APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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03A01-9610-CH-00327

03A01-9610-CH-00327
Knox County Court of Appeals 03/24/97
James K. Ringrose v. Saturn Corp.

01S01-9607-CH-00141
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. Plaintiff sustained deQuervain's disease, an inflammatory condition which first manifested itself in November, 1992, while doing repetitive factory work for defendant. The trial court awarded 1 percent permanent partial disability to the right upper extremity for his right wrist injury. The plaintiff also developed an impingement injury to his right shoulder in August 1993. The trial court awarded 1 percent permanent partial disability to the body as a whole for this injury. We affirm the judgment of the trial court. Plaintiff first reported severe pain in his right wrist to the medical department of the employer on November 9, 1992. He was given an over-the-counter anti- inflammatory medication and a wrist splint. He went back to work. He returned to the medical department on January 28, 1993 with continuing complaints of pain. He was given a wrist splint and placed on work restrictions. Soon thereafter, the employer referred plaintiff to Franklin Bone and Joint Clinic, where he was given a corticosteroid injection in his right hand. He was told to wear a thumb splint and to temporarily avoid gripping with his right hand. On August 26, 1993 Plaintiff sustained an injury to his right shoulder, while pushing and pulling auto doors. The employer's medical department provided pain medication, ice packs and on-site physical therapy, then referred him to Dr. Jeffrey Cook, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Cook treated plaintiff from November 18, 1993 until April 11, 1995. He surgically removed the end of plaintiff's collar bone, bone spurs and scar tissue. On April 11, 1995, plaintiff told Dr. Cook that he was transferring to a position which would not require repetitive motion. Dr. Cook assessed no permanent disability, although he also opined that Dr. Gaw had seen plaintiff more recently, and therefore if Dr. Gaw thought plaintiff had 5 percent disability he would not disagree. 2
Authoring Judge: John K. Byers, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Donald P. Harris,
Williamson County Workers Compensation Panel 03/24/97
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Court of Appeals 03/24/97
Thomas Hickman v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.

01S01-9606-CV-00117
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. Plaintiff injured his back on April 29, 1994 while repairing a forklift truck for the employer, Richland, Incorporated. The trial judge awarded him 12-1/2 percent permanent partial disability. He appeals, asserting that the amount of disability should not have been based on the medical report of the first treating physician and that the two and one-half multiplier cap in TENN. CODE ANN. _ 5-6-241 should not have been applied under the facts of this case. We affirm the judgment of the trial court. Plaintiff sustained injury to his back on April 29, 1994 while lifting a cylinder head from a forklift truck. Medical records of Dr. Vaughan Allen, designated as Exhibit 1 to the Deposition of Dr. Earl M. Jeffres, indicate that plaintiff was first treated by Dr. Charles D. Haney, who prescribed medications and rest. When plaintiff did not improve, he was referred by the employer to Dr. Allen. In May of 1995 he was sent by his attorney to Dr. Earl M. Jeffres. The plaintiff first raises the issue that: "The trial court erred in basing its decision on the written report of a non-testifying physician [Dr. Allen] and rejecting the testimony of the only medical expert [Dr. Jeffres]." Dr. Allen's treatment records of May 24, 1994 and May 27, 1994 revealed that plaintiff had a loss of range of motion of his low back, muscle spasm and a straight leg raise test that was positive for lumbar injury. X-ray revealed a central disc protrusion. Plaintiff was taken off work and placed on physical therapy for four weeks. On June 28, 1994, plaintiff returned to Dr. Allen, stating that he was "better but not well." He told Dr. Allen that there was "absolutely no light duty and that he works at very heavy machines . . . " In light of this assertion by the patient, Dr. Allen advised him to continue the chronic exercise program and return for a re-check in two months. Allen further opined that "Certainly, if there is light duty he could start 2
Authoring Judge: John K. Byers, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Jim T. Hamilton,
Hickman County Workers Compensation Panel 03/24/97
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Court of Appeals 03/21/97
03A01-9608-CH-00266

03A01-9608-CH-00266
Greene County Court of Appeals 03/21/97
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Hamilton County Court of Appeals 03/21/97
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Court of Appeals 03/21/97
03A01-9604-CV-00147

03A01-9604-CV-00147
Jefferson County Court of Appeals 03/21/97
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX

X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
Court of Appeals 03/21/97
01C01-9601-CC-00036

01C01-9601-CC-00036
Rutherford County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/20/97
03C01-9510-CC-00314

03C01-9510-CC-00314
Bradley County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/20/97
02A01-9604-CH-00083

02A01-9604-CH-00083

Originating Judge:D. J. Alissandratos
Shelby County Court of Appeals 03/20/97
03C01-9503-CR-00067

03C01-9503-CR-00067

Originating Judge:E. Eugene Eblen
Roane County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/20/97
01C01-9604-CC-00125

01C01-9604-CC-00125

Originating Judge:Henry Denmark Bell
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/20/97
03C01-9510-CR-00317

03C01-9510-CR-00317

Originating Judge:Stephen M. Bevil
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/20/97
03C01-9605-CC-00191

03C01-9605-CC-00191
McMinn County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/20/97
01C01-9601-PB-00037

01C01-9601-PB-00037
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/20/97
02A01-9604-CH-00083

02A01-9604-CH-00083

Originating Judge:D. J. Alissandratos
Shelby County Court of Appeals 03/20/97
01C01-9506-CR-00211

01C01-9506-CR-00211
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/20/97
01C01-9604-CC-00133

01C01-9604-CC-00133
Williamson County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/20/97
01C01-9604-CR-00130

01C01-9604-CR-00130
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/20/97
02A01-9606-CH-00136

02A01-9606-CH-00136

Originating Judge:George R. Ellis
Gibson County Court of Appeals 03/20/97
State vs. Danny Lacy

02C01-9701-CC-00013

Originating Judge:John Franklin Murchison
Madison County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/19/97
03C01-9601-CR-00013

03C01-9601-CR-00013

Originating Judge:Stephen M. Bevil
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/19/97