning

02C01-9501-CC-00009
Fayette County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/18/97
State vs. Marshall Lane Scruggs

01C01-9608-CR-00375

Originating Judge:Jane W. Wheatcraft
Sumner County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/97
State vs. Charles Clay Young

01C01-9605-CC-00195

Originating Judge:Leon C. Burns, Jr.
White County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/97
Debbie Lee Givens vs. State

01C01-9608-CR-00372
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/97
State vs. Willard C. Cook, Sr.

01C01-9501-CC-00001

Originating Judge:Gerald L. Ewell, Sr.
Coffee County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/97
State vs. Anand Franklin

01C01-9603-CR-00101

Originating Judge:Thomas H. Shriver
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/97
State vs. Johnny Goode

02C01-9611-CR-00428
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/97
State vs. Bryan Hanley

01C01-9508-CC-00266
Hickman County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/97
State vs. Martin Terrell

02C01-9701-CC-00001
Tipton County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/97
Tony A. Makoka v. State

01C01-9603-CC-00124

Originating Judge:J. S. Daniel
Rutherford County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/97
State vs. Antonio Demonte Lyons

01C01-9508-CR-00263
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/97
State vs. Shannon Potter

02C01-9702-CR-00073

Originating Judge:Arthur T. Bennett
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/97
Amos Curtis Copeny vs. State

01C01-9606-CR-00240
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/97
State vs. Montro Taylor

02C01-9703-CR-00114
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/97
State vs. Charles Clay Young

01C01-9605-CC-00195

Originating Judge:Leon C. Burns, Jr.
White County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/97
Kim Lamar Witt vs. State

01C01-9606-CR-00274

Originating Judge:J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 08/15/97