WPC  `кG:7SIR_l:LJrL*(A=^zuVvOdvP,*|t ke-Adtxݖ_Jkxe(pqR.Q̜PzM&K q=QT5%c7#9~`wvՁ&9# EydXg#h 1>Ҽ"YHܧg{ ]^n`- g"1B i >wC 'WnBN%ݼK*k _ܤ=KÆkAאϟ-e(֋C21hf:yzHyW־\C/° !Y@lM]n@!d;ZӕZg|66*hOJ˛Ԇ#-U>'^Z#9xflpGV%vH.g:HUG oh+Ibu7aUNN % 0(#! nY w 4  0<& 0<b 0< 0 0 0 0 0t 0S 0/ 0 0 0 0 0^ 00 0 0 0 0Z 0N^  m      $ , 4 < D  L VM\(`N5U>U*U:'oaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa B AQ> 0D 0DH 0D D3(9 Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($HP LaserJet 8000 DN PS0C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\JO.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\jo.wpt{Z='1m ؓ3|x<:Default Para<:Footnote Ref<:Footnote Tex2G+G 0_level1  X /%   l t$|,/23  ..  /%  l t$|,/  2D+G 0_level2   ,"l l l t$|,,23  ..  /%  l t$|,/  2A+G 0_level3   ) t$|,)23  ..  /%  l t$|,/  2>+G 0_level4  ` &t$|,&23  ..  /%  l t$|,/  2;+G 0_level5   #ttt$|,#23  ..  /%  l t$|,/  28+G 0_level6    $|, 23  ..  /%  l t$|,/  25+G 0_level7  h $$$|,23  ..  /%  l t$|,/  22+G 0_level8   |||,23  ..  /%  l t$|,/  2/+G 0_level9    ,23  ..  /%  l t$|,/  2GG 0_levnl1  X /%   l t$|,/23   /%  l t$|,/  2DG 0_levnl2   ,"l l l t$|,,23   /%  l t$|,/  2AG 0_levnl3   ) t$|,)23   /%  l t$|,/  2>G 0_levnl4  ` &t$|,&23   /%  l t$|,/  2;G 0_levnl5   #ttt$|,#23   /%  l t$|,/  28G 0_levnl6    $|, 23   /%  l t$|,/  25G 0_levnl7  h $$$|,23   /%  l t$|,/  22G 0_levnl8   |||,23   /%  l t$|,/  2/G 0_levnl9    ,23   /%  l t$|,/  jK'L U12345678910H + \"  _4X޳XXX4wX4X޳   Ad FILED4X޳X4w  October11,1999Cecil_Crowson_,Jr.AppellateCourtClerkdAx \  `&Times New Roman%2A`Arial,cAZ"Arial Regular e \"USUS.,  _4XXXX4vE X4X   Ad FILED4XX 4vE  October11,1999  Cecil_Crowson_,Jr. xx AppellateCourtClerkdA  d[\]^`C<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ !  (3$ !  ($$   1  YYYY'dxd !  _% - TR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T,bXX_vZ1`@0,j:`  `@E` 8ttxP  v__@  INTHESUPREMEOFTENNESSEE  @'ATNASHVILLE % # MONIKAPELIS%#@-} p % $ MONTGOMERYCHANCERY%$  J @-} p No.Below% % 96060075%%  \  ` Plaintiff/Appellee@-}  n @-} p Hon.% & RobertW.Wedemeyer%&1 0  vs.@-H-} B  @-}@-} p No.% ' 01S019809CH00160%' f  % ( PRECISIONPRINTINGAND0  }x (#(# PACKAGING,INC.%(5@-}   @-} ` Defendant/Appell% ) ant%)@-} p % * AFFIRMED%*H  @&JUDGMENTORDER 4  ` ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingthe j orderofreferraltotheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanelsMemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference. ` Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthattheMemorandumOpinionofthePanelshouldbeacceptedandapproved;and ` Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanelsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawareadoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. ` Costswillbepaidby% + defendant/appellant%+k ,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. ` ITISSOORDEREDon% , October11,1999%, . `     h      p PERCURIAM 40-  ` #X(X,b#  6>2/      TR[A'[A' Legal A' Legal A' LegalT  *$|,X*3XXXX INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE    Q SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL  QFF'ATNASHVILLE `   ?%  l t$|,$X?3&%X3X  _MONIKA_Ԁ_PELIS_,   h     ) p 01S019809CH00160     ) p MONTGOMERYCOUNTY    )    t *$|,X*ӀPlaintiff/Appellee,  ) p Hon.RobertW._Wedemeyer_, `   t) p Judge <    <%  l t$|,X<) h   vs. `     h     ) p No.96060075 D  _vZ5`@0,j:`  `@E` 8ttxP  v_ `     h     )   PRECISIONPRINTINGAND    )  PACKAGING,INC.,   h     )   ) d  Defendant/Appellant.  ) @    FORTHEAPPELLANT: h      p FORTHEAPPELLEE:  DANIELC.TODD,Esquire h      p R.ALLANTHOMPSON,Esquire h 218ThirdAvenueNorth h      p 105SouthThirdStreet D Nashville,TN37201 h      p   Clarksville,TN37040  p  `     h  `     h h     x      l!!  H""  h#3XX%3&#   *$|,X* MEMORANDUMOPINION %&!&   ?%  l t$|,$X?*$|,X*Q%MEMBERSOFPANEL: r*%+ ?%  l t$|,$X?*$|,X*Q_ADOLPHO_ԀA.BIRCH,JR.,JUSTICE J,'- Q  HENRYDENMARKBELL.,RETIREDJUDGE 6-(. Q HAMILTONV._GAYDEN_,JR.,SPECIALJUDGE ".r)/   ?%  l t$|,$X?      ` 3&%X3X AFFIRMED 7<3: HENRYDENMARKBELL :5= SpecialJudge \;6> _#3XX%3&# _ `  ` ThisworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecial | WorkersCompensationAppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewith H _Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3)forhearingandreportingoffindingsoffact  d andconclusionsoflaw.  0  ` MonikaPelis,plaintiff/appelleeinitiatedthiscivilactiontorecoverdisability    benefitsresultingfromworkrelatedcarpaltunnelsyndromeinbothwristswhile x  employedbydefendant/appellantPrecisionPrintingandPackaging,Inc.The D  trialcourtawarded,interalia,benefitsbasedonvocationaldisabilityof20%to ` therightarmand20%totheleftarm.Ourreviewisdenovoupontherecordof 0 thetrialcourt,accompaniedbyapresumptionofcorrectnessofthefindingsof  fact,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn. | 506225(e)(2). H  ` PlaintiffMonikaPelisgraduatedfromClarksvilleNortheastHighSchoolin d 1988andattendedcollegefortwoyearsatAustinPeayUniversity.Shethen 0 workedatBurgerKingstartinginfoodpreparationandmovinguptoproduction  leaderbeforefindingabetterpositionatClarksvilleMemorialHospital.She x!  describedherworkatthehospitalasfollows: Atthesnackbar,Iwas D#" responsibleforthewholenightcrew.Iwastheonlyonethere.Irantheregister, %` $ cleanedtables,cookedfood,diddishes,kepteverythingrunningbasically,until &,"& themorningshiftcamein.Subsequently,shemovedtothehospitalcafeteria (#( whereshebeganasaporterandadvancedtothelevelofassistantchef.While t*%* atthecafeteria,she wasresponsibleforpickingupthetrash,doingdishes, @,', makingsurethedinnerdisheswerewashedforthepatients,andcleaningupthe  .\). floorsinthecafeteria.Shethentookacutinpaytobeginworkingfordefendant /(+0 PrecisionPrinting.Asofthattimeshehadexperiencednodifficultieswithher 1,2 wristsorhands.HerfirstjobatdefendantPrecisionPrintingwasshrinkwrapper p3.4 whichshecontinuedtodoforthreeyears.Afterthatplaintiffsjobforashort <506 periodwasworkingontickets.Shetestifiedthataticketpersonprintedthe 7X28 labelsthatwentontheboxesand 8$4:   2 :5<   placedthelabelsintheboxesandthereafterplacedtheboxesontheshelf.She  nextworkedforPrecisionPrintingbrieflyasacutterhelperandthenasastrip | helper.Shewasthenassignedtothejobasajogger.Priortothattimeplaintiff H hadexperiencednopainorotherdifficultieswithherhandsandwrists.Ajogger  d satatavibratingtableandpulledsheetsoflabelstightlyacrossthevibrating  0 tables.Once1000sheetswereonthetablethejoggerwouldplacethesheets    onthepalletwhichheld7000sheetsandthensentthemtothecutter.Inorder x  tomanipulatethesheetsthatwereonthetable,accordingtoplaintiffstestimony, D  shehadtofoldthecornersback,twistingherwristsaroundandgrabbingitwith ` herthumbtopullthemtightandthenvigorouslyshakethemtolinethemup. , Fourtoninemonthsafterstartingworkasajoggerplaintiffbeganexperiencing  thepain,burningsensationandtinglinginherfingertipswhichconditionwas t ultimatelydiagnosedascarpaltunnelsyndromeinbothwrists.Dr.Salyers,an @ orthopaedicsurgeon,madethisdiagnosisafterexaminationanddiagnostic  \ studies.Dr.Salyersperformedcarpaltunnelreleasesurgeryonherlefthandin ( November1995andinJanuary1996heperformedcarpaltunnelreleasesurgery  onherrighthand.OnApril10,1996Dr.Salyersdeclaredplaintifftobeat p!  maximummedicalimprovementandassessedheranatomicalimpairmentat8% <#" totherightupperextremityand8%totheleftupperextremity,usingAMA %X $ Guidelines.Dr.Salyerswasoftheopinionthatherworkhistoryasshe &$"& describedittohimwasconsistentwiththedevelopmentofhercarpaltunnel (#( syndrome. l*%*  ` SubsequenttoDr.SalyersevaluationDr.MyronL.Mills,examinedplaintiff 8,', andreviewedtherecordsrelatedtohertreatmentforthepurposeofgenerating .T). anindependentmedicalevaluation.Dr.Millsspecialtyisoccupationalmedicine. / +0 Dr.MillsagreedwithDr.Salyersdiagnosisofbilateralcarpaltunnelsyndrome 1,2 andagreedthatplaintiffhassustainedpermanentpartialimpairmenttoboth h3.4 upperextremities.UsingAMAGuidelinesheassignedasanatomicalimpairment 4506 5%totherightupperextremityand5%to 7P28   3 84:   theleftupperextremity.BothDr.SalyersandDr.Millsnotedthatthereporton :5< hergripstrengthstudyindicatedthatshehadexertedlessthanmaximumeffort.  Thismayhavebeenreflectedintheimpairmentratingsassignedbythetwo | doctorswhichineachcasewaslowerthanitmighthavebeenunderAMA H Guidelines.Theissueinthiscaseiscausation.Basedonhisownexperience  d andreportedexperienceofotherpracticingphysiciansDr.Salyersthinksitis  0 moreprobablethatnotthatthecarpaltunnelsyndromewascausedbythe    repetitiveuseofplaintiffshandsandwristsinthecourseofheremployment.Dr. x  Millsisoftheopinionthatitismoreprobablethatplaintiffsconditionresulted D  fromherobesity.Inworkerscompensationcasesappellatereviewisdenovo ` ontherecordaccompaniedbyapresumptionthatthefindingsofthetrialcourt 0 arecorrectunlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.Code  Ann.506225(e)(2).Tosatisfythisstandardofreviewwearerequiredto x conductanindependentexaminationtodeterminewherethepreponderanceof D theevidencelies.Wingertv.GovernmentofSumnerCounty,908S.W.2d921, ` 922(Tenn.1995). ,  ` Thetestimonyofexpertwitnessesmustbeconsideredinconjunctionwith  theemployeestestimonyasalaywitness.Thomasv.AetnaLifeandCasualty t!  Company,812S.W.2d278,283(Tenn.1991).Thetrialcourtimplicitlycredited @#" plaintiffstestimonynotwithstandingthattheresultsofgripstrengthtesting  %\ $ indicatedsubmaximaleffortonplaintiffspart.Cf.Williamsv.Tecumseh &("& ProductsCompany,978S.W.2d932(Tenn.1998).AttrialintheSpringof1998 (#( plaintiffsheightwas511andherweightwas287pounds.In1988when t*%* plaintiffgraduatedfromhighschoolherheightwas510andsheweighed over @,', 200pounds.Shetestifiedthathergaininweighthadbeengradual.Thus,  .\). plaintiffhadbeenobeseforaboutsevenyearsprecedingherassignmenttowork /(+0 asajoggerwithnosymptomssuggestingcarpaltunnelsyndrome.Fourtofive 1,2 monthslaterthesymptomsappeared. p3.4   4 7X28    ` Uponconsiderationoftheaboveprinciplesandauthorities,wecannot 8$4: saytheevidencepreponderatesagainstthefindingsofthetrialjudge.The :5< judgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmedandthecauseremandedtotheChancery  CourtofMontgomeryCountyforenforcementofthejudgmentandsuchfurther | proceedings,ifany,asmaybenecessary.Costsonappealaretaxedtothe H defendant/appellant.  d  `  `     h     ____________________________     HENRYDENMARKBELL   RETIREDJUDGE x   CONCUR: *z  ____________________________  ADOLPHOA.BIRCH,JR.  JUSTICE  ____________________________ &v HAMILTONV.GAYDEN,JR.  \ SPECIALJUDGE  B   5  D617   #XXX3X #2XXXX #XXX2X6A#3XXXX  985;    #XXX3X}A#