ÿWPC„ D‹ Ä(1OHwµyO¡¤‡õ·à9ý4øg“$Ýü^ Š×#¯Y­…åœÈ¢ÚÚíÕ'kóa®çkËŸ‹•ªÏ”õïfÓqÉõ=ñÔ?  ^ã}Óä+§_™ÅØTNL( \³±¾_e'ã›EØè[Oÿýsi›S’°ÎJfówYâµïóêûÅUš7r7ø¸¼Ï `¶b°H$ºµ®Ó¹ïi¨kÕ}ýw±©ÁÓ1Y¯.—þ;ï|©À HmEÉ.h™À‹±u§d¡˜ÐëEëÅ%P¬'¡c#Øû-¨Ñw5yÝ¡šRk­PõXÂE² /FnB,d\¼µÕÆô;jŽ?EçOaQ`†Dƒü#“nN¡Ú#=Jt]Îu¤æL-£"ó[›6-/4­«z£I²)–vå€C ¬Ytv/¬€_joÃedºÁôµ4ôW䲟c±ý7Ð혩‡ú…ö>–}<}O:×½³ E³ŠÁr½ƒFæ[ó.üƒÇÌŹ=²ƒ¢jñƒ¦תNY¢PžŸÇg޾ §0YYˆOT©Û|Ì‹B» Fò%ZQm·}ÌWþ1çl8nk 䃬»{pêÒd^¾'¬æz~7UamJß2t…# F UNQ %Ÿ 0û¥ U :  4Ú î êý yç `fw@n 0?® 0DíU:11 kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk Bxxxxxx D3••• 0ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ AO߯.. 0Dô D/8 Bg˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ÓH=$¡¡Ñ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÔ€XÎ_XXXÔÑ7€¾úXXdðXXdð7Ñ, øð AZ‹"Arial Regularyš&x3|x˜l àÔ€XHŽXXXÔÔ€è 7èXXHŽÔÔ Ad ÔÓ  ÓFILEDÔ€Éèè 7ÔÐ  ÐÌò òMay€26,€1999Ð  ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€CourtÏClerkó ó oÝ ƒ `‚$ÝÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÔ€XHŽXXXÔà ` àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý€€The€plaintiff€had€previously€seen€Dr.€Bishop€in€1984€when€he€injured€hisÐ À Ðback€while€working€at€Powell€Valley€Foods.€€However,€the€plaintiff€recovered€withoutÏdisability€and€did€not€file€a€workersðð€compensation€claim.H …l†lD‡lUˆlD‰leŠlP‹l eŒlÓ€—lV˜lî(ï(3`‚$¤¤Ý ƒH=!ÝÑ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÔ€XHŽXXXÔÑ7€õXXdìdì7ÑÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(%Ã$òòÚ  Ú1Ú  Úóó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular Ô‡XHŽXXXÔÔ‡è 7èXXHŽÔÔ Ad ÔÓ  ÓFILEDÔ#†XHŽXèè 7#ÔÔ‡ÉXXHŽÔÐ  ÐÌò òMay€26,€1999Ð  ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€CourtÏClerkó ó d$$$$'ÿÿdxd(ï3Áê$££Ý ƒH=!ÝÑ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÔ€XHŽXXXÔÑ7€õXXdìdì7ÑÝ  Ý€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒH=!ÝÑ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÔ€XHŽXXXÔÑ7€õXXdìdÈ7ÑÝ  Ýñ‹lñ›ñ‹lññ‹lññ‰lñ›ñ‰lññ‹lññ‰lñ›ñ‰lñÑÀ°ÑÑX°Ñò òÓ  ÓÑ  Ñ€€Ð À Ðó óÓ8ÓÓ  Óà@@Ü Ü Ìàò òIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ¬ì Ðà@@B B ÌàSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌñŒlñßl€*6&"h 8 `€€Ex…tt06°„¨çlßâ °°$$âñŒlñà@@ˆˆÌàAT€KNOXVILLEó óÐ „Ä ÐÓzÓñ‹lñœñ‹lññŠlñà ` àñŠlññ‹lñ›œñ‹lññŠlñà ¸ àñŠlññ‹lñ›œñ‹lññŠlñà  àñŠlññ‹lñ›œñ‹lññŠlñà h àñŠlññ‹lñ›œñ‹lññŠlñà À àñŠlññ‹lñ›œñ‹lññŠlñà  àñŠlññ‹lñ›œñ‹lññŠlñà p àñŠlññ‹lñ›œñ‹lññŠlñà È àñŠlññ‹lñ›ñ‹lñÌÌÌÌÌTIMOTHY€W.€COX,à h àà À àà  à)Ð î .  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àÐ Ô   Ðâ $$°°âà ` àPlaintiff/Appelleeà h àà À àà  à)à p àCAMPBELL€CHANCERYà Ð àà (# àÐ º ú  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àÐ  à  Ðv.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àNO.€€03S01„9706„CH„00063Ð †Æ  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àÐ l¬  ÐHARTFORD€ACCIDENT€&à À àà  à)à p àHON.€BILLY€JOE€WHITE,Ð R’  ÐINDEMNITY€COMPANY,à h àà À àà  à)à p àCHANCELLORÐ 8x Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àDefendant/Appelleeà À àà  à)Ð D Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìand€SUE€ANN€HEAD,€DIRECTORà  à)Ð Ð ÐOF€THE€DIVISION€OF€WORKERSððà  à)Ð ¶ö ÐCOMPENSATION€CLAIMS,€à À àà  à)Ð œÜ ÐTENNESSEE€DEPARTMENT€OFà  à)Ð ‚ ÐLABOR,€SECOND€INJURY€FUND,à  à)Ð h¨ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àDefendant/Appellantà À àà  à)Ð 4t ÐÌÌÌÌÌò òòòFor€the€Appellant:à  àà h àà À àà  àFor€the€Appellee:Ð ˜ Ø  ÐÌó óóóJohn€Knox€Walkupà  àà h àà À àà  àDavid€H.€DunawayÐ p"°" ÐAttorney€General€and€Reporterà À àà  àDavid€H.€Dunaway€&€AssociatesÐ V#–# Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àP.O.€Box€231ÌSandra€E.€Keithà  àà h àà À àà  àLaFollette,€TN€€37766Ð "%b!% ÐAssistant€Attorney€GeneralÌCordell€Hull€Building,€Second€FloorÌ425€5th€Avenue€NorthÌNashville,€TN€€37243òòò òÐ º(ú$) Ðóóó óÌÌÌò òòòÓ  ÓÌÌM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óÐ *.j*/ ÐÌò òòòMembers€of€Panel:Ð ü/<,1 ÐÌó óóóChief€Justice€E.€Riley€Andersonòòò òÐ Ô1.3 Ðó óóóSenior€Judge€John€K.€ByersÐ º2ú.4 ÐSpecial€Judge€Roger€E.€Thayer¹Ó½ ÓÌÌÌÌÔ% € ÔÌÌÌÌÌÌREVERSED€AND€DISMISSEDà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àBYERS,€Senior€JudgeÐ ‚=Â9@( Їòòò òÓ  ÓÓÓOPINIONó óóóÐ À ÐÓ  Óà ` àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workers'ÏCompensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€ofÏfact€and€conclusions€of€law.€Ìà ` àAfter€conducting€two€separate€hearings€on€this€case,€the€trial€court€found€thatÏthe€plaintiff€was€totally€and€permanently€disabled.€€The€trial€court€further€held€that€theÏinsurance€carrier€would€be€liable€for€75€percent€of€the€plaintiffððs€disability€and€theÏSecond€Injury€Fund€would€be€liable€for€25€percent€of€the€plaintiffððs€disability.€ò òÐ ,l Ðà ` àó óThe€Second€Injury€Fund€presents€the€following€issues€for€our€review:Ð ø8 ÐÒ` ÒÓÓI.à ¸ àWhether€obesity€is€a€compensable€preexisting€permanent€physical€Ð Ä Ðà ¸ àdisability€to€warrant€recovery€from€the€Second€Injury€Fund€under€Tenn.€¼à ¸ àCode€Ann.€ðð€50„6„208(a).ÌÌII.à ¸ àWhether€the€trial€[court]€erred€in€holding€the€Fund€liable€for€25%€of€the€Ð \œ Ðà ¸ àaward.ÌÌÒ` ÃÒÓÑÓà ` àWe€reverse€the€judgment€of€the€trial€ñ‰lñœñ‰lñcourt€holding€the€Second€Injury€FundÏliableñ‰lñ›ñ‰lñ€and€dismiss€the€Second€Injury€Fund€from€this€case.ò òÐ Ú ÐÓ  ÓBACKGROUND€ON€THE€FIRST€HEARINGó óÐ ¦æ ÐÓ  Óà ` àAt€the€time€of€the€first€hearing€on€June€14,€1994,€the€plaintiff€was€33€years€ofÏage,€stood€over€six€feet€tall,€and€weighed€close€to€400€pounds.€€He€testified€that€mostÏof€his€family€is€overweight€and€that€he€has€always€been€a€large€person.€€TheÏplaintiffððs€wife€testified€that€her€husband€has€lost€some€weight€in€the€past€but€that€heÏhas€always€been€heavy.€€After€graduating€from€high€school,€the€plaintiffððs€Ïemployment€history€included€working€as€a€small€engine€repairman,€heavy€equipmentÏoperator,€carpenter,€factory€worker,€meat€processor,€sewing€machine€operator,€andÏtire€builder.€€The€plaintiff€eventually€returned€to€school€and€obtained€an€associateððsÏdegree€in€accounting€from€Draughonððs€College.€€€€€€€Ìà ` àDraughonððs€College€placed€the€plaintiff€with€Monday€Realty,€where€he€workedÏover€four€years€as€a€bookkeeper€three€days€a€week€and€as€a€maintenance€workerÏtwo€days€a€week.€€When€the€plaintiff€was€hired€by€Monday€Realty,€he€weighedÏapproximately€310€pounds.€€He€testified€that€he€had€some€normal€limitations€due€toÏhis€weight€and€that€his€employer€made€accommodations€for€him€in€that€respect.€€ForÏâ âexample,€the€plaintiff€did€not€have€to€do€any€roofing€work€or€crawl€under€houses.€€€€€Ð ¦:æ6= Ðà ` àOn€February€26,€1992,€the€plaintiff€was€repairing€a€screen€door€at€a€rentalÏâ âproperty€when€the€porch€collapsed€and€he€fell€with€his€legs€pinned€between€theÏsteps,€causing€him€to€jerk€his€back€and€scrape€his€legs.€€After€the€accident,€he€wentÏhome,€but€he€could€not€sleep€that€night€and€could€barely€walk€the€next€day.€€HeÏreturned€to€work€the€next€day€and€reported€the€injury€to€his€employer.€€Thereafter,Ïthe€plaintiff€was€seen€and€treated€by€a€series€of€doctors.€€€€Ìà ` àThe€plaintiff€testified€that€prior€to€the€injury€to€his€back€he€did€normal€activitiesÏwith€his€wife€and€kids.€€Since€the€injury,€he€just€lies€around,€takes€medication,€andÏfeels€miserable.€€He€testified€that€he€is€unable€to€concentrate€on€any€job€function€andÏthat€he€is€unaware€of€any€job€he€could€perform€in€his€condition.€€Further,€the€plaintiffÏtestified€that€he€has€become€depressed€and€suicidal€as€a€result€of€the€problemsÏassociated€with€the€work€injury.à À àÐ „Ä Ðà ` àDr.€Archer€W.€Bishop,€Jr.׃ ×Ý ƒ%ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×,€an€orthopedic€surgeon,€testified€by€deposition€onÐ P ÐJune€29,€1993.€€He€first€saw€the€plaintiff€on€February€28,€1992€and€recorded€a€historyÏof€him€falling€and€injuring€his€back€when€a€porch€collapsed€under€him.€€Dr.€BishopÏfound€that€the€plaintiffððs€x„rays€were€normal€but€that€he€had€facet€arthropathy€in€hisÏback,€which€is€normal€wear€and€tear€in€the€joints€of€the€back€due€to€the€aging€Ïprocess.€€Dr.€Bishop€opined€that€this€facet€arthropathy€was€neither€caused€nor€Ïadvanced€by€the€plaintiffððs€work€injury.Ìà ` àDr.€Bishop€reviewed€a€CAT€scan€which€revealed€some€bulging€at€the€L4„L5Ïlevels€of€the€plaintiffððs€spine,€but€normal€myelogram€results€led€him€to€believe€that€theÏplaintiff€did€not€have€a€ruptured€disc€or€surgical€problem.€€Dr.€Bishop€found€that€theÏplaintiff€reached€maximum€medical€improvement€on€May€27,€1992,€the€last€time€heÏsaw€him.€€Dr.€Bishop€opined€that€the€plaintiff€did€not€have€any€permanent€partialÏimpairment€or€restrictions€as€a€result€of€the€work€injury.€€Ìà ` àDr.€William€E.€Kennedy,€an€orthopedic€surgeon,€gave€a€telephonic€depositionÏon€July€2,€1993.€€He€first€saw€the€plaintiff€on€July€14,€1992€at€the€request€of€theÏplaintiffððs€counsel€and€became€his€treating€physician€thereafter.€€The€plaintiff€gaveÏhim€a€history€of€falling€and€injuring€his€back€when€a€porch€collapsed€on€the€job.€€AfterÏreviewing€the€plaintiffððs€x„rays,€CT€scan,€and€myelogram,€Dr.€Kennedy€determinedÐ Ü74: Ðthat€the€plaintiff€had€painful€degenerative€disc€disease€of€the€L4„L5€disc€levels.€€HeÏalso€noted€a€disc€bulge€at€the€L4„L5€disc€levels€of€the€plaintiffððs€spine€which€causedÏhim€to€recommend€additional€tests.€€On€May€4,€1993,€a€multiple€level€discographyÏwas€performed€and€showed€abnormalities€and€evidence€of€injury€in€the€L4„L5€discÏlevels.€€Dr.€Kennedy€recommended€surgical€stabilization€of€the€two€painful€discs.Ìà ` àDr.€Kennedy€last€saw€the€plaintiff€on€June€11,€1993€and€determined€that€heÏhad€not€reached€maximum€medical€improvement.€€He€opined€that€the€plaintiffÏsustained€a€21€percent€permanent€partial€impairment€to€the€whole€person€as€a€resultÏof€the€work€injury€(15€percent€for€loss€of€range€of€motion€and€seven€percent€for€discÏpathology€that€had€not€received€surgery).€€Dr.€Kennedy€recommended€that€futureÏemployment€for€the€plaintiff€should€not€require€the€following:€€repeated€bending,Ïstooping,€squatting,€heavy€lifting,€working€over€rough€terrain,€excessive€ladderÏclimbing€or€stair€climbing,€vigorous€or€strenuous€pushing€or€pulling,€or€repeated€andÏvigorous€jostling€such€as€operating€machinery€over€rough€terrain€or€working€aboveÏthe€level€of€the€shoulders.Ìà ` àDr.€Paul€R.€Kelley,€board€certified€in€psychiatry€and€neurology,€testified€byÏdeposition€on€March€30,€1994.€€Upon€a€referral€from€Dr.€Kennedy,€Dr.€Kelley€metÏwith€the€plaintiff€and€recorded€the€history€of€him€injuring€his€back€when€the€porchÏcollapsed.€€He€opined€that€the€plaintiff€is€suffering€from€depression€that€is€secondaryÏto€and€caused€by€the€work€injury.€€Dr.€Kelley€placed€the€plaintiff€in€a€Class€5€Ïimpairment€rating€according€to€the€òòAMA€Guidesóó,€which€means€that€he€is€totallyÐ °'ð#( Ðimpaired.€€He€explained€that€the€plaintiff€cannot€concentrate€on€an€assigned€task€andÏthat€he€can€only€cooperate,€follow€instructions,€or€work€with€others€to€a€limited€extent.€ÏDr.€Kelley€testified€that€obesity€is€an€impairment,€opining€that€50€percent€of€theÏplaintiffððs€impairment€is€related€to€the€pain€from€the€work€injury€and€50€percent€is€dueÏto€his€weight€problem.Ìà ` àDr.€Robert€E.€Finelli,€a€neurosurgeon,€testified€by€deposition€on€May€23,€1994.€ÏHe€examined€the€plaintiff€on€March€22,€1994€at€the€request€of€the€insurance€carrier.ÏDr.€Finelli€reviewed€the€plaintiffððs€medical€records€from€several€doctors€and€agreedÏwith€all€but€Dr.€Kennedy€that€the€plaintiff€was€not€a€surgical€candidate.€€He€explainedÏthat€Dr.€Kennedy€based€his€conclusion€that€the€plaintiff€needed€surgery€on€aÏdiscogram,€a€procedure€which€Dr.€Finelli€thinks€is€unreliable.€€Dr.€Finelli€further€foundÐ x;¸7> Ðthat€the€plaintiff€was€histrionic€and€that€his€x„rays,€myelogram,€and€CT€scan€wereÏabsolutely€normal.€€Ìà ` àDr.€Finelli€opined€that€the€plaintiff€was€at€maximum€medical€improvement€andÏthat€he€had€a€zero€percent€medical€impairment€from€a€neurological€perspective.€€HeÏexplained€his€opinion€by€stating€that€the€òòAMA€Guidesóó€normally€allow€a€five€percentÐ ð 0 Ðimpairment€for€lumbosacral€pain€due€to€longevity,€but€that€they€also€allow€the€doctorÏto€lower€that€rating€where€there€are€significant€psychological€factors€interfering€withÏtreatment.€€Dr.€Finelli€believed€that€the€plaintiff€does€have€psychological€problemsÏand€stated€that€he€would€defer€to€the€psychologists€on€impairment€for€thoseÏproblems.Ìà ` àDr.€Norman€E.€Hankins,€a€vocational€expert,€testified€by€deposition€on€JuneÏ10,€1994.€€He€conducted€a€vocational€assessment€of€the€plaintiff€on€July€6,€1992.€€HeÏtested€the€plaintiff€and€found€that€he€was€reading€on€a€fourth€grade€level,€spelling€onÏa€third€grade€level,€and€doing€arithmetic€on€a€sixth€grade€level.€€Based€on€theÏrestrictions€of€Dr.€Kennedy€and€Dr.€Kelley€and€his€own€findings,€Dr.€Hankins€opinedÏthat€the€plaintiff€suffers€from€a€100€percent€vocational€disability.€Ìà ` àAt€the€completion€of€the€first€hearing,€the€trial€judge€stated€that€he€was€unableÏto€assess€the€plaintiffððs€disability€based€on€the€available€medical€evidence.€ÏAccordingly,€he€ordered€two€new€panels€of€doctors€(three€orthopedic€surgeons€andÏthree€psychiatrists)€to€review€the€plaintiff.€€In€addition,€he€ordered€six€months€ofÏpsychiatric€treatment€and€temporary€benefits€to€be€restored.€€Ìò òÓ  ÓBACKGROUND€ON€THE€SECOND€HEARINGó óÐ €)À%* ÐÓ  Óà ` àThe€second€hearing€of€this€case€was€conducted€on€September€23,€1996.€€BobÏMonday,€the€plaintiffððs€employer,€testified€at€trial.€€Mr.€Monday€stated€that€the€plaintiffÏappeared€to€have€a€weight€problem€when€he€presented€himself€for€employment€andÏthat€they€discussed€how€accommodations€would€have€to€made€for€his€limitedÏcondition.€€Mr.€Monday€testified€that€he€did€not€require€the€plaintiff€to€climb€ladders,Ïwork€on€roofs,€or€lift€things.€€Mr.€Monday€confessed€that€he€did€not€want€to€hire€theÏplaintiff€at€first€but€that€he€did€so€after€observing€his€good€attitude€towards€work.€€€Ìà ` àDr.€Jerry€Lemler,€a€psychiatrist€and€family€physician,€testified€at€trial.€€HeÏconducted€a€mental€status€examination€of€the€plaintiff€at€the€request€of€the€plaintiffððsÏcounsel.€€Dr.€Lemler€diagnosed€the€plaintiff€with€major€depression,€single€episode,Ð „;Ä7> Ðsevere,€without€psychotic€features.€€He€explained€that€the€plaintiffððs€depression€isÏdirectly€related€to€the€work€injury€and€his€obesity.€€Under€the€òòAMA€Guides,óó€he€placedÐ ŒÌ Ðthe€plaintiff€in€a€Class€4€marked€impairment€rating.€€Dr.€Lemler€explained€that€thisÏclass€translates€into€a€50€to€75€percent€impairment€rating€to€the€body€as€a€wholeÏunder€the€second€edition€of€the€òòAMA€Guides.óó€€He€found€that€the€plaintiff€could€notÐ ô 4 Ðconcentrate€on€any€particular€assigned€work€for€an€eight€hour€day€and€that€he€couldÏnot€respond€to€supervision€or€work€with€fellow€workers€on€a€consistent€basis.€Ìà ` àDr.€William€E.€Kennedy€testified€in€a€second€telephonic€deposition€on€ÏSeptember€18,€1996.€€After€the€first€deposition€was€taken€in€July€1993,€he€continuedÏto€treat€the€plaintiff€and€even€attempted€to€perform€surgery€in€October€1993.€€Dr.ÏKennedy€explained€that€he€was€unable€to€perform€the€surgery€because€the€plaintiffÏwas€too€large€to€be€safely€positioned€on€the€operating€table.€€Afterwards,€he€Ïprescribed€a€treadmill€and€industrial€corset€for€the€plaintiff€and€recommended€that€heÏuse€a€wheel€chair.€€He€stated€that€the€plaintiff€had€been€diligent€in€following€hisÏinstructions€and€recommendations.Ìà ` àDr.€Kennedy€determined€that€the€plaintiff€reached€maximum€medical€Ïimprovement€on€May€21,€1996,€the€date€of€his€last€visit.€€Based€on€his€overallÏevaluation€of€the€plaintiff,€Dr.€Kennedy€opined€that€the€plaintiff€sustained€a€21Ïpercent€permanent€physical€impairment€to€the€whole€person€as€a€sole€result€of€theÏwork€injury€under€the€òòAMA€Guides.óó€€Dr.€Kennedy€also€stated€that€ð ðbased€on€[theÐ ì%,"& Ðplaintiffððs]€preexisting,€underlying€degenerative€disc€disease,€and€more€particularly,Ïhis€morbid€obesity,€he€had€an€eight€percent€permanent€physical€impairment€whichÏexisted€prior€to€his€injury.ðð€€He€explained€that€the€plaintiffððs€preexisting€obesity€wasÏmade€worse€by€the€work€injury.€€Dr.€Kennedy€found€that€the€plaintiffððs€totalÏimpairment€was€27€percent€to€the€body€as€a€whole.Ìà ` àDr.€Lane€M.€Cook,€the€plaintiffððs€treating€psychiatrist,€testified€by€deposition€onÏSeptember€17,€1996.€€He€first€saw€the€plaintiff€on€October€27,€1994€and€last€saw€himÏon€August€27,€1996.€€He€noted€that€the€plaintiff€was€not€depressed€prior€to€the€workÏinjury.€€Dr.€Cook€diagnosed€the€plaintiff€with€major€depression,€single€episode,Ïmoderately€severe€and€with€a€pain€disorder€with€associated€physical€andÏpsychological€features,€all€of€which€he€opined€was€causally€related€to€the€work€injury.€ÏUnder€the€òòAMA€Guides,óó€he€placed€the€plaintiff€in€a€Class€3€moderate€impairmentÐ €;À7> Ðrating.€€Dr.€Cook€rated€the€plaintiff€with€a€50€percent€permanent€psychiatricÏimpairment€to€the€body€as€a€whole€based€on€the€second€edition€of€the€òòAMA€Guides.óó€Ð ŒÌ ÐHe€admitted€that€this€method€has€been€determined€to€be€inexact,€subjective,€andÏimproper€under€the€current€òòAMA€Guides.óó€€He€found€that€the€plaintiff€cannot€sustain€orÐ ( h Ðconcentrate€on€an€assigned€work€task€for€eight€hours€and€that€he€cannot€tolerateÏordinary€stress€or€work€pressure.€€Dr.€Cook€determined€that€the€plaintiff€reachedÏmaximum€medical€improvement€on€May€14,€1996,€but€he€opined€that€the€plaintiffÏcannot€return€to€his€previous€occupation€or€do€any€type€of€work.Ìà ` àDr.€Cook€noted€that€the€plaintiffððs€massive€obesity€is€worsening€his€backÏproblems€and€that€he€is€literally€eating€himself€to€death.€€For€a€short€while,€theÏplaintiff€was€admitted€to€a€psychiatric€unit€and€took€Fen„Phen€for€weight€control,€butÏneither€program€worked€for€him.€€Dr.€Cook€agreed€that€the€plaintiffððs€obesity€would€beÏa€permanent€impairment€from€a€physical€point€of€view€if€he€was€unable€to€loseÏweight.€€He€further€agreed€that€the€plaintiffððs€overweight€condition,€which€prohibitedÏhim€from€having€surgery,€contributed€to€his€depression€and€aggravated€orÏexacerbated€his€pain.€€Dr.€Cook€considered€the€plaintiffððs€inability€to€perform€certainÏjob€activities€due€to€his€obesity€an€impairment€but€not€a€disability.€€€€€€€€Ìà ` àThe€plaintiffððs€father€and€sister€testified€at€trial.€€They€stated€that€they€areÏoverweight€and€have€been€since€childhood.€€The€plaintiff,€now€36€years€of€age€andÏ430€pounds€or€more,€testified€at€trial€again.€€He€testified€that€his€pain€and€depressionÏhave€increased€since€the€first€hearing.€€He€stated€that€he€has€tried€to€modify€hisÏeating€habits€and€to€do€everything€the€doctors€have€asked€him€to€do.€€He€knows€thatÏhis€weight€is€preventing€him€from€having€surgery.€€The€plaintiff€testified€that€he€is€stillÏnot€aware€of€any€gainful€work€he€could€do€in€his€condition.Ìà ` àAt€the€conclusion€of€the€second€hearing,€the€trial€court€made€the€followingÏfindings:ÌÒ` ÒÓÓà ¸ àThe€Court€doesnððt€have€really,€any€trouble€in€the€facts€finding€thatÏobesity€is€a€pre„existing€disability€in€this€case.€€The€Court€and€a€lot€of€people€IÏknow€have€overweight€problems.€€Those€do€not€rise€to€the€extent€of€aÏdisability,€but€three€hundred€and€twenty€pounds€on€this€manððs€frame€with€theÏprevious€back€injury€was€a€disability.ÌÌà ¸ àThe€employer€testified€that€he€really€didnððt€want€to€hire€him.€€He€doesnððtÏwant€to€discriminate,€of€course,€but€he€really€didnððt€want€to€hire€him,€and€theÏman€said,€give€me€a€chance€and€Iððll€produce.€€Thatððs€when€an€employerÏshould€hire€people,€and€he€did.€€But€he€was€observant€of€his€weight€at€threeÏhundred€and€twenty€pounds.€€He€now€weighs€four€hundred€and€thirty.ÌÐ b<¢8? Ðà ¸ àThe€Court,€certainly,€has€no€difficulty€reaching€the€conclusion€that€heððsÏnow€totally€and€permanently€disabled.€€The€only€difficulty€I€have€is€in€aÏdivision.€€There€are€two€or€three€different€ways€of€looking€at€the€facts€in€thisÏcase€on€a€division€of€disability.ÌÌà ¸ àIf€you€start€looking€back€at€the€overweight,€Dr.€Cook€said€he€wasÏoverweight,€but€not€depressed€at€the€time€of€the€injury.€€The€obesity,€he€said,Ïdidnððt€have€a€great€deal€to€do€with€the€depression,€that€the€pain€caused€theÏdepression,€and€then€goes€on€and€says€that€obesity€is€a€disability.€€With€that,Ïif€you€follow€that€contention,€you€can€say€that€the€pain€from€the€back€injuryÏcauses€the€depression,€and€the€depression€is€a€great€deal€of€the€disability€thatÏtotals€him.ÌÌà ¸ àBut€if€you€turn€around€and€look€at€it€the€way€the€Second€Injury€FundÏwants€me€to€do,€and€correctly€so,€I€think,€look€at€the€last€injury€and€assess€theÏdisability€only€from€it,€you€have€a€rather€simple€back€injury,€as€I€understand€theÏfacts€in€this€case,€probably,€on€a€hundred„and„sixty€pounder€wouldnððt€haveÏcreated€much€of€problem,€could€have€had€surgery€and€not€a€lot€of€disability€toÏit.€€This€obesity€stacked€on€top€of€that€creates€a€real€problem.ÌÌà ¸ àSo,€thereððs€two€or€three€different€ways€of€looking€at€the€way€theÏpercentages€could€be€handled.€€But€the€Courtððs€going€to,€generally,€followÏwhat€Dr.€Kennedy€said,€in€that,€he€assessed€a€ratio€of€twenty„two€to€eight,Ïthatððs€about€a€three„to„one€ratio.€€So,€it€would€be€a€twenty„five€Second€Injury,Ïseventy„five€to€the€employer.ÌÌà ¸ à.€.€.€ÌÌà ¸ àAnd€to€make€this€issue€just€clear€on€the€point,€in€the€event€of€appeal,Ïwhich€probably€would€be€helpful€to€everybody,€except€the€plaintiff,€theÏlanguage€in€the€A€Section€[of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„208],€in€my€opinion,Ïcovers€obesity€and€diseases€of€that€nature€„„€disabilities€of€that€nature.ÌÌÒ` ÔKÒÓâKÓÓ  Óò òANALYSISó óÐ f!¦! ÐÓ  Óà ` àThe€issue€in€this€case€involves€the€construction€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„¼208(a)(1),€which€is€a€question€of€law€to€be€reviewed€by€this€Court€òòde€novoóó€with€noÐ  %J!% Ðpresumption€of€correctness.€€òòPerry€v.€Sentry€Ins.€Co.,óó€938€S.W.2d€404,€406€(Tenn.Ð Ú&#' Ð1996);€òòBeare€Co.€v.€Tennessee€Dept.€of€Revenue,óó€858€S.W.2d€906,€907€(Tenn.Ð ª(ê$) Ð1993).Ìà ` àTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„208(a)(1)€provides€the€following:ÌÒ` ÒÓÓà ¸ àIf€an€employee€has€previously€sustained€a€permanent€physical€disabilityÏfrom€any€cause€or€origin€and€becomes€permanently€and€totally€disabledÏthrough€a€subsequent€injury,€such€employee€shall€be€entitled€to€compensationÏfrom€such€employeeððs€employer€or€the€employerððs€insurance€company€only€forÏthe€disability€that€would€have€resulted€from€the€subsequent€injury,€and€suchÏprevious€injury€shall€not€be€considered€in€estimating€the€compensation€toÏwhich€such€employee€may€be€entitled€under€this€chapter€from€the€employer€orÏthe€employerððs€insurance€company;€provided,€that€in€addition€to€suchÏcompensation€for€a€subsequent€injury,€and€after€completion€of€the€paymentsÏtherefor,€then€such€employee€shall€be€paid€the€remainder€of€the€compensationÏthat€would€be€due€for€the€permanent€total€disability€out€of€a€special€fund€to€beÏknown€as€the€ð ðsecond€injury€fundðð€therein€created.€ÌÌÒ` ÂXÒÓÐXÓà ` àThe€Supreme€Court€has€outlined€that€ð ðunder€section€(a),€the€prerequisites€forÏimposing€liability€on€the€Second€Injury€Fund€are€a€prior€injury,€either€compensable€orÐ Œ;Ì7> Ðnoncompensable,€which€caused€permanent€disability€and€a€subsequentÏcompensable€injury€which€rendered€the€employee€permanently€and€totally€disabled.ðð€€ÏòòPerry€v.€Sentry€Ins.€Co.,óó€938€S.W.2d€404,€406€(Tenn.€1996);€òòMinton€v.€State€Indus.,Ð X˜ ÐInc.,óó€825€S.W.2d€73,€77€(Tenn.€1992).Ð ( h Ðà ` àIn€construing€the€meaning€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„208(a)(1),€we€do€notÏconclude€that€obesity€is€a€ð ðpermanent€physical€disability€from€any€cause€or€originððÏwithin€the€meaning€of€the€Workersðð€Compensation€Act.€€To€construe€this€sectionÏotherwise,€this€Court€would€be€required€to€expand€the€statuteððs€coverage€beyondÏñ‰lñœñ‰lñwhat€appears€to€be€the€legislatñ…lñive€intentñ…lññ†lñureððs›€intended›€scopeñ†lñ.ñ‰lñ›ñ‰lñÌà ` àRegarding€the€findings€of€fact€made€by€the€trial€court,€this€Courtððs€review€is€òòdeÐ ô4 Ðnovoóó€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€theÐ Ä Ðcorrectness€of€the€finding,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€ÏTenn.€Code€Ann.òò€ððóó€50„6„225(e)(2);€òòStone€v.€City€of€McMinnville,€óó896€S.W.2d€548,Ð `  Ð550€(Tenn.€1995).€Ìà ` àIn€this€case,€the€trial€judge€held€that€the€Second€Injury€Fund€was€liable€for€25Ïpercent€of€the€plaintiffððs€total€and€permanent€disability€award.€€Apparently,€the€trialÏjudge€made€this€decision€based€on€his€finding€that€certain€medical€evidenceÏestablished€that€the€plaintiffððs€obesity€is€a€disability€within€the€meaning€of€the€statute.€€Ìà ` àBased€on€a€careful€review€of€the€record,€in€particular€the€medical€testimony,Ïwe€find€that€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€findings€of€the€trial€court.€ÏTherefore,€we€reverse€the€trial€courtððs€finding€that€the€Second€Injury€Fund€is€liable€forÏ25€percent€of€the€100€percent€award€to€the€plaintiff,€and€we€dismiss€the€SecondÏInjury€Fund€from€this€case.Ìà ` àThe€cost€of€this€appeal€is€taxed€to€the€plaintiff.à È àÐ (-h). ÐÓÓÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à_____________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àJohn€K.€Byers,€Senior€JudgeÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ________________________________ÌE.€Riley€Anderson,€Chief€JusticeÌÌÌÌ________________________________ÌRoger€E.€Thayer,€Special€ñ‰lñœñ‰lñJudgeñˆlññ‡lñÐ n<®8? Ðñ‡lññˆlññ‰lñ›ñ‰lññ—lñÐ  n<®8? Ðñ—lññ˜lñÑ` ÀÑÒXHÒÔ‡&\M &XXHŽÔßl€*6&"h 8 `€€Ehf tt06 ` ¨ìlßâ   €%€%âà@‘ ‘ ÔàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌÌÓ  ÓAT€KNOXVILLEÌÓ  ÓÌÌÌTIMOTHY€W.€COX€€€€€à h àà À àà  à)à p àCampbell€CountyÐ @à ÐChancery€Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àNo.€113,080Ð à€ Ðâ €%€%  âà ` àPlaintiff/Appellantà h àà À à)Ð °P  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àÐ €   Ðv.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ð Pð  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)ÌHARTFORD€ACCIDENT€&€€€€€€€€€€à À à)à  àHon.€Billy€Joe€White,à  àÐ ð  ÐINDEMNITY€COMPANY€€€€€€€€€€€€à À à)à  àChancellorÐ À`  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìà ` àDefendantsà  àà h àà À à)à  àÐ `  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ìandà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)Ð   Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àS.€Ct.€No.€03„S„01„9706„CH„00063Ð Ðp ÐSUE€ANN€HEAD,€DIRECTOR€OFà À àà  à)Ð  @ ÐTHE€DIVISION€OF€WORKERSððà À àà  à)Ð p ÐCOMPENSATION€CLAIMS,à h àà À àà  à)Ð @à ÐTENNESSEE€DEPARTMENT€OF€€€€à À à)Ð ° ÐLABOR,€SECOND€INJURY€FUNDà À àà  à)Ð à€ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à)à p àREVERSED€AND€DISMISSEDÐ °P Ðà ` àDefendant/Appelleeà h àà À à)Ð €  ÐÌà@åå(DàòòJUDGMENT€ORDERóóˆÐ  À ÐÓÓÌà ` 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€plaintiff/appellant,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÓ°oÓÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àPER€CURIAMÌÌAnderson,€C.J.,€not€participatingÔ#†XHŽX &&\MBg#Ôœñ˜lñ