WPC ff[eygCo_!S){Erc>.oH-Pw:srv4P6O梢2BVa?f2274kN@ qhsG,@bf# Bu%goTQD%jƒAXV[\Qy.l]z$ Ņ/6Bg1+W3fKSBA=?B-M;,T]} EcƲ&#H^&p^ *|Գ,4 Ζy0n{: MK,o+U: %< 0B wX 4"6LE 0T5 U:n AQUB# e qU:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 0~~ 0D"" D/f B B D3 0 A 0%,  AZ"Arial RegularX(`zI$TRY(3' Letter3'3' Letter3'T  DEDFUGDHIӀSTUVVW XYDZӀyk&\3|xcC:\OFFICE\WPWIN\TEMPLATE\STANDARD.WPT(|37'$ zI!TRY3' Letter3' 3' Letter3'T   c:\office\wpwin\template\legal\11deny.wpt  !7'"    X|XXX sX X|   Ad FILED X|X s  June23,1999CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerkdAt ,cAZ"Arial Regular\  `*Times New RomanTTC\  P6QP"AArialTTomanTTXXaptQXp\  `*Times New RomanTT^\  P6QP !`#%C<< C\  `*Times New RomanTT  !7'"   X|XXXsXX|   Ad FILEDX|Xs  June23,1999CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerkdAt   7')   8  <( ` hp x (#X<@    2  A    ?+ ` hp x (#` X?,cAZ"Arial RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|37'$ zI!TRY3' Letter3' 3' Letter3'T   ($$   1  ''' dxd dP Pd&&&&'dxd(|37'$ zI!TRY3' Letter3' 3' Letter3'T   `y  <<= 8C(3'$ zI!TRY3' Letter3' 3' Letter3'T    d zI!TRY3' Letter3' 3' Letter3'T   ` GTR[A'Legal ManualX3' LetterA'Legal Manual3'Letter ManualTGHTR[A' LegalY3' LetterA' Legal 3' LetterTHSIr (<,(j 8` `@Ea ` 8ttxP,`  rIS@ INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE `  TSt (>.*jxy` `@E ` 8ttxP:F y tST@%%(ATNASHVILLEUTt (>.*jx=` `@E5 ` 8ttxP = tTUJOEW.DILLARD,@.)  DAVIDSONCHANCERY  ~ @.)  NO.962110III d  PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT,@.) J @.)  HON.ELLENHOBBSLYLE, 0 Ut (>.*jx ` `@EL` 8ttxPv( tUv.@.)  CHANCELLOR v  @.)TEXTRON,INC.,d/b/a@.) B  TEXTRONAEROSTRUCTURES,@.)  S.CT.NO.01S019802CH00022 (  @.) DEFENDANT/APPELLEE.@.)0  AFFIRMED T$T$ @II* JUDGMENT  , FF E<<EThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponmotionforreviewpursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(5)(B),theentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferraltotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel'sMemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference; Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenandshouldbedenied;and Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawareadoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. CostswillbepaidbyDefendant/Appellee,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. ITISSOORDERED.  0      8     PERCURIAMCBbiBCDBIRCH,DA_________,AJ.NOTPARTICIPATINGV  :06 VWTR[A'[A' LegalA' LegalA' LegalT8  &    <( ` hp x (#X<cXXcINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE `  SPECIALWORKERS'COMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANELWXXWATNASHVILLEWZZWWZr(<,(j 8` `@E@` 8ttxPx  rZW(January19,1999Session)  ?+ ` hp x (#` X?JOEW.DILLARD, h     ) p DAVIDSONCHANCERY ~   `     h     ) ` PlaintiffAppellant    WYW p WYW) p Hon.EllenHobbsLyle, J  `     h     ) p Chancellor. ` v. `     h     ) v  `     h     ) p No.01S019802CH00022  TEXTRON,INC.,d/b/a/ h     )  TEXTRONAEROSTRUCTURES,  )   `     h     ) ` DefendantAppellee.    ) D! ForAppellant:   h      p   ForAppellee: &R WilliamH.Partin,Jr. h      p   FrederickW.Hodge (~ Clark,Ward&Cave h      p   Howell&Fisher )  Brentwood,Tennessee h      p   Nashville,Tennessee  +!   <( ` hp x (#X<MEMORANDUMOPINION b/&# MembersofPanel: 4p+( AdolphoA.Birch,Jr.,AssociateJusticeJamesL.Weatherford,SeniorJudgeJoeC.Loser,Jr.,SpecialJudgeT;1.   ?+ ` hp x (#` X?  <( ` hp x (#X<  ?+ ` hp x (#` X?  REVERSEDANDREMANDED   p      x Loser,Judge {    <( ` hp x (#X<MEMORANDUMOPINION' ` w k   ?+ ` hp x (#` X? ` Thisworkers'compensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.section506225(e)(3)forhearingandreportingoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Theemployee,Dillard,contendstheevidencepreponderatesagainstthefindingsofthetrialcourtthathispermanentdisabilityisnotconnectedtohisworkrelatedinjurybecauseitdidnotcauseanaggravationofthepreexistingcondition,spinalstenosis.Asdiscussedbelow,thepanelhasconcludedthejudgmentshouldbereversedandthecaseremandedtothetrialcourt.WYW WYW { `  ` Theemployeeorclaimantcommencedthisactiontorecoverworkers'compensationbenefitsresultingfrominjuriesoccurringwhileemployedbytheemployer,Textron,nowTheAerostructuresCorporation(TAC),onOctober18,1995andJanuary2,1996.Attheconclusionoftheplaintiff'sevidence,thedefendantmovedtodismissperTenn.R.Civ.P.41.02(2).Thetrialjudgefoundtheclaimantandhisfivelaywitnessestobecredible,butgrantedthemotionforlackoftheexpertmedicalevidenceofcausationrequiredinallbutthemostobviouscases.Thetrialjudgeexpresslyfoundthatthetestimonyofthetreatingphysician,Dr.Arendall,failedtoestablishanycausalconnectionbetweentheclaimant'sinjuryandhispermanentdisability.Appellatereviewisdenovo T( upontherecordofthetrialcourt,accompaniedbyapresumptionofcorrectnessofthefindingsoffact,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.section506225(e)(2). `  ` Wherethetrialjudgehasseenandheardthewitnesses,especiallyifissuesofcredibilityandweighttobegivenoraltestimonyareinvolved,considerabledeferencemustbeaccordedthosecircumstancesonreview.Collinsv.Howmet /&$ Corp.,970S.W.2d941(Tenn.1998).Theappellatetribunal,however,isas 1'% wellsituatedtogaugetheweight,worthandsignificanceofdepositiontestimonyasthetrialjudge.Krickv.CityofLawrenceburg,945S.W.2d709 03)' (Tenn.1997).Inthiscase,thetrialjudgesawandheardtheclaimantandhissupportinglaywitnesses,butthemedicalevidencewasbydeposition. `  ` Theclaimantisalmost60yearsoldwithadegreeintheologyfromtheAmericanBibleCollegeSeminary.HeispastoroftheOliveBranchBaptist 8>/, Church.HehasworkedforTACsince1965.Hehashadbackpainsince1992,whenhefirstsawDr.Arendall.Thatyearalumbarlaminectomywasperformed.Dr.ArendallfollowedhimuntilAprilof1994,thenreleasedhimwithoutrestrictions.Hereturnedtowork. `  ` TheundisputedlayproofisthatonOctober18,1995,theclaimantslippedandfellatwork,sufferingimmediateandintensepain.HeslippedandfellagainatworkonJanuary2,1996.Onbothoccasions,hewasengagedinthedutieshewasemployedtoperform. `  ` TheonlymedicalevidenceintroducedattrialwasthedepositiontestimonyofDr.Arendall,whichincludingthefollowingrelevantquestionsandanswers: ` .... `  Q.  HaveyouseenMr.Dillardinrelationtoworkinjurieson 4  ` October18of'95andJanuary2of'96? `  A.  Yes,sir. `  `  Q.  AmomentagoyoumentionedavisitofNovember8th, (#  v 1995;isthatcorrect? `  A.  Yes,sir.   `  Q.  Didyoutakeahistoryatthattime?   `  A.  Yes,sir.Thehistoryhegavemewasthathefellatwork .   ` on101895.Hewasworkingonamachineatwork,slippedandfell, ` andwaswedgedbetweenthemachine.Hesaidhe'dbeenstableand (# was Z" nothavinganysignificantproblemswithhisbackandlegs,but nowhe p# toldmehewashavingseverebackandbilaterallegpainwith x numbnessand $& tingling.Hewaswalkingstoopedforwardandbeen  totheemergency %< room,andhewassentbacktomyofficefor  evaluation. &R  `  .... `  Q.  Didyouobtainfromhimafurtherhistory? (~  `  A.  Yes,sir.HesaidthatJanuary2nd,'96,hewasloading (#  )  upperpanels,andthepanelpulledandcausedhisbackpain. `  Q.  Thenthemyelogramwasperformed?  ,"   `  A.  Yes,sir. 6-#!  `  Q.  Whatwasthatfinding? L.$"  `  A.  HehadstenosisfromL3throughS1bilaterally,andhe (#  b/&# underwentadecompressivelumbarlaminectomy.Hewasinthe hospital x0'$ andthenwasdischargedonJanuary20thwithmedication. `  Q.  Whatareasdidthelaminectomycover? 2D)&  `  A.  L3,L4,L5andS1. 3Z*'  `  Q.  Sothiswasanadditionallevelfromthe'92surgery? 4p+(  `  A.  Yes,sir. 5,)  `  Q.  Ifyoucould,again,pleasestateyourdiagnosisofMr. (#  6-* Dillard? `  A.  Hehadalumbarradiculopathy,whichispainduetonerve (9/,  ` compressioninhisback,whichwasduetothestenosisthatwas (#  `  aggravatedbyhistwoinjuries. `  Q.  Letmegoaheadandaskyouthis.Doyouhavean (#   , opinionwithinareasonabledegreeofmedicalcertaintyastothecause (# of  B Mr.Dillard'scondition,whichyouhavejustdiagnosed? `  A.  Thecauseofhissymptoms,asherelatedbyhishistory, (# was n thetwoevents. `  Q.  Whenyousayhisinjuriesdidaggravatehiscondition, (#   werethosetheinjuriesofOctober18,1995andJanuary2,1996? `  A.  Yes,sir. &   `  .... `  Q.  AtthetimeyoufeltthatMr.Dillardreachedmaximum (#  R  medicalimprovement,doyouhaveanopinionwithinareasonable degreeof h  medicalcertaintywhetherMr.Dillardhadapermanent  impairmentasaresult ~  ofhisworkrelatedinjuries? `  A.  Yes,sir,hedid.AndbasedontheAMAGuide,Fourth (#  J Edition,page110,table72,histotalimpairmentatthatdatewas25 percent ` tothebodyasawhole.Sincehehadprevioussurgery,I x thought10 v percentwouldbepreexistingforaresulting15percent  impairmenttothe  body. `  Q.  Whenyousayresulting15percentimpairmentofthe (#   body,doyourelatethattotheinjuriesofOctober18,1995andJanuary (# 2, .  1996? `  A.  Yes,sir. Z"  `  ` Asaresultofthe1995and1996injuries,thedoctorhaspermanentlyrestrictedtheclaimantfrombending,stooping,liftingover25poundsorstandingorsittinginonepositionformorethan30minutes;andhehasadvisedtheclaimanttoretire. `  ` Aninjuryiscompensable,eventhoughtheclaimantmayhavebeensufferingfromaseriouspreexistingconditionordisability,ifaworkconnectedaccidentcanbefairlysaidtobeacontributingcauseofsuchinjury.Anemployertakesanemployeeasheisandassumestheriskofhavingaweakenedconditionaggravatedbyaninjurywhichmightnotaffectanormalperson.Hill L.$" v.EagleBendMfg.,Inc.,942S.W.2d483(Tenn.1997).Theemployertakes b/&# theemployeewithallpreexistingconditions,andcannotescapeliabilitywhentheemployee,uponsufferingaworkrelatedinjury,incursdisabilityfargreaterthanifhehadnothadthepreexistingconditions;Kellermanv.FoodLion,Inc., 2D)& 929S.W.2d333(Tenn.1996);butifworkaggravatesapreexistingconditionmerelybyincreasingpain,thereisnoinjurybyaccident.Townsendv.State, 4p+( 826S.W.2d434(Tenn.1992).Tobecompensable,thepreexistingconditionmustbeadvanced,theremustbeanatomicalchangeinthepreexistingcondition,ortheemploymentmustcauseanactualprogressionoftheunderlyingdisease.Sweatv.SuperiorIndustries,Inc.,966S.W.2d31,3233(Tenn.1998). (9/,  `  ` Thepresentcaseisclearlydistinguishablefromthecasesuponwhichtheemployerrelies.InTownsend,forexample,therewasnomedicalproofthatthe  , workrelatedinjuryaggravatedtheemployee'spreexistingconditionexceptbytemporarilyincreasingthepain.InCunninghamv.GoodyearTireandRubber  X Co.,811S.W.2d888(Tenn.1991),therewasnoidentifiableinjuryby n accident;andinBolingv.RaytheonCo.,448S.W.2d405(Tenn.1969),the  medicalproofwasthattheclaimant'sconditionwasmerelytemporary.Inthepresentcase,theuncontradictedmedicalproofisthattheworkrelatedinjurycausedanactualprogressionofthepreexistingconditionandincreasedtheextentoftheemployee'spermanentimpairment;and,asnotedabove,thetrialjudgefoundtheclaimanttobeacrediblewitness. `  ` Fromanapplicationoftheundisputedfactstotheapplicableprinciplesoflaw,wearepersuadedthattheevidencepreponderatesagainstthefindingsofthetrialcourt.ThejudgmentisaccordinglyreversedandthecaseremandedtotheChanceryCourtforDavidsonCounty.Costsonappealaretaxedtothedefendantappellee.WYW WYW rA  <( ` hp x (#X<_______________________________WYW WYW rA  @..@..@..JoeC.Loser,Jr.,SpecialJudge  ?+ ` hp x (#` X?CONCUR:_________________________________AdolphoA.Birch,Jr.,AssociateJustice_________________________________JamesL.Weatherford,SeniorJudge0`  x (#X0#c##X|Xc#WYW    WY