ÿWPCó –E(¹ùx͈àBXöS|ü¸ÐJ˜Ž¨d,kÕRPÒÜ‘ ×à;åoÞu­?Œre~ÞnÛ‰ ùß@I1E×ÊË>"vqµ§&¯ÿB°ŠÜI7 ~Z¼)¤©ýV…Ž˜6»8 Ù+‰ÜO nóªnêã>—x$ —è™^ÇqQ‹kùÑno¨C}ßÿö w®Á±î¹D'—èܧf9LL«mØ$9~{éù H}ÿ}]SkÐ1#,4êNõc¶†B¨0í.£8ëIz¼{K” Ò_PùtW¥ìŒ²Ùxâæú½Œ.«-û:‘Ü$Šeƒ‘LÜ貨!1½Íwàöð¿<ŽYGÙ«qUR“ìjÏó\Â’‚ªØÃ{ï3¯Óʯ;¨å˜\’ÍĉÉÖˆ‡&‹·ÿó+–'.,Qƒ¼‡ˆžEÿX„´ÉpOâP+”»½[ó·|lÆéè:d¶»Uþ4¡)}빇ÜÕVû&¡A-Í=@@#¬î>¹sômd_cïµ ¨oÂÙK:Éï aDИw8ìQÐeÉ ±ÐïóIw\ÅÌÀ·àùåtx¯TBÐQø¾ÍºÄH¸“‡ƒ{Ýò¼S–­€“™×5À¬¬ÿŠsŠeµÊ±1<Ôs£1!Ù±m¨}T6J8$5D#}-UNv %Ä 0(Ê@òw@24r†n­•BU:BUN| Ê Ò Ú â ê ò ú        AQ&UNwÅU:ÅÿU:ÿ 9 U:9 Æs Æ9 0Dÿ 0DC 0D‡ ÆË D/‘ BÀ BÝ D3úÆ-Æó¹U:¹(ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡c:\office\wpwin\template\jo.wpt 6P7E89P:U;P<Ó€FIÓ€Syk&þ63|xU«<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpiXôxþ6X@É“8Ç;X@<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpi(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman Regulari1i2i3i4i5i6i7i8i9i10i11 !"#%Cþÿ<< Cÿÿ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman Regular öÝ ƒ!¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€X-XXXÔÔ€rXX-ÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X-XrÔÐ  ÐÌJuly€21,€1999ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular öÝ ƒ!¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€X-XXXÔÔ€rXX-ÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X-XrÔÐ  ÐÌJuly€22,€1999ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular öÝ ƒ!¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€X-XXXÔÔ€rXX-ÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X-XrÔÐ  ÐÌJuly€21,€1999ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5'''÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd&&&&'ÿÿdxd„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 öÝ ƒ!¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€,X-XXXÔÔ€,rX,X-ÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€,X-X,rÔÐ  ÐÌJuly€22,€1999ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial RegularÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÒ°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÔ‡¼Ï-¼XXÔñFññ<ñßr€(<,(j 8` `€€@Eȱ` 8ttxP°ð  rßñ<ññFññFñßr€(<,(j 8` `€€@Eȱ` 8ttxP°ð  rßñFñà@Å Å àò òòòIN€THE€SUPREME€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌÌà@××'àAT€NASHVILLEˆÌÌó óÌÔ% ‡ ÔALMA€PRISCILLA€GROOMSÔ%† ùÔà@êê-à}ˆà p àÔ% ‡ ÔMAURY€CIRCUITÔ%† LÔÐ ð @ Ðà@êê-à}ˆà p àNo.€Below€Ô% ‡ Ô7727Ô%†¶ÔÐ  P Ðà ` àPlaintiff/AppellÔ% ‡ ÔeeÔ%† Ôà@êê-à}ˆÐ  ` Ðà@êê-à}ˆà p àHon.€Ô% ‡ ÔJim€T.€HamiltonÔ%†wÔÐ  p Ðvs.à@-àˆàHêê-à}ˆÐ 0€  Ðà@êê-à}ˆÌà@êê-à}ˆà p àNo.€Ô% ‡ Ô01S01„9804„CV„00063Ô%†1ÔÐ P   ÐÔ% ‡ ÔHYPERION€SEATING€CORP.Ô%†wÔà@êê-à}ˆÐ `°  Ðà@êê-à}ˆÌà ` àDefendant/AppellÔ% ‡ ÔantÔ%†Ôà@êê-à}ˆà p àÔ% ‡ ÔAFFIRMEDÔ%†FÔÐ €Ð ÐÌÌà@&àJUDGMENT€ORDERóóˆÐ ° ÐÌÌÓÓà ` àòòThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€theÐ à0 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% ‡ Ôdefendant/appellantÔ%†i Ô,€for€which€execution€mayÏissue€if€necessary.Ìà ` àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€on€Ô% ‡ ÔJuly€22,€1999Ô%†è Ô.Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àPER€CURIAMóóÐ `3°., ÐÐ  €5Ð0. ÐÑTR[  AØ'Legal[  AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ò òIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐñSñßt€+(>.*jxˆÿ'` `€€@EPÿ` 8ttxPˆØð ' tßñSñà@  àSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€PANELˆÌÓÓÓ  ÓñSññSñà@°°'àAT€NASHVILLEó óˆÐ ôD ÐÌÌÌò òALMA€PRISCILLA€GROOMSó ó€€€€€€€à p à€ò ò)Ð 2 ‚ ÐñSññIñßr€(<,(j 8` `€€@EÈG` 8ttxPFð  rßñIññSñ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  àà h àà À àà  àà p à€)Ð F–  Ѐ€€€€€€€€Plaintiff/Appellee€à h àà À àà  àà p à€)€€€€€MAURY€CIRCUITÐ T¤  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  àà h àà À àà  àà p à€)à È àà  àà x à€€€€€Ð b²  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  àà h àà À àà  àà p à€)€€€€€Hon.€Jim€T.€HamiltonÐ pÀ  Ðv.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  àà h àà À àà  àà p à€)€€€€€Judge€€Ð ~Î  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  àà h àà À àà  àà p à€)€Ð ŒÜ Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  àà h àà À àà  àà p à€)€€€€€No.€01S01„9804„CV„00063Ð šê ÐHYPERION€SEATING€CORPORATION€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  àà h àà À àà  àà p à€)Ð ¶ Ѐ€€€€€€€Defendant/Appellant€€à À àà  àà p à€)ó ó€Ð Ä ÐÌÌÌà@-àˆÌò òòòFor€the€Appellant:ó óóó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  àà p àò òòòFor€the€Appellee:ó óóóÐ h ÐÌÌRichard€T.€Matthews€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  àà p àShirley€A.€IrwinÐ L œ ÐP.€O.€Box€1952€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à À àà  àà p àNationsBank€Plaza,€St€190€Ð \!¬ ÐColumbia,€TN€38402€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à  àà p à414€Union€StreetÐ l"¼ Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à h àà À àà  àà p àNashville,€TN€37219„1782Ð |#Ì ÐÌÌÌÌÌ€€€€€€€€Ìà@ll$àò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óˆÐ ì*<&$ ÐÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à€€€€ò òòòMembers€of€Panel:ó óóóÐ .j)' ÐÌà@Ù Ù àAdolpho€A.€Birch,€Jr.,€Associate€JusticeˆÌà@„„àJames€L.€Weatherford,€Senior€JudgeˆÌà@nnàJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeˆÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌAFFIRMED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à À àà  àWEATHERFORD,€Senior€JudgeÐ Þ:.63 Ðà ! àÌÔ#†Xe?X¼¼Ï-}#ÔÔ‡¼Ï-¼XXe?ÔÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓÓò òÑ7€ e X XdðXXdì7Ñòòà@  àM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NóóˆÐ P   ÐÌà ` àó óThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€SpecialÐ ˆØ ÐWorkers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordanceÏwith€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð50„6„225€(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€of€findings€ofÏfact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€The€employer,€Hyperion€Seating€Corporation,Ïinsists€the€trial€judge€abused€his€discretion€by€refusing€to€consider€the€testimonyÏof€Dr.€Leon€Ensalada,€who€performed€an€independent€medical€evaluation€andÏthe€trial€court's€award€of€an€85%€disability€rating€to€the€right€arm€is€contrary€toÏthe€preponderance€of€the€proof€presented€at€trial.€€As€discussed€below,€the€panelÏhasÌconcluded€the€judgment€should€be€affirmed.Ìà ` àThe€employee€or€claimant,€Grooms,€initiated€this€action€for€the€recoveryÏof€worker's€compensation€benefits€for€a€gradually€occurring€injury€to€her€rightÏarm.€€After€a€trial€on€the€merits,€the€trial€court€awarded€permanent€partialÏdisability€based€on€eighty„five€percent€to€the€right€arm.€€Appellate€review€is€deÏnovo€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€ofÏcorrectness,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð50„6„225€(e)(2).Ìà ` àThe€claimant,€Grooms,€forty„six€(46)€years€old€at€the€time€of€trial€hadÏattended€school€to€the€eleventh€grade€and€obtained€her€GED.€€She€was€employedÐ È952 Ðwith€appellant,€Hyperion,€from€October,€1993,€until€June,€1997.€€In€July€1996,Ïclaimant€began€experiencing€problems€with€her€right€arm€and€was€seen€by€Dr.ÏDwayne€Fulks€the€same€month.€€She€continued€to€see€Dr.€Fulks€approximatelyÏfive€more€visits.€€On€February€7,€1997,€Dr.€Fulks€performed€a€submuscularÏtransposition€of€the€ulnar€nerve.Ìà ` àClaimant€was€released€to€return€to€work€on€light€duty€on€March€18,€1997,Ïand€was€placed€at€maximum€medical€improvement€in€May,€1997.€€Dr.€FulksÏassigned€permanent€restrictions€on€May€13,€1997€of€maximum€lifting€of€ten€(10)Ïpounds,€frequent€lifting€of€ten€(10)€pounds,€standing€or€walking€up€to€six€hoursÏa€day,€sitting€up€to€six€hours€a€day,€unlimited€use€of€foot€controls€and€noÏconstant€gripping,€grasping,€pushing€or€pulling.€€Dr.€Fulks€assigned€a€40%Ïpermanent€partial€impairment€rating€to€the€right€arm.Ìà ` àClaimant€described€her€job€with€the€appellant,€Hyperion€SeatingÏCorporation,€as€working€in€"front€backs€sewing".€€She€further€explained€that€sheÏstood€up€and€ran€an€industrial„type€sewing€machine,€single€needle€whichÏrequired€bending,€pulling,€tugging,€trying€to€keep€the€material€straight.Ìà ` àAttempts€were€made€to€return€the€claimant€to€her€regular€work,€butÏeventually€Dr.€Fulks€was€of€the€opinion€that€she€would€be€unable€to€continueÏperforming€the€heavy,€repetitive€type€work€that€she€had€been€doing€withÏHyperion€Seating€Corporation.€€The€last€day€claimant€worked€at€HyperionÏSeating€Corporation€was€June€17,€1997.€€Claimant€received€unemploymentÏbenefits€from€the€time€she€left€Hyperion€Seating€Corporation€until€those€benefitsÏceased€in€December,€1997.€€She€obtained€two€job€applications€from€Kroger€andÏWal„Mart€that€she€did€not€complete.€€She€explained€that€the€reason€she€did€notÏturn€the€application€back€to€Kroger€was€because€it€stated€that€the€work€sheÏwould€be€required€to€do€may€involve€one€or€more€of€the€following€jobÐ Ð9 52 Ðrequirements,€"lifting,€pushing€or€pulling€25€pounds€or€more€repeatedly,€up€toÏ60€pounds€occasionally,€lifting€or€extending€30€pounds€above€the€headÏsometimes€repeatedly,€lifting,€bending€and€turning€at€waist,€standing€or€walkingÏfor€at€least€two€hours€at€a€time."Ìà ` àThe€claimant€was€seen€by€Dr.€Leon€Ensalada€for€an€independent€medicalÏevaluation€on€November€11,€1997.€€Dr.€Ensalada€performed€a€physical€andÏneurological€examination€of€the€claimant€and€sent€her€to€PhysiotherapyÏAssociates€for€a€Jamar€dynamometry€grip€strength€assessment.€€Based€upon€hisÏexamination€and€the€results€of€the€grip€strength€assessment,€Dr.€Ensalada€foundÏthat€the€plaintiff€had€no€loss€of€strength€or€sensation€in€the€ulnar€nerveÏdistribution€and€no€objective€signs€of€neurological€or€musculoskeletalÏimpairment.€€Dr.€Ensalada€was€of€the€opinion€that€the€claimant€had€recoveredÏfrom€her€surgery€and€reached€maximum€medical€improvement€in€April,€1997.€ÏHe€assigned€a€5%€permanent€partial€impairment€rating€to€claimant's€right€armÏand€was€of€the€opinion€that€she€would€not€retain€any€permanent€restrictions.Ìà ` àThe€first€issue,€fairly€stated,€is€whether€the€trial€court€abused€its€discretionÏby€accrediting€the€testimony€of€Dr.€Fulks€over€that€of€Dr.€Ensalada.Ì€€This€complaint€is€not€supported€by€the€record€on€this€appeal.€€The€trial€courtÏspecifically€stated€in€it's€judgment,€"The€Court€has€considered€the€opinion€ofÏboth€doctors,"€€(Dr.€Dwayne€Fulks€and€Dr.€Leon€Ensalada)€the€only€medicalÏtestimony€contained€in€the€record.Ìà ` àWhen€the€medical€testimony€differs,€the€trial€judge€must€obviouslyÏchoose€which€view€to€believe.€€In€doing€so,€he€is€allowed,€among€other€things,Ïto€consider€the€qualifications€of€the€experts,€the€circumstances€of€theirÏexamination,€the€information€available€to€them,€and€the€evaluation€of€theÏimportance€of€that€information€by€other€experts.€€ò òòòOrman€v.€Williams€Sonoma,Ð Ð9 52 ÐInc.ó óóó,€803€S.W.2d€672€(Tenn.€1991).Ð ° Ðà ` àAfter€reading€the€deposition€of€both€doctors€who€testified€in€this€case,Ïalong€with€the€entire€record,€we€are€satisfied€that€the€trial€judge€was€wellÏjustified€in€accepting€the€testimony€of€Dr.€K.€Dewayne€Fulks.Ìà ` àThe€appellant€in€it's€second€issue€alleges€that€the€trial€court's€award€of€anÏ85%€disability€rating€to€the€right€arm€was€contrary€to€the€preponderance€of€theÏproof€presented€at€trial.€€Considering€the€testimony€of€the€treating€physician,€theÏclaimant€and€her€husband,€and€her€skills€and€training,€her€education,€her€workÏhistory,€her€age,€and€her€capacity€to€work€at€kinds€of€employment€available€inÏthe€local€market€in€a€disabled€condition,€we€find€that€the€trial€court's€award€ofÏ85%€disability€rating€to€the€right€arm€is€supported€by€the€preponderance€of€theÏproof€presented€at€trial.Ìà ` àFor€the€above€reasons,€the€evidence€fails€to€preponderate€against€theÏfindings€of€the€trial€court€and€the€judgment€is€therefore€affirmed.€€Costs€onÏappeal€are€taxed€to€the€appellant.ñ:ñÌñ:ññ;ñà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àñ;ñÌñ7ñÌà ` àà ¸ àñ7ñÓÓòòñ7ññ6ñà  àà h àñ6ññ7ññ9ñà ` àà ¸ àà  àñ9ññ8ñ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ñ8ñóóñ8ñ€€€ñ8ñ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€James€L.€Weatherford,€Senior€JudgeÐ ¸&"  ÐÌCONCUR:ÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ó󀀀Рø*H&$ ÐÓ  ÓAdolpho€A.Birch,Jr.,Associate€Justiceà  àÐ ,X'% Ðà ` à€Ìòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÐ (.x)' ÐJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€Judgeñ5ñÔ†ÿÿÔñ5ñÔ#†X%/X¼¼:Ã#Ôñ5ñÔ  ÔÔ  Ôñ5ñÔ‡¼:¼XX%/Ôà À àÔ#†X%/X¼¼:«5#Ô