WPC  *yʼnjGu y*"w1ȵy)^J7"C<5̥)te#J \e8|\=!WB񕔩d7,4qVP6C)HyPd4fUƢι DLU WuaU-NN % 0(#! nY w 4  N& 0D( ASl  0D 0D D/ < - 6/ U:e~N^ ! m- D L T \ d l t |     B B D3(9 Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($HP LaserJet 8000 Series PS0C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\JO.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\jo.wpt@q'\P"3|x(3$ !    `E<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ !  ($$   1  ..' dxdLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 ##XXd# , "  _XXXX?XX   Ad FILEDXX?  November19,1999Cecil_Crowson_,Jr.AppellateCourtClerkdAx ,cAZ"Arial Regular t "  X=~XXXt%XX=~  _  Ad FILEDX=~Xt%  November19,1999  Cecil_Crowson_,Jr. xx AppellateCourt_ClerkdAx _ |s'L U12345678910HP Pd dYYYY'dxd !  _% - TR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T XX_v `@0,j:`  `@E ` 8ttxP  v__@  INTHESUPREMEOFTENNESSEE   @'ATNASHVILLE % # BOBBYDAVIDMCELHANEY%#@-} p % $ RUTHERFORDCHANCERY%$! &J @-} p No.Below% % 98WC413%% 8\  ` Plaintiff/Appellee@-} Jn @-} p Hon.% & DonR.Ash%&7 \ vs.@-H-} n  @-}@-} p No.% ' M199800244WCR3CV%'   % ( CONSOLIDATEDFREIGHTWAYS%(3@-}   CORPORATIONOFDELAWARE  }   @-} ` Defendant/Appell% ) ant%)@-} p % * AFFIRMED%*=  @&JUDGMENTORDER 4  ` ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingthe F!j orderofreferraltotheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanelsMemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference. ` Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthattheMemorandumOpinionofthePanelshouldbeacceptedandapproved;and ` Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanelsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawareadoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. ` Costswillbepaidby% + employer/appellant%+` ,ConsolidatedFreightwaysCorporationofDelaware,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. ` ITISSOORDEREDon% , November19,1999%, . `     h      p PERCURIAM :0-   6>2/ #XX,#,XX   _v `@0,j:`  `@E` 8ttxP  v_INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL    ATNASHVILLE : (July15,1999Session)  N   BOBBYDAVID_MCELHANEY_,  )  RUTHERFORDCHANCERY #  Z    0      8   ) l    0      8   )   ~   Plaintiff/Appellee, 8   )  DONR.ASH,     0      8   )  TrialJudge   v.  0      8   )      0      8   )  No.M199800244_WC_ԄR3CV  CONSOLIDATED_FREIGHTWAYS_  ) ( CORPORATIONOFDELAWARE,  ) :   0      8   ) L  Defendant/Appellant. 8   ) ^ ForAppellant:     8      @ ForAppellee: h SusanBradley     8      @ William_McCaskill_,Jr. z Wilson&Bradley     8      @ Taylor,_Pigue_,_Marchetti_   Murfreesboro,Tennessee 8      @ Bennett&_McCaskill_ !   0      8      @ Nashville,Tennessee "   MEMORANDUMOPINION  (Z#! Mailed: @  @  @  .*~%# MembersofthePanel: /*( FrankF._Drowota_,III,AssociateJustice,SupremeCourt 1,* FrankClement,Jr.,SpecialJudge 2.+ SamuelL.Lewis,SpecialJudge 3 /,   AFFIRMED     8      @     Lewis,Judge <:52   N;63  8XXdXXd8     MEMORANDUMOPINION      ThisworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecial H WorkersCompensationAppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordance  l withTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3)(Supp.1998)forhearingand @  reportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.In d  thisappeal,theemployer/appellant,Consolidated_Freightways_ԀCompany   ( Consolidated),contends(1)thattheemployee/appellee,BobbyDavid  _McElhaney_Ԁ( _McElhaney_),didnotprovidepropernoticeofhisAugust1996   andJune1997injuries;(2)that_McElhaney_ssuitshouldbebarredbythe D statuteoflimitations;(3)that_McElhaney_Ԁdidnotsustainanyinjuriesarising h duringthecourseandscopeofhisemployment;and(4)thattheevidence < presentedattrialdoesnotsupportanawardoftwentypercentvocational ` disability.Therefore,theemployerrequeststhatthispanelreversethe   judgmentofthetrialcourt.Asdiscussedbelow,thepanelaffirmsthe " judgmentofthetrialcourt. $   Theemployee,_McElhaney_,isahighschoolgraduatewithtwoyearsof &@"  collegeandabackgroundintruckdriving.Atthetimeoftrialin1998, )d$" _McElhaney_Ԁwas52yearsoldandhadbeenemployedasatruckdriverfor 8+&$ Consolidatedfortwentyyears. \-(&  OnAugust9,1996,_McElhaney_Ԁfellwhileclimbingintohistractor /*( truckandinjuredhisback.HereportedhisinjurytooneofConsolidateds 1,* dispatchers,Don_Sissom_,andtoHenriettaDillon( Dillon),the 3/, Consolidatedemployeeinchargeofworkerscompensationmatters.Dillon 5<1. referred_McElhaney_ԀtoColumbiaHealthConvenientCareCenter( Columbia 8`30 _HealthCare)andthentoDr.RobertWeiss,aneurosurgeon.AnMRI  orderedbyDr.Weissrevealedthat_McElhaney_ԀhadabulgingdiscattheL45 $ levelofhislowerback.Consolidatedpaid_McElhaney_smedicalexpenses H resultingfromtheAugust9,1996injury._McElhaney_Ԁreturnedtohisjobasa  l ConsolidatedtruckdriverinOctoberof1996andworkedfulltimeuntilJune @  of1997. d   OnJune1,1997,_McElhaney_ԀdrovehistruckintoConsolidateds   terminalarea.Ashesteppedontheclutchandshiftedgears,hefeltasharp  paininhisback.Thenextday_McElhaney_ԀcalledDillonatConsolidatedand   toldherthatheneededtoseeadoctor._McElhaney_ԀtoldDillonthathisback D washurtingandthatithadbeenhurtingsincehispreviousinjuryin1996. h Dillondidnotask_McElhaney_Ԁforfurtherdetailsconcerninghisinjury,and < hedidnotprovideanytoher.DillontoldhimtoreturntoDr.Weissorgoto ` ColumbiaHealthCarefortreatment.    InearlyJune1997,_McElhaney_ԀwenttoColumbiaHealthCareandalso " visitedDr.WeissandDr.ThomasOBrien._McElhaney_Ԁdidnotinformany $  ofthosemedicalprovidersthatheexperiencedthepaininhisbackafter &@"  shiftinggearsinhistruck.OnJuly15,1997,_McElhaney_ԀvisitedDr.James )d$" _Renfro_ԀwhodeterminedfromanMRIthat_McElhaney_Ԁhadalargedisc 8+&$ _herniation_ԀattheL45levelofhislowerback._McElhaney_ԀreturnedtoDr. \-(& WeissinJanuaryof1998,andDr.Weissrecommendedsurgeryfor /*( _McElhaney_sherniateddisc.Dr.WeissscheduledthesurgeryforJanuary30, 1,* 1998.However,becauseConsolidatedrefusedtoauthorizepayment;Dr. 3/, Weissofficeinformed_McElhaney_Ԁthathissurgeryhadbeencanceled. 5<1.  _McElhaney_ԀreturnedonhisowntoDr.WeissinMarchof1998.Dr. 8`30 Weissoperatedon_McElhaney_sbackandthentoldhimthathecouldreturn  towork.Dr.Weissinstructed_McElhaney_Ԁtoavoidheavylifting,repetitive $ bendingandstooping,andmaintainingasinglepostureforlongperiodsof H time.  l  Followinganevidentiaryhearingthetrialcourtheld:(1)_McElhaney_s @  August1996andJune1997injurieswereworkrelated;(2)_McElhaney_Ԁhad d  sustainedatwentypercentvocationalimpairmenttothebodyasawhole,and   (3)_McElhaney_Ԁwasentitledtoreceivehispermanentbenefitsinalumpsum  award.Thetrialcourtalsoawardedfuturemedicalexpensesandattorneys   fees. D  Ourreviewisdenovoupontherecordofthetrialcourt,accompanied h byapresumptionofcorrectnessofthefindingsbelow,unlessthe < preponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.506 ` 225(e)(2)(Supp.1998).ThisstandardofreviewrequiresthisCourttoweigh   indepththefactualfindingsandconclusionsofthetrialcourt.Humphreyv. " David_Witherspoon_,Inc.,734S.W.2d315,315(Tenn.1987). $   #XX, #,XXTheemployerarguesthat_McElhaney_ԀdidnotgivenoticeofhisJune1, &@"  1997injuryasrequiredbyTenn.CodeAnn.506201(1991).#XX, 4#,XXThestatute )d$" providesinpertinentpart: 8+&$  Everyinjuredemployeeorhisrepresentativeshall,immediately \-(&  upontheoccurrenceofaninjury,orassoonthereafterasis n.)'  reasonableandpracticable,giveorcausetobegiventothe /*(  employerwhohasnotactualnotice,writtennoticeoftheinjury. 0+) ӀWorkerscompensationclaimsmaybebarredunless theemployerhas 2.+ actualnoticeofanaccidentalinjury,theemployerreceiveswrittennotice 4*0- within30daysaftertheoccurrenceoftheaccident,orreasonableexcusefor 6N2/ failuretogivesuchnoticeismadetothesatisfactionofthetrialcourt. "9r41 _Raines_Ԁv.ShelbyWilliamsIndus.,814S.W.2d346,348(Tenn.1991).  However,anemployeeisnotrequiredtogivenoticeofeachofseveral $ injurieshereceivedinaworkrelatedaccidenttoreceiveworkers H compen#XX,5#,XXsationbenefits.QuakerOatsCo.v.Smith,574S.W.2d45,48(Tenn.  l 1978).#XX,:#,XX @   #XX,:#,XX  7InOsbornev.BurlingtonIndustries,Inc.,672S.W.2d757(Tenn.   1984),theemployeeimmediatelyinformedhissupervisorofasharppainin  hisback.Theemployeesconditiongraduallyworsened;however,itwasnot   untilmorethantwoyearsaftertheoriginalinjurythattheemployees D physiciandiagnosedaruptureddisc.ThisCourtfoundthattheemployee h satisfiedthestatutorynoticerequirementbyinforminghissupervisorofhis < initialinjuryalmostthreeyearspriortofilinghislawsuit.Id.at760. `  Here#XX, ;#,XX,Consolidatedstipulatedthat_McElhaney_Ԁgavetimelynoticeof   theAugust1996injury.#XX,5>#,XXԀAdditionally,#XX,?#,XXԀ#XX,R?#,XXonedayaftertheJune1997injury " occurred,_McElhaney_ԀinformedDillon,theConsolidatedemployeewho $  specificallyhandlesworkerscompensationclaims,#XX,?#,XXԀofthebackpainhehad &@"  experienced.#XX,@#,XXDillontestifiedthatshedidnotneedtofilloutanaccident )d$" reportbecause_McElhaney_sinjurywasa#XX,7A#,XXԀ reoccurrence.Therecord 8+&$ supportstheconclusionthatConsolidatedhadactualnoticeof_McElhaney_s \-(& August1996injuryandofhisJune1997injury.#XX,B#,XX /*( M; Consolidatedalsoarguesthat_McElhaney_Ԁfailedtofilehislawsuit 1,* withinthe 3/, oneyearstatuteoflimitationsforworkerscompensationsuits.Tenn.Code 5<1. Ann. 8`30 506203(a)(Supp.1998)provides:   ...ifwithintheoneyearperiodvoluntarypaymentsofcompensation $ are paidtotheinjuredpersonortheinjuredpersonsdependants,an 6  actiontorecoveranyunpaidportionofthecompensation,payable H  underthischapter,maybeinstitutedwithinone(1)yearfromthelater  Z  ofthedateofthelastauthorizedtreatmentorthetimetheemployer  l D shallceasemakingsuchpayments,exceptincasesprovidedforby . ~  506230. @  'GConsolidatedmadeapaymenttoDr.WeissinJanuaryof1998._McElhaney_ d  filedhislawsuitonApril2,1998,lessthanoneyearafterthelastpayment   Consolidatedmadeonhisbehalf.Therefore,wefindthat_McElhaney_s  actionisnotbarredbecausehefileditwithinthestatuteoflimitationsfor   workerscompensationsuits. D  Consolidatedfurthercontendsthat_McElhaney_sJune1997injurywas h notworkrelated.Consolidatedemphasizesthefactthat_McElhaney_Ԁdidnot < tellanyonethathisbackpainoccurredwhenhewasshiftingorchanging ` gearsinhistractortruck.    Toprovea workrelatedinjury,aplaintiffmustestablishbya " preponderanceoftheevidencethatheorshesustainedaninjury arisingout $  ofandinthecourseoftheplaintiffsemployment.Tenn.CodeAnn.506 &@"  102(a)(5)(Supp.1998).Generally,aplaintiffmustestablishthecausation )d$" elementbyexpertmedicalevidence.Ormanv.Williams_Sonoma_,Inc.,803 8+&$ S.W.2d672,676(Tenn.1991).Althoughcausationcannotbebasedupon \-(& speculativeorconjecturalproof,absolutemedicalcertaintyisnotrequired, /*( andreasonabledoubtmustbeextendedinfavoroftheemployee.Hillv. 1,* EagleBendMfg.,Inc.,942S.W.2d483,487(Tenn.1997).#XX,BC#,XX 3/,  InP&LConstructionCo.v._Lankford_,559S.W.2d793(Tenn.1978), 5<1. thisCourtdiscussedthestandardforestablishingcausationinworkers 8`30 compensationcases.#XX,O#,XXԀTheCourtdeterminedthat   Inaworkmanscompensationcase,atrialjudgemayproperly $  predicateanawardonmedicaltestimonytotheeffectthata 6  giveninjury couldbethecauseoftheplaintiffsinjury, H  whenhealsohadbeforehimlaytestimonyfromwhichit  Z  mayreasonablybeinferredthattheincidentwasinfactthe  l  causeoftheinjury. . ~ Id.at794(citationsomitted).#XX,SP#,XX R  #XX,S#,XX PInhisdeposition,Dr.Weisstestifiedthat_McElhaney_sJune1997 v  injurywasacontinuumofhisAugust1996workrelatedinjury.#XX,fS#,XXԀDr.Weiss   alsostatedthatwithinareasonabledegreeofmedicalcertainty,_McElhaney_s  June1997injurywascausedbyhisjobatConsolidated.Dr.Weiss 2 depositionwascounteredbyDr.ThomasOBriensofficerecordswhich V indicatethat *z _McElhaney_sJune1997injurywas duetodegenerativediscdisease N unrelated r totheAugust1996workincident.   !  AlthoughthetestimonyofDr.WeissandDr.OBrienconflictedasto #  whether_McElhaney_sJune1997injurywasworkrelated;additionaltrial %.! testimonysubstantiatesDr.Weissopinion.Attrial,_McElhaney_Ԁtestifiedthat (R#! hefeltthepaininhisbackwhilehewasshiftinggearsinhistractortruck. &*v%# Further,_McElhaney_swife,Mrs.Valerie_McElhaney_,testifiedthatwhen J,'% _McElhaney_ԀreturnedhomefromworkonJune1,1997,shehadtohelphim n.)' intothehousebecausehewasinpain.#XX,T#,XXThetestimonyofDr.Weiss, 0+) _McElhaney_,andhiswifesupportsthetrialcourtsfindingthat_McElhaney_s 2.+ injuriesaroseoutofhisemployment. 4*0-  Finally,Consolidatedarguesthattheevidencepresentedattrialdoes 6N2/ notsupportatwentypercentvocationaldisabilityaward.Instead, "9r41 Consolidatedsubmitsthat_McElhaney_svocationaldisabilityawardshouldbe  limitedtoone(1)timestheanatomicalrating. $  Indeterminingtheextentofvocationaldisability,thetrialcourt H considersjobskills,education,training,durationofdisabilityandjob  l opportunitiesforthedisabledinadditiontoanatomicaldisabilitydetermined @  byexperts.Perkinsv.EnterpriseTruckLines,Inc.,896S.W.2d123,127 d  (Tenn.1995).Thecourtalsoconsiderstheemployeesownassessmentofhis   orhercondition.Id. Wherethetrialjudgehasseenandheardthe  witnesses,especiallyifissuesofcredibilityandweighttobegivenoral   testimonyareinvolved,considerabledeferencemustbeaccordedthose D circumstancesonreview.Townsendv.State,826S.W.2d434,437(Tenn. h 1992). <  Therecordrevealssubstantialevidencewhichsupportsthetrialcourts ` findingonvocationaldisability.Afteroperatingon_McElhaney_sherniated   disc,Dr.Weissassigned_McElhaney_Ԁatenpercentpermanentimpairment " rating.Dr.Weissallowed_McElhaney_Ԁtoreturntoworkbutinstructedhimto $  avoidheavylifting,repetitivebendingandstooping,andmaintainingasingle &@"  postureforlongperiodsoftime.Moreover,_McElhaney_Ԁtestifiedthatthe )d$" injurytohisbackhasadverselyaffectedhislife._McElhaney_Ԁstatedthathe 8+&$ oftenexperiencesbackpainandthatheisunabletoworkinhisyardashe \-(& didinthepast. /*(  Aftercarefullyexaminingtherecordbeforeusandconsideringthe 1,* relevantlawgoverningtheissuespresentedforreview,wefindthatthe 3/, evidencedoesnotpreponderateagainstthetrialcourtsaward.Thejudgment 5<1. ofthetrialcourtisaffirmed.Costsonappealwillbetaxedtothe 8`30 employer/appellant,Consolidated.    0      8     _________________________  Z   0      8     SamuelL.Lewis,SpecialJudge  l fCONCUR:   ̀_______________________  FrankF._Drowota_,III,  AssociateJusticeSupremeCourt   ________________________ h FrankClement,Jr.,SpecialJudge *z   0      8      @    0      8   #XX,=Z#,XX  #XX,[i#