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SQ\  `&Times New RomanS7Z(X75+ ` hp x 5  E)2dxd0KS.SampleKP<6X9`(Courier NewKSQ\  `&Times New RomanS0.Strong 8dl6TypewriterKP<6X9`(Courier NewKSQ\  `&Times New RomanS42Variable: 8HTML MarkupB      2 0CommentB   !"#$ 35;AGMSY_11.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.<6X9`(Courier New\  `&Times New Roman(|I2d$ !.8U=dd8         0  uԀ%2A`Arial3#37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)Ti) d(;3$2#  0  .3  0  (|3}$ !.8U=dd8     VVVV)!dxdx)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3}$ !.8U=dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK      !.8U=dd8     _   U=8aXXdd8cPdP@ MTU=INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @%ATJACKSON#U=MT.#Ԉ &   November10,2004Session L XaXU=#U=XXa# DENNYLEERHODESv.CAPITALCITYINSURANCECOMPANYAND J JAMESFARMER,DIRECTOR,DEPARTMENTOFLABOR,SECOND  ^ INJURYFUND XaXU= " r #U=XXa#XaXU= Appealfromthe#U=XXaT#XaXU=CircuitCourtforBentonCounty " r @@No.98CCV092Hon.JulianP._Guinn_,Judge ^  @@*AV) ` dE<` A "  @@TTNo.W200400283_WC_ԄR3CV#U=XXa#XaXU=ԀFiledDecember16,_2004_   AV) ` dE<` A   #U=XXaJ#XaXU=  =U=dd=Theissueinthiscaseiswhetheranawardofpermanenttotaldisabilityshouldcommencewhenthe  employeereachesmaximummedicalimprovementoronthelastdaythattheemployeeisableto x workduetotheinjury.Thetrialjudgeorderedpermanenttotalbenefitstobepaidasofthedaythe d employeelastworked.Theemployeeappealed,arguingthathewastotallydisabledfromthetime P thathereachedmaximummedicalimprovement,andbecausehewasonlyabletoworkinalimited < capacitythereafter,heshouldbeabletocollectbenefitsfortheperiodbetweenhisreaching (x maximummedicalimprovementandthetimeheultimatelystoppedwork.Becausetheemployee d wasworkingduringthethreeyearsatissueandbecausetherewasnoevidencepresentedthathewas P unemployableinthegeneralworkforce,theevidencesupportsthetrialcourtsdecisionthathedid < notmeetthestatutorydefinitionofpermanenttotaldisabilityuntilhestoppedwork. ( #U=XXa5#XaXU=V XaXXXaTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e);JudgmentoftheBentonCountyCircuitCourtisAffirmed#XaXXXa #    #U=XXaL #XaXU=  WilliamM.Barker,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichFrankF._Drowota_,III,C.J., x"! andE.RileyAnderson,_Adolpho_ԀA.Birch,Jr.,andJaniceM.Holder,JJ.,joined. d#" _Ricky_ԀL.BorenandJeffreyP.Boyd,Jackson,Tennessee,fortheappellant,DennyLeeRhodes. <% $ DavidJ._Deming_ԀandMichaelL._Haynie_,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheappellee,CapitalCity 'd"& InsuranceCompany. (P#' PaulG.Summers,AttorneyGeneralandReporter;andRichardM._Murrell_,AssistantAttorney )(%) General,forappellee,SecondInjuryFund. *&* z  -(- cP c  c  _@@OO& OPINION        =U=dd=FactualBackground     DannyLeeRhodeswasbornonJanuary21,1953.Hehasaneighthgradeeducation.His ` entireworkhistoryhasinvolvedmanuallabor,predominatelyintheloggingindustry. L    OnJune22,1998,Mr.Rhodessufferedaheartattackwhileonthejobasalumberjackwith $ t BruceSmithLoggingCompany( Employer).Mr.RhodesremainedoffworkuntilMarch1999,  ` atwhichtimehereturnedtoworkwithEmployer,operatingachainsaw.Thepartiesstipulatedthat  L  Mr.RhodesreachedmaximummedicalimprovementonOctober7,1998.Dr.LouisCunningham,  8  Mr.Rhodescardiologist,determinedthatMr.Rhodeshada30%to49%permanentphysical $  impairmenttothebodyasawholeasaresultofhisheartattack.     Mr.Rhodestestifiedthatwhenhereturnedtoworkafterhisheartattack,hehadtohavehelp:   8  ...Ihadaboy!Bruce[theemployer]toldmeIneededsomebodytohelpme p becauseIcouldntdoitallbymyself,soIgotaboynamedJuniorWilliamstohelp \ me,andwejustspliteverything,whatwemade,rightdownthecenter.Wehalved H it.4   Heworkedwiththeaidofhisassistantin1999and2000.Hestatedthatby2001,hewasworking  \ lessbecause [his]heartkeptbothering[him]andhehadtotakenitroglycerinpillsoften.Mr. H Rhodesbrotherthenhelpedwiththework.Mr.Rhodescouldcutthetreedown,butheneeded 4 someoneelseto trimthemupandtopthemforhim.     Mr.RhodesfinallystoppedworkingforEmployerinMarchof2002becausehewashaving  increasedchestpains,andcouldnolongerdothework.HeattemptedtoworkforCroutsLumber  Company,butonlyworkedforthreeorfourdaysbeforequittingduetohisinabilitytocompletethe  requiredtasks.ThelastdaythatMr.RhodesworkedwasinAprilof2002. l   BeforesufferingtheheartattackinJune1998,Mr.Rhodeshadsustainedmultipleinjuries D! resultinginpriorfindingsofpermanentpartialdisability.In1976,hesufferedacrushinginjuryto 0"  hisrighthandforwhichhewasawarded40%permanentpartialdisabilitytothathand.In1985,Mr. #l! Rhodesinjuredhisleftarmwhileworkingasalogger,resultinginanawardof34.9%permanent $X" partialdisabilitytohisleftupperextremity.Intheearly1980s,heinjuredhisleftknee,requiring $D # arthroscopicsurgery;hewasgivena7%disabilitytotheleftlowerextremity.InFebruary,1990, %0!$ Mr.Rhodeswasawardedbenefitsrepresenting60%permanentpartialdisabilitytohisrightupper &"% extremityfollowinganinjurysustainedinafallwhilecuttinglogs.InJune1995,Mr.Rhodeswas '#& awardedcompensationfora22.5%permanentpartialdisabilitytohisbodyasawholeasaresultof (#' aneckinjurysufferedwhileworkingforShawandHaynesLoggingCompany. )$(  d |*%) dP d  d    dThetrialcourtfoundMr.Rhodestobe100%totallyandpermanentlydisabled.Thecourt   foundthatthepreviousworkrelatedinjuriesamountedtoa90%permanentdisabilitytothebody  asawhole.Therefore,theSecondInjuryFundwasrequiredtopay90%oftheawardwhileCapital  CityInsurance,theinsurancecompanyfortheemployer,wasrequiredtopaytheremaining10%. t ThetrialcourtorderedthatthesebenefitsbepaidfromApril23,2002,untiltheemployees65th ` birthdayonJanuary21,2018. L    Priortotrial,thepartiesstipulatedthatMr.Rhodeshadbeenpaidtemporarytotaldisability $ t benefitsfromJune23,1998,toAugust24,1998,ataweeklybenefitrateof$320.92.Itwasfurther  ` stipulatedthathisappropriatebenefitrateis$353.29.ItwasthereforeorderedthatMr.Rhodesbe  L  paidthedifferencebetweentheamountsfortheperiodoftemporarytotaldisabilityhadalreadybeen  8  paid.ThepartiesalsostipulatedthatMr.Rhodeswasdueanadditionalperiodoftemporarytotal $  disabilitybenefitsattherateof$353.29perweekfortheperiodofAugust24,1998,toOctober7,   1998.     Mr.RhodesfiledanoticeofappealonFebruary4,2004.Hearguesonappealthathisaward   ofpermanenttotaldisabilityshouldhavecommencedonthedatehereachedmaximummedical p improvementandnotonthelastdaythatheworked.XaXXXaPriortooralargumentsbeforetheSpecial \ WorkersCompensationPanel,thecasewastransferredtotheentireSupremeCourtforreview.#XaXXXa%# H   Analysis   p &  XaXXXaOurstandardofreviewofquestionsoffactinaworkerscompensationappealisdenovo H upontherecordofthetrialcourt,accompaniedbyapresumptionofcorrectnessofthefindingsof 4 fact,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise#XaXXXa'#XaXXXa.Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2)   (Supp.2004);seealso#XaXXXa|(#XaXXXaԀPerrinv.GaylordEntmtCo.,120S.W.3d823,82526(Tenn.2003).The   trialcourtsfindingswithrespecttocredibilityandweightoftheevidencemaygenerallybeinferred  fromthemannerinwhichthecourtresolvesconflictsinthetestimonyanddecidesthecase.Tobitt  v.Bridgestone/Firestone,Inc.,59S.W.3d57,61(Tenn.2001).#XaXXXa)#XaXXXaԀOurstandardofreviewofquestions  oflaw,suchasstatutoryconstructionissues,isdenovowithoutapresumptionofcorrectness. l Perrin,120S.W.3dat826.#XaXXXa+# X    UndertheTennesseeWorkersCompensationLaw,XaXXXacompensabledisabilitiesaredividedinto 0"  fourseparateclassifications:(1)temporarytotaldisability;(2)temporarypartialdisability;(3) #l! permanentpartialdisability;and(4)permanenttotaldisability.Tenn.CodeAnn.506207(Supp. $X" 2004).Eachclassofdisabilityisdistinctandseparatelycompensatedbydifferentmethods.#XaXXXaj,# $D # XaXXXa  Anyawardofpermanenttotaldisabilitymustbemadeincompliancewiththestatutory &"% definitionoftotaldisabilitycontainedinTennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection506207(4)(Supp. '#& 2004);Vinsonv.UnitedParcelServ.,92S.W.3d380,386(Tenn.2002).Thestatutedefines (#'  permanenttotaldisabilityasfollows: )$(   |*%) 8  Whenaninjurynototherwisespecificallyprovidedforinthischapter,asamended,   totallyincapacitatestheemployeefromworkingatanoccupationwhichbringsthe  employeeanincome,suchemployeeshallbeconsidered totallydisabled,andfor  suchdisabilitycompensationshallbepaidasprovidedinsubdivision(4)(A)....t   Tenn.CodeAnn.506207(4)(B)(Supp.2004)(emphasisadded).Compensationforpermanent L  totaldisabilityis sixtysixandtwothirdspercent(66A%)ofthewagesreceivedatthetimeofthe 8  injury,subjecttothemaximumweeklybenefitandminimumweeklybenefit...paidduringthe $ t periodofthepermanenttotaldisabilityuntiltheemployeereachessixtyfive(65)yearsofage...  ` .Id.at(4)(A).#XaXXXaS.#XaXXXa  L  #XaXXXa4#  Followinghisheartattackandhisattainingmaximummedicalimprovement,Mr.Rhodes $  returnedtoworkinMarchof1999.Hecontinuedtoworkasachainsawoperatorforthreeyears.   Whilehetestifiedthathewasnotabletoperformhisjobtothesamedegreeashewaspriortohis   heartattack,hewasabletoworkandearnanincome.Therefore,duringthetimefromMarch1999   throughApril2001,hedidnotmeetthestatutorydefinitionofpermanenttotaldisability,which   requiresanemployeetobetotallyincapacitatedfromXaXXXa workingatanoccupationwhichbringsthe p employeeanincome.#XaXXXa6#ԀTenn.CodeAnn.XaXXXa506207(4)(B)(Supp.2004)(emphasisadded)#XaXXXa7#. \ XaXXXa  ThisconformswiththepurposeoftheWorkersCompensationAct,whichis toprovide 4 compensationforlossofearningpowerorcapacitysustainedbywork[ers]throughinjuriesin  p industry.Mathisv.J.L.Forrest&Sons,216S.W.2d967(Tenn.1949);seeFrayserv.Dentsply  \ Intl,Inc.,78S.W.3d242,248(Tenn.WorkersComp.Panel,June28,2002).#XaXXXa?8#XaXXXaԀItiscontrarytothe H remedialpurposeoftheacttoallowanemployeebothtoearnaregularincomeandtocollectfor 4 permanenttotaldisabilityatthesametime.   #XaXXXaJ:#XaXXXa  Mr.Rhodesarguesthathewastotallydisabledduringthetimehereturnedtoworkandrelies  uponAtkinsonv.Signage,Inc.,No.M200201491WCR3CV,2003WL21782292(Tenn.  WorkersComp.PanelAug.4,2003),tosupporthisposition.While#XaXXXaq;#XaXXXaAtkinsonisunreported,itrelies  uponthereasoningsetforthinourdecisioninSkipperv.GreatCentralIns.Co.,474S.W.2d420 l (Tenn.1971).Atkinson,at*2. X    InSkipper,weheldthat: 0"  #XaXXXa<#XaXXXa#XaXXXaZ>#8   ` [T]hefactemployeeisemployedaftertheinjuryinthesametypeof $X" employmentandatthesamewagesdoesnotperseprecludethecourtfromfinding $D # heistotallydisabledasthewordsareusedinT.C.A.501007(e)[now506 %0!$ 207(4)(B)].Toholdotherwisewouldhavetheresultofdiscouragingthosefewhardy &"% individualswhotrytoworkundergreatphysicalhandicap,bythethreatofdenying '#& themcompensationwhichtheymightotherwisebeentitledtoiftheydidnotwork. (#' WedonotthinkitwastheintentoftheLegislaturethattheWorkmens )$( CompensationStatutesbesoconstrued.|*%)   XaXXXa h+&* 8   ` IndeterminingpermanenttotaldisabilityassuchisdefinedbyT.C.A.50  1007(e)#XaXXXaA#[now506207(4)(B)]XaXXXa,thisfactofemploymentafterinjuryisafactortobe  consideredalongwithallotherfactorsinvolvedwhenapplyingthetest,whichis  whetheremployee,inlightofhiseducation,abilities,physicaland/ormental t infirmities,isemployableintheopenlabormarket.`   474S.W.2dat424.#XaXXXaB#XaXXXaԀ 8    InSkipper,therewasextensivevocationaltestimonyregardingtheemployeesemployability  ` inthegenerallabormarket.Skipper,474S.W.2dat422.AnemployeeoftheTennessee  L  DepartmentofEmploymentSecuritytestifiedthatSkipperwouldbeverydifficulttoplaceinany  8  jobbecauseofhiseducation,abilitiesandinfirmities.Id.HispresentemployertestifiedthatifMr. $  Skippersimplywalkedinoffthestreetlookingforajob,hedoubtedveryseriouslythathewould   beabletogivehimajob.Id.#XaXXXa]D#XaXXXaԀ#XaXXXaCG#XaXXXaThefactsofSkipperwerereviewedunderthe materialevidence   rule,andthisCourtfoundthattheevidencesupportedthetrialcourtsrulingthatthecombination   ofthelimitationsandtheotherfactorsrenderedtheemployeeunemployableintheopenmarketand   thereforetotallydisabled.Id.at424. p   Inthiscase,unlikeSkipper,therewasnoevidenceregardingMr.Rhodesemployabilityin H thegeneralworkforce.Whilehetestifiedthathewasunabletofullyperformhisjobasachainsaw 4 operator,therewasnoshowingthathewouldhavebeenunabletoperformalessstrenuousjob.See  p Prostv.CityofClarksville,688S.W.2d425(Tenn.1985)(precludingafindingoftotaldisability  \ wheretheemployeewasunabletoperformpriorjob,butcouldperformotherworkintheopenlabor H market);seealsoAmericanLavaCorp.v.Savena,493S.W.2d77(Tenn.1973)(holdingthatthe 4 employeewasnottotallyandpermanentlydisabledbecauseemployeewassubsequentlyemployed   ataservicestation).Itwouldbeanextremelyraresituationinwhichaninjuredemployeecould,at   thesametimebothworkandbefoundpermanentlyandtotallydisabled.Inorderforsuchasituation  tooccur,theevidencewouldhavetoshowthattheemployeewasnotemployableintheopenlabor  marketandthattheonlyreasonthattheemployeewascurrentlyworkingwasthroughthe  magnanimityofhisorheremployer.SeeSkipper,474S.W.2dat424.Suchfactsaresimplynot l presentinthecaseathand. X  #XaXXXaG#  Conclusion  0"  OO  Foranemployeetobetotallydisabled,heorshemusthaveaninjurywhich XaXXXatotally $X" incapacitatestheemployeefromworkingatanoccupationwhichbringstheemployeeanincome.#XaXXXaO# $D # Tenn.CodeAnn.XaXXXa506207(4)(B)(Supp.2004)#XaXXXaP#.XaXXXaAlthoughMr.Rhodestestifiedthatduringthe %0!$ threeyearsatissuehehadtroubleworking,thereissimplynoshowingthathewasunemployable &"% andthereforetotallydisabledasaresultoftheinjury.Therefore,theevidencedoesnotpreponderate '#& againstthetrialjudgesfindingthatMr.Rhodeswasnottotallydisableduntilhewasnolongerable (#' toworkatall,whichwasinApril2002. )$(  #XaXXXa7Q# |*%)   CostsofthisappealaretaxedtoDennyLeeRhodes,forwhichexecutionmayissueif   necessary.     `     h   _____________________________ `    `     h   WILLIAMM.BARKER,JUSTICE#U=XXaW #