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| Fred Bowen vs. Billy Compton
02C01-9701-CC-00016
|
Lake County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 04/17/97 | |
| Jack v. Delany
02S01-9608-CH-00073
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 to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. In this appeal, the employer questions the award of permanent partial disability benefits as being excessive. As discussed below, the panel has concluded the judgment should be modified. The employee, Scott, is forty-seven (47) years old, and has an eighth (8th) grade education. He has farmed and worked at a cotton gin. He has no specialized skills or training. He has an I.Q. of sixty-five (65) and a severe speech impediment. He worked for the defendant employer for twenty-two (22) years. During the course of his employment, he has performed various jobs and was operating a scrubber at the time of his injury. The employee was injured at work on June 4, 1994, when he was getting off of the scrubber and fell. He testified that he hurt his neck, back, and left shoulder. He was first seen by Doctor Michael Heck, who prescribed medication and returned him to work on light duty. He was then seen by Doctor Stewart, who returned him to regular duty with the defendant. Doctor Riley Jones treated the plaintiff and opined that he had a 1 per cent (1%) anatomical impairment to the left upper extremity. Dr. Jones gave him no impairment rating for his back and sent him back to regular duty. Dr. Robert Paul Christopher saw the plaintiff on July 24, 1995, for an independent medical evaluation. He opined that the plaintiff had a 1 per cent (1%) impairment to the left upper extremity, a 6 per cent (6%) impairment as a result of injury to the cervical spine, translating to a combined rating of 12 per cent (12%) to the body as a whole. 2
Authoring Judge: Leonard W. Martin, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. J. Steven Stafford, |
Scott County | Workers Compensation Panel | 04/17/97 | |
| Gregory Turner vs. Jimmy Harrison
02C01-9701-CC-00025
|
Lauderdale County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 04/17/97 | |
| David Davison v. Tfe, Inc., et al
02S01-9609-CV-00078
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court inaccordance 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 employer and its insurer argue the employee did not suffer an injury by accident as claimed. As discussed below, the panel has concluded the judgment should be affirmed. For the past thirty-three years, the employee or claimant, Davison, has been an over-the-road truck driver. He worked for the employer, TFE, from July 14, 1988 until June 2, 1994. On June 2, 1994, while attempting to load some boxes that had fallen from his truck while others were being unloaded, he felt a burning sensation in his back and leg. He had not felt the leg pain before but had suffered a previous back injury. He was given nerve blocks for the second injury, without relief. When the pain persisted, he visited Dr. Joseph S. Thomas, a general practitioner, and Dr. Robert Barnett, an orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Barnett diagnosed an aggravation of a pre-existing degenerative condition. The same doctor had seen the claimant before the second injury and opined that the new symptoms were the result of an irritated nerve root. The record does contain other medical opinions. Dr. Cunningham, a neurosurgeon, opined the claimant was not permanently impaired from the 1994 injury, but did not rule out the occurrence of an injury. Dr. Frazier assigned a permanent impairment rating but attributed it to the previous injury. The claimant has not returned to work. He testified that he is unable to work because of pain that he did not have prior to the 1994 accident. The trial judge gave the greatest weight to the opinion of Dr. Barnett and found the injury to be compensable as an injury by accident. 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). Where the trial judge has seen and heard the witnesses, especially ifissues of credibility and weight to be given oral testimony are involved, considerable deference must be accorded those circumstances on review. Humphrey v. David Witherspoon, Inc., 734 S.W.2d 315 (Tenn. 1987). When medical testimony differs, it is within the discretion of the trial judge to determine which expert testimony to accept. Hinson v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 654 S.W.2d 675 (Tenn. 1983). 2
Authoring Judge: Joe C. Loser, Jr., Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. C. Creed Mcginley, |
Hardin County | Workers Compensation Panel | 04/17/97 | |
| State vs. Gina Merrell
02C01-9604-CC-00131
Originating Judge:Julian P. Guinn |
Henry County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 04/17/97 | |
| Norma Gail Flowers v. Emerson Motor Co.
02S01-9609-CH-00083
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court inaccordance 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 employer, Emerson Motor Company, contends the award of permanent partial disability benefits is excessive. The panel has concluded the judgment should be affirmed. The claimant, Flowers, is 43 years old and a high school graduate. She has a certificate as a nursing assistant, but no other vocational training or education. She has worked continuously for the employer since 1972, in a variety of jobs requiring repetitive use of her hands. On December 6, 1993, the claimant slipped and fell at work, landing on the palms of her hands. Although her wrists and hands had bothered her before the fall, she was not disabled and had not seen a doctor. Following the fall, she saw Dr. Ronald Bingham, who ordered NCS/EMG studies and diagnosed bilateral carpaltunnel syndrome, moderate on the left and moderate to moderately severe on the right. Another doctor diagnosed, in addition to bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, carpometacarpal subluxation and arthritis of the right thumb. Her carpal tunnel syndrome was found to be caused by repetitive use of her hands and wrists at work and the subluxation caused and the arthritis aggravated by the fall at work. Dr. Bourland assigned a permanent impairment rating of 15.8% to the claimant's right arm and none to the left. Dr. Joseph Boals assigned permanent impairment ratings of 2% to each arm. She is unable to perform her former duties for the employer and has pain and numbness in both hands. She cannot operate a keyboard. One vocational expert estimated her industrial disability at 6-65%; another opined she would be eligible for fewer than 25% of all available jobs. The chancellor awarded permanent partial disability benefits based on 5% to both arms. 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). The extent of an injured worker's disability is an issue of fact. Jaske v. Murray Ohio Mfg. Co., 75 S.W.2d 15 (Tenn. 1988). The extent of an injured worker's vocational disability is a factual 2
Authoring Judge: Joe C. Loser, Jr., Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. George R. Ellis, |
Gibson County | Workers Compensation Panel | 04/17/97 | |
| State vs. Stamm
03C01-9602-CC-00068
Originating Judge:D. Kelly Thomas, Jr. |
Blount County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 04/17/97 | |
| Brian Grant vs. Tonya Grant
02A01-9603-CV-00053
Originating Judge:Wyeth Chandler |
Court of Appeals | 04/16/97 | ||
| 03C01-9601-CC-00016
03C01-9601-CC-00016
Originating Judge:E. Eugene Eblen |
Roane County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 04/16/97 | |
| State vs. John F. Wolard
01C01-9612-CC-00532
|
Montgomery County | Court of Criminal Appeals | 04/16/97 | |
| X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
|
Knox County | Court of Appeals | 04/16/97 | |
| 01A01-9508-CV-00377
01A01-9508-CV-00377
Originating Judge:Don R. Ash |
Rutherford County | Court of Appeals | 04/16/97 | |
| Gloria Gilliland vs. Gary Stanley
02A01-9603-GS-00056
Originating Judge:William A. Peeler |
Tipton County | Court of Appeals | 04/16/97 | |
| X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
X2010-0000-XX-X00-XX
|
Hamblen County | Court of Appeals | 04/16/97 | |
| State., ex. rel., vs. United Physicians Ins.
01A01-9610-CH-00449
Originating Judge:Robert S. Brandt |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 04/16/97 | |
| 01A01-9610-JV-00493
01A01-9610-JV-00493
Originating Judge:Barry R. Brown |
Sumner County | Court of Appeals | 04/16/97 | |
| 02A01-9510-CV-00240
02A01-9510-CV-00240
Originating Judge:George R. Ellis |
Haywood County | Court of Appeals | 04/16/97 | |
| Roberts vs. Lowe
03A01-9610-CC-00333
Originating Judge:Arden L. Hill |
Johnson County | Court of Appeals | 04/16/97 | |
| El Rayford vs. Stephen Leffler (Order)
02A01-9607-CV-00162
|
Court of Appeals | 04/16/97 | ||
| Warren, et. vir vs. Metro Gov't., et. al.
01A01-9606-CV-00277
Originating Judge:Thomas W. Brothers |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 04/11/97 | |
| Bryant vs. TN. Dept. of Safety
01A01-9509-CH-00398
Originating Judge:Robert S. Brandt |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 04/11/97 | |
| Sliger vs. Stokes, et. al.
01A01-9609-CH-00403
Originating Judge:Vernon Neal |
Putnam County | Court of Appeals | 04/11/97 | |
| Cashion vs. Robertson
01A01-9506-CH-00257
Originating Judge:Ben H. Cantrell |
Court of Appeals | 04/11/97 | ||
| Clemmye Berger vs. Marvin Ratner, et al
02A01-9604-CV-00077
Originating Judge:James E. Swearengen |
Shelby County | Court of Appeals | 04/11/97 | |
| Mcpherson vs. Stokes, et. al.
01A01-9505-CH-00216
Originating Judge:C. Allen High |
Davidson County | Court of Appeals | 04/11/97 |