ÿWPCý" 7U,B %TU.Zrˆ 0ú 0C‡ÊnZÚ 0 r4 ¦ 0J¦ w@ð 40 D 0TD 0^˜ 0hö 0r^ 0|Ð 0†L 0Ò 1ub 0d× AQ;ÆŒ 0ŽR 0@à 0D  D/d B“ B° D3Í$B)=DCf AM©8öÝ.f ;qv~¬vÓ*ô\  `*Times New RomanTTô"ÝÆÿA€ArialTT'    0 .   (e2·Ö$©©Ý ƒ LŠ!ÝÔ€X¿­XôôÔÔ€XhXXX¿­ÔÓ  ÓÝ  Ý(ÿÿ$òòÚ  ÚÚ  Úóó3|x«ô\  `*Times New RomanTTôôCô\  PŽ6QôP"ÝÆÿA€ArialTTomanTTXXaÝÆÿptQXpô\  `*Times New RomanTT¼¼^ô\  PŽ6Q¼Pô\  `*Times New RomanTT,,)ô\  PŽ6Q,Pô\  `*Times New RomanTT6ô\  PŽ6QPô\  `*Times New RomanTTXXPô\  PŽ6QXPô\  `*Times New RomanTT  kô\  PŽ6Q Pô\  `*Times New RomanTTRAnô\  PŽ6QRP(JLŠ$¡¡Ô€X¿­XôôÔÔ€XXXXX¿­ÔÓ  Ó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô DDDDDDVîD„e"aÔô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(f3Á$¢¢Ý ƒ LŠ!ÝÔ€X¿­XôôÔÔ€XhXXX¿­ÔÓ  ÓÝ  Ý("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxd Ý ƒ !ÝÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ 8 ÒÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ@  ÔÚ  ÚÚ  ÚÔA  ÔÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓ Ý ƒ !ÝÑ  ÑÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ 8 ÒÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ@  ÔÚ  ÚÚ  ÚÔA  ÔÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓ% Line 7 d....7Border 1dd!#/Cþÿ << Gÿÿ .Ý ƒ !ÝÑ  ÑÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€XÔÌÌMay€21,€1997ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó ÓÝ ƒ !ÝÓ ÓÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ 8 ÒÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓÔ€RÔÔ€Ôòòò…òÚ  ÚÚ  Úó…óóóÔ€XÔ€€"The€judge€or€chancellor€presiding€at€the€trial€may€not€testify€in€that€trial.€€No€objectionÏneed€be€made€in€order€to€preserve€the€point."€€Rule€605,€Tennessee€Rules€of€Evidence.Ì \Ñ\R AØ'\Ñ 1Ý ƒ !ÝÓ ÓÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€XÔÌÌMay€21,€1997ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó óPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÝ ƒ !ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ\R AØ'\ÑÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÒ  ÒÒ 8 ÒÖ€,ÖÑ  ÑÔ&  ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÖ€-ÖÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÔ€¼ÔÔ€ÔÞ ÞÌIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌÙ€!ÙßR€01/A1-j|i` ç `€€@ÿRßSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÌAT€NASHVILLEÌ(March€20,€1997€Session)ÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓKAY€E.€BLACKWOOD,€JR.,€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€CLAY€CIRCUITÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellee,€€€€€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€)€€€€€Hon.€John€A.€Turnbull,Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€)€€€€€Judge.Ìv.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€XÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€Ô€Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€ôÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€€€Ô€ôÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€)€€€€€No.€01S01„9609„CV„00190ÌTHE€BERKLINE€CORPORATION€€€€)Ìand€CONTINENTAL€CASUALTY€€€€€)ÌCORPORATION,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€Ô€Ô€¼Ô€Ô€XÔ€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Defendants„Appellants.€€)ÌÌÌÌÌòòFor€Appellantsóó:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òòFor€Appellee:óóÌÌMark€C.€Travis€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Frank€D.€FarrarÌCookeville,€Tennessee€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€William€Joseph€ButlerÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Lafayette,€TennesseeòòÌóóÌÌÌÌòòÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÌÌÌÌÌòòMembers€of€Panelóó:ÌÌAdolpho€A.€Birch,€Jr.,€Chief€Justice,€Supreme€CourtÌÔ'  ÔJohn€K.€Byers,€Senior€JudgeÌJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓMODIFIED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€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.€€The€appellants€contendÏ(1)€the€award€of€permanent€partial€disability€benefits€is€excessive,€(2)€it€wasÏerror€for€the€trial€judge€to€become€a€witness€in€the€case€and€(3)€the€trialÏjudge€abused€his€discretion€by€commuting€permanent€partial€benefits€to€aÏlump€sum.€€As€discussed€below,€the€panel€has€concluded€the€award€ofÏpermanent€partial€disability€benefits€should€be€modified€and,€as€modified,Ïpaid€in€a€lump€sum,€and€the€evidential€remarks€of€the€trial€judge€wereÏharmless€in€light€of€our€modification.Ìà àà àThe€claimant,€Kay€Eugene€Blackwood,€Jr.,€is€thirty„nine€yearsÏold€with€a€high€school€education€and€vocational€training€as€an€automobileÏmechanic€and€some€college€training€as€a€minister€of€the€gospel.€€HeÏgradually€developed€bilateral€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€from€the€repetitive€useÏof€his€hands€at€work€for€employer,€Berkline.€€The€employer€referred€him€toÏDr.€James€B.€Talmage.Ìà àà àThe€doctor€diagnosed€bilateral€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€andÏprescribed€braces€for€both€wrists.€€He€restricted€the€claimant€from€repetitiveÏwork€with€his€right€hand€and€recommended€wearing€the€braces€whileÏsleeping.€€The€claimant€was€totally€disabled€for€several€weeks.€€The€doctorÍassigned€zero€percent€permanent€impairment,€but€acknowledged€some€lossÏof€grip€strength€and€conceded€that,€on€the€basis€of€lost€grip€strength,€theÏAMA€Guidelines€provided€twenty€percent€permanent€impairment€to€theÏright€arm€and€ten€percent€to€the€left,€using€a€method€the€doctor€consideredÏinappropriate.€€Dr.€Talmage€did€not€concede€the€loss€of€grip€strength€wasÏpermanent.Ìà àà àDr.€Randy€Gaw,€a€neurologist,€diagnosed€mild€right€carpalÏtunnel€syndrome€but€found€no€evidence€of€"left€median€nerveÏmononeuropathy"€or€"generalized€neuropathic€or€myopathic€processÏinvolving€the€upper€extremities."€€The€claimant€returned€to€work€for€theÏemployer.€€Dr.€S.€M.€Smith,€who€did€not€treat€the€claimant€but€evaluatedÏhim,€diagnosed€moderate€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€on€the€right€and€mildÏcarpal€tunnel€syndrome€on€the€left.€€He€assigned€twenty€percent€permanentÏimpairment€to€the€right€hand€and€ten€percent€to€the€left.Ìà àà àThe€trial€court€awarded,€among€other€things,€permanent€partialÏdisability€benefits€based€on€fifty€percent€to€each€arm,€commuted€to€a€lumpÏsum.€€Appellate€review€is€de€novo€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,Ïaccompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctness,€unless€the€preponderance€ofÏthe€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„225(e)(2).€€ThisÏtribunal€is€required€to€conduct€an€independent€examination€of€the€record€toÏdetermine€where€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€lies.€€òòWingert€v.ÏGovernment€of€Sumner€Countyóó,€908€€S.W.2d€€921€(Tenn.€1995).€€The€panelÏis€as€well€situated€to€gauge€the€weight,€worth€and€significance€of€depositionÏtestimony€as€the€trial€judge.ÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓ(1)ÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓà àà àOnce€the€causation€and€permanency€of€an€injury€have€beenÏestablished€by€expert€testimony,€many€pertinent€factors,€including€age,€jobÏskills,€education,€training,€duration€of€disability,€and€job€opportunities€forÏthe€disabled,€in€addition€to€anatomical€impairment,€may€be€considered€forÏthe€purpose€of€evaluating€the€extent€of€a€claimant's€permanent€disability.€ÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„241(a)(2).€€From€a€consideration€of€theÍpertinent€factors€established€in€this€record,€and€in€light€of€the€fact€that€onlyÏone€of€the€three€doctors€who€saw€the€claimant€assigned€any€permanency,€weÏare€persuaded€the€evidence€preponderates€against€an€award€based€on€fiftyÏpercent€permanent€impairment€to€each€arm€and€in€favor€of€one€based€onÏtwenty€percent€to€both€arms.€€The€judgment€is€modified€accordingly.ÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓ(2)ÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓà àà àAt€the€conclusion€of€the€trial,€the€trial€judge€announced€hisÏfindings,€including€the€following:ÌÓ ` ` ‹XÓà8 àà àà à"Parenthetically€and€by€way€of€explanation,€I€haveÏnoted€in€the€past€after€reading€probably€100€or€125€depositionsÏgiven€by€Dr.€Talmage€and€having€had€him€testify€in€person€inÏfront€of€me€on€10€or€12€occasions€over€the€last€several€years,Ïthat€when€Dr.€Talmage€is€the€regular€employer's€physician,€heÏtends€to€give€much€less€credit€to€subjective€symptoms€reportedÏto€him€by€an€employee€than€he€does€if€the€employee€is€referredÏto€him€by€the€plaintiff's€lawyer€or€some€other€„„€in€some€otherÏmanner.ÌÓ ` ŒXÓà0 àà àà à"....ÌÓ ` ` ‹XÓà8 àà àà à"I€note€that€it's€impossible€for€the€Court€to€removeÏfrom€it's€mind€the€many,€many,€many€times€that€Dr.€TalmageÏhas€testified€either€by€deposition€or€personally€in€front€of€me,Ïand€my€evaluation€of€his€testimony€is,€at€least,€partially€based€inÏall€candor€upon€previous€judgments€of€credibility€and€weight€ofÏtestimony€that€I€have€been€required€to€make€as€a€judge€of€hisÏtestimony.Ìà8 àà àà à"If€this€court€is€not€permitted€to€utilize€thatÍknowledge€of€doctor's€testimony€based€upon€previousÏexperience€of€the€judge€with€the€doctor,€then€we€might€as€wellÏthrow€out€judges€and€use€computers,€because€I'm€a€human€beingÏand€I€can't€take€from€my€bank€of€memory€those€factors€thatÏhave€been€noted€in€the€past€based€upon€previous€testimony€that€IÏhave€mentioned€in€this€opinion.Ìà8 àà àà à"Considering€all€these€factors€and€weighing€them,Ïthe€Court€finds...."ÌÓ ` ŒXÓà àà àWhile€we€respect€and€appreciate€the€trial€judge's€candor,€weÏmust€acknowledge€also€that€it€is€inappropriate€and,€generally,€reversibleÏerror,€for€a€fact€finder,€to€base€a€decision€on€observations€outside€theÏparticular€judicial€proceeding.€€Jurors€are€regularly€instructed€not€to€visitÏthe€scenes€of€accidents€and€crimes€in€order€that€their€verdict€will€not€beÏimproperly€influenced.€€The€same€principle€applies€to€judges€as€fact€finders,Ïwho€must€disregard€any€personal€knowledge€they€possess€about€the€facts€ofÏthe€case€or,€if€they€cannot€do€so,€allow€another€judge€to€conduct€the€trial.€ÏWe€are€aware€of€no€rule€of€evidence€authorizing€a€judge€to€take€judicialÏnotice€of€a€witness's€lack€of€credibility.€€As€noted€by€our€Supreme€Court€inÏòòVaughn€v.€Shelby€Williams€of€Tenn.,€Inc.óó,€813€€S.W.2d€€132€(Tenn.€1991):ÌÓ ` ` ‹XÓà8 àà àà à....€€Rule€605€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€EvidenceÑ  ÑÑ   ÑÑ  ÑÑ€. §u` Ñ× ƒ2 ××  ×Ïprohibits€a€judge€presiding€over€a€trial€from€serving€as€aÏwitness,€and€for€good€reason.€€Perhaps€the€most€obvious€one€isÏthat€the€system€of€justice€does€not€appear€to€be€impartial€if€theÏjudge€charged€with€the€duty€of€adjudicating€the€litigation€alsoÏacts€as€a€source€of€evidence.€€(citation€omitted).€€Additionally,Ïwhen€the€trial€judge€becomes€a€source€of€information,€theÏparties€may€not€be€willing€to€cross„examine€vigorously€theÏjudge€whose€goodwill€is€perceived€to€be€important€in€the€case.€ÏWorse€yet,€the€parties€may€not€even€get€the€opportunity€to€crossÏexamine€the€judge€to€begin€with....ÌÓ ` ŒXÓà àà àNevertheless,€so€that€the€injured€worker€will€not€be€undulyÏfurther€delayed€in€receiving€his€benefits,€we€have€chosen€to€review€theÏrecord€de€novo€without€any€presumption€of€correctness,€thereby€renderingÏthe€error€harmless.€€Hopefully,€we€have€cured,€not€compounded,€the€error.€ÏIf€we€are€not€so€authorized,€the€alternative€is€to€remand€for€trial€beforeÏanother€judge.Ìà àà àBecause€the€passage€of€time€has€rendered€the€third€issue€moot,Ïwe€have€pretermitted€it.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€plaintiff„appellee.Ó 4áÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓ_______________________________Ó ÓÌÓ  Ó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Joe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€JudgeÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓCONCUR:ÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌAdolpho€A.€Birch,€Jr.,€Chief€JusticeÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌJohn€K.€Byers,€Senior€JudgeÌÑ€3ÑÇÒ  ÒÒ £ ÒòòßJ€04;+'b|_3` ç `€@ÿJßà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌÌKAY€E.€BLACKWOOD,€JR.,à àà à}à àCLAY€CIRCUITÌà àà àà àà àà àà à}à àNo.€1353€BelowÌà àPlaintiff/Appelleeà àà àà à}Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à}à àHon.€John€A.€Turnbull,€Ìvs.à àà àà àà àà àà à}à àJudgeÌà àà àà àà àà àà à}ÌTHE€BERKLINE€CORPORATIONà à}Ìand€CONTINENTAL€CASUALTYà à}ÌCORPORATION,à àà àà àà à}à àNo.€01S01„9609„CV„00190Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à}Ìà àDefendants/Appellants.à àà à}à àMODIFIED.ÌÌÌà@ 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€Plaintiff/Appellee€for€which€execution€mayÏissue€if€necessary.ÌÓÓà àà àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€on€May€21,€1997.ÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌóóÌÌÌÌ