ÿWPC´ …# VUNa %¯ 0(µw@Ý4 1 @ 0JH 0T’ 0^æ 0hD 0r¬ 0| 0†š 0 1u° U,% 0dQ U,µ U>á B)DCH AM‹U*Ø, B.v~KvÓÉ D3œ 0@Ï AOÆ^ 0D$ D/h B—˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 (ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ DUDD D!Ó€ypÑ 3|x,2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô  ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman% Line 7 d 7Border 1dd€-!Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial "Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÔ€#ÔÔ€#ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€#XÔÌÌò òJuly€10,€1996ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€#ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó dPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Monaco ÒÒ  BA Op Monaco Ò%%%%'ÿÿdxd("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€X„d&ÓÑ#€Xd#ÑÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÑ\R AØ'\Ñ›Ñ7€ÆUXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  Ñà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÙ€€ÙœßL€"$!;+'h|` Å `€€Lß›Ìà@ àKNOXVILLE,€MARCHÏ1996€SESSIONÌÌÌÌBILLY€CLEVINGER,à àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àHawkins€CountyÌà àPlaintiff„Appellant,à àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àHon.€Ben€K.€WexlerÌvs.à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àNo.€03S01„9508„CV„00092ÌBURLINGTON€MOTOR€CARRIERS,à à)ÌINC.,à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àDefendant„Appellee.à àà àà à)ÌÌÌÌòòFor€the€Appellantóó:à àà àà àà àà àòòFor€the€Appelleeóó:ÌÌHeiskell€H.€Winsteadà àà àà àà àà àTimothy€W.€ConnerÌ205€Highway€66,€Southà àà àà àà àLEITNER,€WARNER,€MOFFITT,ÌSuite€101à àà àà àà àà àà àWILLIAMS,ÏDOOLEY,à àRogersville,€TN€37857à àà àà àà àCARPENTER€&ÏNAPOLITANÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à1130€First€American€CenterÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à507€S.€Gay€StreetÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àKnoxville,€TN€37902ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àò òM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NÌÌó óÌÌà@ àòòò òMembers€of€Panel:óóÌÌà@ àPenny€J.€White,€Justice,€Supreme€CourtÌà@ àWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeÌà@ àJoseph€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÌÌÌÌÌAFFIRMEDó ó€€€€€à àà àà àà àà àà àà àò òWhite,€Justiceó óÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓÓà àà àThis€workersðð€compensation€appeal€from€the€Hawkins€County€Circuit€CourtÏhas€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€SupremeÏCourt€in€accordance€with€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€Section€50„6„225(e)(3)€(1995€œSupp.)›Ïfor€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€œof€findings›€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€ÏFor€the€reasons€set€forth€below,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.ÌÌà@ àI.Ìà àà àThe€plaintiff,€Billy€Clevinger€(ð ðemployeeðð),€is€a€resident€of€HawkinsÏCounty,€Tennessee.€€The€defendant,€Burlington€Motor€Carriers,€Inc.,€(ð ðemployerðð),€is€aÏtrucking€company€with€its€principal€place€of€business€in€Indiana.€€The€employee,€who€wasÏhired€in€Tennessee,€worked€for€the€employer€as€truck€driver.ÌÌà àà àOn€December€1,€1993,€the€employee€was€driving€one€of€the€employerððsÏtrucks€from€Kentucky€to€Arkansas.€€While€traveling€through€Tennessee€on€the€way€toÏArkansas,€he€was€involved€in€a€single€vehicle€accident.€€The€employee€was€hospitalized€forÏa€short€time€due€to€injuries€sustained€in€the€accident.€€He€then€returned€to€his€home€inÏHawkins€County.ÌÌà àà àOn€December€28,€1993,€the€employee€signed€a€document€sent€to€him€by€theÏemployerððs€claim€adjustor€entitled€ð ðAgreement€to€Compensation€of€Employee€andÍEmployer.ðð€€The€form€contained€the€œheading›€ð ðIndiana€Workersðð€Compensation€Board,€€€€€€€€Ï.€.€.€Indianapolis,€Indiana.ðð€€The€document€included€information€concerning€the€date€ofÏinjury,€the€type€of€injury€(bruised€left€arm€and€strain€of€lower€back),€the€place€of€injury,€theÏemployeeððs€average€weekly€wage,€and€the€amount€the€employee€would€be€receiving€asÏtemporary€total€disability.€€The€form€also€contained€the€declaration€that€ð ð[w]e€(employeeÏand€employer)€have€reached€an€agreement€in€regards€to€compensation€for€the€injuryÏsustained€by€said€employee€.€.€.€.ðð€€The€form€further€indicated€that€the€ð ðterms€of€theÏagreement€.€.€.€shall€be€payable€.€.€.€until€terminated€in€accordance€with€the€provisions€ofÏthe€Indiana€Workersðð€Compensation/Occupational€Diseases€Acts.ðð€€The€employee€concedesÏthat€he€signed€the€agreement€and€returned€it€to€the€account€manager€responsible€forÏhandling€workersðð€compensation€claims€for€the€employer,€who€also€signed€it.€€TheÏemployee€subsequently€received€benefits€as€set€out€in€the€agreement.ÌÌà àà àOn€April€22,€1994,€the€employee€filed€the€instant€workersðð€compensationÏclaim€in€the€Circuit€Court€for€Hawkins€County,€Tennessee,€seeking€benefits€underÏTennessee€law.€€The€employer€moved€for€summary€judgment,€asserting€that€œthe›Ïemployeeððs€execution€of€the€agreement€and€receipt€of€payments€made€pursuant€to€IndianaÏlaw€entitled€it€to€a€dismissal€because€the€employee€elected€to€receive€benefits€under€IndianaÏlaw.ÌÌà àà àThe€trial€court€agreed€with€the€employer€and€dismissed€the€case,€holdingÏthat€the€ð ðexecution€of€the€agreement€[and]€acceptance€of€workersðð€compensation€benefitsÏconstitutes€a€showing€that€the€[employee]€made€a€binding€election€to€receive€benefits€underÏIndiana€law,€which€election€precludes€the€awarding€of€benefits€under€Tennessee€law.ðð€ÏThis€appeal€resulted.€€The€sole€issue€is€whether€the€employee€made€a€binding€election€ofÏremedies.ÌÌà àà àOrdinarily,€this€case€would€be€reviewed€òòdeóó€òònovoóó€upon€the€record€of€the€trialÏcourt,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctness€unless€the€evidence€preponderatedÏagainst€the€findings€of€the€trial€court.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€œ50„6„225(e)(2)›€(1995€Supp.).€ÏHowever,€a€workersðð€compensation€case€appealed€from€a€summary€judgment€order€is€notÏcontrolled€by€the€òòdeóó€òònovoóó€standard€of€review;€rather,€it€is€governed€by€the€standard€ofÏreview€for€summary€judgment€disposition€under€Rule€56€of€the€Tennessee€Rules€of€CivilÏProcedure.€€òòSeeóó€òòDownen€v.€Allstate€Ins.€Co.óó,€811€S.W.2d€523,€524€(Tenn.€1991).€€Thus,Ïwe€review€the€record€without€attaching€any€presumption€of€correctness€to€the€trial€courtððsÏjudgment.€€òòMcCall€v.€Wilderóó,€913€S.W.2d€150,€153€(Tenn.€1995).̛̜Ìà@ àII.Ìà àà àOur€previous€decisions€regarding€election€of€remedies€are€instructive.€€InÏòòPerkins€v.€BE€&€K,€Inc.óó,€802€S.W.2d€215€(Tenn.€1990),€the€employee,€a€TennesseeÏresident,€was€injured€in€the€court€and€scope€of€his€employment€on€a€construction€site€inÏVirginia€while€working€for€an€employer€based€in€Florida.€€After€the€injury,€the€employeeÏexecuted€an€ð ðAgreement€for€Compensationðð€with€the€employerððs€insurance€carrier.€€ThisÏagreement€set€forth€the€employeeððs€name,€his€address€in€Tennessee,€the€name€and€addressÏof€the€employer,€the€name€of€the€employerððs€insurance€carrier,€the€date,€place,€œnature›€andÏcause€of€the€injury,€the€employeeððs€average€weekly€wage,€and€a€provision€that€benefitsÏwould€continue€to€be€paid€until€terminated€in€accordance€with€the€compensation€laws€ofÏVirginia.€€òòPerkins€v.€BE€&€K,€Inc.óó,€802€S.W.2d€at€216.ÌÌà àà àAfter€receiving€workersðð€compensation€benefits€under€the€ð ðAgreement€forÏCompensation,ðð€the€employee€in€òòPerkinsóó€filed€a€workersðð€compensation€complaint€inÍTennessee.€€As€in€the€present€case,€the€employer€filed€a€motion€for€summary€judgmentÏbased€on€the€agreement,€contending€that€the€claim€was€barred€by€the€doctrine€of€election€ofÏremedies.€€The€trial€court€agreed€and€granted€the€employerððs€motion€for€summaryÏjudgment.€€The€Supreme€Court€affirmed,€holding€as€follows:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àà à[T]he€employee€made€an€election€to€receive€benefitsÏunder€Virginia€law€and,€therefore,€is€precluded€fromÏclaiming€benefits€under€Tennessee€law.ÌÌà àà à.€.€.€ÌÌà8 àà8 àà àThe€execution€of€the€agreement,€the€acceptance€ofÏbenefits,€and€the€other€circumstances€of€this€case€constitute€aÏshowing€that€the€employee€made€a€binding€election€to€receiveÏbenefits€under€Virginia€law,€which€election€precludes€theÏawarding€of€benefits€under€Tennessee€law.ÌÌÓÓòòPerkins€v.€BE€&€K,€Inc.óó,€802€S.W.2d€at€217.€€òòAccordóóòòTrue€v.€Amerail€Corp.óó,€584ÏS.W.2d€794€(Tenn.€1979)(employee€executed€a€ð ðMemorandum€of€Agreement€as€toÏPayment€of€Compensation,ðð€a€form€similar€to€that€involved€in€òòPerkinsóó,€and€was€precludedÏfrom€pursuing€benefits€in€Tennessee).€€òòPerkinsóó€also€made€it€clear€that€ð ðthe€circumstances€ofÏeach€case€must€be€considered€in€determining€whether€the€employee€has€made€a€bindingÏelection.ðð€€òòPerkinsóó€at€217.ÌÌà àà àApproximately€two€years€after€òòPerkinsóó€was€decided,€the€Supreme€CourtÏagain€dealt€with€election€of€remedies€in€the€context€of€workersðð€compensation€in€òòHale€v.ÏFraleyððs€Inc.óó,€825€S.W.2d€690€(Tenn.€1992).€€In€òòHaleóó,€the€employee,€a€TennesseeÏresident,€sustained€a€work„related€injury€in€Virginia€while€working€for€a€Virginia€basedÏemployer.€€The€employee€subsequently€executed€two€documents€that€acknowledged€he€hadÏreceived€workersðð€compensation€benefits€under€Virginia€law.€€The€employee€was€neverÏexpressly€advised€that€he€was€being€paid€under€Virginia€law.€€òòHale€v.€Fraleyððs€Inc.óó,€825ÏS.W.2d€at€691.€€He€later€filed€suit€in€Tennessee€seeking€workerððs€compensation€benefits.€ÏThe€employer€argued€that€the€employee€was€barred€from€receiving€such€benefits€because€heÍmade€a€binding€election€to€receive€benefits€under€Virginia€law.€€The€Supreme€CourtÏdisagreed,€reasoning€that€the€employee€was€not€given€an€opportunity€to€make€aÏknowledgeable€and€informed€choice,€but€merely€accepted€the€benefits€that€were€tendered€byÏthe€employer.€€òòIdóó.€at€692.€€According€to€the€Court,€the€employee€ð ðmerely€signed€[the€two]Ïdocuments€under€circumstances€where€a€reasonable€person€would€except€to€be€required€toÏexecute€a€receipt.ðð€€òòIdóó.ÌÌà àà àThe€most€recent€case€involving€the€election€of€remedies€question€isÏòòBradshaw€v.€Old€Republic€Inc.€Co.óó,€______€S.W.2d€_____€(Tenn.€1996).€€In€òòBradshawóó,Ïthe€employee,€a€Tennessee€resident,€was€working€as€a€truck€driver€for€a€TennesseeÏemployer€when€he€sustained€a€work„related€injury€in€Maryland.€€Unlike€the€œemployees›€inÏòòPerkinsóó,€òòHaleóó,€and€the€present€case,€the€employee€in€òòBradshawóó€consulted€a€lawyer,€whoÏadvised€him€that€he€could€pursue€a€claim€for€workersðð€compensation€benefits€in€eitherÏMaryland€or€Tennessee.€€Relying€upon€this€œadvice,›€he€sought€benefits€in€Maryland.€€TheÏMaryland€Workersðð€Compensation€Commission€denied€the€employeeððs€claim.€€One€weekÏlater,€he€filed€suit€in€Tennessee.€€ÌÌà àà àIn€summarizing€the€applicable€law,€the€Court€in€òòBradshawòòóó€óóobserved:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àà à[T]he€Court€has€stated€the€general€rule€that€anÏemployee€is€precluded€from€making€a€benefits€claims€inÏTennessee€if,€prior€to€filing€that€claim€he€or€she:€(a)Ïaffirmatively€acted€to€obtain€benefits€in€another€state;€or€(b)Ïknowingly€and€voluntarily€accepted€benefits€under€the€law€ofÏanother€state.€€In€stating€the€general€rule€in€these€cases,€theÏCourt€has€not€included€in€the€first€test€(affirmative€action€toÏobtain€out„of„state€benefits)€an€element€requiring€an€actualÏreceipt€of€benefits.€(Citations€omitted).ÌÌà àà à.€.€.€ÌÌà8 àà8 àà àWhile€the€receipt€of€benefits€may€be€consideredÏunder€the€first€test,€it€is€not€dispositive.ÌÌÓÓòòBradshaw€v.€Old€Republic€Inc.€Co.óó,€_____€S.W.2d€at€_____.€€The€òòBradshawóó€Court€alsoÏidentified€three€pertinent€factors€to€be€considered€when€determining€whether€there€has€beenÏa€binding€election:€(1)€the€prevention€of€vexatious€litigation;€(2)€the€prevention€of€forumÏshopping;€and€(3)€the€need€to€guard€against€unfair€manipulation€of€Tennesseeððs€legalÏsystem.€€òòIdóó.€at€_____.ÌÌà àà àApplying€these€factors€to€the€facts€in€òòBradshawóóòò,€óóthe€Court€concluded€thatÏthe€employee€was€forum€shopping€and€had€actively€sought€benefits€in€another€state,€whichÏproceeded€to€a€decision€on€the€merits.€€òòIdóó.€at€_____.€€Thus,€his€claim€for€benefits€filed€inÏTennessee€was€barred.ÌÌà@ àIII.Ìà àà àGuided€by€the€case€law€discussed€above,€we€turn€to€the€question€of€whetherÏthe€employeeððs€claim€in€the€present€case€is€precluded€by€the€election€of€remedies€doctrine.€ÏWe€find€that€it€is.€€The€agreement€executed€by€the€employee€is€virtually€identical€to€the€oneÏexecuted€in€òòPerkinsóó.€€As€in€òòPerkinsóó,€the€agreement€listed€the€employeeððs€name€and€addressÏin€Tennessee,€the€name€and€address€of€the€employer€in€Indiana,€the€name€of€the€employerððsÏinsurance€administrator,€the€date,€place€and€nature€of€the€injury,€the€average€weekly€wageÏand,€importantly,€a€declaration€that€benefits€would€continue€until€terminated€in€accordanceÏwith€the€workersðð€compensation€laws€of€Indiana.ÌÌà àà àAdditionally,€the€employee€in€òòPerkinsóó€argued€that,€although€he€executed€theÏagreement,€he€did€not€intend€to€be€bound€by€or€accept€the€law€of€Virginia€as€it€related€toÏbenefits.€€The€employee€in€the€present€case€makes€the€same€argument,€and€attempts€toÏsupport€it€by€relying€upon€the€fact€that€the€employer€never€informed€him€that€he€wasÏmaking€an€election€of€remedies.€€This€argument€makes€too€little€of€the€fact€that€theÍemployee€signed€an€òòagreementóó€to€receive€workersðð€compensation€benefits€under€IndianaÏlaw.€€There€is€no€indication€that€the€employee€did€not€have€an€opportunity€to€read€andÏreview€the€agreement€prior€to€signing€it,€or€to€seek€the€œadvice›€of€counsel€before€doing€so.€ÏThe€agreement€was€clearly€labeled,€ð ðAgreement€to€Compensation€of€Employee€andÏEmployer.ðð€€Further,€the€form€conspicuously€identified€the€Indiana€WorkersððÏCompensation€Board€in€its€heading.€€It€also€provided€that€the€employee€would€receiveÏworkersðð€compensation€benefits€ð ðin€accordance€with€the€provisions€of€the€IndianaÏWorkersðð€Compensation/Occupational€Diseases€Acts.ðð€€One€who€executes€a€documentÏcannot€be€allowed€to€later€claim€that€he€was€ignorant€of€its€contents€so€long€as€there€was€anÏopportunity€to€read€it€prior€to€the€signing.€€òòSeeóóòòSolomon€v.€First€American€Nat.€Bankóó,€774ÏS.W.2d€935,€943€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1989);€òòTeague€Bros.€V.€Martin€&€Bayley,€Inc.óó,€750ÏS.W.2d€152,€158€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1987).ÌÌà àà àFinally,€we€note€that€òòHale€v.€Fraleyððsóó€is€distinguishable€from€the€presentÏcase€because€the€employee€in€òòHaleóó€merely€executed€what€amounted€to€receiptsÏacknowledging€acceptance€of€payments.€€The€employee€in€the€present€case,€however,Ïexecuted€a€clearly€labeled€agreement€for€compensation€prior€to€receiving€benefits.€ÏTherefore,€like€the€Court€in€òòPerkinsóó,€we€hold€that€the€execution€of€the€agreement,€theÏacceptance€of€benefits,€and€all€the€circumstances€of€the€case€establish€that€the€employeeÏmade€a€binding€election€to€receive€benefits€under€Indiana€law,€which€precludes€seeking€anÏaward€of€benefits€under€Tennessee€law.ÌÌà àà àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€CostsÏwill€be€paid€by€the€appellant.ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà à________________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àPenny€J.€White,€JusticeÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ____________________________________ÌWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeÌÌÌÌ____________________________________ÌJoseph€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÇÑ  Ñà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEE€ÌÌà@ à€AT€KNOXVILLEÌÌÌÌBILLY€CLEVINGER,à àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àHawkins€CountyÌà àPlaintiff„Appellant,à àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àHon.€Ben€K.€WexlerÌvs.à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àNo.€03S01„9508„CV„00092ÌBURLINGTON€MOTOR€CARRIERS,à à)ÌINC.,à àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àDefendant„Appellee.à àà àà à)ÌÌÌÌà@ àòòJUDGMENT€ORDERóóÌÌÌÓÓà àà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€motion€for€review€pursuant€to€TennesseeÏCode€Annotated€Section€50„6„225(e)(5)(B),€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€ofÏreferral€to€the€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€PanelððsÏMemorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€areÏincorporated€here€by€reference;Ìà àà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€for€review€is€not€wellÏtaken€and€should€be€denied;€andÌà àà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€ofÏlaw€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€of€theÏCourt.Ìà àà àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€this€_____€day€of€April,€1996.ÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌà àà àÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àò ò€€€ó ó