ÿWPCô /# ¢UN­ %û 0(b)w@14q…” 0Jœ 0Tæ 0^: 0h˜ 0r 0|r 0†î 0t 1u 0dyU>ÝB) AQD Æ• 0D[ 0@Ÿ 0Dß DC# D/f B• B² D3Ï AM U*O *y v~£ vÓ!˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡- ù- eDfDgDhDiUjEklÓ€vwzƒ=#x93|xy2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó7Border 1dd(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxd!#%Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€+ÔÔ€+ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€+XÔÌÌOctober€22,€1997ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó óPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ€ÑÑ7€v~XXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñò ò›Þ ÞÌKEVIN€CALDWELL,à àà àà à)à àRutherford€County€CircuitÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àNo.€€34547Ìà àPlaintiff/Appellant,à àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌVS.à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌNISSAN€MOTOR€MANUFACTURINGà à)à àAppeal€No.ÌCORPORATION,€U.S.A.,à àà àà à)à à01A01„9703„CV„00096̜ـ!ÙßR€*,%A1-j|*,` ç `€€@ÿRß›à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àDefendant/Appellee.à àà àà à)ÌÌÌÌÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àMIDDLE€SECTION€AT€NASHVILLEÌÌà@ àAPPEAL€FROM€CIRCUIT€COURT€OF€RUTHERFORD€COUNTYÌà@ àAT€MURFREESBORO,€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àHONORABLE€DON€R.€ASH,€JUDGEÌó óÌÌÌShelley€I.€StilesÌ5214€Maryland€Way,€#210ÌBrentwood,€TN€37027ÌATTORNEY€FOR€PLAINTIFF/APPELLANTÌÌÌœAndree€Sophia€BlumsteinÌSHERRARD€&€ROE€PLCÌ424€Church€St.,€Suite€2000ÌNashville,€TN€37219ÌATTORNEY›€FOR€DEFENDANT/APPELLEE,€ÌÌÌÌò òÓ  ÓÔ€¼ÔAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDÌó óÔ€XÔÌÓ  ÓÌÌà àà àà àà àà àHENRY€F.€TODDÌà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€MIDDLE€SECTIONÌÌÌÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGEÌWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGEÌÌÌò òÌÌÌKEVIN€CALDWELL,à àà àà à)à àRutherford€County€CircuitÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àNo.€€34547Ìà àPlaintiff/Appellant,à àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌVS.à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌNISSAN€MOTOR€MANUFACTURINGà à)à àAppeal€No.ÌCORPORATION€USA,à àà àà à)à à01A01„9703„CV„00096Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àDefendant/Appellee.à àà àà à)à àÌÌÓ  Óó óÌÓ  ÓÌà@ àòòò òÔ€„ÔO€P€I€N€I€O€NÔ€XÔóóó óÌÓ  ÓÌÌÓÓà àThe€plaintiff,€Kevin€Caldwell,€has€appealed€from€a€summary€judgment€dismissing€hisÏsuit€against€Nissan€Manufacturing€Corp.€U.S.A.,€his€former€employer,€for€damages€resultingÏfrom€the€termination€of€his€employment€in€retaliation€for€his€claiming€workers€compensationÏbenefits.ÌÌà àIn€this€Court,€plaintiff€presents€a€single€issue€in€the€following€words:ÌÓÓÒ  ÒÒ ` ÒÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒI.à àWhether€there€are€material€facts€in€dispute€renderingÏthe€trial€courtððs€granting€of€defendantððs€motion€for€summaryÏjudgment€erroneous.ÌÒ  ÒÒ ` ÒÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓÌà àDefendant€presents€the€issues€in€the€following€form:ÌÓÓÒ  ÒÒ ` ÒÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` Ò1.à àWhether,€as€the€trial€court€found€in€this€retaliatoryÏdischarge€case,€plaintiff€has€filed€to€carry€his€burden€ofÍpresenting€compelling€circumstantial€evidence€of€a€causalÏconnection€between€his€claim€for€workersðð€compensationÏbenefits€and€the€termination€of€his€employment?ÌÌ2.à àEven€assuming€that€the€plaintiff€has€presentedÏsufficient€evidence€of€causation€to€make€out€a€prima€facieÏcase€of€retaliatory€discharge,€whether€the€fact€that€plaintiffÏwas€discharged€from€employment€pursuant€to€a€faciallyÏneutral€and€uniformly€applied€company€policy€shows€that€theÏdefendant€had€a€legitimate,€non„pretextual,€non„retaliatoryÏreason€for€discharging€the€plaintiff€from€employment?ÌÒ  ÒÒ ` ÒÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓÌà àAs€material€to€this€appeal,€the€complaint€alleges:ÌÌà à1.à àPlaintiff€was€injured€on€the€job€on€or€about€March€18,€1992,€and€reinjured€onÏAugust€12,€1992.ÌÌà à2.à àPlaintiff€worked€for€defendant€during€the€months€of€February€through€AugustÏprior€to€the€second€injury.ÌÌà à3.à à(On€an€unstated€date)€plaintiff€filed€a€workers€compensation€claim€andÏsubsequently€(date€unstated)€plaintiff€was€awarded€compensation€benefits.ÌÌà à4.à àOn€or€about€April€6,€1993,€after€the€workerððs€compensation€claim€was€filed,Ïdefendant€notified€plaintiff€that€he€was€discharged.ÌÌà à5.à àIt€is€plaintiffððs€contention€that€Nissan€discharged€him€because€of€his€filing€aÏworkers€compensation€claim€and€the€underlying€work€injuries.ÌÌà à6.à àPlaintiff€filed€a€workers€compensation€claim€and€subsequently€was€awardedÏworkers€compensation€benefits€in€the€case€of€òòKevin€Marshall€v.€Royal€Insurance€Companyóó,ÏNo.€11857,€Marshall€Circuit€Court.€€(The€date€and€amount€of€the€award€are€not€stated€in€theÏcomplaint.)€ÌÌà à7.à àPlaintiff€was€dismissed€because€of€his€filing€a€workers€compensation€claim€andÏpursuing€in€court€his€workers€compensation€benefits.ÌÌà àThe€prayers€of€the€complaint€are€for€damages,€reinstatement,€back€pay€and€benefits,Ïother€compensatory€and€punitive€damages€and€attorneyððs€fees.ÌÌà àThe€plaintiff€admits€to€the€two€injuries€on€the€premises€of€defendant€and€the€subsequentÏaward€of€benefits,€but€does€not€supply€any€details.€€Defendant€admits€that€defendant€dischargedÏplaintiff€effective€April€6,€1993,€but€denies€any€causal€link€between€the€discharge€and€theÏworkers€compensation€claim.ÌÌà àOn€February€28,€1995,€defendant€filed€a€motion€for€summary€judgment€stating:ÌÓÓÒ  ÒÒ ` ÒÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` Òà àThe€grounds€of€this€motion€are€that€there€is€noÏgenuine€issue€of€fact€that€the€plaintiff€was€terminated€forÏviolating€company€policy€by€performing€unauthorized€workÏwhile€on€workers€compensation€leave€of€absence€and€byÏdenying€that€he€did€so.ÌÓÓÒ  ÒÒ ` ÒÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÌà àDefendant€supported€its€motion€for€summary€judgment€by€affidavit€of€Galen€Medlin,€Ïplaintiffððs€responses€to€requests€for€admissions€and€for€production€of€documents,€andÏnumerous€other€documents.ÌÌà àOn€March€17,€1995,€plaintiff€responded€to€the€motion€for€summary€judgmentÏsupported€by€his€own€affidavit€and€that€of€his€treating€physician.ÌÌà àOn€October€1,€1996,€defendant€filed€a€ð ðSupplemental€Motion€for€Summary€judgmentððÏstating:ÌÓÓÒ  ÒÒ ` ÒÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` Òà àComes€now€the€Defendant,€Nissan€MotorÏManufacturing€Corporation,€U.S.A.,€by€and€through€itsÏlawful€counsel,€and€pursuant€to€Rule€56€of€the€TennesseeÏRules€of€Civil€Procedure,€moves€this€Honorable€Court€forÏan€Order€granting€it€Summary€Judgment,€dismissing€theÏPlaintiffððs€case€in€its€entirety€with€prejudice,€and€for€groundsÏtherefore€(sic)€would€state€that€there€is€no€legal€basis€toÏsupport€Plaintiffððs€cause€of€action,€there€is€no€genuine€issueÏas€to€any€material€fact,€and€the€Defendant€is€entitled€toÏSummary€Judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.ÌÌà àThis€Supplemental€Motion€and€its€predecessorÏMotion€are€supported€by€this€notice,€the€filed€pleadings,Ïvarious€medical€records€concerning€treatment€rendered€toÏPlaintiff,€various€deposition€transcripts,€various€affidavits€onÏbehalf€of€Defendant,€the€Memorandum€of€Law,€theÏSupplemental€Memorandum€of€Law€and€permissibleÏargument€of€counsel.ÌÌÒ  ÒÒ ` ÒÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓÌà àOn€November€8,€1996,€plaintiff€responded€to€defendantððs€supplemental€motion€forÏsummary€judgment€with€supporting€affidavits.ÌÌà àOn€December€19,€1996,€the€Trial€Court€entered€summary€judgment€of€dismissal,Ïincorporating€therein€his€memorandum€opinion€which€stated:ÌÒ  ÒÒ ` ÒÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÓÓà àIt€is€the€opinion€of€this€Court€that€there€is€no€casualÏlink€that€the€plaintiff€was€terminated€because€he€had€made€aÏclaim€for€workerððs€compensation€benefits.€€The€affidavits€ofÏthe€plaintiff€and€his€workersðð€compensation€attorney,Ïalleging€a€wrongful€discharge,€do€not€create€a€genuine€issueÏof€material€fact.€€The€Court€further€finds€the€plaintiff€wasÏterminated€pursuant€to€a€neutral€policy€of€the€defendant€toÍterminate€employees€who€do€not€comply€with€their€policy€ofÏworking€outside€the€company€while€on€workerððsÏcompensation.ÌÒ  ÒÒ ` ÒÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓÌÓÓÓÓà àA€party€who€moves€for€summary€judgment€has€the€initial€burden€of€producingÏadmissible,€competent€evidence€of€a€material€fact€or€facts€which,€if€uncontradicted,€entitle€theÏmoving€party€to€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€òòByrd€v.€Hallóó,€Tenn.€1993,€847€S.W.2d€208.ÌÌà àWhen€the€moving€party€has€satisfied€this€initial€burden,€then€the€burden€of€proceedingÏshifts€to€the€opponent€of€the€motion€to€produce€admissible,€competent€evidence€to€contradictÏthat€offered€by€the€moving€party€or€admissible,€competent€evidence€of€another€fact€or€factsÏwhich€would€disentitle€the€moving€party€to€a€summary€judgment€despite€the€fact€or€facts€shownÏin€support€of€the€motion.òò€€Street€v.€J.€C.€Bradford€&€Coóó.€(6th€Cir.€1989),€886€F.2d€1472.€ÏThe€evidence€of€the€non„moving€party€must€show€more€than€a€mere€metaphysical€doubt€as€toÏmaterial€facts,€but€must€include€competent€and€material€evidence€of€the€non€existence€of€factsÏasserted€by€the€moving€party€and/or€other€facts€which€effectively€disentitle€the€moving€party€toÏsummary€judgment.€€òòMatsushita€Elec.€Indus.€Co.,€Ltd.,€v.€Zenith€Radio€Corp.,€óó475€U.S.€574,Ï104€S.Cl.€1348,€89€L.Ed.2d€538€(1986).ÌœÌà àEmployees€in€cases€like€this€must€demonstrate€that€they€will€be€able€to€prove€at€trial€thatÏtheir€pursuit€for€workerððs€compensation€benefits€was€a€substantial€factor€in€their€employerððsÏdecision€to€fire€them.€€òòAnderson€v.€Standard€Register€Co.óó,€857€S.W.2d€at€558.€€If€anÏemployee€elects€to€shoulder€this€burden€with€circumstantial€evidence,€the€employee€mustÏpresent€direct€and€compelling€circumstantial€evidence.€€òòThomason€v.€Better„Bilt€AluminumÏProds.,€Incóó.,€Tenn.€App.€1992,€831€S.W.2d€291,€293.Ì›Ìà àœIn›€the€present€case,€the€issue€on€appeal€appears€to€be€whether€the€defendant„employerÏsupported€its€motion€for€summary€judgment€with€uncontradicted,€competent€œadmissible›Ïevidence€of€a€legitimate€cause€or€causes€for€termination€of€plaintiff,€i.e.,€either€(1)€that€theÏplaintiff€was€physically€disqualified€for€employment€in€plaintiffððs€plant,€or€(2)€that€plaintiffÏviolated€an€employment€policy€of€the€employer€by€accepting€employment€with€a€differentÏemployer€while€receiving€from€the€defendant€employee€workers€compensation€for€temporaryÏdisability€without€written€application€to€the€employer€for€permission€and€receiving€from€theÏemployer€written€permission€for€such€extra€curricular€employment.ÌÌà àThis€Court€must€first€consider€whether€the€motion€for€summary€judgment€wasÏsupported€by€competent,€admissible,€material€of€uncontradicted€evidence€of€facts€which€entitleÏdefendant€to€summary€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.ÌÌà àThe€affidavit€of€Mr.€Medlin€stated:ÌÒ  ÒÒ ` ÒÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÓÓà à1.à àMy€name€is€Galen€Medlin.€€I€am€45€yearsÏold,€am€competent€to€make€this€affidavit€and€do€testify€hereinÏbased€upon€personal€knowledge.ÌÌà à2.à àI€am€currently€employed€as€DepartmentÏManager,€Human€Resources€Operations€for€Nissan€MotorÏManufacturing€Corporation€U.S.A.€(ð ðNissanðð).ÌÌà à3.à àFrom€October€1991€to€April€1993,€I€wasÏemployed€as€Section€Manager€of€Human€Resources€for€theÏTrim€and€Chassis€Plant.€€In€that€capacity,€I€administeredÏcompany€policies€and€employee€benefit€plans,€responded€toÏquestions€regarding€company€policies€and€employee€benefitÏplans,€and€administered€corrective€action,€up€to€andÏincluding€termination,€on€employees€who€violate€companyÏpolicies.ÌÌà à4.à àIn€my€capacity€as€Section€Manager€of€HumanÏResources€for€the€Trim€and€Chassis€Plant€I€was€familiar€withÏand€have€knowledge€of€Nissanððs€policy€with€respect€toÍemployees€working€while€on€leave€of€absence€and€theÏimplementation€of€that€policy.ÌÌà à5.à àAdditionally,€I€communicated€directly€withÏKevin€Caldwell,€a€production€technician€in€the€Trim€CarÏdepartment€of€the€Trim€and€Chassis€Plant,€regarding€himÏworking€while€on€leave€of€absence,€and€I€was€the€person€inÏNissan€management€who€told€Kevin€Caldwell€he€wasÏterminated€from€employment€at€Nissan.ÌÌà à6.à àFinally,€I€have€reviewed€my€notes€madeÏsimultaneously€with€my€communications€with€KevinÏCaldwell,€and€I€have€reviewed€reports€and€recordsÏmaintained€by€Nissan€made€at€or€near€the€time€by€or€fromÏinformation€transmitted€by€a€person€with€knowledge€and€aÏbusiness€duty€to€record€or€transmit€the€same€in€the€course€ofÏa€regularly€conducted€business€activity€and€as€a€regularÏpractice€of€that€business€activity€to€make€the€records€orÏmemorandum.ÌÌà à7.à àBased€on€the€foregoing,€it€is€my€testimonyÏthat€Kevin€Caldwell€is€a€28€year€old€male€who€began€hisÏemployment€as€a€production€technician€in€the€Nissan€TrimÏCar€department€of€the€Trim€and€Chassis€plant€on€February€2,Ï1992.ÌÌà à8.à àMr.€Caldwell€sustained€an€on„the„job€injuryÏto€his€back€and€went€out€on€leave€of€absence€on€August€18,Ï1992€and€remained€out€on€leave.ÌÌà à9.à àOn€January€4,€1993,€Mr.€Caldwellððs€treatingÏphysician,€Dr.€Stanley€Hopp,€found€that€Mr.€Caldwell€hadÏreached€maximum€medical€improvement.€€Dr.€Hopp€alsoÏassigned€Mr.€Caldwell€permanent€restrictions.ÌÌà à10.à àThere€was€no€job€within€Mr.€CaldwellððsÏdepartment€at€Nissan€which€fit€the€plaintiffððs€restrictions,€so,Ïin€accordance€with€Nissan€policy,€Mr.€Caldwell€was€notÏreturned€to€work€at€Nissan€at€that€time.€€Mr.€Caldwell,Ïthough,€remained€a€Nissan€employee,€with€the€opportunityÏto€obtain€long€term€disability€benefits€(which€were,€in€fact,Ïpaid€to€the€plaintiff,€commencing€March€10€1993).ÌÌÒ ¸ ÒÒ „ ÒÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÒ  ÒÒ ` ÒÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÓÓÓÓÒ ¸ ÒÒ „ Òà à11.à àNissan€has€a€company€policy€regarding€working€while€on€leaveÏof€absence.€€The€Employee€Handbook€states€that€policy€as€follows,Ïð ðPerforming€unauthorized€work€for€personal€gain€while€on€a€leave€will€be€causeÏfor€termination.ððÌ€€ÌÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÒ  ÒÒ ` ÒÒ ¸ ÒÒ ` ÒÓÓÓÓÒ ¸ ÒÒ „ Òà à12.à àBecause€the€requests€to€work€while€on€leave€must€be€evaluatedÏby€members€of€both€Nissanððs€Medical€and€Human€Resources€staff,€anÏemployee€who€requests€to€work€while€on€leave€of€absence€is€instructed€toÏsubmit€a€written€request€describing€the€nature€of€the€work€the€employeeÏproposes€to€do€while€on€leave.ÌÌà à13.à àOn€or€about€March€9,€1993,€I€spoke€with€Mr.€Caldwell€byÏtelephone.€€I€was€returning€a€message€Mr.€Caldwell€had€left€for€me€to€call€him.ÌÌà à14.à àThe€conversation€began€with€Mr.€Caldwell€stating€that€he€hadÏsome€questions€about€working€while€on€leave€of€absence.€€I€explained€to€Mr.ÏCaldwell€that€he€needed€to€submit,€in€writing,€a€request€to€work€and€describe€inÏthe€request€the€work€he€wanted€to€do.ÌÌà à15.à àMr.€Caldwell€responded€that€he€did€not€see€why€this€procedureÏwas€necessary€and€that€what€he€planned€to€do€was€none€of€Nissanððs€concern.€ÏMr.€Caldwell€also€stated€that€he€planned€to€substitute€as€a€teacher€and€that€heÏwanted€to€work€as€a€waiter.€€Mr.€Caldwell€told€me€that€he€had€discussed€thisÏwork€with€an€employee€in€Nissanððs€Medical€Department€who€had€told€him€toÏprovide€a€written€request€to€work€while€on€leave€of€absence€to€Nissanððs€HumanÏResources€staff.€€Mr.€Caldwell€stated€that€he€did€not€understand€why€I€couldÏnot€give€him€permission€over€the€telephone.ÌÌà à16.à àI€told€Mr.€Caldwell€that€it€was€Nissanððs€procedure€that€theÏrequest€must€be€made€by€the€employee€in€writing€and€œthat€that›€was€the€only€wayÏit€could€be€granted.ÌÌÓ  Ó„€„€„€„ÌÓ  Óà à19.à àI€never€received€from€the€plaintiff€a€written€request€to€workÏwhile€on€leave€of€absence.ÌÌà à20.à àOn€or€about€March€17,€1993,€I€contacted€three€school€systems€inÏthe€area€and€learned€that€Mr.€Caldwell€had,€in€fact,€already€been€working€for€theÏMarshall€County€Board€of€Education€for€as€long€as€a€month€or€six€weeks€(i.e.,Ïsince€February€of€1993)€as€a€substitute€teacher.ÌÌà à21.à àBecause€Mr.€Caldwell€had€worked€while€on€leave€of€absenceÏwithout€having€followed€company€procedure€to€obtain€authorization€fromÏNissan€to€do€so,€and€had€denied€to€me€that€he€had€engaged€in€any€work€whileÏon€leave€of€absence€when,€in€fact,€he€had€done€so,€I€followed€customaryÏcompany€practice€and€reported€these€violations€to€other€members€of€NissanððsÏmanagement€and€recommended€Mr.€Caldwellððs€termination.ÌÌà à22.à àAs€per€company€policy,€I€received€instructions€to€terminate€Mr.ÏCaldwell€for€violating€Nissanððs€policy€regarding€working€while€on€leave.ÌÌà à23.à àOn€April€6,€1993,€I€met€with€Mr.€Caldwell,€told€him€that€he€hadÏviolated€company€policy€regarding€working€while€on€leave,€and€told€him€hisÏemployment€with€Nissan€was€terminated.ÌÌÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓÌà àAlthough€some€doubt€may€exist€as€to€the€first„hand€knowledge€of€Mr.€Medlin€of€someÏof€the€facts€stated€in€his€affidavit,€any€such€infirmity€is€cured€by€the€affidavits€of€otherÏemployees€and€the€admissions€of€plaintiff€also€exhibited€to€the€motion€for€summary€judgment.ÌÌà àPlaintiffððs€claim€that€his€work€supervisor€approved€his€working€elsewhere€is€ineffectiveÏbecause€no€written€request€was€submitted€and€there€is€no€evidence€of€the€authority€of€the€workÏsupervisor€to€grant€any€such€permission.ÌÌà àIt€is€also€undisputed€that€plaintiff€produced€no€physicianððs€authorization€for€outsideÏwork€until€he€had€been€working€outside€for€nearly€two€months.ÌÌà àThe€defendant€has€shown€by€uncontradicted€evidence€a€non„pretextual€and€justifiableÏreason€and€cause€of€the€discharge€of€plaintiff.€€Prior€to€the€discovery€of€the€violation€of€the€ruleÏon€outside€work,€defendant€was€overly€generous€in€dealing€with€plaintiff€who€was€hired€for€aÏ90„day€trial€period€and€did€not€qualify€during€the€first€90€days.€€Nevertheless,€he€was€granted€aÏsecond€90„day€trial€period€during€which€he€was€injured.€€So€far€as€this€record€shows,€plaintiffÏreceived€all€of€the€benefits€due€him€as€workers€compensation.ÌÌà àPlaintiff€has€offered€nothing€more€than€his€own€conception€of€why€he€was€discharged,Ïplaintiff€has€shown€no€evidence€contrary€to€that€offered€by€defendant.€€This€is€simply€notÍsufficient€to€overcome€the€direct,€undisputed€reason€shown€by€œdefendant.€òòNewsome€v.ÏTextron€Aerostructuresóó,€Tenn.€App.€1995,€924€S.W.2d€87.›ÌÌœ›à àThe€judgment€of€the€Trial€Court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€against€the€œÌplaintiff.›€€The€cause€is€remanded€to€the€Trial€Court€for€any€necessary€further€proceedings.Ìœò ò›Ó  ÓÔ€¼ÔAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDÔ€XÔó óÌÓÓÓ  Ӝ̛à àà àà àà àà àà àà à_________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àHENRY€F.€TODDÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€MIDDLEÏSECTIONÌœCONCUR:›Ìœ›Ì_____________________________ÌBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€JUDGEÌœ›Ì_____________________________ÌWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,€JUDGE