ÿWPC \K×\ÄM-ÒUU¸ûá’/©T5û˜wà& CxT‡! ôÈò´*.HfÈv”©MˆàíA:¢ùÖÏ£¼¶aNYɤ°õ³ÃÓмškt·eæ›ÆÿM‹÷Hµæ¦©&é+KsÃô„Ó4ƒ9Éõrö¤G;ûïÑX[qÓ¤7rë7ˆwK8â•ÜöiRÏJƹ6žô˜7ÑûŒ;°Õßa?7²ŒSv5Â8„<Å'R¤ “ ·²Yîƒ?v•ýK2‘4v‘¯Yf2å°._uœPËÐnzJsCó@ ð§e‚Á¡.@[}¡ÚO™Ù ye<£çD^ z1e§È ÈuBÝãa$|’ 5»lC’‹‹zZ4ñ™pùÌc¾ø`a! |_é!$¨œÐdÝ&» ]lŸøà3§»jÖh¯lpå«VúæÏ¢¹ älµs j¥?ˆð _vQñ°Iþ;è6| XZio‹ÛrªüP ²ìÏ\FyÆ™t¬ÜüYœ{{qk¯ÖÝñ þâ25ö ‰;~r€0S–ì&”`ÁàËxDØ~VH—ÂSB.¦~åÐÎO³¨+'{N@yB\¨ÆLrŽ“N}ïÒ3Þá d¿sA}».UN„ %Ò 0(Ø@w@@4€”n­£PbPUNT ¢ ª ² º Â Ê Ò Ú â  ê  ôU:þUN8 AQ†×U:× U: K U:K Æ… 0DK 0D 0DÓ Æ D/Ý B  B) D3FÆyÆ?ÆËU:Ë(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡c:\office\wpwin\template\jo.wpt #P$P%P&P'Ó€123Ó€=>yk&3|x@«<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpiXôxþ6X@É“8Ç;X@ ù(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman Regulari1i2i3i4i5i6i7i8i9i10i11<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpi(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman Regular !"#%Cþÿ<< Cÿÿ öÝ ƒ!¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€X|zXXXÔÔ€ãuXX|zÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X|zXãuÔÐ  ÐÌJuly€21,€1999ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular öÝ ƒ!¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€XÅÃXXXÔÔ€uXXÅÃÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XÅÃXuÔÐ  ÐÌJuly€22,€1999ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular öÝ ƒ!¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€XÅÃXXXÔÔ€uXXÅÃÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XÅÃXuÔÐ  ÐÌJuly€21,€1999ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial RegularƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5'''÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd&&&&'ÿÿdxd‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 öÝ ƒ!¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€-XÅÃXXXÔÔ€-uX-XÅÃÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€-XÅÃX-uÔÐ  ÐÌJuly€22,€1999ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial RegularÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÒ°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÔ‡¼}¼XXÔñ1ññ'ñßr€(<,(j 8` `€€@Eȱ` 8ttxP°ð  rßñ'ññ1ñà@Å Å àò òòòIN€THE€SUPREME€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° ÐÌà@××'àAT€NASHVILLEˆÌñ2ññ1ñßt€(>.*jx<M` `€€@E!` 8ttxP<Ôð M tßñ1ññ2ññ2ñßt€(>.*jx<M` `€€@E!` 8ttxP<Ôð M tßñ2ñÌó óÌÔ% ‡ ÔVIDA€NELL€BAILEYÔ%† —Ôà@êê-à}ˆà p àÔ% ‡ ÔSTEWART€CIRCUITÔ%† åÔÐ ð @ Ðà@êê-à}ˆà p àNo.€Below€Ô% ‡ Ô4„360„CV„97Ô%†QÔÐ  P Ðà ` àPlaintiff/AppellÔ% ‡ ÔeeÔ%†«Ôà@êê-à}ˆÐ  ` Ðà@êê-à}ˆà p àHon.€Ô% ‡ ÔAllen€WallaceÔ%†ÔÐ  p Ðvs.à@-àˆàHêê-à}ˆÐ 0€  Ðà@êê-à}ˆÌà@êê-à}ˆà p àNo.€Ô% ‡ Ô01S01„9803„CV„00050Ô%†ÑÔÐ P   ÐÔ% ‡ ÔCARHARTT,€INC.€AND€Ô%†ÔAMERICAN€€}ÌMOTORIST€INSURANCE€CO.à@êê-à}ˆÐ pÀ  Ðà@êê-à}ˆÌà ` àDefendant/AppellÔ% ‡ ÔantsÔ%†ÄÔà@êê-à}ˆà p àÔ% ‡ ÔAFFIRMEDÔ%†ÔÐ à ÐÌÌà@&àJUDGMENT€ORDERóóˆÐ À ÐÌÌÓÓà ` àòòThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€theÐ ð@ Ðorder€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€andÏthe€Panelððs€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference.Ìà ` àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€Opinion€ofÏthe€Panel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌà ` àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€isÏmade€the€judgment€of€the€Court.Ìà ` àCosts€will€be€paid€by€Ô% ‡ Ôdefendants/appellantsÔ%†) Ô,€for€which€execution€mayÏissue€if€necessary.Ìà ` àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€on€Ô% ‡ ÔJuly€22,€1999Ô%†ª Ô.Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àPER€CURIAMóóÐ p4À/- ÐÐ  6à1/ ÐÑTR[  AØ'Legal[  AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑà@ì ì àò òIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðñ>ñßt€,(>.*jxˆÿ‡` `€€@EPS` 8ttxPˆ‹ð È tßñ>ñà@  àSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€PANELˆÌÓÓÓ  Óà@°°'àAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†X¥eX¼¼}}#ԈРè8 ÐÌVIDA€NELL€BAILEY€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à À àà  àà p à)Ð â 2 Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ð Î  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff/Appellee€€€à h àà À àà  àà p à)€Ð º  Ðñ>ññ3ñßr€(<,(j 8` `€€@Eȧ ` 8ttxP¦ ð  rßñ3ññ>ñ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)€€€€€STEWART€CIRCUITÐ ¦ ö  Ðv.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)€€€€€Ð ’â  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)Ð ~Î  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)€€€€€€Hon.€Allen€WallaceÐ jº  ÐCARHARTT,€INC.,€and€AMERICAN€€€€à  àà p à)€€€€€€JudgeÐ V¦  ÐMOTORIST€INSURANCE€COMPANY€€€€€à p à)€€€€€€Ð B’  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  àà h àà À àà  àà p à)€€€€€€No.€01S01„9803„CV„00050Ð .~ Ѐ€€€€€€€€€Defendant/Appellants€€à À àà  àà p à)Ð j ÐÌ€€€€€€€€€€€ó óÐ òB ÐÌò òòòFor€the€Appellant:óóó óà  à€€€€€€€€ò òòòà h àà À àà  àà p àFor€the€Appellee:Ð Ê ÐÌóóó óJulia€F.€Smith€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ñ#ñà h àà À àà  àà p àñ#ñShirley€A.€IrwinÐ ¦ö Ð113€South€Third€Street€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ñ$ñà À àà  àà p àñ$ñNationsBank€Plaza,€St.190Ð ’â ÐClarksville,€TN€37040€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ñ%ñà À àà  àà p àñ%ñ414€Union€StreetÐ ~Î Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ñ&ñà h àà À àà  àà p àñ&ñNashville,€TN.€37210„1782€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð jº Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌÌÌÌà@66$àò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONˆÐ !V ÐÌÌó óà@ðð%àò òòòMembers€of€Panel:ó óóóˆÐ Ê#! ÐÌÌà@ïïàAdolpho€A.€Birch,€Jr.€Associate€JusticeˆÌà@llàJames€L.€Weatherford,€Senior€JudgeˆÌà@55àJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeˆÌÌÌÌò òÌÓÓÌÌÌAFFIRMED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ó óWEATHERFORD,€Senior€JudgeÐ Š2Ú-1 ÐÌÌÌÌÐ Ê;7; ЇÑ€ ÑÑ7€DaX XdÈXXdì7Ñòòà@¦¦àò òM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€O€P€I€N€I€O€Nó óóóˆÐ ° Ðà ` àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workers'ÏCompensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ïðð50„6„225€(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law.Ìà ` àThe€trial€court€awarded€40%€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€body€as€a€whole.Ìà ` àThe€employer/appellant€raises€on€this€appeal€three€issues€as€follows:ÌÌà ` à1.€€Whether€the€trial€court€abused€his€discretion€byÌ€€€€€€€€€refusing€to€consider€the€testimony€of€Dr.€Ensalada?Ìà ` à2.€€Whether€the€trial€court's€determination€that€theÌ€€€€€€€€€plaintiff/employee€is€not€subject€to€the€limitationÌ€€€€€€€€€of€the€two€and€one„half€(2€1/2)€multiplier€withinÌ€€€€€€€€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð5„6„241€(a)(1)€is€contrary€to€theÌ€€€€€€€€€preponderance€of€the€evidence€presented€at€trial?Ìà ` à3.€€Whether€the€trial€court's€award€of€40%€is€contraryÌ€€€€€€€€€to€the€preponderance€of€the€proof€presented€at€trial?ÌÌà ` àThe€defendant/appellant€was€engaged€in€the€manufacture€of€men's€coveralls,€the€typeÏused€for€duck€hunting.€€The€employee's€job€was€putting€rivets€in€the€bibs€and€pockets€of€theÏcoveralls.ÌThe€employee€described€the€type€of€rivet€she€used€as€follows,€"it's€like€a€tack€that€goesÏthrough€the€material€and€there's€another€little€cap€that€goes€around,€curls€around€that,€that'sÏput€together€that€holds€it€in€place".ÌÌà ` àOn€July€18,€1996,€while€employee€was€engaged€in€her€rivet€job,€the€rivet€machineÏ"double€tripped"€or€for€some€reason€a€rivet€had€gone€through€her€thumb€and€she€hadÏcoveralls€attached€€to€her€thumb.€€She€was€immediately€taken€to€Dover€Clinic,€and€then€onÏto€Memorial€Hospital€in€Clarksville€where€Dr.€Cooper€Beazley€stated,€"that€the€problem€withÏthis€type€injury€is€that€the€machine€that€installs€the€rivets€exerts€a€tremendous€amount€ofÐ (:x5: Ðforce,€probably€upwards€of€fifteen€hundred€pounds€and€the€employee€had€more€than€just€aÏbrad€put€through€the€thumb,€she€had€a€crush€injury€to€the€thumb€which€is€a€very€sensitive€partÏof€the€hand".Ìà ` àDr.€Beazley€felt€that€employee€had€reflex€sympathetic€dystrophy€or€RSD.Ìà ` àWhen€asked€to€define€reflex€sympathetic€dystrophy,€Dr.€Beazely€stated,€"reflexÏsympathetic€dystrophy€is€known€as€RSD.€€It€is€a€condition€where€from€whatever€the€injury,Ïbe€it€trivial€or€significant,€the€sympathetic€nerve€becomes€overactive.€€And€if€that's€the€case,Ïit€creates€a€tremendous€amount€of€pain€and€discomfort,€in€her€case€in€her€thumb,€hand,€andÏshoulders.€€It's€a€condition€that€is€extremely€difficult€to€treat.€€It's€one€that€tends€to€linger€on.€ÏPeople€almost€always€have€permanent€residual€pain€from€this,€some€worse€than€others.€€AndÏbasically€you€can€get€them€to€certain€point€and€then€they€have€to€live€with€that€pain."Ìà ` àThe€employee€continued€to€be€treated€by€Dr.€Beazley€and€he€prescribed€painÏmedication€for€her.Ìà ` àDr.€Beazley€also€diagnosed€adhesive€capsulitis,€which€is€a€condition€that€can€occurÏwith€RSD,€and€it€is€a€condition€in€the€shoulder€whereby€the€shoulder€progressively€becomesÏmore€stiff€and€painful.€€There€is€a€cascade€type€effect€whereby€the€stiffer€the€shoulderÏbecomes,€the€less€motion€it€gets,€and€the€more€it€hurts.€€The€more€the€shoulder€hurts,€the€lessÏa€person€will€move€it.Ìà ` àBased€on€the€AMA€guidelines,€fourth€edition,€Dr.€Beazley€gave€the€employee€a€15%Ïpercent€permanent€physical€impairment€to€the€left€upper€extremity€which€converts€to€9%Ïpercent€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€Employee,€according€to€Dr.€Beazley,€reached€maximumÏmedical€improvement€on€April€23,€1997.€€Dr.€Beazley€felt€that€the€employee€could€not€doÏrepetitive€manufacturing€work€and€that€she€would€be€limited€in€terms€of€use€of€the€left€hand,Ïeven€as€a€helper€extremity.€€He€also€felt€that€the€employee€would€not€be€able€to€be€employedÏat€Carhartt.Ìà ` àThe€employee€was€sent€to€Dr.€Leon€Ensalada,€neurologist,€for€a€second€opinion.€€HeÏsaw€the€employee€on€March€12,€1997,€and€prescribed€physical€therapy.€€He€next€saw€her€onÏApril€8,€1997,€and€released€her€back€to€work€with€no€restrictions€and€a€two€percent€(2%)Ïimpairment€to€the€thumb.Ìà ` àAfter€Dr.€Beazley€reviewed€Dr.€Ensalada's€opinion,€Dr.€Beazley€wrote€a€letter€whichÐ (:x5: Ðstated:Ìà ` à"Mrs.€Nell€Bailey€was€taken€off€work€by€me€as€weÓÓ€triedÌ€€€€€€to€do€light€duty€activities€at€her€job€situation,€andÌ€€€€€€this€was€unsuccessful.€€I€disagree€with€Dr.€Ensalada'sÌ€€€€€€opinion€that€she€can€return€to€work€without€restrictions.Ì€€€€€€I€have€cared€for€this€lady€since€the€time€of€her€injuryÌ€€€€€€and€I€feel€like€I€know€her€history€very€well€and€herÌ€€€€€€work€capabilities."ÌÓÓÌà ` àThe€employer's€plant€manager€testified€that€employee€had€tried€to€do€her€prior€rivetÏjob€and€had€tried€to€work€sewing,but€was€unable€to€do€either€job.ÌÌà ` àThe€first€issue,€fairly€stated,€is€whether€the€trial€court€abused€its€discretion€byÏaccrediting€the€testimony€of€Dr.€Beazley€over€that€of€Dr.€Ensalada.Ìà ` àWhen€the€medical€testimony€differs,€the€trial€judge€must€obviously€choose€whichÏview€to€believe.€€In€doing€so,€he€is€allowed,€among€other€things,€to€consider€the€qualificationsÏof€the€experts,€the€circumstances€of€their€examination,€the€information€available€to€them,€andÏthe€evaluation€of€the€importance€of€that€information€by€other€experts.€€ò òòòOrman€v.€WilliamsÐ ”ä ÐSonoma,€Inc.ó óóó,€S.W.2d€672€(Tenn.€199l).Ð tÄ Ðà ` àAfter€reading€the€depositions€of€both€doctors€who€testified€in€this€case,€along€withÏthe€entire€record,€we€are€satisfied€that€the€trial€judge€was€well€justified€in€accepting€theÏtestimony€of€Dr.€Cooper€Beazley.Ìà ` àThe€appellant's€issue€concerning€the€trial€court's€ruling€that€the€employee€was€notÏsubject€to€the€limitation€of€the€two€and€one„half€(2€1/2)€multiplier€within€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ïðð50„6„241Ì(a)(1)€is€found€to€be€without€merit.€€Dr.€Beazley€in€his€clinic€notes€stated€that€considering€theÏtwo€types€of€work€that€employer€had€available€(riveting€machine€or€sewing),€that€employeeÏmay€have€to€find€employment€other€than€what€the€employer€had€to€offer.€€Also,€the€plantÏmanager€testified€that€employee€had€tried€to€do€her€prior€rivet€job€and€tried€to€work€sewing,Ïbut€was€unable€to€do€either€job.€€Considering€the€testimony€of€the€treating€physician,€theÏemployee,€and€the€plant€manager,€the€trial€court's€€conclusion€that€the€employee€was€notÌsubject€to€the€limitation€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð50„6„241€(a)(1)€was€supported€by€aÏpreponderance€of€the€evidence.Ð L9œ49 Їà ` àThe€appellants€in€their€third€issue€allege€that€the€trial€court's€award€of€40%€is€contraryÏto€the€preponderance€of€the€proof€presented€at€trial.Ìà ` àThe€appellee€alleges€on€this€appeal€that€the€trial€court's€award€of€40%€to€the€body€asÏa€whole€is€insufficient€and€is€contrary€to€the€preponderance€of€the€proof€presented€at€trial.Ìà ` àConsidering€the€employee's€skills€and€training,€her€education,€her€work€history,€herÏage,€the€local€job€opportunities€and€her€capacity€to€work€at€kinds€of€employment€availableÏin€the€local€market€in€a€disabled€condition,€we€find€that€the€trial€court's€award€of€40%Ïvocation€disability€is€supported€by€the€preponderance€of€the€proof€presented€at€trial.Ìà ` àAppellate€review€is€de€novo€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€aÏpresumption€of€correctness,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.Ìðð50„6„225€(e)(2).Ìà ` àFor€the€above€reasons,€the€evidence€fails€to€preponderate€against€the€findings€of€theÏtrial€court€and€the€judgment€is€therefore€affirmed.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€theÏappellants.Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€James€L.€Weatherford,€Senior€JudgeÐ X ¨ Ðò òCONCUR:Ð 0"€  Ðó óòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ð $X" ÐóóAdolpho€A.€Birch,€Jr.,€Associate€JusticeÐ à%0!$ Ðòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ ¸'#& ÐJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÓÓÌñ&ñÔ†ÿÿÔÔ†ÿÿÔÔ  ÔÔ  Ôñ&ñÔ‡¼Ï-¼XX%-Ôà ` àÔ#†X%-X¼¼Ï-Å7#Ô