ÿWPC …MbèAcÕ/Ñvø+4ÔCQUÊ¥þŸmËHNUSf*î?zã êPÒÊ…—†uÂÛÑý§Ýí2­Æ°´‘ ±j×J£S£«£Pg¹Ì¶/gLºëµÆ„)¶)½0ZS¨yšaLáÙDž„J©‘v==B1újÛ-³®ñ’<“…Ìö¹þ"V|Çk£Iûý <‡¾»n<Ù±® ¿Û­N¡x÷l Afá7ê¨ÛjΔGê,þæì[6ßJ¾›£T…µ°üà|örâËF[»–Oº·ç>$6"°Šu·v&øœN!åKÝ0í"Eå}µì êIÊïvdlkkW‘6ÙG15Ï ¥r6w~=¶‚Õ‡Oë«Â"ÀZd8iW  ïR1dþ2Ù9Yãfh×t×½ötÚ·ó‰º}†äÁœ~WÐÙË.¼,ËŠù„Ç~¾åMÝo­I=¬l‚%/&~uÂ8Tþ#ÞÍRô´.¡½Ãf‡ÿYâ˜V°%ÇauX¡~~ ©¡‚§z…&à #8:Ѽ޾÷)hì,c¬’´¼¼ºQ=Öó:•¬uJUÄ…} ΖõN_o‘õé{§n)ÉHç2Ð*až^+9Ó»–µ)› „b#Á\ % U @# 0ˆc U Në n­9 Næ zè Òb 0D4 ^ x w„ 4ˆ Æœ Æb Æ(Æî´NÉËÚEÜ mÞõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõõbýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýýý 0ë Bðð 0¤  D3± D-ä 0K AS\Ư 0¤u 0D A«]˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 5eÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»(ÆúI Z‹(Times New Roman (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular«<þ6X9`("Courier NewTTXXxþ6X@ÉDQX@ ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóIw) õ}|)ê:i œLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 Ý ƒR;ý$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôõÝò»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€The€proof€showed€that€Ms.€Elliott€was€actually€right„handed,€thus€throwing€Mr.€Goldsteinððs€€entire€accountÐ ° Ðin€doubt.€3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ - ù-(|G2;ý$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€^•»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ôõÝò»»Ô d(|3GŠ$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€^•»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3GŠ$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€^•»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€^•»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÔ€¼^•»»»ÔÑ8€YXXdì»»d8ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼^•»»¼^•Ôà@ü ü ìàÔ‡î‡î»¼^•ÔIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼^•»îî‡+#ԈРÖ& ÐÓ  ÓOctober€10,€2000€SessionÐ üL ÐÔ‡XYX»¼^•ÔÌò òÔ#†¼^•»XXY#ÔÌBONNIE€ELLIOTTòòóó€v.€THE€Ô_ÔBLAKEFORDÔ_Ô€AT€GREEN€HILLSòòóóÔ‡XYX»¼^•Ôó óÐ  ^ ÐÌà@@½½ìàò ò€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ  ^ Ðà@@øøìàNo.€99C„272€€€€€€Thomas€W.€Brothers,€Judge€Ð ú J ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½` AßÐ ¾  ÐÌà@@TTìàNo.€M2000„00365„Ô_ÔCOAÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€December€13,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ÔÐ ¹  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ ‘á  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThe€Director€of€Food€Service€at€the€defendant€retirement€home€injured€her€hand€on€the€job,€and€wasÐ ŒÜ Ðterminated€by€her€supervisor.€€She€filed€suit€against€her€employer,€claiming€that€she€had€beenÐ xÈ Ðdischarged€in€retaliation€for€making€a€workersðð€compensation€claim.€€At€the€close€of€the€plaintiffððsÐ d´ Ðproof,€the€trial€court€granted€the€defendantððs€motion€for€directed€verdict.€€We€reverse.Ð P  ÐÓûÓÌò òTenn.€R.€App.€P.€3€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€CourtÐ (x ÐReversed€and€Remanded€ó óÐ d ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÔ#†¼^•»àXYµ#ÔÔ‡XYX.¼^•ÔBen€H.€Cantrell,€P.J.,€M.S.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòWilliam€B.€Cain€óóandÐ ì< ÐòòPatricia€J.€Cottrellóó,€JJ.,€joined.€€Ð Ø( ÐÌErnest€W.€Williams€and€Dana€C.€Ô_ÔMcLendonÔ_Ô,€III,€Franklin,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€BonnieÐ ° ÐElliott.Ð œì ÐÌC.€Eric€Stevens€and€Robert€F.€Goldman,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€The€Ô_ÔBlakefordÔ_Ô€atÐ t Ä ÐGreen€Hills.Ð `!°  ÐÓÓÌò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼^•»XXY®#ÔÐ 8#ˆ" ÐÌÔ€XYX»¼^•Ôò òÓ  Óà@¬¬)ìàI.ˆÐ 6%† $ Ðà@RRìàòò€€A€Work„Related€InjuryóóˆÐ "&r!% ÐÌó óà  àThe€Blakeford€at€Green€Hills,€a€Nashville€retirement€home,€recruited€Bonnie€Elliott€to€be€itsÐ ú'J#' Ðnew€Director€of€Food€Services.€€She€began€work€on€August€28,€1997.€€The€fifty„two€year€old€Ms.Ð æ(6$( ÐElliot€had€spent€her€entire€working€career€in€food€service.€€Prior€to€coming€to€work€at€the€Blakeford,Ð Ò)"%) Ðshe€had€served€thirteen€years€as€Food€Services€Manager€at€another€retirement€home,€Park€ManorÐ ¾*&* ÐPresbyterian€Apartments,€followed€by€two€years€of€work€for€the€Williamson€County€School€System.Ð ª+ú&+ ÐDuring€her€stint€with€the€county,€she€had€to€undergo€surgery€for€a€ganglion€cyst€on€her€left€hand.€€Ð –,æ', ÐÐ ‚-Ò(-ý Ðà  àMs.€Elliott€described€herself€as€a€ð ðhands„onðð€manager.€€This€turned€out€to€be€important,€asÐ ° Ðshe€discovered€the€kitchen€at€the€Blakeford€to€be€unsanitary,€the€staff€poorly€trained,€and€the€facilityÐ œì Ðpoorly€organized.€€Ms.€Elliott€found€herself€working€thirteen€or€fourteen€hours€a€day,€six€or€sevenÐ ˆØ Ðdays€a€week,€to€feed€the€Blakefordððs€residents,€who€included€individuals€living€in€independentÐ tÄ Ðhousing€units,€in€assisted€living,€and€in€a€skilled€nursing€facility.€€She€supervised€35„40€food€serviceÐ `° Ðworkers€as€they€prepared€and€served€three€meals€a€day,€and€pitched€in€with€her€own€labor€wheneverÐ L œ Ðit€was€necessary,€including€cooking,€stocking,€waiting€tables,€and€even€washing€dishes.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àOn€October€6,€1997,€Ms.€Elliot€was€helping€some€of€her€workers€stock€cartons€ofÐ  ` Ðinstitutional„sized€food€cans,€when€she€felt€the€fingers€on€her€left€hand€go€completely€limp.€Ð ü L  ÐAlthough€she€thought€that€she€was€hurt,€she€didnððt€know€the€extent€of€her€injury€until€shortlyÐ è 8  Ðthereafter,€when€she€attempted€to€lift€a€plate€of€food€from€a€serving€counter,€and€dropped€it€becauseÐ Ô$  Ðshe€could€not€grip€it.€€She€went€to€the€on„site€infirmary€for€first€aid,€and€told€the€nurse€on€duty€thatÐ À  Ðshe€had€injured€her€hand€on€the€job.€€The€nurse€directed€her€to€seek€medical€attention€from€herÐ ¬ü  Ðpersonal€physician.€€€€Ð ˜è  ÐÌà  àShe€called€the€office€of€Doctor€Joseph€Chenger,€to€ask€if€she€could€get€an€appointment€thatÐ pÀ Ðday.€€She€then€went€to€see€Mr.€Dan€Goldstein,€the€acting€Executive€Director€of€the€Blakeford,€andÐ \¬ Ðtold€him€ð ðIððve€hurt€my€hand€in€the€kitchen.ðð€€According€to€Ms.€Elliottððs€testimony,€she€was€surprisedÐ H˜ Ðwhen€Mr.€Goldstein€did€not€respond€to€this€news€in€any€way.€€When€Dr.€Chengerððs€office€called€backÐ 4„ Ðto€let€Ms.€Elliott€know€that€he€would€be€able€to€see€her€that€day,€she€returned€to€Mr.€GoldsteinððsÐ  p Ðoffice€to€inform€him€that€she€had€to€leave€the€premises€for€medical€attention,€but€that€she€would€beÐ  \ Ðback€as€soon€as€she€could.€€Again,€Mr.€Goldstein€said€nothing€at€all.€€Ð øH ÐÌà@ll(ìàò òII.€ˆÐ Ð  Ðà@ooìàòòBonnie€Elliott€Loses€Her€Jobóóó óˆÐ ¼  ÐÌà  àDr.€Chenger€diagnosed€Bonnie€Elliott€with€the€rupture€of€one€or€more€of€the€extensor€tendonsÐ ”ä Ðin€her€left€hand.€€He€put€her€hand€in€a€splint,€and€informed€her€that€she€would€need€surgery€in€theÐ €Ð Ðnear€future€to€repair€the€rupture.€€Ms.€Elliott€telephoned€the€Blakeford€and€told€Mr.€Goldstein€aboutÐ l¼ Ðthe€diagnosis€and€her€need€for€surgery,€and€then€returned€to€work.€€The€following€day,€she€soughtÐ X ¨ Ðout€Mr.€Goldstein€to€discuss€the€injury€and€its€implications.€€She€asked€if€her€medical€insuranceÐ D!” Ðwould€cover€the€cost€of€the€surgery,€and€Mr.€Goldstein€replied€that€she€had€no€insurance€coverageÐ 0"€  Ðof€any€kind€available€from€the€Blakeford€because€she€was€still€within€the€probationary€period€of€theÐ #l! Ðfacilityððs€health€insurance€plan.€€Ð $X" ÐÌà  àMs.€Elliott€continued€to€press€Mr.€Goldstein€for€some€help€with€the€costs€of€her€surgery,€butÐ à%0!$ Ðhe€was€adamant€that€she€would€not€be€receiving€any€help.€€Finally,€she€suggested€that€a€possibleÐ Ì&"% Ðsource€of€insurance€for€the€surgery€she€needed€might€be€COBRA€coverage€available€from€theÐ ¸'#& ÐWilliamson€County€Schools.€€Mr.€Goldstein€replied€ð ðthatððs€the€thing€to€do.ðð€€The€following€day,€Ms.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐElliott€paid€almost€$600€to€obtain€COBRA€coverage€from€her€former€employer.Ð )à$( Ðâ âÐ |*Ì%) Ðà  àMs.€Elliott€continued€to€work€with€a€splint€until€the€day€of€her€surgery,€October€16,€1997.€Ð ° Ðâ âShe€took€that€day€off€for€the€operation,€and€the€following€day€for€recovery,€and€then€returned€to€workÐ œì Ðwith€her€left€hand€in€a€post„surgical€cast.€€She€did€not€miss€any€other€workdays€until€the€eventsÐ ˆØ Ðdescribed€below.€Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àAfter€serving€dinner€on€November€3,€1997,€Ms.€Elliott€was€summoned€to€Mr.€GoldsteinððsÐ L œ Ðoffice.€€According€to€Mr.€Goldsteinððs€account€of€their€private€conversation,€Ms.€Elliott€told€him€thatÐ 8 ˆ Ðshe€just€couldnððt€do€the€work€anymore,€and€would€have€to€resign.€€Mr.€Goldstein€alleges€that€he€toldÐ $ t Ðher€that€he€didnððt€think€that€was€necessary,€but€that€if€she€was€certain,€she€needed€to€write€a€letter€ofÐ  ` Ðresignation.€€She€allegedly€then€held€up€her€arm€and€told€him€she€could€not€write,€so€he€allowed€herÐ ü L  Ðto€dictate€a€letter€of€resignation€to€him.׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àAccording€to€Ms.€Elliott,€Mr.€Goldstein€stated€that€she€seemed€to€be€having€a€tough€time€withÐ À  Ðwork,€and€he€indicated€to€her,€without€specifically€saying€so,€that€her€employment€was€beingÐ ¬ü  Ðterminated.€€When€she€began€to€understand€his€drift,€he€took€a€pad€from€his€desk,€and€asked€her€howÐ ˜è  Ðshe€wanted€to€word€her€ð ðresignation.ðð€€She€then€told€him€that€she€was€not€resigning,€and€sheÐ „Ô  Ðtherefore€did€not€care€what€he€wrote€on€his€pad.Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àWhen€she€clearly€understood€that€she€was€being€fired,€Ms.€Elliott€said,€ð ðI€cannot€work,€youÐ H˜ Ðowe€me€something€ð!ð€workersðð€compensation,€unemployment,€disability,€something,€I€need€help,ððÐ 4„ Ðand€Mr.€Goldstein€responded,€ð ðthat€seems€fair.ðð€€A€few€days€later,€Ms.€Elliott€met€with€anÐ  p Ðadministrator€from€the€Blakeford€and€filled€out€the€First€Report€of€Injury,€a€necessary€step€in€filingÐ  \ Ða€workersðð€compensation€claim.€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€50„6„201.Ð øH ÐÌà  àShortly€thereafter,€Ms.€Elliott€received€a€letter€from€Mr.€Goldstein€which€read:€ð ðPer€yourÐ Ð  Ðrequest,€please€find€a€typed€letter€of€resignation.€€Please€sign€and€return€to€me€so€that€our€files€areÐ ¼  Ðup€to€date.ðð€€Ms.€Elliott€did€not€sign€or€return€the€enclosed€letter€of€resignation.Ð ¨ø ÐÌà@EE(ìàò òIII.€ˆÐ €Ð Ðà@  ìàòòProceedings€in€the€Trial€Courtóóó óˆÐ l¼ ÐÌà  àOn€October€20,€1998,€Bonnie€Elliott€filed€a€complaint€for€retaliatory€discharge€in€theÐ D!” ÐWilliamson€County€Circuit€Court.€€The€case€was€subsequently€transferred€to€Davidson€County.€€TheÐ 0"€  Ðdefendant€filed€a€Motion€for€Summary€Judgment,€which€was€denied.€€On€January€10,€2000,€a€juryÐ #l! Ðwas€empaneled€and€the€case€went€to€trial.Ð $X" ÐÌà  àThe€plaintiffððs€attorney€presented€the€testimony€of€Dan€Goldstein€by€reading€portions€of€hisÐ à%0!$ Ðdeposition€to€the€jury.€€Bonnie€Elliott€was€the€only€witness€he€called€to€the€stand.€€After€she€testifiedÐ Ì&"% Ðat€length€on€direct€and€cross„examination€about€the€circumstances€of€her€employment€and€herÐ ¸'#& Ðdischarge€from€the€Blakeford,€he€closed€his€proof,€and€the€defendant€moved€the€trial€court€for€aÐ ¤(ô#' Ðdirected€verdict€pursuant€to€Rule€50.02,€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€€The€trial€court€heard€arguments€on€theÐ ° Ðmotion,€and€then€dismissed€the€case€on€directed€verdict,€finding€that€the€plaintiff€had€failed€to€makeÐ œì Ða€prima€facie€case€of€retaliatory€discharge.€€This€appeal€followed.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌà@KK(ìàò òIV.€ˆÐ `° Ðà@…… ìàòòRetaliatory€DischargeóóˆÐ L œ Ðà@U U ìàòòa.€€Elements€of€the€Cause€of€Actionóóó óˆÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌòòà  àóó€The€Tennessee€Supreme€Court€first€recognized€a€cause€of€action€for€retaliatory€or€wrongfulÐ  ` Ðdischarge€in€the€case€ofòò€Clanton€v.€Cain„Sloanóó,€677€S.W.2d€441€(1984).€€The€court€noted€that€Ð ü L  Ðretaliatory€discharge€was€not€specifically€mentioned€in€the€Workersðð€Compensation€Act,€Tenn.€Code.Ð è 8  ÐAnn.€ðð€50„6„101€et€seq.,€but€reasoned€that€if€employers€could€freely€discharge€any€employee€whoÐ Ô$  Ðwas€attempting€to€exercise€his€rights€under€the€Act,€this€would€have€the€effect€of€circumventing€theÐ À  Ðentire€legislative€scheme.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àTenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€50„6„114€reads,€ð ðno€contract€or€agreement,€written€or€implied,€or€rule,Ð „Ô  Ðregulation€or€other€device,€shall€in€any€manner€operate€to€relieve€any€employer€in€whole€or€in€partÐ pÀ Ðof€any€obligation€created€by€this€chapter,€except€as€herein€provided.ðð€€Further,€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.€ððÐ \¬ Ð50„6„116€states€that€the€Act€ð ðshall€be€given€an€equitable€construction€by€the€courts€to€the€end€thatÐ H˜ Ðthe€objects€and€purposes€of€this€chapter€may€be€realized€and€attained.ððÐ 4„ ÐÌà  àThe€Court€found€retaliatory€discharge€to€be€a€device€of€the€type€barred€by€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.Ð  \ Ððð€50„6„114,€and€ruled€that€an€employer€could€be€compelled€to€answer€in€damages€for€dischargingÐ øH Ðan€employee€because€of€the€employeeððs€exercise€of€rights€under€the€Workersðð€Compensation€Act.Ð ä4 ÐThe€Court€reasoned€that€without€such€a€cause€of€action,€the€purposes€of€the€Act€could€not€beÐ Ð  Ðachieved.Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àIn€a€later€case,€òòSasser€v.€Averitt€Expressóó,€839€S.W.2d€422,€426€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1992),€thisÐ ”ä Ðcourt€discussed€the€elements€for€establishing€a€retaliatory€dischargeòòóó,€and€described€them€as€follows:Ð €Ð Ðð ðAn€employee€must€prove:€€(1)€that€he€or€she€was€employed€by€the€defendant,€(2)€that€he€or€sheÐ l¼ Ðsought€workers'€compensation€benefits,€(3)€that€the€defendant€discharged€him€or€her,€and€(4)€that€theÐ X ¨ Ðrequest€for€workers'€compensation€benefits€was€a€substantial€motivating€factor€in€the€defendant'sÐ D!” Ðdischarge€decision.ðð€òòSee€alsoóó,€òòAnderson€v.€Standard€Register€Co.óó,€857€S.W.2d€555€(Tenn.€1993).Ð 0"€  ÐÌà  àWhile€the€Ô_ÔWorkersððÔ_Ô€Compensation€Act€sets€out€specific€procedures€to€follow€when€applyingÐ $X" Ðfor€benefits,€we€did€not€define€the€exact€steps€an€employee€must€take€in€order€to€be€deemed€to€haveÐ ô$D # Ðð ðsought€workersðð€compensation€benefitsðð€for€purposes€of€a€retaliatory€discharge€action.€€This€wasÐ à%0!$ Ðnot€an€oversight.€€Keeping€that€requirement€flexible€protects€the€employee€from€an€employer€whoÐ Ì&"% Ðmight€be€tempted€to€evade€the€law€by€obstructive€tactics€or€by€discharging€her€before€she€can€takeÐ ¸'#& Ðany€specific€steps.€Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌà  à€In€the€present€case,€the€trial€judge€granted€the€defendantððs€motion€for€directed€verdictÐ |*Ì%) Ðbecause€he€believed€that€the€plaintiff€did€not€present€sufficient€evidence€to€prove€the€second€andÐ h+¸&* Ðfourth€elements€required€for€retaliatory€discharge€under€òòSasser€v.€Averitt€Expressóó,€supra.€€The€courtÐ ° Ðfound€that€there€was€no€proof€that€Ms.€Elliott€had€explicitly€asked€for€workersðð€compensationÐ œì Ðbenefits€until€after€her€employment€was€terminated,€and€no€direct€proof€that€a€claim€for€such€benefitsÐ ˆØ Ðwas€a€motivating€factor€in€her€discharge.€€We€believe,€however,€that€when€the€strict€standards€for€Ð tÄ Ðdirected€verdict€are€applied€to€the€unusual€circumstances€of€this€case,€the€problems€that€so€concernedÐ `° Ðthe€trial€court€do€not€prove€to€be€fatal€to€the€plaintiffððs€claim.Ð L œ Ѐ€Ð 8 ˆ Ðà@j j ìàò òòòb.€€Standards€for€Directed€VerdictóóˆÐ $ t Ðó óÌà  àA€directed€verdict€should€only€be€granted€by€a€trial€court€where€there€is€no€material€evidenceÐ ü L  Ðin€dispute,€and€a€reasonable€mind€could€draw€but€one€conclusion.€€The€standards€for€ruling€on€aÐ è 8  Ðmotion€for€directed€verdict€were€discussed€at€length€in€òòEaton€v.€McLainóó,€891€S.W.2d€587,€590Ð Ô$  Ð(Tenn.€1994):€Ð À  ÐÌÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÓ  ÓÓ  Óà ` à[Ô_ÔT]heÔ_Ô€court€must€take€the€strongest€legitimate€view€of€the€evidence€in€favorÐ ˜è  Ðof€the€non-moving€party.€€In€other€words,€the€court€must€remove€any€conflict€in€theÐ „Ô  Ðevidence€by€construing€it€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€the€non-movant€andÐ pÀ Ðdiscarding€all€countervailing€evidence.€€€The€court€may€grant€the€motion€only€if,€afterÐ \¬ Ðassessing€the€evidence€according€to€the€foregoing€standards,€it€determines€thatÐ H˜ Ðreasonable€minds€could€not€differ€as€to€the€conclusions€to€be€drawn€from€theÐ 4„ Ðevidence.€€If€there€is€any€doubt€as€to€the€proper€conclusions€to€be€drawn€from€theÐ  p Ðevidence,€the€motion€must€be€denied.€€(Citations€omitted)Ð  \ ÐÓt@ÓÌÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÔ_ÔòòóóÔ_ÔÓ  Óà  àWe€must€examine€the€evidence€and€the€possible€inferences€arising€from€it€in€light€of€theÐ ä4 Ðabove€standard,€to€determine€whether€the€appellant€has€succeeded€in€establishing€a€prima€facie€caseÐ Ð  Ðof€retaliatory€discharge.Ð ¼  ÐÌà@| | ìàò òòòc.€€The€Requirement€of€Seeking€Benefitsó óˆÐ ”ä ÐóóÌà  àWhen€the€plaintiff€notified€Mr.€Goldstein€that€she€had€injured€her€hand€on€the€job€and€neededÐ l¼ Ðmedical€attention,€that€triggered€an€affirmative€obligation€on€his€part€under€the€Ô_ÔworkersððÔ_ÔÐ X ¨ Ðcompensation€law€to€furnish€her€with€whatever€medical€treatment€she€might€reasonably€require,€freeÐ D!” Ðof€charge.€€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€50„6„204(a)(1).€€He€should€also€have€provided€her€with€a€list€of€threeÐ 0"€  Ðor€more€physicians€or€surgeons€from€which€she€could€choose€to€receive€treatment.€€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.Ð #l! Ððð€50„6„204(a)(4).Ð $X" ÐÌà  àMs.€Elliott€testified€as€to€three€occasions€when€she€told€Mr.€Goldstein€that€she€had€hurt€herÐ à%0!$ Ðhand€on€the€job,€and€it€is€Ô_ÔuncontrovertedÔ_Ô€that€he€never€offered€her€the€medical€help€required€by€theÐ Ì&"% ÐWorkersðð€Compensation€Law.€€To€the€contrary,€when€she€asked€him€what€type€of€insurance€coverageÐ ¸'#& Ðwas€available€to€her,€Mr.€Goldstein€stated€that€she€had€no€coverage€whatsoever.€€When€she€finallyÐ ¤(ô#' Ðsuggested€that€she€might€be€able€to€acquire€COBRA€coverage€from€her€previous€employer,€heÐ )à$( Ðagreed,€and€she€purchased€the€coverage€at€her€own€expense.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÐ h+¸&* Ðà  àWe€note€that€it€is€a€violation€of€law,€punishable€by€a€fine€of€$500€and€other€penalties€againstÐ ° Ðany€employer€who€ð ðknowingly,€willfully,€and€intentionally€causes€a€medical€or€wage€loss€claim€toÐ œì Ðbe€paid€under€health€or€sickness€and€accident€insurance,€when€the€employer€knew€that€the€claimÐ ˆØ Ðarose€out€of€a€compensable€work-related€injury€and€should€have€been€submitted€under€its€workers'Ð tÄ Ðcompensation€insurance€coverage.ðð€€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€50„6„128.€Ð `° ÐÌà  àThe€defendantððs€attorney€argues€that€since€Ms.€Elliott€did€not€mention€workersððÐ 8 ˆ Ðcompensation€until€after€she€understood€that€her€employment€was€being€terminated,€she€failed€toÐ $ t Ðsatisfy€the€second€element€of€a€retaliatory€discharge€action.€€He€notes€she€was€familiar€with€theÐ  ` Ðworkersðð€compensation€law,€because€in€her€previous€job€at€Park€Manor€Presbyterian€Apartments,Ð ü L  Ðshe€had€to€fill€out€the€First€Report€of€Injury€for€an€employee€under€her€supervision€who€was€injuredÐ è 8  Ðon€the€job.€€From€her€testimony,€however,€it€appears€that€she€did€not€specifically€ask€for€workersððÐ Ô$  Ðcompensation€because€she€either€believed€that€as€a€salaried€or€ð ðnon„exemptðð€employee€she€was€notÐ À  Ðeligible,€or€that€as€a€manager€it€was€not€appropriate€for€her€to€ask€for€it.€€€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àMr.€Goldsteinððs€deposition€indicates€that€he€is€a€seasoned€executive,€with€extensiveÐ „Ô  Ðexperience€in€retirement€home€management.€€There€can€be€no€doubt€that€he€was€familiar€with€at€leastÐ pÀ Ðthe€broad€outlines€of€the€workersðð€compensation€scheme.€€The€proof€showed€that€Ms.€Elliott€told€himÐ \¬ Ðat€least€three€times€that€she€had€been€injured€on€the€job.€€Yet€when€she€asked€him€what€kind€ofÐ H˜ Ðinsurance€was€available€for€her€medical€expenses,€he€told€her€she€had€no€coverage€whatsoever.Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àMr.€Goldsteinððs€failure€to€take€any€of€the€steps€required€by€law€when€Ms.€Elliott€told€him€sheÐ  \ Ðhad€been€injured€in€the€kitchen€could€be€explained€by€an€inference€that€he€did€not€want€to€be€the€firstÐ øH Ðto€bring€up€the€possibility€of€workersðð€compensation€in€hopes€that€she€would€not€mention€it.€€ItÐ ä4 Ðappears€to€us€that€Mr.€Goldsteinððs€deliberate€silence€and€subsequent€misdirection€can€constitute€aÐ Ð  Ðð ðdeviceðð€under€Tenn.€Code.€Ann.€ðð€50„6„114€to€evade€the€obligations€of€the€Ô_ÔWorkersððÔ_Ô€CompensationÐ ¼  ÐAct,€and€that€Ms.€Elliott€should€not€be€deemed€to€have€waived€her€rights€by€failing€to€raise€theÐ ¨ø Ðsubject€of€workersðð€compensation€until€a€few€moments€after€she€realized€she€had€been€terminated.€Ð ”ä ÐÌà@Ý Ý ìàò òòòd.€€The€Employerððs€Motivationsóóó 󀀈Ð l¼ ÐÌà  àMs.€Elliott€testified€that€she€was€fired,€while€Mr.€Goldstein€testified€that€she€voluntarilyÐ H!˜ Ðresigned.€€The€defendantððs€attorney€concedes€that€under€the€standards€for€directed€verdict,€we€areÐ 4"„  Ðcompelled€to€credit€her€account€rather€than€his.€€He€does€not€mention€that€we€may€also€infer€that€Mr.Ð  #p! ÐGoldstein€testified€as€he€did€because€he€knew€that€if€he€could€persuade€the€court€that€Ms.€Elliott€hadÐ  $\" Ðindeed€resigned€her€position,€then€she€could€have€no€viable€claim€for€retaliatory€discharge.Ð ø$H # Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àÌà  àThe€trial€court€stated€that€it€found€the€Supreme€Courtððs€rationale€in€the€case€of€òòÔ_ÔConatserÔ_Ô€v.Ð Ð& "% ÐClarksville€Coca„Cola€Bottling€Company,óó€920€S.W.2d€646€(1995)€to€be€controlling.€€In€that€case,Ð ¼' #& Ða€probationary€employee€of€the€defendant€was€injured€on€the€job.€€He€was€paid€workersððÐ ¨(ø#' Ðcompensation€temporary€total€disability€for€the€two€and€a€half€weeks€he€was€unable€to€work.€€ThreeÐ ”)ä$( Ðdays€after€returning€to€the€job,€he€was€discharged.€€Mr.€Ô_ÔConatserÔ_Ô€claimed€that€he€was€fired€inÐ €*Ð%) Ðretaliation€for€filing€a€workersðð€compensation€claim,€while€the€bottling€company€claimed€itÐ l+¼&* Ðterminated€him€because€his€injury€rendered€him€incapable€of€performing€the€physically€demandingÐ ° Ðjob.€€The€trial€court€granted€a€directed€verdict€to€the€defendant,€and€this€court€affirmed,€because€thereÐ œì Ðwas€no€material€evidence€that€Mr.€Ô_ÔConatserÔ_Ôððs€claim€was€a€substantial€factor€in€his€termination.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àWe€believe€the€present€case€is€easily€distinguishable.€€In€òòÔ_ÔConatserÔ_Ô,óó€the€plaintiff€insisted€thatÐ `° Ðhis€discharge€only€three€days€after€returning€to€work€constituted€a€prima€facie€showing€that€he€wasÐ L œ Ðbeing€retaliated€against€for€the€assertion€of€a€workersðð€compensation€claim.€€There€was€apparentlyÐ 8 ˆ Ðno€other€evidence€from€which€one€could€raise€an€inference€of€retaliation.€€In€the€present€case,Ð $ t Ðhowever,€the€testimony€of€the€defendantððs€own€agent€raises€a€permissible€inference€that€he€wasÐ  ` Ðacting€from€improper€motive.€Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àFurther,€the€proof€indicates€that€Ms.€Elliott,€unlike€Mr.€Ô_ÔConatserÔ_Ô,€could€do€her€job€despiteÐ Ô$  Ðher€injury.€€In€fact,€Mr.€Goldstein€specifically€testified€that€Ms.€Elliott€was€capable€of€continuing€toÐ À  Ðperform€her€duties€as€Director€of€Food€Service€with€her€hand€in€a€sling.€€While€he€acknowledged€thatÐ ¬ü  Ðher€injury€made€it€more€difficult€for€her€to€continue€with€the€ð ðhands€onðð€approach€that€she€favored,Ð ˜è  Ðhe€also€testified€that€such€an€effort€was€not€a€necessary€part€of€the€job.€€He€also€testified€that€she€wasÐ „Ô  Ðwell€qualified€for€the€job,€that€she€performed€it€competently€and€properly,€and€that€she€never€had€toÐ pÀ Ðdisciplined.Ð \¬ ÐÌà  àAs€the€defendant€points€out,€the€burden€of€proof€in€a€retaliatory€discharge€case€lies€first€withÐ 4„ Ðthe€plaintiff€to€produce€some€evidence€of€retaliatory€motive.òò€€Anderson€v.€Standard€Register€Co.óó,€857Ð  p ÐS.W.2d€555€(Tenn.€1993).€€Our€courts€have€recognized,€however,€that€direct€evidence€of€such€motiveÐ  \ Ðis€hard€to€come€by,€and€that€we€usually€rely€upon€inferences€that€arise€from€indirect€evidence.€€TheÐ øH ÐSupreme€Court€discussed€that€situation€in€the€case€of€òòMason€v.€Ô_ÔSeatonÔ_Ôóó,€942€S.W.2d€470€(Tenn.Ð ä4 Ð1997).Ð Ð  ÐÌÒ°ÒÒ°Òð ðEvidence€of€that€motivation€is€largely€within€the€possession€of€the€defendants.Ð ¨ø ÐConsequently,€where,€as€in€this€case,€the€plaintiffððs€claim€for€causation€is€consistentÐ ”ä Ðwith€the€facts€and€circumstances€shown,€and€the€employer€chooses€to€offer€noÐ €Ð Ðexplanation€for€the€employeeððs€discharge,€fairness€requires€that€any€credible€evidenceÐ l¼ Ðfrom€which€the€trier€of€fact€could€infer€causation€will€defeat€the€motion€for€summaryÐ X ¨ Ðjudgment.ðð€Ð D!” ÐÌÒ°ÒÒ°ÒÓÓ942€S.W.2d€at€474.Ð #l! ÐÓÓà  àAlthough€the€retaliatory€discharge€in€òòMason€v.€Ô_ÔSeatonÔ_Ôóó€did€not€arise€from€a€workersððÐ ô$D # Ðcompensation€claim,€but€rather€from€the€plaintiffððs€disclosure€of€the€unsafe€practices€of€her€employerÐ à%0!$ Ðto€the€police€and€fire€departments,€the€courtððs€observations€regarding€proof€of€motivation€are€asÐ Ì&"% Ðapplicable€to€Ms.€Elliottððs€claim€is€as€they€were€to€Ms.€Masonððs.€€It€appears€to€us€that€Ms.€Elliott€hasÐ ¸'#& Ðmade€out€a€prima€facie€case€of€retaliatory€discharge,€and€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€granting€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðdefendant€a€directed€verdict.€€€Ð )à$( ÐÌÐ h+¸&* Ї€€€à@dd)ìàò òVI.ó óˆÐ ° ÐÌà  àThe€order€of€the€trial€court€is€reversed.€€Remand€this€cause€to€the€Circuit€Court€of€DavidsonÐ ŒÜ ÐCounty€for€further€proceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€Tax€the€costs€on€appeal€to€the€appellant,Ð xÈ ÐThe€Blakeford€at€Green€Hills.Ð d´ ÐÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à_________________________________________€Ð  P  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€PRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.Ð ì <  Ð