ÿWPCÔ ;# JU:U % 0û•bw@˜4ØìûÆ 0LÉÆÆÛÆ¡ 0Jg 0T± 0^ 0hc 0rË 0|= 0†¹ 0? 1uÏ 0dD AQ¨Æù 0¿ 0@Ö 0D D/Z B‰ B¦ D3ÃU *öB) DCI AMŒ³Ù¨Œe4v~5vÓ³ 0N†˜HP LaserJet 4 PlusHPPCL5MS,ð,,,,,ð0nLHÎ,c½¬AZ‹"Arial RegularX(Ó­$¡¡Ñ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÔ€XXXXÔÑ7€.íXXdðXXdð7Ñ- ù- QRDS«TDUÓ€_`UaîbÀc„e"-ÔôX¼X3|xcLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5> ÿÿ$Small Circleððà0 à‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 52 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" 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!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(ï3Þ–$¢¢Ý ƒ­!ÝÑ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÔ€XʈXXXÔÑ7€ʈXXdædæ7ÑÝ  Ý("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxd< Œ 9p`(Arial% Line 7 d....7Border 1dd!#/Cþÿ << Gÿÿ ©Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€-ÔÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€-ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€-XÔÌÌMayÏ16,Ï1997ÌÌCecilÏW.ÏCrowsonÌAppellateÏCourtÏClerkÔ  Ôó ó žÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€-ÔÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€-ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€-XÔÌÌMayÏ16,Ï1997ÌÌCecilÏW.ÏCrowsonÌAppellateÏCourtÏClerkÔ  Ôó óPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva Ò>‡¦$"Small Circleð"ðà0  àÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€-ÔÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ#€Xd#ÑÑ#€Xd#ÑÝ  Ý›Ñ  ÑØ ØÓ&€Ðd&ÓÓ&€XÐd&Óœ›Þ ÞÌà@ àò òIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEE̜ـ!ÙßR€01/A1-j| ` à. `€€@ÿRß›à@ àSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEó óÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌEDDIE€BRYANT,à àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àMONTGOMERY€CHANCERYÌà àPlaintiff/Appelleeà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àNO.€œ01S01›„9611„CH„00231à àÌv.à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àHON.€ALEX€W.€œDARNELL›,ÌœOPRYLAND›€U.S.A.€INC.€andà àà à)à àCHANCELLORÌCONTINENTAL€INSURANCE€à àà à)ÌCOMPANYà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àTrial€Court€NumberÌà àDefendants/Appellants.à àà à)à à92„71„132ÌÌà àà àà àà àà àÌÌÌÌò òòòFor€the€Appellant:à àà àà àà àà àFor€the€Appellees:ÌÌó óóóElaine€M.€œYoungblood›à àà àà àà àTed€HayÌœOrtale›,€œKelley›,€Herbert€&€œCrawford›à àà àAttorney€at€LawÌ200€Fourth€Ave.€North,€œ3rd›€Floorà àà àà à130€Franklin€StreetÌNashville,€Tennessee€€37219à àà àà àœClarksville›,€Tennessee€€37040à àÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌò òòòÓ  ÓM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NÌóóó óÌò òòòÌÌMembers€of€Panel:Ìóóó óÌFrank€F.€Drowota,€III,€JusticeÌWilliam€H.€œInman›,€Senior€JudgeÌWilliam€S.€Russell,€Special€JudgeÌÓ  ÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÌò òAFFIRMED€AS€MODIFIEDà àà àà àà àà àDROWOTA,€J.ÌÓÓó óÌÌÑ€Ñà àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€SpecialÏWorkers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€withÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€CourtÏof€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€The€defendants€in€this€appeal€contendÏthat€the€Chancellorððs€award€of€benefits€to€the€plaintiff€on€the€basis€of€a€percentage€toÏthe€body€as€a€whole€was€error€in€light€of€the€proof€which€established€injuries€only€toÏboth€of€plaintiffððs€arms€which€are€scheduled€members.€€The€panel€concludes€thatÏthe€award€of€benefits€on€the€basis€of€sixty€percent€to€the€body€as€a€whole€should€beÏmodified€to€provide€for€an€award€of€sixty€percent€to€both€arms.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÏ50„6„207(3)(A)(ii)(w)€(1996€Supp.)€The€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€thereforeÏaffirmed€as€modified.ÌÌà àThe€plaintiff,€Eddie€Bryant,€was€thirty„six€years€old€at€the€time€of€trial.€ÏFollowing€his€graduation€from€high€school,€Bryant€served€three€years€in€the€NavyÏand€received€training€as€a€mechanic€in€diesel€repair€and€in€boiler€repair.€€HeÍcompleted€three€different€training€courses€at€Gravely€Equipment,€Briggs€EquipmentÏSchool€and€Echo€Power€Equipment.€€Subsequent€to€his€discharge€from€the€Navy,ÏBryant€began€working€for€the€defendant€Opryland€as€a€mechanic€in€the€horticultureÏdepartment.€€Although€Bryant€was€also€in€charge€of€the€trash€crew€and€performedÏsome€tree€trimming,€his€primary€job€was€that€of€mechanic.€€ÌÌà àIn€1992,€Bryant€began€dropping€tools€and€experiencing€numbness€in€hisÏhands.€€Bryant€first€saw€Dr.€Steven€Salyers,€a€medical€doctor€who€specializes€inÏorthopedics,€on€September€18,€1992.€€Based€upon€testing€and€examination€ofÏBryant,€Dr.€Salyers€diagnosed€Bryant€as€having€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€in€his€rightÏhand.€€Initially,€Dr.€Salyers€prescribed€conservative€treatment€for€Bryant,€however,Ïthat€treatment€proved€unsuccessful.€€On€January€28,€1993,€Dr.€Salyers€performedÏcorrective€release€surgery€on€Bryantððs€right€wrist.€€Bryant€returned€to€work€on€lightÏduty,€but€began€experiencing€pain€and€discomfort€in€his€left€hand.€€œElectrodiagnostic›Ïstudies€done€on€March€12,€1993€revealed€mild€carpal€tunnel€syndrome.€€€Dr.ÏSalyers€performed€corrective€surgery€on€March€29,€1993.€€Following€this€surgery,ÏBryant€underwent€physical€therapy€and€a€work€hardening€program.€€Dr.€SalyersÏopined€that€Bryant€attained€maximum€medical€improvement€as€to€both€arms€in€JulyÏof€1993.€€€Although€no€specific€restrictions€were€given,€Dr.€Salyers€recommendedÏthat€Bryant€not€do€any€work€which€requires€repetitive€gripping,€repetitive€wristÏflexion,€intensive€keyboarding,€sustained€wrist€flexion,€or€sustained€grippingÏactivities.€€Bryant€did€not€return€to€work€at€Opryland€following€his€second€surgery,Ïbut€has€worked€part„time€at€several€other€establishments€including€CumberlandÍHeights€Utility€District,€where€he€was€employed€to€read€water€meters,€SundialÏTanning€Salon,€where€he€was€employed€to€clean€the€tanning€beds,€and€a€miniatureÏgolf€park,€where€he,€with€assistance€from€his€wife,€did€mechanic€work€on€the€go„carts.ÌÌà àDr.€Salyers,€testifying€by€deposition€at€trial,€opined€that€as€a€result€of€theÏbilateral€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€and€the€corrective€surgeries€performed€on€eachÏarm,€Bryant€has€a€five€percent€permanent€anatomical€impairment€rating€to€eachÏupper€extremity.€€Dr.€Salyers€also€opined€that€Bryant€is€not€likely€to€return€to€work€asÏa€mechanic€given€his€continuing€complaints€of€pain€and€discomfort.ÌÌà àBryant€was€referred€by€his€lawyer€to€Dr.€Lloyd€A.€Walwyn€for€an€evaluationÏand€permanent€impairment€rating.€€Bryant€saw€Dr.€Walwyn€once€on€August€24,Ï1993.€€Dr.€Walwyn,€also€testifying€by€deposition€at€trial,€opined€that€BryantððsÏsymptoms€indicated€either€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€or€residual€neuropathy€of€theÏmedian€nerves€of€his€wrists€from€carpal€tunnel€syndrome.€€Dr.€Walwyn€alsoÏdetermined€that€Bryant€had€full€range€of€motion€in€his€arms€and€wrists€and€noÏmuscle€atrophy€of€either€arm.€€Dr.€Walwyn€assigned€a€ten€percent€anatomicalÏimpairment€to€each€upper€extremity,€which€he€said€related€to€twelve€percentÏpermanent€impairment€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€Based€upon€the€foregoing€testimonyÏand€evidence,€the€trial€court€found€that€Bryant€had€a€sixty€percent€permanentÏimpairment€to€the€body€as€a€whole.ÌÌà àIn€workersðð€compensation€cases,€the€scope€of€review€on€issues€of€fact€is€deÏnovo€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€theÏcorrectness€of€the€findings,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€ÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)€(2)€(1996€Supp.);€òòœLollar›€v.€Wal„Mart€Stores,€Inc.óó,Ï767€S.W.2d€143€(Tenn.€1989).€€When€a€trial€court€has€seen€and€heard€witnesses,Ïespecially€where€issues€of€credibility€and€weight€of€oral€testimony€are€involved,Ïconsiderable€deference€must€be€accorded€the€trial€courtððs€factual€findings.€ÏòòHumphrey€v.€David€œWitherspoon›,€Inc.óó,€734€S.W.2d€315€(Tenn.€1987).€€However,Ïwhere€the€issues€involve€expert€medical€testimony€which€is€contained€in€the€recordÏby€deposition,€as€it€is€in€this€case,€then€all€impressions€of€weight€and€credibility€mustÏbe€drawn€from€the€contents€of€the€depositions,€and€the€reviewing€court€may€draw€itsÏown€impression€as€to€weight€and€credibility€from€the€contents€of€the€depositions.€ÏòòœOrman›€v.€Williams€œSonoma›,€Inc.óó,€803€S.W.2d€€672,€676„77€(Tenn.€1991);€òòLanders€v.ÏFiremanððs€Fund,€œIns›.€Co.óó,€775€S.W.2d€355,€356€(Tenn.€1989).ÌÌà àAs€a€general€rule,€permanent€partial€disability€benefits€based€on€an€injury€toÏa€ð ðscheduled€member€ð ð€are€exclusively€controlled€by€the€schedule€established€byÏthe€General€Assembly€for€that€member€or€combination€of€members€and€may€notÏproperly€be€apportioned€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€òòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€€ðð€50„6„207(3)(A)€(1996€Supp.);€òòThompson€v.€Leon€Russell€Enterprisesóó,€834€S.W.2d€927,Ï929€(Tenn.€1992);€òòLock€v.€National€Union€Fire€œIns›.€Co.óó,€809€S.W.2d€483,€486€(Tenn.Ï1991);€òòReagan€v.€Tennessee€œMun›.€Leagueóó,€751€S.W.2d€842,€843€(Tenn.€1988).€€OfÏcourse,€for€purposes€of€this€rule,€the€term€ð ðscheduled€memberðð€is€limited€to€onlyÍthose€members,€and€combinations€of€members,€provided€for€in€the€statutoryÏframework.€€òòIdóó.€€Moreover,€permanent€disability€resulting€from€an€injury€to€aÏscheduled€member€may€be€apportioned€to€the€body€as€a€whole€if€the€injury€extendsÏbeyond€the€scheduled€member€and€causes€a€permanent€injury€to€an€unscheduledÏportion€of€the€body.€òòThompsonóó,€834€S.W.2d€at€929;€òòœKerr›€v.€Magic€Chef,€Inc.óó,€793ÏS.W.2d€927€(Tenn.€1990);€òòSmith€v.€Empire€Pencil€Co.óó,€781€S.W.2d€833€(Tenn.Ï1989).€€However,€the€fact€that€an€injury€to€a€scheduled€member€can€be€converted,Ïvia€the€American€Medical€Association€Guidelines,€to€a€percentage€disability€to€theÏbody€as€a€whole€provides€no€basis€upon€which€to€sustain€an€award€to€the€body€as€aÏwhole€under€the€Tennessee€Workersðð€Compensation€Law.€€òòThompsonóó,€834€S.W.2dÏat€929;€òòReaganóó,€751€S.W.2d€at€843„44.ÌÌà àAlthough€Dr.€Walwyn€utilized€the€AMA€Guidelines€to€convert€his€disabilityÏrating€to€a€percentage€of€the€body€as€a€whole,€the€medical€expert€testimony€in€thisÏcase€actually€apportioned€Bryantððs€permanent€impairment€to€the€ð ðupperÏextremities.ðð€€The€medical€proof€leads€to€the€conclusion€that€Bryantððs€permanentÏvocational€disability€is€to€both€arms€and€is€therefore€a€scheduled€injury.€€òòSeeóó€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€50„6„207€(3)(A)(ii)(w)€(1996€€Supp.).€€Consequently,€the€Panel€findsÏthat€the€evidence€preponderates€against€an€award€based€on€a€percentage€ofÏdisability€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€The€trial€courtððs€award€of€workersðð€compensationÏbenefits€based€on€sixty€percent€to€the€body€as€a€whole€is€accordingly€modified€toÏprovide€for€an€award€based€on€sixty€percent€to€both€œarms.€€This€award€isÏappropriate€in€light€of€Bryantððs€testimony,€as€well€as€the€medical€proof,€whichÍindicate€that€Bryant€will€no€longer€be€able€to€work€as€a€mechanic,€the€only€trade€forÏwhich€he€has€been€specially€trained.€€As€modified,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€isÏaffirmed.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€defendants,€Opryland€U.S.A.€and€theÏContinental€Insurance€Company.€ÌÌ€ÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÌà àà àà àà àà àà àFrank€F.€Drowota,€III,€JusticeÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÌWilliam€H.€Inman›,€Senior€Judge€ÌÌÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÌWilliam€S.€Russell,€Thayer,€Special€œJudgeÌÌÇÒ  ÒÒ £ ÒòòßJ€02;+'b|}` à. `€@ÿJßà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌÌEDDIE€BRYANT,à àà àà àà à}à àMONTGOMERY€CHANCERYÌà àà àà àà àà àà à}à àNo.€92„71„132€BelowÌà àPlaintiff/Appelleeà àà àà à}Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à}à àHon.€Alex€W.€Darnell,Ìvs.à àà àà àà àà àà à}à àChancellorÌà àà àà àà àà àà à}ÌOPRYLAND€U.S.A.,€INC.€andà àà à}ÌCONTINENTAL€INSURANCEà àà à}ÌCOMPANY,à àà àà àà àà à}à àNo.€01S01„9611„CH„00231Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à}Ìà àDefendants/Appellantsà àà à}à àAFFIRMED€AS€MODIFIED.ÌÌÌà@ àJUDGMENT€ORDERÌÌÌÓ€Óà àà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€the€orderÏof€referral€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel'sÏMemorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€whichÏare€incorporated€herein€by€reference.Ìà àà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€Opinion€of€theÏPanel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌà àà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€and€conclusionsÏof€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgmentÏof€the€Court.ÌÓ ` ` šXÓà àà àCosts€will€be€paid€by€Defendants/Appellants€and€Surety,€for€whichÏexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÓÓà àà àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€on€Ô"USú ú, úÔÔ ƒ3 ÔÔ!  Ô.ÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌóóÌÌÌÔ€-¼ÔÌÌÌÌÌÔ€-XÔ›