ÿWPCc. b#Ál %-^ 3 0ˆ?UNÇw4 z-Ò§y ˆ mŠ ¡ Æ£ Æi Æ/ Æõ N» 0D½ E 0J 0TM 0^¡ 0hÿ 0rg 0|Ù 0†U 0Û 1uk 0dàU>DU*‚ê¬f –oüv~k"bé#vÓñ# 0ëÄ) B¯* 0@Ì* D3 + D-?+ 0Kl+ AS·+Æ , 0¤Ð, 0Dt- A«¸-˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 5eÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0» i'+s (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularÑB+bk1LÞ¡ ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ CrabtreesacroiliitisChastain$gastroesophagealEffexorCleekf]earWitherspoonTindallWaringEquifaxLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman< Œ 9p`(Times àÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€(ÔÔ€(¼ÔÑ#€d#ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒR$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÔ€(ôÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔIn€its€supplemental€brief,€Cutler„Hammer€insinuates€that€Crabtree€was€untruthful€in€claiming€that€heÏinjured€his€back.At€trial,€however,€Cutler„Hammer€stipulated€that€Crabtree€suffered€an€injury€on€February€28,€1995.€Ì \ Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€(ÔÔ€(¼ÔÑ#€d#ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒR$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÔ€(ôÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔIn€its€Memorandum€Opinion,€the€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€noted:ÌÌà8 àà8 àà àThis€suit€is€somewhat€unusual€in€that€the€employer€filed€suit€againstÏthe€employee€in€what€is€commonly€referred€to€as€a€ð ðjump€suit.ðð€€The€workersððÏcompensation€law€.€.€.€€allows€suits€to€be€filed€either€by€the€injured€worker,€orÏby€the€employer.€.€.€.€When€such€suit€is€filed€by€the€employer,€the€burden€ofÏproof€.€.€.€rests€upon€the€worker,€to€prove€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence€.€.Ï.€every€factual€allegation€upon€which€he€relies€for€recovery.€€To€the€extent€thatÏthe€complaint€filed€by€the€employer€seeks€the€decision€of€the€Court€fairlyÏestablishing€the€percentage€of€vocational€disability€and€other€contested€matters,Ïthe€employeeððs€answer€may€fairly€set€forth€the€issues€presented€before€the€Court.€ÏFrequently,€however,€and€as€a€general€rule,€the€better€practice€for€the€worker€isÏthat€of€filing€of€a€counter„action,€setting€forth€the€grounds€upon€which€he€seeksÏto€recover.€€Although€at€trial€the€practice€under€our€rules€of€procedure€is€toÏprovide€the€opportunity€for€the€plaintiff€to€present€his€proof€first,€followed€byÏthat€of€the€defendant€.€.€.€,€this€is€true€because€the€burden€of€proof€generally€fallsÏupon€the€plaintiff.€€In€a€ð ðjump€suitðð€the€burden€of€proof€being€upon€theÏdefendant,€we€believe€the€better€procedure€to€be€that€of€allowing€the€worker,€orÏthe€defendant,€to€proceed€to€present€his€evidence€first,€followed€by€the€evidenceÏpresented€by€the€plaintiff.€€Similarly,€opening€statements€and€closing€statementsÏof€counsel€should€be€presented€such€that€the€worker€has€the€opportunity€to€makeÏhis€opening€statement€first,€and€closing€statements€should€also€be€presented€suchÏthat€the€worker€has€the€opportunity€to€present€his€closing€presentation€first,€andÏthen€has€the€opportunity€to€answer€the€final€argument€of€the€employer,€again€forÏthe€reason€that€the€worker€has€the€burden€of€proof.ÌÌà8 àà8 àà àThe€rule€may€appear€to€remove€from€the€employer€some€of€theÏadvantages€of€filing€a€ð ðjump€suit,ðð€but€appears€to€be€proper€when€the€proceduralÏburdens€of€the€parties€are€considered.€€The€employer€still€has€the€advantage€ofÏselecting€the€forum€for€the€litigation€when€filing€a€ð ðjump€suit.ððÌÌà8 àà8 àà àAt€trial€in€this€cause,€the€employer€proceeded€first€at€each€stage€of€theÏhearing.€€While€we€do€not€assign€reversible€error€because€of€this€procedure,€weÏdo€feel€that€the€better€practice€is€to€.€.€.€allow€the€worker,€who€has€the€burden€ofÏproof,€to€present€his€case€first.ÌÌWe€adopt€the€statements€of€the€Panel€regarding€this€issue.Ì eÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€(ÔÔ€(¼ÔÑ#€d#ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒR$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÔ€(ôÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔOn€review,€this€Court€agrees€with€the€Panelððs€conclusion€that€Crabtree€suffered€a€permanent€impairmentÏas€a€result€of€his€physical€injury€and€that€he€should€be€awarded€compensation€for€the€vocational€disability€caused€byÏthat€impairment.€€Consequently,€we€accept€the€Panelððs€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€concerning€theÏphysical€injury.ÌPtPtHHØ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHØ(d'`- ù-Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  Serv Geneva ÒÒ  Serv Geneva Ò(|G2º$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€K»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€ô÷¥ò»»Ô d("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  ÒVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3‡†$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€K»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€(ÔÔ€(¼ÔÑ#€))¼d#ÑÑ#€))¼d#ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ  ÑÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑ8€AXXdì»»d8Ñà@ àÔ€(îÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àAT€KNOXVILLEÔ€(¼ÔÌÓ  ÓJanuary€3,€2001€SessionÌÔ€(XÔÌò òÔ€(¼ÔCUTLER„HAMMER,€A€DIVISION€OF€EATON€CORP.€v.€ÌTIMOTHY€L.€CRABTREEó óÌÔ€(XÔÌà@ àò òAppeal€from€the€Supreme€Court€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€PanelÌCircuit€Court€for€Bradley€CountyÌNo.€V„95„721€€€€€€R.€Steven€Bebb,€JudgeÌÌà@ àßA€V) °°` d€÷E<½` AßÌÌà@ àNo.€€E1998„00845„SC„WCM„CV€„€Filed€September€7,€Ô_Ô2001Ô_ÔÌÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÌó óÔ€(¼ÔÌÓ  ÓÔ€(XÔWe€granted€review€in€this€cause€to€determine€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€finding€Timothy€L.ÏCrabtree€permanently€and€totally€disabled€as€a€result€of€mental€and€physical€injuries€sustained€whileÏworking€for€Cutler„Hammer.€€Crabtree€injured€his€back€while€working€on€a€production€line;€then,Ïduring€treatment€for€the€back€injury,€he€developed€severe€depression.€€The€trial€court€found€thatÏCrabtree€was€permanently€and€totally€disabled€as€a€result€of€the€combined€effect€of€his€mental€andÏphysical€injuries.€€The€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€rejected€this€finding,Ïconcluding€instead€that€Crabtreeððs€mental€disorder€was€not€compensable€because€it€was€notÏconnected€to€his€back€injury,€which€was€compensable.€€On€review,€we€conclude€that€CrabtreeððsÏmental€disorder€resulted€from€his€physical€injury.€€We€hold,€therefore,€that€Crabtreeððs€mentalÏdisorder€is€compensable,€and€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.ÌÌÓ  Óò òTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(5)(B);€Findings€of€Fact€and€Conclusions€of€Law€of€theÏSpecial€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€Accepted€in€Part€and€Rejected€in€Part;ÏJudgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€Affirmed€ó óÌÌÓ  ÓòòAdolpho€A.€Birch,€Jr.,óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòE.€Riley€Anderson,€C.J.,ÏFrank€F.€Drowota,€III,óó€and€òòJanice€M.€Holder,€J.óó,€joined.€òò€William€M.€Barker,€Jóó.,€notÏparticipating.ÌÌRobert€S.€Thompson,€Cleveland,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Timothy€L.€Crabtree.ÌÌGeorge€Lane€Foster,€Chattanooga,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€Cutler„Hammer,€a€division€of€EatonÏCorp.ÌÓ  ÓÌà@ àò òOPINIONó óÌÌI.€€Facts€and€Procedural€HistoryÌÌÓ  Óà àTimothy€L.€Crabtree,€the€appellant,€a€43„year„old€high€school€graduate,€began€working€forÏCutler„Hammer,€a€division€of€Eaton€Corp.€(Cutler„Hammer)€in€March€1977.€€During€the€18€yearsÏin€which€he€worked€for€Cutler„Hammer,€his€work€assignments€all€included€manual€labor.€€HisÏseniority€enabled€him€to€be€assigned€to€one€of€the€least€strenuous€production€lines€available€in€theÏplant.€€In€February€1995,€however,€his€supervisor€moved€him€to€a€more€physically€demanding€jobÏbecause€his€co„workers€complained€repeatedly€that€he€had€been€slacking€on€the€production€line.€ÏOn€February€28,€1995,€shortly€after€being€moved€to€the€more€strenuous€production€line,€CrabtreeÍwas€pulling€a€case€of€parts€from€a€shelf€when€he€felt€severe€pain€in€his€back.€€He€immediatelyÏreported€the€injury€to€a€co„employee€and€to€Cutler„Hammerððs€personnel€department.× ƒ* ××  ×ÌÌà àOn€the€day€of€Crabtreeððs€injury,€Cutler„Hammer€arranged€an€appointment€with€Paul€Smith,ÏM.D.,€a€general€practitioner.€€Smith€treated€Crabtree€and€returned€him€to€work€the€next€day,€and€theÏsupervisor€placed€him€back€on€the€same€job€he€was€performing€when€he€was€injured.€€Later€thatÏmorning,€however,€after€a€conversation€with€Smith,€Cutler„Hammer€provided€Crabtree€with€lightÏduty€work.€€Crabtree€continued€under€Smithððs€care€for€several€months.€€His€therapy€includedÏcortisone€injections,€pain€medication,€and€physical€therapy.€€While€Crabtree€was€under€SmithððsÏcare,€Cutler„Hammer€scheduled€him€to€work€overtime€on€Saturdays.€€When€Smith€sent€a€letter€toÏCutler„Hammer€stating€that€Crabtree€should€not€be€required€to€work€on€Saturdays,€the€companyÏinformed€Crabtree€that€he€would€be€required€to€work€overtime€in€the€evenings.€€Crabtree€thenÏobtained€a€second€note€instructing€Cutler„Hammer€that€he€should€be€limited€to€40„hour€workÏweeks.€€Thereafter,€Cutler„Hammer€sent€Crabtree€to€its€welding€department,€where€he€was€placed€onÏa€job€which€required€him€to€bend,€twist,€and€turn€his€back€in€order€to€perform€his€assigned€work.€ÏCrabtree€apparently€was€not€relieved€from€this€position€until€Smith€sent€a€third€note€to€Cutler„Hammer€to€emphasize€that€he€had€placed€Crabtree€on€light€duty€and€had€restricted€him€fromÏperforming€duties€which€involved€bending,€twisting,€and€turning€his€back.ÌÌà àEventually,€Smith€referred€Crabtree€to€Kevin€Bailey,€M.D.,€an€orthopedic€surgeon.€€BaileyÏexamined€Crabtree,€took€X„rays,€and€performed€an€MRI€scan€of€Crabtreeððs€spine,€but€found€onlyÏminor€degenerative€changes€which€he€concluded€were€not€the€cause€of€Crabtreeððs€pain.€€BaileyÏdiagnosed€Crabtree€as€having€a€lumbar€strain€with€right€sacroiliitis,€treated€him€with€physicalÏtherapy,€and€kept€him€on€light€duty€for€several€months,€but€he€opined€that€Crabtree€had€suffered€noÏpermanent€impairment€from€his€back€injury.€€ÌÌà àCrabtree€also€consulted€his€family€physician,€internal€medicine€specialist€Kent€Chastain,ÏM.D.€€Chastain€diagnosed€Crabtree€as€suffering€from€various€maladies€including€gastroesophagealÏreflux€disease€and€lumbar€strain,€but€his€examination€of€Crabtreeððs€lumbar€spine€revealed€noÏobjective€abnormalities.€€He€noted€in€his€records,€however,€that€Crabtree€was€ð ðespecially€stressedÏand€was€extremely€emotional€and€was€crying€because€of€the€pressure€on€him€at€work.ðð€€Because€heÏsuspected€that€Crabtree€might€be€suffering€from€depression,€he€recommended€that€Crabtree€see€aÏclinical€psychologist.€ÌÌà àOn€July€24,€1995,€Bailey€released€Crabtree€to€return€to€work€without€restrictions.€€AfterÏCrabtree€returned€to€regular€duty,€Cutler„Hammer€placed€him€on€an€even€more€physicallyÏdemanding€job,€which€consisted€of€heavy€lifting,€twisting,€turning,€and€repetitive€moving€of€boxesÏwhich€weighed€over€70€pounds.€€Crabtreeððs€pain€continued,€but€his€requests€for€additional€medicalÏtreatment€were€denied.€€When€he€informed€his€supervisor€that€he€could€ð ðhardly€standðð€the€pain€heÏwas€experiencing,€his€supervisor€responded,€ð ðour€company€doctor€is€through€with€you.€€If€youÏthink€you€can€get€your€own€doctor€to€get€you€out,€get€out.ðð€€ÌÌà àDuring€this€period€of€time,€Crabtreeððs€mental€condition€deteriorated€significantly,€and€heÏbegan€experiencing€emotional€breakdowns€and€persistent€vomiting€before€and€after€work.€€At€trial,ÏCrabtreeððs€wife€testified€that€during€the€summer€and€fall€of€1995,€Crabtree€began€crying€frequentlyÏin€front€of€her€and€his€daughters.€€She€stated€that€Crabtree€had€always€been€very€strong€and€that€heÏhad€never€been€emotionally€unstable€before€he€injured€his€back,€but€after€his€injury€he€wouldÍroutinely€have€emotional€breakdowns€whenever€anyone€discussed€his€supervisors€at€work.€€SheÏfurther€testified€that€he€had€nightmares€and€difficulty€sleeping€because€of€anxiety,€back€pain,€and€theÏfear€of€losing€his€job€and€health€insurance.€€When€Cutler„Hammer€informed€Crabtree€that€he€wouldÏbe€fired€unless€he€met€certain€production€standards,€he€decided€that€he€could€no€longer€perform€hisÏjob€because€of€his€back€pain€and€emotional€difficulties€and€quit.ÌÌà àIn€February€1996,€Crabtreeððs€emotional€difficulties€led€him€to€consult€Joseph€Ball,€M.D.,ÏP.C.,€a€board„certified€psychiatrist.€€Ball€noted€that€Crabtree€exhibited€symptoms€including€cryingÏspells,€frequent€depressive€mood€episodes,€problems€with€frustration€and€anger,€nightmares,€andÏgeneral€anxiety,€and€he€diagnosed€Crabtree€as€suffering€from€major€depression€with€some€post„traumatic€features.€€Ball€prescribed€anti„depressant€medication€to€treat€Crabtreeððs€depression€and€aÏmuscle€relaxant€to€treat€his€persistent€back€pain.€€On€the€basis€of€Crabtreeððs€depression,€heÏassigned€Crabtree€an€impairment€rating€of€25€percent€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€Ball€testified€in€aÏdeposition€that€Crabtreeððs€perceived€mistreatment€at€Cutler„Hammer,€his€feelings€of€inadequacy,€hisÏanxiety€over€his€inability€to€care€for€his€family,€and€his€lack€of€income€all€contributed€to€hisÏdepression.€€He€ultimately€decided,€however,€that€the€depression€was€directly€related€to€his€workÏinjury€and€that€he€would€not€have€developed€a€mental€disorder€had€he€not€sustained€that€injury.€ÏAlthough€Ball€indicated€that€Crabtreeððs€condition€might€improve€somewhat€in€the€future,€he€opinedÏthat€Crabtreeððs€impairment€probably€would€not€improve€beyond€the€25€percent€impairment€ratingÏhe€had€assigned.ÌÌà àOn€the€advice€of€his€attorney,€Crabtree€consulted€orthopedic€surgeon€Walter€H.€King,€Jr.,ÏM.D.,€for€an€independent€medical€evaluation.€€King€noted€that€Crabtree€exhibited€a€decreased€rangeÏof€motion€in€his€lower€back€and€that€an€MRI€showed€mild€degenerative€changes.€€King€diagnosedÏCrabtree€as€suffering€from€degenerative€disk€disease,€which€he€concluded€had€been€aggravated€byÏCrabtreeððs€back€injury.€€Based€on€his€examination,€King€assigned€Crabtree€an€impairment€rating€ofÏ11€percent€to€the€body€as€a€whole,€attributing€6€percent€of€the€impairment€to€the€degenerative€discÏdisease€and€5€percent€to€ongoing€lower€back€pain.€€King€acknowledged€that€it€would€be€impossibleÏto€discern€how€much€of€the€6€percent€impairment€assigned€to€the€degenerative€disc€disease€could€beÏascribed€to€aggravation€from€the€work€injury.ÌÌà àCutler„Hammer€filed€suit€against€Crabtree€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(a)(1)Ï(1999),€requesting€that€the€court€absolve€the€company€of€liability€for€Crabtreeððs€injuries.× ƒ+ ××  ×€€After€aÍhearing,€the€trial€court€found€that€Crabtree€was€permanently€and€totally€disabled€as€a€result€of€theÏcombined€effects€of€his€physical€and€mental€injuries.€€€In€a€Memorandum€Opinion,€the€trial€judgeÏstated,ÌÌà8 àà8 àThe€most€persuasive€testimony€is€that€of€Mr.€Crabtree€himself.€€ThisÏCourt€finds€that€Mr.€Crabtree€reached€maximum€medicalÏimprovement€on€January€21,€1997€when€rated€by€Dr.€Ball.€€TheÏCourt€finds€further€that€the€treatment€of€Mr.€Crabtree€at€Cutler„Hammer€when€he€was€unable€to€work€.€.€.€was€certainly€inconsistentÏwith€18€years€of€excellent€work€history€with€no€injuries€and€noÏexhibitors€of€psychiatric€disorders.€€The€Court€finds€that€there€was€aÏconcerted€effort€by€Cutler„Hammer€to€get€rid€of€Mr.€CrabtreeÏwhether€they€believed€him€to€be€a€malingerer€or€just€wanted€to€beÏfree€of€an€injured€employee.ÌÌIn€making€his€findings€of€fact,€the€trial€judge€did€not€distinguish€what€portions€of€Crabtreeððs€totalÏdisability€could€be€attributed€to€his€physical€or€his€mental€injury.ÌÌà àCutler„Hammer€appealed,€and€the€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€PanelÏconsidered€this€matter.€€Regarding€Crabtreeððs€physical€injury,€the€Panel€found€that€he€was€entitledÏto€compensation€for€a€5€percent€anatomical€impairment€due€to€chronic€pain,€though€it€rejected€theÏadditional€6€percent€anatomical€impairment€found€by€King€because€the€record€did€not€reflect€anyÏevidence€of€an€anatomical€change€in€Crabtreeððs€pre„existing€degenerative€condition.€€AfterÏconsidering€evidence€regarding€Crabtreeððs€age,€education,€skills,€training,€and€employmentÍopportunities,€the€Panel€concluded€that€Crabtree€possessed€minimal€ability€to€secure€employmentÏand€was€entitled€to€an€award€of€30€percent€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€body€as€a€whole.× ƒ, ××  ×ÌÌà àRegarding€Crabtreeððs€mental€injury,€however,€the€Panel€disagreed€with€the€trial€court.€€TheÏPanel€found€that€the€mental€injury€had€been€brought€about€primarily€by€the€criticism€CrabtreeÏreceived€from€his€supervisors€and€co„workers€and€by€Crabtreeððs€fear€that€he€would€lose€his€job.€ÏNoting€that€Crabtreeððs€co„workers€and€supervisors€had€criticized€his€work€performance€even€beforeÏhe€suffered€his€back€injury,€the€Panel€concluded€that€his€mental€injury€was€independent€from€hisÏphysical€injury.€€Holding€that€ð ð[f]ear€that€one€might€lose€his€job€and€benefits€of€his€employment€.Ï..€is€not€within€itself€sufficient€to€require€payment€of€compensation€benefits,ðð€the€Panel€concludedÏthat€Crabtreeððs€mental€injury€was€not€compensable.€€We€granted€review€in€this€cause€pursuant€toÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(5)(B)€in€order€to€determine€whether€the€trial€court€erred€in€findingÏthat€Crabtreeððs€mental€injury€was€compensable.€€Because€we€conclude€that€the€preponderance€of€theÏevidence€supports€the€trial€courtððs€finding€of€a€causal€connection€between€Crabtreeððs€back€injuryÏand€his€severe€depression,€we€reject€the€Panelððs€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€regardingÏthe€mental€injury€and€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.ÌÌÓ  ÓII.€€Standard€of€ReviewÌÓ  ÓÌà àIn€workersðð€compensation€cases,€the€standard€of€review€is€de€novo€upon€the€record,Ïaccompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€trial€courtððs€factual€findings,€unless€theÏpreponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(2);€òòSpencer€v.ÏTowson€Moving€and€Storage,€Inc.óó,€922€S.W.2d€508,€509€(Tenn.€1996).€€The€application€of€thisÏstandard€requires€the€Court€to€weigh€in€more€depth€the€factual€findings€and€conclusions€of€the€trialÏcourt€in€a€workersðð€compensation€case.€€òòCleek€v.€Wal„Mart€Storesóó,€19€S.W.3d€770,€773€(Tenn.Ï2000).€€When€the€trial€judge€has€seen€and€heard€a€witnessððs€testimony,€considerable€deference€mustÏbe€accorded€on€review€to€the€trial€courtððs€findings€of€credibility€and€the€weight€to€be€accorded€toÏthat€testimony.€€òòTownsend€v.€Stateóó,€826€S.W.2d€434,€437€(Tenn.€1992);€€òòHumphrey€v.€DavidÏWitherspoon,€Inc.óó,€734€S.W.2d€315,€315€(Tenn.€1987).ÌÌÓ  ÓIII.€€AnalysisÌÓ  ÓÌà àIn€order€to€recover€benefits€under€the€Tennesseeððs€Workersðð€Compensation€Act,€anÏemployee€must€prove€that€he€or€she€has€suffered€an€ð ðinjury€by€accident€arising€out€of€and€in€theÏcourse€of€employment.ðð€€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„102(12)€(1999).€€€An€injury€is€considered€to€beÏð ðby€accidentðð€when€it€is€ð ðproduced€by€an€ððunusual€combination€of€fortuitous€circumstances.ðððð€ÏòòContinental€Ins.€Co.€v.€Dowdyóó,€560€S.W.2d€619,€621€(Tenn.€1978)€(quoting€òòBrown€Shoe€Co.€v.ÏReedóó,€350€S.W.2d€65,€69€(1961)).€€An€injury€is€deemed€to€arise€out€of€the€employment€ð ðwhenÏthere€is€apparent€to€the€rational€mind€.€.€.€a€causal€connection€between€the€conditions€under€whichÏthe€work€is€.€.€.€performed€and€the€resulting€injury,€and€occurs€in€the€course€of€oneððs€employment€ifÏit€occurs€when€an€employee€is€performing€a€duty€he€was€employed€to€do.ðð€€òòFink€v.€Caudleóó,€856ÏS.W.2d€952,€958€(Tenn.€1993)(citations€omitted).€€In€òòTindall€v.€Waring€Park€Ô_ÔAssððnÔ_Ôóó,€this€CourtÏdefined€the€ð ðcausal€connectionðð€required€before€an€injury€will€be€held€compensable:ÌÌà8 àà8 à[B]y€ð ðcausal€connectionðð€is€meant€not€proximate€cause€as€used€inÏthe€law€of€negligence,€but€cause€in€the€sense€that€the€accident€had€itsÏorigin€in€the€hazards€to€which€the€employment€exposed€the€employeeÏwhile€doing€his€work.€Although€absolute€certainty€is€not€required€forÏproof€of€causation,€medical€proof€that€the€injury€was€caused€in€theÏcourse€of€the€employeeððs€work€must€not€be€speculative€or€soÏuncertain€regarding€the€cause€of€the€injury€that€attributing€it€to€theÏplaintiffððs€employment€would€be€an€arbitrary€determination€or€aÏmere€possibility.€If,€upon€undisputed€proof,€it€is€conjectural€whetherÏdisability€resulted€from€a€cause€operating€within€petitionerððsÏemployment,€or€a€cause€operating€without€employment,€there€can€beÏno€award.€If,€however,€equivocal€medical€evidence€combined€withÏother€evidence€supports€a€finding€of€causation,€such€an€inferenceÏmay€nevertheless€be€drawn€by€the€trial€court€under€the€case€law.ÌÌ725€S.W.2d€935,€937€(Tenn.€1987)(citations€and€internal€quotation€marks€omitted).ÌÌà àBecause€of€the€difficulty€in€pinpointing€the€exact€cause€of€many€mental€injuries,€TennesseeÏcourts€have€long€struggled€to€define€precisely€when€a€mental€injury€will€be€deemed€an€injury€byÏaccident€arising€out€of€the€employment.€€In€so€doing,€they€have€endeavored€to€strike€a€balanceÏbetween€compensating€employees€for€their€injuries€and€ensuring€that€employers€are€not€obligated€toÏbear€the€costs€of€spurious€claims€or€claims€whose€true€origins€lie€outside€the€workplace.€€òòCf.óó€òòJose€v.ÏEquifaxóó,€556€S.W.2d€82,€84€(Tenn.€1977)€(stating€that€the€Tennessee€Workersðð€Compensation€ActÏð ðdoes€not€embrace€every€stress€or€strain€of€daily€living€or€every€undesirable€experienceÏencountered€in€carrying€out€the€duties€of€a€contract€of€employmentðð€and€noting€that€ð ð[workersðð]Ïcompensation€coverage€is€not€as€broad€as€general,€comprehensive€health€and€accident€insuranceðð);ÏLawrence€Joseph,€òòThe€Causation€Issue€in€Workersðð€Compensation€Mental€Disability€Casesóó,€36ÏVand.€L.€Rev.€263,€291€n.113€(1983)€(discussing€the€use€of€a€ð ðdiscernible€objective€eventðð€as€aÏð ðbadge€of€reliabilityðð€which€may€be€used€to€objectively€determine€the€causal€connection€betweenÏemployment€and€a€mental€injury).€€In€crafting€this€balance,€Tennessee€courts€have€resolved€thatÏmental€injuries€should€be€compensable€when€shown€to€be€work„related,€but,€under€the€statutoryÏð ðinjury€by€accidentðð€requirement,€there€must€be€a€specific€incident€that€triggers€the€injury.€€òòSeeóó€26ÏTenn.€Jur.€òòWorkersðð€Compensationóóðð€24€(1999).€€Thus,€Tennessee€has€allowed€compensation€for€aÏmental€injury€when€that€injury€has€been€caused€by€either€(1)€a€compensable€physical€injury,€or€(2)€aÏsudden€or€unusual€mental€stimulus,€such€as€a€fright,€shock,€or€even€excessive,€unexpected€anxiety.€ÏòòSeeóó€òòJoseóó,€556€S.W.2d€at€84;€òòbut€seeóó€òòAllied€Chem.€Corp.€v.€Wellsóó,€578€S.W.2d€369,€373€(Tenn.Ï1979)€(holding€that€worry,€anxiety,€and€stress€ð ðwithin€the€bounds€of€the€ups€and€downs€ofÏemotional€normal€human€experienceðð€are€insufficient€to€support€an€award).ÌÌà àIn€this€case,€the€only€medical€proof€offered€concerning€the€origins€of€Crabtreeððs€mentalÏinjury€was€Ballððs€deposition€testimony.€€Ball€conceded€that€Crabtreeððs€worries€over€his€financialÏability€to€support€his€family€and€his€perceived€mistreatment€at€work€contributed€to€his€depression,Ïbut€he€testified€repeatedly€and€unequivocally€that€those€worries€resulted€from€Crabtreeððs€physicalÏinjury€and€that€he€would€not€have€developed€the€depression€he€suffered€had€he€not€been€injured€atÏwork.€€None€of€the€evidence€offered€by€Cutler„Hammer€controverts€Ballððs€testimony.€€Moreover,ÏCrabtree,€whose€testimony€the€trial€court€found€persuasive,€attributed€his€depression€to€his€physicalÏinjury,€as€did€his€wife.€€Based€on€this€testimony,€we€conclude€that€the€preponderance€of€the€evidenceÏsupports€the€trial€courtððs€conclusion€that€Crabtreeððs€mental€injury€had€its€origin€in€the€work„relatedÏback€injury€he€suffered€on€February€28,€1995.€€Therefore,€we€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€conclusion€thatÏCrabtreeððs€mental€injury€is€compensable.€€Given€Crabtreeððs€age,€work€history,€education,€andÏlimited€job€opportunities,€we€conclude€that€the€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€the€trialÍcourtððs€determination€that€Crabtree€has€been€rendered€permanently€and€totally€disabled€by€theÏcombined€effects€of€his€physical€and€mental€injuries.€ÌÌÓ  ÓIV.€€ConclusionÌÓ  ÓÌà àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€we€hold€that€Crabtreeððs€mental€injury€was€caused€by€a€physicalÏinjury€arising€out€of€and€in€the€course€of€his€employment,€and€therefore€we€find€the€mental€injury€toÏbe€compensable.€€Accordingly,€we€reject€the€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€of€the€SpecialÏWorkersðð€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€regarding€Crabtreeððs€mental€injury,€and€we€affirm€theÏdecision€of€the€trial€court.€€Costs€on€this€appeal€will€be€taxed€to€Cutler„Hammer,€for€whichÏexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à___________________________________€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àADOLPHO€A.€BIRCH,€JR.,€JUSTICE