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ÔÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ\R AØ'\ÑÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÒ  ÒÒ 8 ÒÖ€/ÖÑ  ÑÔ&  ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÙ€!ÙÖ€2ÖÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÔ€¼ÔÔ€ÔßR€341A1-j|` ç `€€@ÿRßÞ ÞÌIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÌAT€NASHVILLEÌ(October€22,€1996€Session)ÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓSTEPHEN€H.€BAXENDALE,à àà à)€€€€€DAVIDSON€CHANCERYÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellant,à à)€€€€€Hon.€Irvin€H.€Kilcrease,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€€€Chancellor.Ìv.à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ì€à àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€€€No.€01S01„9605„CH„00097ÌUNIVERSAL€UNDERWRITERS'à à)ÌINSURANCE€COMPANY€andà à)ÌMID„STATE€AUTOMOTIVEà àà à)ÌDISTRIBUTORS,€INC.,à àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Defendants„Appellees.à à)à àÌÌÌÌÌòòFor€Appellantóó:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òòFor€Appellees:ÌóóÌDaniel€C.€Todd€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Martin€D.€HolmesÌEvans€&€Todd€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Stewart,€Estes€&ÏDonnellÌNashville,€Tennessee€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Nashville,€TennesseeÌÌÌÌÌÌòòÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÌÌÌÌÌòòMembers€of€Panelóó:ÌÔ'  ÔÌFrank€F.€Drowota,€III,€Associate€Justice,€Supreme€CourtÌRobert€S.€Brandt,€Senior€JudgeÌJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓAFFIRMED€AS€MODIFIED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Loser,ÏJudgeÓ ¹ ÓÌòòÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓMEMORANDUM€OPINIONóóÓ rAÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓà àà àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€theÏSpecial€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€inÏaccordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€andÏreporting€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€In€this€appeal,€theÏemployee€or€claimant,€Baxendale,€contends€(1)€the€award€of€permanentÏpartial€disability€benefits€is€inadequate€and€(2)€the€trial€court€erred€inÏcomputing€his€compensation€rate.€€The€employer€and€its€insurer€contend€theÏtrial€court€erred€in€finding€€the€employee€suffered€a€compensable€injury€byÏaccident€on€June€6,€1994.€€As€discussed€below,€the€panel€has€concluded€theÏaward€of€permanent€partial€disability€benefits€should€be€modified€and€theÏjudgment€otherwise€affirmed.Ìà àà àThe€claimant€is€a€thirty„five€year€old€laborer€with€a€ninth€gradeÏeducation.€€He€failed€a€test€for€a€GED.€€At€the€time€of€the€claimed€injury,€heÏwas€earning€$6.39€per€hour.Ìà àà àBeginning€in€October€of€1992,€he€suffered€back€pain€at€work,Ïbut€continued€working€while€being€conservatively€treated€for€pain.€€At€oneÏtime€the€treating€physician€assigned€to€him€a€four€percent€permanent€wholeÏperson€impairment€rating.€€He€was€awarded€permanent€partial€disabilityÏbenefits€based€on€ten€percent€to€the€body€as€a€whole€and€returned€to€work€asÏa€laborer€at€the€same€wage€rate€he€was€earning€before€the€injury.Ìà àà àOn€June€6,€1994,€he€became€disabled€to€work€because€of€severeÏback€pain€and€was€diagnosed€as€having€suffered€a€gradually€developingÏruptured€disc.€€The€doctor€surgically€removed€the€ruptured€disc€andÏestimated€his€permanent€whole€person€impairment€at€nine€percent,€fromÏappropriate€guidelines.€€After€recovering€from€the€surgery,€the€claimantÏagain€returned€to€work€at€the€same€wage€as€before€the€disabling€injury,€butÏwith€significant€lifting,€bending,€stooping€and€twisting€restrictions.Ìà àà àAnother€orthopedic€surgeon€evaluated€the€claimant€and€assignedÏa€whole€person€impairment€rating€of€ten€percent,€using€different€but€equallyÏappropriate€guidelines.€€The€claimant€continued€to€suffer€back€pain€whileÏworking€as€a€warehouseman.Ìà àà àUpon€consideration€of€the€above€facts,€the€chancellor€awardedÏpermanent€partial€disability€benefits€on€the€basis€of€ten€percent€to€the€bodyÏas€a€whole€for€the€June€6,€1994€injury,€and€fixed€the€claimant'sÏcompensation€rate€at€$159.47€per€week.€€Appellate€review€is€de€novo€uponÏthe€record€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctnessÏof€the€findings€of€fact,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€isÏotherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„225(e)(2).€€This€tribunal€isÏrequired€to€conduct€an€independent€examination€of€the€record€to€determineÏwhere€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€lies.€€òòWingert€v.€Government€ofÏSumner€Countyóó,€908€€S.W.2d€€921€(Tenn.€1995).ÌòòÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓInjury€by€AccidentóóÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓà àà àBy€the€Tennessee€Workers'€Compensation€Law,€injuries€byÏaccident€arising€out€of€and€in€the€course€of€employment€which€cause€eitherÏdisablement€or€death€of€the€employee€are€compensable.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ïsection€50„6„102(a)(5).€€"Injury"€includes€whatever€lesion€or€change€to€anyÏpart€of€the€system€that€produces€harm€or€pain€or€lessened€facility€of€theÏnatural€use€of€any€bodily€activity€or€capability.€€See€òòFink€v.€Caudleóó,€856€ÏS.W.2d€€952€(Tenn.€1993)€and€authority€cited€therein.Ìà àà àWhere€a€condition€gradually€develops€over€a€period€of€time,Ïresulting€in€a€definite,€work„connected,€unexpected,€fortuitous€injury,€it€isÏcompensable€as€an€injury€by€accident.€€òòBrown€Shoe€Co.€v.€Reedóó,€209€€Tenn.€Ï106,€350€€S.W.2d€€65€(1961).€€The€date€of€injury€for€a€gradually€occurringÏinjury€has€been€fixed€as€the€date€on€which€the€claimant€was€forced€to€quitÏwork€because€of€severe€pain.€€òòBarker€v.€Home„Crest€Corp.óó,€805€€S.W.2d€Ï373,€374€(Tenn.€1991).Ìà àà àFrom€our€independent€examination€of€the€record€and€aÏconsideration€of€the€applicable€principles€of€law,€the€panel€finds€the€evidenceÏfails€to€preponderate€against€the€chancellor's€finding€that€the€claimantÏsuffered€a€compensable€injury€by€accident€on€June€6,€1994.ÌòòÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓExtent€of€Permanent€DisabilityóóÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓà àà àThe€employer€takes€the€employee€with€all€pre„existingÏconditions,€and€cannot€escape€liability€when€the€employee,€upon€suffering€aÏwork„related€injury,€incurs€disability€far€greater€than€if€he€had€not€had€theÏpre„existing€conditions.€€òòRogers€v.€Shawóó,€813€€S.W.2d€€397€(Tenn.€1991).€ÏThe€opinion€of€a€qualified€expert€with€respect€to€a€claimant's€clinical€orÏphysical€impairment€is€a€factor€which€the€courts€will€consider€along€with€allÏother€relevant€facts€and€circumstances,€but€it€is€for€the€courts€to€determineÏthe€percentage€of€the€claimant's€industrial€disability.€€òòPittman€v.€LascoÏIndustries,€Inc.óó,€908€€S.W.2d€€932€(Tenn.€1995).Ìà àà àFor€injuries€occurring€on€or€after€August€1,€1992,€in€casesÏwhere€an€injured€worker€is€entitled€to€permanent€partial€disability€benefitsÏto€the€body€as€a€whole€and€the€pre„injury€employer€returns€the€employee€toÏemployment€at€a€wage€equal€to€or€greater€than€the€wage€the€employee€wasÏreceiving€at€the€time€of€the€injury,€the€maximum€permanent€partialÏdisability€award€the€employee€may€receive€is€two€and€one„half€times€theÏmedical€impairment€rating.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„241(a)(1).Ìà àà àFrom€our€independent€examination€of€the€record€and€aÍconsideration€of€the€applicable€principles€of€law,€the€panel€finds€the€evidenceÏto€preponderate€against€an€award€based€on€ten€percent€permanent€partialÏdisability€to€the€body€as€a€whole,€as€a€result€of€the€June€6,€1994€injury,€andÏin€favor€of€one€based€on€twenty„two€and€one„half€percent€to€the€body€as€aÏwhole€from€that€injury.€€The€judgment€is€modified€accordingly.ÌòòÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓCompensation€RateóóÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓà àà àFor€injuries€occurring€on€June€6,€1994,€the€compensation€rate€isÏsixty„six€and€two„thirds€percent€of€the€employee's€average€weekly€wage€atÏthe€time€of€the€injury,€subject€to€a€maximum.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„102(a).€€The€maximum€is€apparently€not€threatened€in€this€case.€€"AverageÏweekly€wage"€means€the€earnings€of€the€injured€employee€in€theÏemployment€in€which€he€was€working€at€the€time€of€the€injury€during€theÏfifty„two€weeks€immediately€preceding€the€date€of€the€injury,€divided€byÏfifty„two.€€Id.Ìà àà àUsing€the€statutory€formula,€the€chancellor€fixed€the€claimant'sÏcompensation€rate€at€$159.47.€€The€claimant€contends€he€is€entitled€to€theÏrate€he€would€have€received€prior€to€his€first€injury,€because€of€the€earlierÏfinding€that€the€employer€returned€him€to€work€at€the€same€or€greater€wageÏthan€he€was€receiving€before€the€first€injury.Ìà àà àWe€respectfully€reject€that€contention€as€being€contrary€to€theÏstatutory€scheme.€€The€evidence€fails€to€preponderate€against€theÏchancellor's€finding€with€respect€to€the€employee's€compensation€rate.Ìà àà àAs€modified,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€CostsÏon€appeal€are€taxed€one„half€each€to€the€plaintiff„appellant€and€theÏdefendants„appellees.Ó *bÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓ_______________________________Ó ÓÌÓ  Ó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Joe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓCONCUR:ÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌFrank€F.€Drowota,€III,€Associate€JusticeÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌRobert€S.€Brandt,€Senior€JudgeÌÌÌÑ€5ÑÇÒ  ÒÒ £ Òòòà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌßJ€36;+'b|A ` ç `€@ÿJßÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌÌSTEPHEN€H.€BAXENDALE,à àà à}à àDAVIDSON€CHANCERYÌà àà àà àà àà àà à}à àNo.€94„2846„III(I)€BelowÌà àPlaintiff/Appellantà àà à}Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à}à àHon.€Irvin€H.€Kilcrease,Ìvs.à àà àà àà àà àà à}à àChancellorÌà àà àà àà àà àà à}ÌUNIVERSAL€UNDERWRITERSððà à}à àNo.€01S01„9605„CH„00097ÌINSURANCE€COMPANY€andà àà à}ÌMID„STATE€AUTOMOTIVEà àà à}ÌDISTRIBUTORS,€INC.,à àà àà à}Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à}Ìà àDefendants/Appelleesà àà à}à àAFFIRMED€AS€MODIFIEDÌÌÌà@ àJUDGMENT€ORDERÌÌÌÓ€Óà àà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€theÏorder€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€theÏPanel's€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusionsÏof€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference.Ìà àà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€OpinionÏof€the€Panel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌà àà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€isÏmade€the€judgment€of€the€Court.ÌÓ ` ` šXÓà àà àCosts€will€be€paid€by€one„half€by€Plaintiff/Appellant€and€Surety;€andÏone„half€by€Defendants/Appellees€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÓÓà àà àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€on€January€17,€1997.ÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌóóÌÌÌ