ÿWPCí dˆ*ìÚPjþR§ %ÑòÔó ³2*þç¿Ù Añs+ih61Ð¥™ÑY3|ùâVÍÄÈ+ÑFêNr™ ß“—ÝÕ%iÓz‹*²|ÿÌ£UVJ0Uj•z@t#3Àèèør¶7ƒØe‘žÉøc~O§˜T‘K³ìY9^]‰“ÄO,-vIœvËÁ¹uL]ö¶è¸áñŒž1Çd·æ'ªì&¿$`~]Í…ÞÁUØþltÄò¬hõùT¡0NáÅZÜdá¯în ؇b·Ì+&šüª!¤ìÊ&}Z::ó1á@@ÔøœäŸ?ôN‰%“êu4wÒ/\åÀÌYg-¿®*ãuYò7¹¶Ï£Ò ê0è‡!s  Â`ÈÚ~ü6e!f%=%廣ÿVî°íDyû|Õ Ü½/«ùù‹ƒâ÷v u(³Á?©u-¤j¨«[IFчªÚ”æÒStÛE7ŒÓæ]ûMÃDÖ]8@¥€œb'Ï;áA µÇGl{U¡O¥¸þ•ªöÿ ÂÀõ|4m¤ÿ¹>qí{À̘D!ó/‹Ø ïDëùœ"rø$ÒÉäeA^j§© í:îYA¹q)S*¡ý¸ ï™…¥£uÀ…Ùdâ蔢myæ?˜…# F UNQ %Ÿ 0(¥ w@Í 4 ! f0 f– ü f ëj U:U ë U:zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz B´´´´´ D3ÑÑÑ 0D AOHÆ—— 0D] D/¡ BИHP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ ·E¸P¹Ó€Ä•ÅVÆîÇPÈPÉ PÊÓ€ux-&x ÿÿÿ3|xÔ \Ñ\R AØ'ÿ Legal\Ñ \Ñ\R AØ'ÿ Legal\Ñ \Ñ\R AØ'ÿ Legal\Ñ áÔ€ X XXXÔÔ€ èÏ?èX X ÔÔ Ad ÔÓ  ÓFILEDÔ€ ’žè èÏ?ÔÐ  ÐÌò òMarch€4,€1999Ð  ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€CourtÏClerkó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular áÔ€X XXXÔÔ€èÏ?èXX ÔÔ Ad ÔÓ  ÓFILEDÔ€’žèèÏ?ÔÐ  ÐÌò òMarch€4,€1999Ð  ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€CourtÏClerkó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular d%%%%'ÿÿdxd(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýñ¶ñ›ñ¶ññ¶ññ°ñ›ñ°ññ¶ñò òòòÑ€†ÑÑ€ †ÑÑ7€ìÒXdðdÈ7ÑÑ€ †ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÌÌà  àóóà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À ààHÔ Ô ÀàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ à Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À ààHò ò ÀàWORKERððS€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELˆÌñ¹ñœßl€ *6&"h 8 `€€Eqtt06Hp¨çlßñ¹ññÆññ¹ñ›ñ¹ññÆññ¹ñâ °H°H°(#°(#âñ¹ññÄñÌñÄñ›à  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À ààH  ÀàKNOXVILLE,€SEPTEMBER€1998€SESSIONˆÌÌÌÌÌÌMICHAEL€BOHANNON,à  àà h àà À à)à  àMcMinn€CountyÐ P  Ðâ °(#°(#°H°HâChanceryÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)Ìà  àPlaintiff/Appellee,à  àà h àà À à)Ð Ð  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)à  àNo.€œ03S01„ñ·ñ9ñ·ñ9709„CH„00119›Ð À Ðv.à  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)Ð ° Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)à  àMcMinn€County€ChanceryÐ  ð ÐASPLUNDH€TREE€EXPERT€CO.,€INC.,à À à)à  àCourt€No.€18,347Ð à Ðand€NATIONAL€UNION€FIREà h àà À à)Ð €Ð ÐINSURANCE€COMPANY,€INC.,à h àà À à)Ð pÀ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à)Ìà  àDefendant/Appellant.à h àà À àœ)ñ¸ñà  àñ¸ññ¸ñHon.€Earl€Henley,€Chancellorñ¸ñ›Ð P  ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌòòFor€the€Appellant:à ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àFor€the€Appellee:Ð Ð  ÐóóÌó óConrad€Finnellà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àJ.€Bartlett€QuinnÐ °"  ÐAttorney€at€Lawà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àFleissner,€Cooper,€Marcus€&€QuinnÐ  #ð! ÐP.€O.€Box€1476à ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à800€Vine€StreetÐ $à" ÐCleveland,€Tennessee€37364„1476à h àà À àà  àChattanooga,€Tennessee€37403Ð €%Ð # ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À ààHÝ Ý Ààò òòòMEMORANDUM€OPINIONˆÐ ,`'* ÐóóÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À ààH—— ÀàòòMembers€of€Panel:óóó óˆÐ À0,/ ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À ààH¢ ¢ ÀàE.€Riley€Anderson,€Chief€JusticeˆÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À ààHÐ Ð ÀàRoger€E.€Thayer,€Special€JudgeˆÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À ààH ÀàJohn€S.€McLellan,€III,€Special€JudgeˆÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ  :p59 ÐцÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  ÑAFFIRMEDà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àMcLELLAN,€Special€JudgeÐ ° ÐñÄñцÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  ÑñÄññ¹ñцÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  ÑцÑÑ\R AØ'ÿ Legal\ÑÑ  Ññ¹ñÌñ¹ñцÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  ÑцÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  Ññ¹ñÓÓà  àThis€Workerððs€Compensation€Appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€WorkersððÏCompensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„¼225€(e)€(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€ofÏlaw.€€Ìà  àThe€employee€alleged€injury€to€his€neck€and€upper€torso€when€on€January€30,€1993€heÏwas€getting€off€of€a€bush€hog,€while€working€for€his€employer€whose€primary€business€is€tree„¼trimming,€and€he€slipped€on€some€oil.€€The€employee€states€he€attempted€to€break€his€fall€byÏgrabbing€€hold€of€the€tractor€before€falling€several€feet€and€landing€on€his€low€back.€€The€trialÏcourt€found€that€the€plaintiff€suffered€a€ð ðsevere€fallðð€and€resulting€injury€but€that€the€disability€isÏð ðhighly€exaggeratedðð€by€the€plaintiff.€Taking€all€the€evidence€in€consideration,€the€trial€CourtÏawarded€judgment€in€the€amount€of€twenty„five€percent€disability€to€the€body€as€a€whole€andÏmedical€expenses.€€Both€parties€have€appealed€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€€The€employerÏcontends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€awarding€permanent€partial€disability€as€a€result€of€theÏalleged€accidental€injury.€€The€plaintiffððs€issue€on€appeal€is€whether€the€evidence€preponderatesÏin€favor€of€a€finding€of€much€more€occupational€disability€than€the€twenty„five€percent€awardedÏby€the€trial€court.€€Ìà  àPlaintiff€was€twenty„nine€years€of€age€and€is€a€high€school€graduate.€€He€had€316€hours€ofÏvocational€training€and€has€no€trouble€reading,€writing,€or€performing€mathematics.€€PlaintiffððsÏwork€history,€during€the€ten€years€since€graduation€from€high€school,€was€sporadic€in€thatÏplaintiff€seldom€held€a€job€for€more€than€a€few€months€and€had€trouble€getting€along€with€co„¼workers.€€Plaintiff€testified€that€he€had€not€worked€since€the€day€of€the€alleged€accident€nor€hadÏhe€submitted€an€application€for€employment€since€his€injury.Ìà  àOn€January€30,€1993,€the€plaintiff€was€a€foreman€for€the€defendant€and€in€that€capacity€heÏran€a€bush€hog€and€had€gone€into€an€area€where€he€had€not€bush€hogged€before.€€PlaintiffÏtestified€that€as€he€was€getting€off€the€tractor€to€check€for€rocks,€tires,€and€debris,€his€feet€flewÏout€from€under€him€whereupon€he€grabbed€and€tried€to€break€his€fall€but€landed€on€his€buttocks.€ÏHe€testified€he€had€never€had€an€injury€to€his€neck€or€upper€back€nor€had€he€had€any€physicalÏrestrictions€placed€on€him€as€to€his€ability€to€lift,€bend,€stoop,€twist,€or€performed€heavy€workÐ 09€48 ÐÑ †ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  ÑñÆñÑ †ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  ÑñÆñwhich€was€the€only€type€of€work€he€had€done.€€The€plaintiff€was€taken€to€the€emergency€roomÐ ° ÐñÄñÑ †ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  ÑñÄññ¹ñÑ †ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  ÑÑ †ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  ÑÑ †ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  ÑÑ †ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  Ññ¹ññ·ñÑ †ÑÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  Ññ·ññ¶ñÑ †ÑÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  Ññ¶ñand€after€being€treated,€he€was€referred€to€Dr.€Paul€Schwiger,€an€orthopedic€surgeon.Ìà  àDr.€Schwiger€first€saw€the€plaintiff€on€February€10th€and€16th,€1993€and€found€that€theÏplaintiffððs€neck€motion€was€extremely€limited€and€that€he€was€tender€in€his€cervical€and€thoracicÏspine.€€€Dr.€Schwiger€diagnosed€a€musculo„skeletal€injury.€€MRIs€showed€a€central€right€discÏprotrusion€at€T€6„7€and€a€bulging€disc€at€T€11„12.€€Dr.€Schwiger€referred€the€plaintiff€to€Dr.ÏStephen€Sanders,€a€neuro€surgeon.Ìà  àDr.€Sanders€first€saw€the€plaintiff€on€February€24,€1993€and€upon€examination€found€aÏdecreased€range€of€motion€in€the€neck,€a€decrease€sensation€to€pin€prick€at€the€left€C€7€and€8,Ïdecrease€biceps€reflex€and€small€disc€protrusion€at€the€T€6„7€on€the€MRI.€€X„ray€studiesÏforwarded€to€Dr.€Sanders€contained€a€statement€reflecting€evidence€of€cervical€spasm€causingÏmild€scoliotic€curvature€of€the€spine.€€As€a€result€of€plaintiffððs€examination€showing€someÏsensory€defects€bilaterally€while€his€shoulder€x„rays€and€cervical€and€lumbar€spine€films€showedÏno€evidence€of€abnormalities,€due€to€plaintiffððs€complaints€of€severe€neck€discomfort€andÏshoulder€girdle€disfunction,€he€was€referred€to€Dr.€Paul€Naylor,€an€orthopedist€and€to€Dr.€RonÏBryan,€a€neurologist,€for€consultation.€€On€May€12,€1993€the€plaintiff€last€saw€Dr.€Sanders€whoÏreported€that€plaintiff€could€not€move€either€of€his€arms€and€was€still€complaining€of€exquisiteÏpain€and€that€he€kept€his€head€tilted€chronically€toward€the€left€but€Dr.€Sanders€could€findÏnothing€that€was€a€severe€pathology.€€Thereafter,€at€plaintiffððs€request,€he€transferred€plaintiffððsÏcare€to€Dr.€Shelton.€Ìà  àOn€June€21,€1993€plaintiff€was€seen€by€Dr.€Shelton,€who€upon€examination,€foundÏtightness€over€the€left€supracapular€region;€limited€range€of€motion€in€the€left€shoulder;Ïhypoactive€reflexes€and€for€the€first€time€a€finding€of€a€compression€of€the€superior€margin€of€theÏD€12€vertebra.€€Dr.€Shelton€referred€the€plaintiff€to€Dr.€Pabel€Klein,€a€board€certified€psychiatristÏand€neurologist.€€Ìà  àDr.€Klein,€at€the€time€he€examined€the€plaintiff,€€did€not€have€the€results€of€the€testsÏperformed€by€Dr.€Sanders,€Dr.€Schwiger,€Dr.€Shelton,€Dr.€Naylor,€and€possibly€an€EMG€by€Dr.ÏRyan,€which€reports€Dr.€Klein€later€testified€at€deposition€reflected€objective€findings€mixed€withÏsubjective€interpretations€by€the€doctors.€€Dr.€Klein€opined€that€the€plaintiff€was€malingering,Ð 09€48 Ðfinding€no€objective€pathology€to€account€for€the€plaintiffððs€neck€and€shoulder€posturing€andÏopined€that€Mr.€Bohannon€had€no€permanent€medical€impairment€as€a€result€of€the€accident.€Ì€à  àPlaintiff€notes€that€Dr.€Klein€is€the€only€doctor€among€the€many€who€examined€theÐ pÀ Ðplaintiff€who€suggested€a€differential€diagnosis€of€malingering€versus€hysterical€conversionÏsyndrome.€As€an€explanation€of€Dr.€Kleinððs€findings,€the€plaintiff€testified€that,€upon€inquiry€byÏthe€trial€judge,€that€he€had€actually€cursed€Dr.€Klein€during€the€examination€when€Dr.€KleinÏattempted€to€force€his€neck€into€a€different€position€by€grabbing€the€plaintiffððs€head€and€trying€toÏtwist€it.€Ìà  àPlaintiffððs€employer€terminated€plaintiffððs€medical€treatment€subsequent€to€Dr.€KleinððsÏevaluation.€€Thereafter,€plaintiffððs€counsel€referred€plaintiff€to€Dr.€Don€Gibson€for€the€evaluationÏin€1994,€approximately€one€year€after€the€accident.€€Dr.€Gibson€examined€the€plaintiff,€reviewedÏthe€reports€of€Drs.€Schwiger€and€Shelton€and€opined€that€the€plaintiff€had€suffered€an€acute€strainÏof€the€cervical€spine€with€severe€torticollis,€malalignment€of€the€neck,€and€cervicobrachialÏneuritis.€€Dr.€Gibson€further€opined€that€Mr.€Bohannon€had€suffered€as€a€result€of€the€on€the€jobÏinjury€a€thirty€to€thirty„five€percent€permanent€partial€medical€impairment€in€accordance€with€theÏAMA€Guidelines.€€Defendant€counters€that€Dr.€Gibson€performs€more€independent€evaluationsÏfor€plaintiffððs€counsel€than€anyone€else€and€that€Dr.€Gibson€acknowledged€on€cross„examinationÏthat€he€was€assigning€a€permanent€impairment€based€upon€subjective€complaints€and€undertookÏno€clinical€evaluation€to€resolve€the€desparencies€between€his€clinical€evaluation€and€those€ofÏprevious€treating€physicians.€€Ìà  àThe€final€physician€was€Dr.€Doug€Shepherd€who€first€saw€the€plaintiff€on€January€30,Ï1996€by€referral€for€a€neurological€exam€from€Dr.€Stephen€Rogers€who€was€plaintiffððs€familyÏdoctor.€€Dr.€Shepherd€found€that€the€plaintiff€had€sustained€a€torticollis€or€twisting€of€the€neckÏand€recommended€as€treatment€that€the€plaintiff€receive€botulinum€toxin€injections€and€referredÏthe€plaintiff€to€Nashville€to€Vanderbilt€for€these€treatments.€€Plaintiff€was€receiving€theseÏinjections€once€every€three€months€at€the€time€of€trial.€€Dr.€Shepherd€testified€that€there€was€aÏpossibility€that€torticollis€could€have€been€triggered€by€the€injury€but€that€it€was€etiopathic€whichÏmeans€that€there€is€no€clear€pathogenesis€or€recognizable€cause.€€The€employer€points€out€thatÏDr.€Shepherdððs€records€reflected€that€plaintiff€leaned€his€head€to€the€right€instead€of€the€left€andÐ 09€48 Ðthat€Dr.€Shepherd€testified€on€cross„examination€that€the€posturing€to€the€right€and€on€occasionsÏto€the€left€does€not€usually€occur€with€torticollis€and€that€such€a€fact€would€suggest€that€aÏmalingering.€€Dr.€Shepherd€further€testified€that€if€that€was€demonstrated€in€the€previous€medicalÏrecords€he€would€not€have€diagnosed€the€plaintiff€as€having€torticollis.€€Mr.€Bohannon€testifiedÏthat€the€position€of€his€neck€had€not€changed€in€any€way€after€it€first€developed€following€hisÏaccident.€€The€plaintiff€further€contends€that€the€private€investigator€hired€by€defense€counsel,Ïwho€took€numerous€photographs€of€the€plaintiff€the€Saturday€before€trial,€could€not€produce€oneÏsingle€picture€to€conclusively€corroborate€his€testimony€that€at€times€Mr.€Bohannonððs€head€wasÏstraight€up€and€down.€€€The€detective€testified€he€had€observed€the€plaintiff€at€his€apartment€forÏapproximately€fifteen€minutes,€at€Yatesðð€Store€carrying€a€sack€of€potting€soil,€at€the€plaintiffððsÏmother„in„lawððs€house€digging€in€the€garden,€and€testified€at€times€plaintiffððs€head€was€up€andÏdown.€The€trial€court€found,€after€reviewing€the€photographs,€that€the€photographs€introducedÏwere€not€of€sufficient€nature€to€be€conclusive€as€to€the€position€of€the€plaintiffððs€head.Ìà  àIn€his€Memorandum€Opinion,€the€trial€judge€was€ð ðconvincedðð€that€Mr.€BohannonÏsuffered€a€severe€fall€with€resulting€injury€and€while€the€trial€judge€is€of€the€opinion€that€theÏplaintiff€was€highly€ð ðexaggeratingðð€his€disability,€that€the€physicians€supportative€of€a€disabilityÏhave€diagnosed€plaintiffððs€condition€as€torticollis€which€has€several€causes€and€very€often€isÏetiopathic€meaning€the€physicians€never€find€a€clear€cause€for€it.€€The€trial€court€took€all€proofÏinto€consideration€and€awarded€judgment€in€the€amount€of€twenty„five€percent€to€the€body€as€aÏwhole€and€medical€expenses.€€Ìà  àThe€employer€contends€that€the€evidence€fails€to€establish€any€permanent€medicalÏimpairment€as€a€result€of€the€work€accident€as€there€was€no€evidence€of€pathological/anatomicalÏbasis€for€Mr.€Bohannonððs€complaints.€€The€employee€contends€the€evidence€preponderates€inÏfavor€of€a€finding€of€a€larger€occupational€disability€than€the€twenty„five€percent€awarded€by€theÏtrial€court€and€suggests€a€sixty€to€sixty„five€percent€permanent€partial€disability€arising€out€of€theÏwork€accident.€€Ìà  àOur€review€of€the€findings€of€fact€made€by€the€trial€court€is€de€novo€upon€the€record€ofÏthe€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€finding,€unless€theÏpreponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.ðð€50„6„225€(e)€(2)€€€òòStone€v.€City€ofÐ 09€48 ÐMcMinnville,óó€896€S.W.2nd€584€(Tenn.€1991).Ð ° Ðà  àPrior€to€the€January€30,€1993€€injury,€the€record€is€uncontradicted€that€plaintiff€had€noÏprevious€injury€to€his€neck€or€upper€back€and€immediately€sought€treatment€subsequent€to€as€theÏtrial€court€stated€ð ð...€a€severe€fall€and€resulting€in€injury.ðð€€The€plaintiff€was€twenty„five€years€oldÏat€the€time€of€the€injury,€a€graduate€from€high€school€and€completed€316€hours€of€machine€shopÏat€the€McMinn€County€Vocational€School.€€Dr.€Donald€B.€Gibson,€a€family€and€disabilityÏevaluating€physician€found,€subsequent€to€his€examination€evaluation€of€the€plaintiff,€review€ofÏthe€medical€records€of€Dr.€Shelton,€Dr.€Schwiger,€Dr.€Naylor,€Dr.€Sanders,€and€review€of€variousÏimaging€studies€and€reports,€that€the€plaintiff€had€marked€leaning€or€drawing€of€the€neck€to€theÏleft,€had€a€labored€and€unsteady€gate,€great€deal€of€spasm€that€was€palpable€in€the€posterior€neckÏout€into€the€left€trapezius€and€shoulder€and€into€other€areas€around€the€neck.€€€ExaminationÏrevealed€a€range€of€motion€of€the€cervical€spine€of€five€to€ten€percent€of€normal€with€poor€rangeÏof€motion€in€the€left€shoulder€resulting€in€relevant€finding€of€a€ninety€percent€degree€deficit€in€theÏleft€shoulder€and€in€the€right€shoulder€plaintiff€lacked€forty€degrees€pointing€his€arms€fullyÏtoward€the€ceiling.€€Dr.€Gibson€found€that€plaintiff€had€limited€spinal€movement€diagnosing€thatÏthe€plaintiff€has€acute€sprains€to€the€cervical€spine€with€severe€torticollis,€malalignment€of€theÏneck€and€cerviobrachiol€neuritis,€sprains€of€the€shoulders,€left€rotator€cuff€€with€severelyÏobtunded€left€scapulohumeral€rhythm€or€motion,€thoracolumbar€sprain€with€history€of€discÏproblems€at€T€12€and€S€5„€S€1€and€disturbance€of€gait€and€balance.€€Dr.€Gibson€awarded€a€thirtyÏto€thirty„five€percent€permanent€partial€impairment€to€the€body€as€a€whole€based€on€AMAÏGuidelines.€€While€defendant€asserts€that€Dr.€Gibsonððs€findings€and€conclusions€should€carry€lessÏweight€than€that€of€other€treating€physicians,€the€medical€record€contains€objective€findings€byÏDr.€Schwigger,€Dr.€Caughranððs€MRI€and€x„ray€reports,€Dr.€Naylor,€and€Dr.€Sanders.€€TheseÏobjective€findings€relate€to€a€straightening€of€the€normal€cervical€lordosis€in€the€upper€and€mid„¼cervical€spine,€fullness€on€the€left€side€thoracic,€evidence€of€cervical€spasm€causing€mildÏscoliotic€curvature€of€the€spine,€central€bulging€disc€at€T€11„12,€compression€of€the€superiorÏmargin€of€the€D€12€vertebra€with€a€little€hypertrophic€change€in€the€vertebra€just€above€and€someÏdisc€protrusion€at€T€6„7€shown€on€MRI.€€€Additionally,€at€least€three€doctors€found€variousÏdegrees€of€tightness€or€decreased€range€of€motion€in€the€neck.€Ð 09€48 ÐÑ †ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  Ñà  àWhere€there€is€conflicting€medical€testimony€concerning€an€injury,€the€trial€judge€has€theÐ ° ÐñÄñÑ †ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  ÑñÄññ¹ñÑ †ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  Ññ¹ññ¶ñÑ †ÑÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÑ  Ññ¶ñdiscretion€to€conclude€that€the€opinion€of€a€particular€expert€should€be€accepted€over€that€ofÏanother€expert€and€that€one€expertððs€testimony€contains€a€more€reliable€explanation€than€anyÏother€expertððs€testimony€such€that€the€Court€is€able€to€make€its€own€independent€assessment€ofÏmedical€proof€to€determine€where€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€lies.€€òòThomas€v.€Aetna€LifeÐ 0 € Ð&€Cas.€Co.,óó€812€S.W.2nd€278€(Tenn.€1991);òò€Cooper€v.€INA,óó€884€S.W.2nd€446€(Tenn.€1994).ò ò€Ð `  Ðñ¶ñœñ¶ñó óFrom€ourñ¶ñ›ñ¶ñ€review€of€the€extensive€medical€testimony€in€this€case€including€that€of€Dr.€GibsonÐ ð@  Ðwho€ñ¶ñœñ¶ñtestifiedñµñ€ñµññ¶ñ›ñ¶ñ€that€his€impairment€rating€and€opinion€as€to€causation€was€based€on€severalÏobjective€findings€and€that€the€plaintiff€was€not€ñ¶ñœñ¶ñmalingeringñ³ñ€ñ³ññµñ›ñµññ´ñ,ñ´ññ´ñ›ñ´ññ³ñandñ³ññ¶ñ›ñ¶ñ€we€find€this€to€be€competentÏevidence€to€support€an€award€of€permanent€disability€when€considered€with€all€other€evidence€inÏthe€record.€€See€T.C.A.ðð€27„7„114€andòò€Cates€v.€Better„Built€Aluminum€Prods.€Co.,€óó607€S.W.2ndÐ pÀ Ð476€(Tenn.€1980).€€Dr.€Shepard€testified€that€there€is€a€ð ðpossibilityðð€that€the€torticollis€ð ðcouldÏhaveðð€been€triggered€by€the€injury.€€The€trial€judge€heard€lay€testimony€from€which€it€mayÏreasonably€be€inferred€that€the€incident€was€in€fact€the€cause€of€the€injury.€€There€is€no€evidenceÏin€the€record€of€the€plaintiff€having€any€prior€injury€to€his€neck,€shoulders€and€spine€and€medicalÏtestimony€supports€the€conclusion€that€torticollis€is€without€a€recognizable€cause.€€AlthoughÏcausation€in€a€workers€compensation€case€can€not€be€based€on€speculative€or€conjectural€proof,Ïabsolute€medical€certainty€is€not€required€and€reasonable€doubt€is€to€be€construed€in€favor€of€theÏemployee.€€òòHill€v.€Eagle€Bend€Mfg.,óó€942€S.W.2nd€483€(Tenn.€1997).Ð p&À!$ Ðà  àAs€to€the€second€issue€as€to€whether€the€trial€courtððs€award€of€twenty„five€percentÏpermanent€partial€disability€to€the€body€as€a€whole,€the€trial€court€is€vested€with€the€primary€dutyÏand€authority€to€fix€a€reasonable€award€of€benefits€and€it€is€not€subject€to€being€overturned€onÏappeal€unless€the€evidence€preponderates€against€same.€€The€trial€court,€in€considering€all€theÏproof€including€the€fact€that€the€tests€which€have€been€run€by€the€physicians€do€not€justify€theÏplaintiffððs€complaints,€was€convinced€that€the€plaintiff€suffered€a€severe€fall€and€resulting€injury;Ïhowever,€that€the€plaintiff€was€highly€exaggerating€his€disability.€€The€trial€court€is€in€a€betterÏposition€to€judge€creditability€and€weight€of€evidence€where€witnesses€have€testified€orally.€ÏòòLanders€v.€Firemanðð€Fund€Co.,€óó775€S.W.2nd€355€(Tenn.€1989).Ð P7 26 Ðà  àConsidering€the€fact€that€plaintiff€has€a€high€school€education,€some€vocational€training,Ð 09€48 Ðthe€extensive€medical€evidence€in€this€case,€Dr.€Gibsonððs€medical€and€work€capacity€evaluationÏresults€recommending€that€the€plaintiff€be€re„trained€in€some€type€of€computer€applications€andÏthe€trial€courtððs€findings€in€its€Memorandum€Opinion€as€to€the€injury€and€exaggeration€ofÏdisability€by€the€plaintiff,€we€can€not€say€that€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€award€fixedÏby€the€trial€court.Ìà  àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€and€costs€of€the€appeal€are€taxed€to€theÏemployer€and€insurance€carrier.€€ÌÓÓÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à________________________________________Ìà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àJohn€S.€McLellan,€III,€Special€Judge€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ_______________________________________ÌE.€Riley€Anderson,€Chief€JusticeÌÌÌœ_______________________________________ñÅñÐ  À! ÐñÅññÆñ›ñÆññÆñÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÑ` °Ñà@ÊÊDàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌñÆññÉññÉññÊññÊññÉññÉññÊñßl€*6&"h 8 `€€EhQ tt06 P ¨çlßâ   €%€%âñÊññÉñà ` àñÉññÉñà ¸ àñÉññÉñà  àñÉññÉñà h àñÉññÉñà À àñÉññÉñà  àñÉññÉñà p àñÉññÉñà È àñÉññÆñÌÓ  ÓAT€KNOXVILLEÌÓ  ÓÌÌÌMICHAEL€BOHANNONà h àà À àà  à)à p àMcMinn€CountyÐ   ÐChanceryÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àNo.€18,347Ð à€ Ðâ €%€%  âà ` àPlaintiff/Appelleeà h àà À àñÆññÇñà  àñÇññÆñ)Ð Ðp  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àHon.€Earl€Henley,Ð À`  Ðv.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àChancellorÐ °P  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)ÌASPLUNDH€TREE€EXPERT€COMPANY,€)à p àS.€Ct.€No.€03„S„01„9709„CH„00119Ð 0  ÐINC.€and€NATIONAL€UNION€FIREà  à)Ð €  ÐINSURANCE€COMPANY,€INC.à À àà  à)à p àAFFIRMEDÐ p Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àDefendants/Appellantsà À àñÆññÈñà  àñÈññÆñ)Ð Pð ÐÌÓÓà@¾¾(DàòòJUDGMENT€ORDERóóˆÐ 0Ð ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€defendantsðð€motion€for€review€pursuant€to€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(5)(B),€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€of€referral€to€the€SpecialÏWorkers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel's€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€itsÏfindings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;ÌÌà ` àà ¸ àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€for€review€is€not€well„taken€andÏshould€be€denied;€andÌÌà ` àà ¸ àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€areÏadopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€of€the€Court.ÌÌà ` àà ¸ àCosts€will€be€paid€by€defendants„appellants€and€their€surety,€for€which€execution€mayÏissue€if€necessary.ÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àPER€CURIAMÐ 09Ð/3 ÐAnderson,€C.J.,€not€participatingñÆñ›ÌRoger€E.€Thayer,€Special€Judge