WPCj q)?v6}nxJx1UUfZt I{VT|D$,seHXf![= E8{8mFɍc\C:yQ$8}]'Ϭ#C1c.aeY.xYaRi,^%&"sx@Nu\H/1ݝK3e ~sPæPnGQU.вB|W/‡C2^!H܉BUJX9&<&DO J 6|0qcL]SV_?!iq;Z SߪLmCCRM]t]Ov]f R3@{[ qoѬ[R|+8s[sL!v,o`W&|ᄿBCk Oʣ0Zi9WPeJcوk~M\ng\(я /b#\ % ^ # 0/ UN w 4 z  i x mz   _ %  0DN~E U>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!b____________________________________ 0gggg B RR 0o D3 D-F 0Kss AS 0 0D{ AHP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 6,,,,0 #-s (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular9,tk C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xU Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#$  0   } R$      1    _Ms._Reece_ԀandMr._Tigue_Ԁwererepresentedbythesameattorney.Inadditiontothemotionsfiledin_Reece_  and_Tigue_seekingtheappointmentofaspecialmaster,sixsimilarmotionswerefiledonJune8,2000,bythisattorney. t ThehearingheldonJune20,2000,concernedallofthemotionsfortheappointmentofspecialcounsel.  R$      2    _Chancellor_Haston_snoteswereplacedinthefileinadvertently.Inthesenotes,Chancellor_Haston_Ԁindicates  thattheemployee isawhinerwhowas madatCYC.  R$      3    _WehavereviewedatranscriptfromMcBridev.FindlayIndustries,Inc.,WarrenCountyChanceryCourtNo.  7597,pursuanttoTenn.R.App.P.14.Duringahearinginthatcase,thetranscriptinMcBridereflectsthatMr. t _McGregor_Ԁstated, 8 8  8`   [_T]he_Ԁwaywetrytheseworkman_comps_ԀhereisnowJudge_Haston_Ԁwantsmetobe  sittingoverinthesideseatwhichisrightoverhere.WheneverthecaseisAnd  thisisforthebenefitofyourclient.Wheneverthecaseistried,Ihearalltheproof. H  IfIhappennottobehere,therecordistyped,andIreadthewholerecord.Imake  \ arecommendationtoJudge_Haston_ԀastowhatIthinkthecaseisworth,whatIthink   thestuffis,andthenhecomesbackouthereandhetellsyou.  ` x` x @(...  l  8  8`   AndIdontknowwhyfolkswant[Judge_Haston_]totryitknowingthatImgoing   tohavetobesittingbesidehim.Imean,itsjuststupid.Ittiesbothofusup h  becauseitsgoingtocomeouttobethesameresult.Imean,ifIhearitsittinghere ,|  orIhearitsittingoverthereaboutafootlower,itsgoingtobethesamethingin @  writing.(\Z  Z&Times New Roman- -(|G2$ !.8Ndd8         0   d(|3G$ !.8Ndd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3G$ !.8Ndd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8Ndd8     _   N8XXdd8@ ^NINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @kk$ATNASHVILLE#N^ #Ԉ &   June5,2002Session L XXN #NXX#LINDAS._REECE_Ԁv.FINDLAYINDUSTRIES,INC.XXN  J @@ AppealfromtheChanceryCourtforWarrenCounty  J @@No.7277CharlesD._Haston_,Sr.,Chancellor  6 @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.0 @ M200101366SCR3CVFiledSeptember3,2002   AV) ` dE<|` A }  #NXX#  XXN@)AND#NXX#XXN  x  #NXX<#  HAROLDEDWARD_TIGUE_,JR.v.TOKIOMARINE&FIRE P INSURANCECOMPANY,etal.  d XXN@@m m  AppealfromtheChanceryCourtforWarrenCounty d @@No.7157CharlesD._Haston_,Sr.,Chancellor P @*AV) ` dE<` A߈ d @ No.M200101368SCR3CVFiledSeptember3,_2002_Ԉ _ AV) ` dE<` A 7  Wegrantedthisappealtodeterminetheproprietyofthetrialjudgesactionsintheadjudicationof   theseworkerscompensationcases.Weholdthatthetrialjudgefailedtoperformallthedutiesof  ! thejudgesofficeprescribedbylawintheseconsolidatedcasesbyimproperlydelegatinghis !" authoritytotheclerkandmastertoadjudicatethecases.Accordingly,thejudgmentsofthetrial "# courtarereversed,andthecasesareremandedtothetrialcourtforproceedingsconsistentwiththis ~#$ opinion. j$%  @Tenn.R.App.P.3AppealasofRight;JudgmentsoftheTrialCourtReversed; B&!' @#CasesRemanded  .'~"( JaniceM.Holder,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichFrankF.Drowota,III,C.J., )V$* andE.RileyAnderson,AdolphoA.Birch,Jr.,andWilliamM.Barker,JJ,joined. )B%+ B.Timothy_Pirtle_,_McMinnville_,Tennessee,fortheappellant,FindlayIndustries,Inc.,andforthe +'- appellants,_Calsonic_Ԁ_Yorozu_ԀCorporation,TokioMarine&FireInsuranceCompany,andYasudaFire ,(. &MarineInsuranceCo.ofAmerica. -(/ ЇBarryH.Medley,_McMinnville_,Tennessee,fortheappellee,LindaS._Reece_,andfortheappellee,  HaroldEdward_Tigue_,Jr.    @66' OPINION  t  @  BACKGROUND/PROCEDURALHISTORY  L    HaroldEdward_Tigue_,Jr.( _Tigue_)filedacomplaintagainst_Calsonic_Ԁ_Yorozu_ԀCorporation $ t ( CYC)onNovember16,1999._Tigue_Ԁallegedthathesufferedaworkplaceinjurywhileworking  ` forCYC.Inthecomplaint,_Tigue_ԀprovidednoticetoCYCthatonJanuary6,2000,heintendedto  L  appearbeforethe HonorableJ.Richard_McGregor_,SpecialJudgetoseekadefaultjudgmentand  8  anordercompellingdiscovery.CYCmovedtoquashthenoticeofhearingbeforeSpecialJudge $  _McGregor_.OnJune8,2000,_Tigue_Ԁfiledamotionrequestingtheappointmentofaspecialmaster   toadjudicatethecase.CYCobjectedtotheappointment,allegingthatnofactswereassertedto   supporttherequest.     OnMarch21,2000,LindaS._Reece_ԀfiledacomplaintagainstFindlayIndustries,Incorporated p ( Findlay).Thecomplaintallegedthat_Reece_Ԁsufferedaworkrelatedinjury.OnJune8,2000, \ _Reece_Ԁfiledamotionrequestingtheappointmentofa specialmaster.Findlayobjectedtothe H appointmentofaspecialmaster,assertingthatnofactsweregiventosupporttherequest.Thetrial 4 courtheldahearingonthemotionsforappointmentofaspecialmasterinboth_Tigue_Ԁv._Calsonic_  p _Yorozu_ԀCorp.and_Reece_Ԁv.FindlayIndustries,Inc.onJune20,2000._ #  1      _Ԁ  \   ByordersenteredJune28,2000,thetrialcourtappointedRichardM._McGregor_,clerkand 4 masterofchancerycourt,asthespecialmastertoadjudicatebothcases.Theordersstatedthatthe   purposeofappointingMr._McGregor_Ԁwastoexpeditethedispositionoftheworkerscompensation   casesinaccordancewithTennesseeCodeAnnotatedSection50-6-225(f).Notwithstandinghis  appointmentasaspecialmaster,Mr._McGregor_Ԁdidnothearanyproofinthesecases.Instead,  ChancellorCharlesD._Haston_Ԁpresidedoverthetrialsof_Tigue_Ԁv._Calsonic_Ԁ_Yorozu_ԀCorp.on  December11,2000,and_Reece_Ԁv.FindlayIndustries,Inc.onDecember12,2000.Mr._McGregor_ l wasnotpresentatthetrials.Thetestimonywastranscribedandfiledbythecourtwiththeclerkand X  master. D!   OnFebruary9,2001,Chancellor_Haston_Ԁenteredanorderawarding_Tigue_Ԁajudgmentbased #l! uponafindingofa20%permanentpartialdisabilitytothebodyasawhole.Thejudgment,as $X"  draftedbyMr._McGregor_Ԁandsignedbythetrialjudge,statesthat thePlaintiff[was]acredible $D # witness.ThisfindingwascontrarytoChancellor_Haston_shandwrittentrialnotes._ #  2      _ԀCYCfileda   motiontoalteroramendthejudgmentor,inthealternative,foranewtrialasserting,interalia,that  thetrialcourtdelegatedtheadjudicationofthecasetotheclerkandmasterwithouttheconsentof  CYC.AhearingwasheldonthemotiononMarch26,2001.Thetrialjudgeadmittedthatthe t judgmentdidnotexpresshisfeelingsordesireandthatit wasnot[his]order.Chancellor_Haston_ ` stated, L  8  8`   [_T]his_Ԁ[case]washandedtomyClerkandMaster,Mr._McGregor_,to $ t goovertherecordandsoforthandtoletmeknowwhathethought  ` aboutit,andwhathappenedwas,heddrawnanOrderupandsentit  L  upinhishandwriting,whichwasreducedtotypeoutandsignedby  8  me.Ofcourse,Imakenobonesaboutthefact,ifanOrderisputin $  frontofmewithablanklineonit,Illsignit.Thatsbadbusiness,   butIsignsomany,Idothatallthetime,butthis,folks,isnotmytake   onthecase,franklyanditdoesnotexpressmyfeelingormydesire   .... ` x` x 8  8`   Thisisjustnotjustice,asfarasImconcerned.Itmaywellbethat \ afterwegobackoveritagainandsoforththatitwouldbethe H appropriatethingtodo,butImadeanotehereanditsforalltosee, 4 anditwasapersonalwritingnotationtoeithermyselforMr.  p _McGregor_,whichwasunfortunatelymadepublic,andnothingIcan  \ doaboutthat,butIsaidIdidntfindthiswitnesstobecredible,and H theresnosensetryingtotalkaroundthat....4` x` x 8  8`   Thisisnotmyfeeling.Thisisnotmydecision,andthisisnotmy   Order.Itsnotgoingtobeputdown.Itswrong.Itsinadvertently  putdown,anditneedstobecorrected....` x` x Despitethesestatements,however,thetrialjudgeenteredanorderoverrulingCYCsmotion.CYC l filedanoticeofappeal. X    InasecondorderenteredonFebruary9,2001,Chancellor_Haston_Ԁawarded_Reece_Ԁa45% 0"  permanentpartialdisabilitytothelefthand.Findlayrequestedthatthetrialcourtalteroramendthe #l! judgmentorgrantanewtrial,allegingthatthetrialcourtdelegateditsauthoritytoadjudicatethe $X" casetotheclerkandmasterwithoutFindlaysconsentandinviolationofitsrights.Thetrialcourt $D # overruledthemotion.FindlayappealedtotheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel %0!$ pursuanttoTennesseeCodeAnnotated50-6-225(e)(3).UponorderofthisCourt,thecaseswere &"% consolidatedandtransferredtotheentireSupremeCourtforreview. '#&  (#'   @dd! STANDARDOFREVIEW     Findingsoffactbythetrialcourtarerevieweddenovoupontherecord,accompaniedbya  presumptionofthecorrectnessofthetrialcourtsfindings,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidence t isotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.50-6-225(e)(2)(2000).Questionsoflaw,however,arereviewed ` denovowithnopresumptionofcorrectness.SeeNelsonv.WalMartStores,Inc.,8S.W.3d625, L  628(Tenn.1999). 8    @& ANALYSIS   `   TodetermineXXXXԀ#XXXX0#theproprietyofthetrialjudgesactionsintheadjudicationofthesecases  8  requiresareviewofourpreviousholdingsconcerningtheappointmentofaspecialjudgeormaster $  toadjudicateworkerscompensationcases.In_Ferrell_Ԁv._Cigna_ԀProperty&CasualtyInsuranceCo.,   33S.W.3d731,739(Tenn.2000),weheldthat [a]standingorderappointingaclerkandmasteras   special/substitutejudgetohearanentireclassofcasesisnotappropriate.Whenatrialjudgefinds   itnecessarytobeabsentfromholdingcourt,thetrialjudgemayappointaclerkandmastertoactas   aspecialjudgeiftheclerkandmasterisalicensedattorneyingoodstandingwiththiscourtandis p servingasspecialjudgeinmattersrelatedsolelytohisdutiesasjudicialofficer.Id.at737.Thetrial \ judgesabsencemustbenecessary,however,meaningthattheappointmentofaspecialjudgemust H beindispensableasopposedtoconvenient.Id.at707-738. Thejudicialdutiesofajudgetake 4 precedenceoverallthejudgesotheractivities.Sup.Ct.R.10,Canon3A.Thesedutiesinclude  p  allthedutiesofthejudgesofficeprescribedby[courtrules,statutes,constitutionalprovisions,and  \ decisionallaw]._Ferrell_,33S.W.3dat738. H   InFrazierv.Bridgestone/Firestone,Inc.,67S.W.3d782(Tenn.WorkersComp.Panel   2001),theappointmentofaclerkandmasterasaspecialmastertoadjudicateworkers   compensationcaseswasfurtherconsidered.InFrazier,decidedafterthejudgmentsinthesecases  wereentered,theSpecialWorkersCompensationPanelheldthat referralbyatrialcourttoa  specialmasterforthepurposeofmakingfindingsandconclusionsonthemainissuesincontroversy  inaworkerscompensationcaseisprohibited.Id.at784.Suchfindingsmustbedeterminedby l thetrialcourtandmaynotbereferredtoaspecialmaster.Id.Althoughaspecialmastermade X  findingsandconclusionsonthemainissueincontroversyinFrazier,thePaneldidnotreversethe D! trialcourtsjudgment.ThePanelstated,however,that referralsonthemainissuesinthefuturemay 0"  indeedrequirereversalandremandtothetrialcourt,iftheissueofthespecialmasterisraisedinthe #l! courtbelow.Id.at785. $X"   Ourreviewoftherecordindicatesthatthetrialcourtfirstconductedahearingtodetermine %0!$ ifthecasesshouldbeheardbyaspecialmasterandthenenteredordersreferringbothcasestoMr. &"% _McGregor_,theclerkandmaster.Theemployersopposedtheordersofreference.Thespecialmaster '#& wasorderedtoconductanevidentiaryhearingandtoissueareportcontainingfindingsoffactand (#' conclusionsoflaw.Theseordersofreference,however,werenotfollowed.Instead,thetrialjudge )$( presidedoverthetrialsinbothofthesecases.Chancellor_Haston_ԀthenprovidedMr._McGregor_Ԁwith |*%) therecord.Mr._McGregor_Ԁdraftedhandwrittenjudgmentsthatwerelatertypedforthetrialjudges h+&* signature.Fromthestatementsofthetrialjudge,itappearsthathedidnotreviewthecontentofthe  ordersbeforehesignedthem.Thetrialcourtsactionstherebyeffectivelydelegatedtheadjudication  ofthesecasestoapersonwhohadnotpresidedoverthetrialandwhohadnotseenorheardthe  witnesses.Moreover,itisclearthatthejudgmentdidnotreflectthetrialjudgesviewsofthecase. t Inreviewingtheproceduresusedandtheresultingoutcomeofthesecasesthetrialcourtstated, This ` isjustnotjustice.Weagree. L    Therecordprovidesfurtherenlightenmentastoothervariationsusedbythetrialjudgeto $ t delegatehisresponsibilitytoadjudicateworkerscompensationcasesthroughtheuseofaspecial  ` master.Inonevariation,boththetrialjudgeandtheclerkandmasterarepresentinthecourtroom  L  duringtheevidentiaryhearing,buttheclerkandmasterdecidesthecaseandthensubmitsaproposed  8  judgmenttothetrialjudge._ #  3      _ $    Thesecasesweretriedafterourdecisionin_Ferrell_butbeforethedecisioninFrazier.Itis   abundantlyclearthatthetrialjudgesactionsareattemptstosidestepthisCourtsdecisionin_Ferrell_.   In_Ferrell_,wediscussedthestatutorydutyofatrialjudgetohearanddecideworkerscompensation   casesandthelimitedcircumstancesinwhichatrialjudgemayrefercasestoaspecialjudge. p Specifically,thetrialjudgesabsencefromthecourtroommustbenecessary,notmerelyconvenient \ but,rather,indispensable.TheholdinginFrazierwasafurtherattempttopreventthedelegationof H atrialjudgesdutytohearanddecideworkerscompensationcasesbyreferringsuchcasestoa 4 specialmaster.Theproceduresusedbythetrialjudgeintheseconsolidatedcases,whilemoresubtle  p thanthoseemployedinFrazier,wereclearlyusedtoavoidthisduty.  \   InFrazier,wewarnedthatreferralsonthemainissuesinthefuturemayrequirereversaland 4 remandtothetrialcourtiftheissueofthespecialmasterisraisedinthecourtbelow.Frazier,67   S.W.3dat785.AlthoughMr._McGregor_Ԁdidnotactasaspecialmasterinthesecases,itis   unquestionablethatheadjudicatedthem.Thetrialcourtsblatantattempttoavoidadjudicating  workerscompensationcasesdespiteourholdingin_Ferrell_requiresanapplicationoftheremedy  indicatedinFrazier.Accordingly,thejudgmentsofthetrialcourtarereversed,andthecasesare  remandedtothetrialcourtforanewtrial.    @FF% CONCLUSION  `   Weholdthatthetrialjudgeintheseconsolidatedcasesfailedtoperformallthedutiesofthe 8  judgesofficeprescribedbylawbyimproperlydelegatinghisauthoritytotheclerkandmasterto $ t adjudicatethecases.Thejudgmentsofthetrialcourtarereversed,andthecasesareremandedfor  ` anewtrialconsistentwiththisopinion.Costsofthisappealareassessedtotheappellees,Harold  L  Edward_Tigue_,Jr.andLindaS.Reece,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary.  8     `     h     ___________________________________      `     h     JANICEM.HOLDER,JUSTICE