ÿWPC™ àz¾ hËÙ—6–Ò#–Û÷µF‹ðYdH=%bqÛºo÷0•þ€Äz¿«I’¸—Wvzúç¿‹€µ·“ü9’H‡F(²¥ÓÄsEt²¦žöé”»ž»fŠT'ÁÂŒçô*˜üŒàÞ&ǯ~b`è¡ÃL„PQÀ[¹ß€ÒTòWPL©¨!ï<ý¦‰QÃ(E¸Õûfûú°%Ž6~ˆ­vã‹ç^èIÇOèrñÃì°´®…Ó¢Œòã»oÚù+ÑYd“‘ç'FD†rÑQ. ö  ru Xüaoi{á²¥‰‡>x™ÓŒzŽÌ¡Üž),¼ÅxŠ2„¾u.žs4`ÜKØ{·"/æ“1SkŽøH‡ÝôéìúzÆõ5ö×}¢)#CÈ¿`ïí§!’ z¿–8Ô†ÔªŒ"€¸2ÓÇ;å¬Ðבq!…ORºÉê7fÒ¯šãÿدª­Gm¯\¼Ôý)#‚›[– X‚s„v ó5sï·‘Ò¿ð¸D*¨ÆŠ¦tË ·ÚráRÃ(ÞǃÌ3üþ;ˆH9/}¢ (v+Ëà) ":ØÏ ·-}²ô¿%v(c¿ï±Äµ!9-~m6CŽË/§o§ÚVhÍÇÏÐË×sÒÿ ´8)â`#!@UNa %¯ 0(µwÝ4áõ U : U :F N€ 0„‚ 0D -J w y U: NÉ >Ë m U: ^ Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Bf f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f AQƒ ÆÔ 0Dš 0DÞ 0D"" D3f˜HP LaserJet 8000 DN PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡tpO'x3|x,ó‚ AZ"Arial Regular,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular((42ä‰$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÓ  Óà  àà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó #Ñ#€Xÿÿd#Ñ  Ý ƒ[¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€XªŒXXXÔÔ€I9XXªŒÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XªŒXI9ÔÐ  ÐÌDecember€15,€1999ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAxÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular 4Ý ƒ[¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€XÝzXXXÔÔ€7XXÝzÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XÝzX7ÔÐ  ÐÌDecember€15,€1999Ð ˜˜ ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.Ð dd ÐAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAxÔó óÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regularjs'L  dZ[\]_Cþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó""""'ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÒ°ÒÒX°ÒÔ€ XªŒXXXÔÔ‡ XªŒXX XªŒÔÑTR[° AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ€úÑ€à@PPDàò òIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@­ ­ DàSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELˆÌà@ÀÀ*DàAT€JACKSONˆÌà@ûû$Dà(July€12,€1999€Session)òòˆÐ tÄ ÐÌÌÌÌóóCHARLES€TIMOTHY€DUNCAN,à@##/Dàó ó)ò òˆÐ  ` Ðà@##/Dàó ó)ˆà p àÔ_ÔMcNairyÔ_Ô€Chanceryò òÔ#† XªŒXX XªŒf#ÔÔ‡ XªŒXX XªŒÔÐ ü L  Ðà ` àó óPlaintiff/Appellee,ò òà@##/Dàó ó)ò òˆÐ â 2  Ðßv€Y_@0,j:`  `€€@ÿE Ê` 8ttxPXÈð  vßà@##/Dàó ó)ˆà p àNo.€W1998„00093„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CVò òÔ#† XªŒXX XªŒŸ#ÔÔ‡ XªŒXX XªŒÔà (# àÐ È  Ðó óv.ò òà@##/Dàó ó)ˆÐ ®þ  Ðà@##/Dà)ˆà p àHon.€Dewey€Ô_ÔWhitentonÔ_Ôò òÔ#† XªŒXX XªŒ#ÔÔ‡ XªŒXX XªŒÔ,Ô#† XªŒXX XªŒ #ÔÔ‡ XªŒXX XªŒÔà Ð àÐ ”ä  ÐROYAL€INSURANCE€COMPANY,à@##/Dàó ó)ˆà p àChancellorò òà  àÔ#† XªŒXX XªŒO#ÔÔ‡ XªŒXX XªŒÔÐ €Ð  Ðà@##/Dàó ó)ˆà p àà È àÔ#† XªŒXX XªŒ#ÔÔ‡ XªŒXX XªŒÔÐ l¼  Ðà ` àDefendant/Appellant.à@##/Dà)ˆà p àà È àà  àÐ R¢ ÐÔ#† XªŒXX XªŒŒ#Ôò òÌÌÌòòFOR€THE€APPELLANTóó:à h àà À àà  àà p àòòFOR€THE€APPELLEEóó:Ð üL ÐÌROBIN€H.€Ô_ÔRASMUSSENÔ_Ôó óà h àà À àà  àà p àò òMARK€P.€BARNETTó óÐ Ô$ ÐJackson,€Shields,€Ô_ÔYeiserÔ_Ô€&€Ô_ÔCantrellÔ_Ôà  àà p àHill„Boren,€P.C.Ð À Ð262€German€Oak€Driveà h àà À àà  àà p à1269€N.€Highland€AvenueÐ ¦ö ÐCordova,€Tennessee€€38018à À àà  àà p àP.O.€Box€3539Ð ŒÜ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àJackson,€Tennessee€€38303„3539ò òÐ r ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌà@DD/DàˆÌÌÌÌÌà@¶¶DàòòM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NˆÐ |'Ì"& ÐÌà@ÈÈ'DàMembers€of€Panelóó:ˆÐ T)¤$( ÐÌà@#Dàó óJustice€Janice€M.€HolderˆÐ ,+|&* Ðà@;;"DàSenior€Judge€F.€Lloyd€Ô_ÔTatumÔ_ÔˆÌà@££"DàSenior€Judge€L.€T.€Ô_ÔLaffertyÔ_Ôò òˆÐ ø,H(, ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌAFFIRMEDÌÌL.€T.€Ô_ÔLAFFERTYÔ_Ô,€SENIOR€JUDGEÐ  Ú9*5: ÐÑúÑâ âÑ8€Ç!XXdìXXdì8Ñâ âÑ  ÑÔ_Ôà@õõ)DàO€P€I€N€I€O€NˆÐ ° ÐÌó óÓ  ÓÓÓà ` àThis€workerððs€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€WorkerððsÐ |Ì ÐCompensation€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tennessee€CodeÐ H˜ ÐAnnotated€ðð€50„6„225(e)€for€a€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€ofÐ  d Ðfact€and€conclusions€of€law.€Ð à 0 Ðà ` àThis€case€involves€injury€to€a€Tennessee€residentððs€knee€alleged€to€have€occurredÐ ¬ ü  Ðduring€his€employment€with€an€Alabama€company.€€The€trial€court€assumed€jurisdictionÐ xÈ  Ðover€this€lawsuit€after€finding€that€Tennessee€was€the€place€of€employment€and€found€thatÐ D”  Ðthe€plaintiff€sustained€a€work„related€15€percent€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€right€leg.Ð ` Ðà ` àThe€defendant€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€holding€that€it€had€jurisdiction€overÐ Ü, Ðthe€subject€matter€of€this€case.€€The€defendant€submits€two€appellate€issues€forÐ ¨ø Ðdetermination:Ð tÄ ÐÓÓà ` à1.à8 ¸ àWhether€the€Chancery€Court€erred€in€finding€that€the€plaintiffððsÐ @ Ðplace€of€employment€was€in€the€State€of€Tennessee?Ð&v¸ Ð ¸ Ð  ÐÌà ` à2.à8 ¸ àWhether€the€Chancery€Court€erred€in€finding€that€plaintiffððsÐ òB Ðcontract€of€hire€was€made€in€Tennessee?Ó¥ÓÐØ(¸ Ð ¸ Ð  Ðà ` àReview€of€the€findings€of€fact€made€by€the€trial€court€is€òòde€novo€óóupon€the€record,Ð ¤ô Ðaccompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€findings,€unless€theÐ p!À  Ðpreponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(2);€òòStone€v.Ð <#Œ" ÐCity€of€Ô_ÔMcMinnvilleÔ_Ô,€óó896€S.W.2d€548,€550€(Tenn.€1995).€€The€application€of€this€standardÐ %X $ Ðrequires€this€Court€to€weigh€in€depth€the€factual€findings€and€conclusions€of€the€trial€courtÐ Ô&$"& Ðin€a€workerððs€compensation€case.€€òòSeeóó€òòCorcoran€v.€Foster€Auto€Ô_ÔGMCÔ_Ô,€Inc.,€óó746€S.W.2dÐ  (ð#( Ð452,€456€(Tenn.€1988).€€However,€considerable€deference€must€be€given€to€the€trial€court,Ð l*¼%* Ðwho€has€seen€and€heard€the€witnesses,€where€issues€of€credibility€and€weight€of€oralÐ 8,ˆ', Ðtestimony€are€involved.€òò€Jones€v.€Hartford€Accident€&€Ô_ÔIndemÔ_Ô.€Co.,€óó811€S.W.2d€516,€521Ð .T). Ð(Tenn.€1991).€Ð Ð/ +0 Ðà ` àAfter€a€thorough€review€of€the€evidence€in€this€record,€the€briefs€of€the€parties€andÐ œ1ì,2 Ðappropriate€law,€we€AFFIRM€the€trial€courtððs€judgment.€Ð h3¸.4 ÐÓ  Óò òEVIDENTIARY€FACTSÐ 45„06 Ðó óÓ  Óà ` àThe€plaintiff,€a€29„year„old€Tennessee€resident,€is€a€high€school€graduate€whoseÐ 7P28 Ðprevious€job€experience€includes€work€in€sawmills€and€manual€labor€positions€inÐ Ì84: ÐÔ_Ôconstruction.€€He€began€working€for€the€defendantððs€insured,€The€Miller€Group,€Inc.Ð ° Ð(Company),€in€July€of€1996€on€a€road€construction€crew€in€Birmingham,€Alabama.€€TheÐ |Ì Ðplaintiff€first€heard€about€possible€employment€with€the€Atlanta,€Georgia„based€CompanyÐ H˜ Ðfrom€a€friend.€€He€testified€at€trial€that€he€called€the€Company€from€his€home€in€TennesseeÐ  d Ðon€or€about€July€16€or€23,€1996,€and€spoke€with€Donnie€Varnell€about€available€jobÐ à 0 Ðopportunities.€€Mr.€Varnell€told€plaintiff€that€there€were€no€jobs€available€at€the€time€butÐ ¬ ü  Ðpossibly€would€be€in€a€couple€of€weeks.€€About€fifteen€(15)€minutes€later,€Mr.€Varnell€calledÐ xÈ  Ðthe€plaintiff€and€offered€him€a€job.€€The€plaintiffððs€account€of€the€phone€conversation€is€asÐ D”  Ðfollows:Ð ` ÐÓÓà ` àA:à0 ¸ àDonnie€[Varnell]€said€that€he€had€had€an€employee€quit,€and€he€was€short„Ð Ü, Ðhanded,€and€he€needed€somebody.€€I€asked€Donnie€how€much€I€would€getÐ Â Ðpaid€and€what€the€offer€on€the€job€would€be,€and€he€told€me.Шø¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` àQ:à0 ¸ àWhat€did€he€say€the€pay€was?Ðtĸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` àA:à0 ¸ àHe€said€$9.00€an€hour,€$15.00€a€day€basically€eating€expenses€plus€hotelÐ @ Ðroom.Ð&v¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà@ÏÏ.Dà***ˆÐ òB ÐÌà ` àA:à0 ¸ àAnd€if€I€could€be€in€Birmingham,€Alabama€by€5:30€that€afternoon,€I€had€theÐ ¾ Ðjob.Фô¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` àQ:à0 ¸ àAnd€what€did€you€say?Ðp!À ¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` àA:à0 ¸ àI€told€him,€yes€sir,€I€wanted€the€job€and€that€I€would€be€there.Ð<#Œ"¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà@ÏÏ.Dà***ˆÐ %X $ ÐÌà ` àQ:à0 ¸ àAnd€what€were€your€instructions€as€to€where€to€report?ÐÔ&$"&¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` àA:à0 ¸ àI€was€to€go€to€the€Ramada€Inn€in€Birmingham,€Alabama.€€I€canððt€rememberÐ  (ð#( Ðwhat€interstate€it€was€off€of,€but€it€was€right€next€to€the€interstate.€€Check€inÐ †)Ö$) Ðthe€hotel,€thereððd€be€a€room€waiting€on€me,€and€be€ready€to€go€to€work€atÐ l*¼%* Ð5:30€that€afternoon.ÐR+¢&+¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌÓÓMr.€Varnell€directed€the€plaintiff€to€report€to€supervisor,€Eddie€Kirkwood,€in€Birmingham€toÐ -n(- Ðbegin€work.€€During€the€phone€conversation€between€the€plaintiff€and€Varnell,€there€wasÐ ê.:*/ Ðno€mention€of€an€application€for€employment€or€an€orientation€session,€nor€was€there€aÐ ¶0,1 Ðrequest€for€a€physical€examination€or€drug€screening.Ð ‚2Ò-3 Ðà ` àThe€plaintiff€then€drove€to€Birmingham€and€checked€into€the€Ramada€Inn,€where€aÐ N4ž/5 Ðroom€was€reserved€for€him€as€promised.€€He€began€working€on€the€road€construction€crewÐ 6j17 Ðimmediately€upon€checking€in€with€Eddie€Kirkwood.€€His€duties€included€walking€beside€aÐ æ7639 Ðconveyor€used€to€load€asphalt€into€dump€trucks€and€climbing€a€twelve€(12)€to€fifteen€(15)Ð ²95; Ðfoot€ladder€to€make€sure€the€trucks€were€fully€loaded.€€After€the€Birmingham€job,€theÐ ° Ðplaintiff€worked€on€crews€in€Atlanta€and€Dothan,€Alabama.Ð |Ì Ðà ` à€On€August€19,€1996,€at€about€3:00€a.m.,€the€plaintiff€was€climbing€down€the€ladderÐ H˜ Ðon€a€conveyor€when€his€right€knee€ð ðtwistedðð€and€ð ðpoppedðð€as€he€stepped€onto€the€ground,Ð  d Ðcausing€him€severe€pain.€€The€plaintiff€denied€any€previous€injury€or€problems€with€his€rightÐ à 0 Ðknee€before€this€injury.€€He€reported€the€injury€to€the€conveyor€operator,€William€Pannick,Ð ¬ ü  Ðand€to€his€supervisor,€Eddie€Kirkwood.€€Kirkwood€released€the€plaintiff€to€return€to€his€hotelÐ xÈ  Ðroom,€where€the€plaintiff€applied€an€ice€pack€to€his€swollen€knee.€€Around€8:00€a.m.€theÐ D”  Ðsame€day,€the€plaintiff€testified€that€he€spoke€with€Kirkwood€to€let€him€know€that€he€couldÐ ` Ðnot€go€back€to€work€that€evening€and€that€he€needed€to€see€a€doctor€about€his€knee.€€Ð Ü, ÐAccording€to€the€€plaintiff,€Varnell€told€the€plaintiff€to€take€his€time€and€do€what€he€neededÐ ¨ø Ðto€do€but€did€not€offer€any€medical€treatment€to€him.€€Varnell€instructed€the€plaintiff€to€restÐ tÄ Ðhis€leg€in€the€hotel€and€rejoin€the€crew€in€North€Carolina.Ð @ Ðà ` àThe€plaintiff€was€subsequently€treated€by€Dr.€Merryman,€who€requested€$1200€toÐ  \ Ðrun€a€test€on€plaintiffððs€knee.€€The€plaintiff€testified€that€he€called€a€Company€secretary,Ð Ø( ÐMarty€OððKelly,€regarding€the€cost€of€the€test,€and€she€angrily€replied€that€the€Company€wasÐ ¤ô Ðnot€paying€for€his€pre„existing€condition.€€The€plaintiff€was€able€to€return€to€work€butÐ p!À  Ðexperienced€a€lot€of€pain€in€his€knee.€€He€testified€that€his€wife,€Sandra,€was€present€duringÐ <#Œ" Ða€conversation€in€Atlanta€in€which€Donnie€Varnell€told€the€plaintiff€that€he€would€have€a€jobÐ %X $ Ðwhen€he€recovered€from€his€knee€problem.€€Assuming€that€he€had€health€coverage,€theÐ Ô&$"& Ðplaintiff€returned€to€Selmer,€Tennessee,€where€he€saw€Dr.€Keith€Nord.€€When€the€plaintiffÐ  (ð#( Ðcalled€Donnie€Varnell€about€his€treatment,€Varnell€told€the€plaintiff€that€he€no€longer€workedÐ l*¼%* Ðfor€the€Company€because€he€had€quit€his€job.€Ð 8,ˆ', Ðà ` àDr.€Nord€operated€on€the€plaintiffððs€right€knee,€but€his€recovery€was€not€complete.€Ð .T). ÐThe€plaintiff€can€no€longer€work€in€the€cold,€run,€or€build€houses€due€to€his€inability€to€climb.€Ð Ð/ +0 ÐHe€testified€that€he€also€experiences€swelling€and€stiffness€in€his€right€leg.Ð œ1ì,2 Ðà ` àSandra€Bower,€ex„wife€of€the€plaintiff,€testified€that€in€August,€1996,€she€and€herÐ h3¸.4 Ðhusband€were€in€the€midst€of€divorce€proceedings.€€Ms.€Bower€testified€she€was€presentÐ 45„06 Ðwhen€the€plaintiff€called€the€Company€but€was€advised€there€was€no€job.€€In€about€fifteenÐ 7P28 Ð(15)€or€thirty€(30)€minutes,€the€plaintiff€got€a€call€from€Atlanta€offering€him€a€job€inÐ Ì84: ÐBirmingham€that€evening.€€Ð ° Ðà ` àDavid€Kirk,€former€employee€of€the€Company,€testified€that€in€April,€1996,€he€calledÐ |Ì Ðthe€Company€about€a€job,€and€an€employee€had€him€to€report€to€Birmingham€for€work.€€HeÐ H˜ Ðfilled€out€employment€papers€after€he€got€on€the€job.Ð  d Ðà ` àOn€behalf€of€the€defendant,€Robert€Kibler,€manager€for€BellSouthÐ à 0 ÐTelecommunications,€testified€that€he€reviewed€the€phone€records€for€the€CompanyÐ ¬ ü  Ðcovering€June€through€August,€1996.€€Mr.€Kiblerððs€review€of€the€records€indicated€that€noÐ xÈ  Ðphone€calls€were€made€by€the€Company€on€July€16€or€July€23,€1996,€to€Tennessee.€Ð D”  Ðà ` àDonnie€Varnell,€superintendent€for€the€Company,€testified€that€on€July€23,€1996,€heÐ ` Ðreceived€a€phone€call€from€the€plaintiff€inquiring€about€a€job.€€Varnell€informed€the€plaintiffÐ Ü, Ðhe€could€have€a€job,€plus€his€motel€room€and€$15€per€day€for€food.€€Varnell€told€the€plaintiffÐ ¨ø Ðif€he€would€be€in€Birmingham,€Alabama,€at€7:00€p.m.€that€night,€he€could€start€work€andÐ tÄ Ðgave€him€the€motel€and€phone€numbers€in€case€the€plaintiff€got€lost.€€Varnell€denied€thatÐ @ Ðhe€called€the€plaintiff€and€offered€him€a€job.€€He€testified€that€there€was€only€one€phoneÐ  \ Ðcall,€which€was€made€by€the€plaintiff€to€him.€€Varnell€stated€that€he€is€responsible€for€hiringÐ Ø( Ðroad€crews€for€the€Company€and€had€the€authority€to€hire€workers.Ð ¤ô Ðà ` àEdward€C.€Kirkwood,€Jr.,€plaintiffððs€foreman,€testified€that€he€met€the€plaintiff€on€JulyÐ p!À  Ð23,€1996,€in€Birmingham,€Alabama€at€a€job€site.€€Varnell€had€told€Kirkwood€to€expect€theÐ <#Œ" Ðplaintiff.€€Kirkwood€showed€the€plaintiff€what€he€was€to€do€and€gave€him€a€hard€hat€andÐ %X $ Ðsome€goggles.€€At€the€end€of€the€shift,€Kirkwood€gave€the€plaintiff€his€employment€papersÐ Ô&$"& Ðto€fill€out.€€Kirkwood€advised€the€plaintiff€to€return€the€papers€by€Saturday€so€he€could€getÐ  (ð#( Ðpaid.€€Ð l*¼%* Ðà ` àMartha€ð ðMartyðð€OððKelly,€an€administrative€assistant€for€the€Company,€testified€thatÐ 8,ˆ', Ðthe€plaintiff€began€working€on€July€23,€1996,€and€that€the€Company€records€on€VarnellððsÐ .T). Ðmobile€phone€reveal€no€phone€calls€were€made€to€the€plaintiff€on€July€16€or€23,€1996.€€Ð  Ð/ +0 ÐÓ  Óò òLEGAL€ANALYSISÐ ° Ðó óÓ  Óà ` àThe€defendant€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€holding€that€the€plaintiffððs€placeÐ |Ì Ðof€employment€was€in€Tennessee€and€that€the€contract€for€hire€occurred€in€Tennessee.€Ð H˜ Ðà ` àThe€defendant€is€correct€in€that€the€uncontroverted€evidence€in€this€case€shows€thatÐ  d Ðthe€plaintiff€never€performed€any€work€for€The€Miller€Group€within€the€territorial€limits€of€theÐ à 0 ÐState€of€Tennessee.€€However,€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€50„6„115€provides€that€anÐ ¬ ü  Ðemployee€may€receive€benefits€under€our€workerððs€compensation€statutes€when€theÐ xÈ  Ðemployee€is€injured€in€another€state€if:€(1)€the€employment€was€principally€localized€withinÐ D”  ÐTennessee;€or€(2)€the€contract€for€hire€was€made€in€Tennessee.€€The€record€establishesÐ ` Ðthat€the€employment€was€not€principally€localized€in€Tennessee.€€Thus,€our€inquiry€mustÐ Ü, Ðfocus€on€whether€the€contract€for€hire€was€made€in€Tennessee.Ð ¨ø Ðà ` àIn€òòTolley€v.€General€Accident,€Fire€&€Life€Insurance€Corp.,€óó584€S.W.2d€647,€649Ð tÄ Ð(Tenn.€1979),€our€Supreme€Court€addressed€contracts€for€hire€by€use€of€phone€calls.€€InÐ @ ÐòòTolley,€óóJames€Romans,€a€resident€of€Missouri,€called€Tolley€in€Milan,€Tennessee,€seekingÐ  \ Ðemployment€as€a€painter€at€a€job€site€in€Mountain€Home,€Arkansas.€€During€Tolleyððs€andÐ Ø( ÐRomansððs€phone€call,€Tolley€agreed€to€pay€Romans€$4.00€per€hour€and€notifiedÐ ¤ô Ðsuperintendent,€J.C.€Mitchell,€to€expect€Romans€on€the€job€site€the€next€day€in€MountainÐ p!À  ÐHome.€€Romans€was€injured€on€the€job€in€Arkansas.€€The€Supreme€Court€held€that€theÐ <#Œ" Ðcontract€of€hire€between€Tolley€and€Romans€was€made€in€Tennessee€and€that€theÐ %X $ Ðextraterritorial€application€of€the€Tennessee€Workmenððs€Compensation€Act€was€therebyÐ Ô&$"& Ðinvoked.€€The€court€stated€that€ð ð[w]here€an€acceptance€of€an€offer€is€given€by€telephone,Ð  (ð#( Ðit€is€generally€held€that€the€place€of€contracting€is€where€the€acceptor€speaks€hisÐ l*¼%* Ðacceptance.ðð€€òòId.óó€(òòcitingóó€16€Am.€Jur.€2D€Conflicts€of€Lawòò€óóðð€37òò€óó(1964);€òòaccord,€óóRestatementÐ 8,ˆ', Ðof€Conflicts€of€Law€ððòò€óó326€cmt.€Còò€óó(1934))òò.€ò òóóÐ .T). Ðó óà ` àIn€òòMatthews€v.€St.€Paul€Property€&€Liability€Insurance,€óó845€S.W.2d€737,€739€(Tenn.Ð Ð/ +0 Ð1992),€the€Supreme€Court€found€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€50„6„115(2)€applicable€toÐ œ1ì,2 Ðan€employee€injured€in€the€state€of€Ohio€while€driving€a€truck€for€his€employer.€€TheÐ h3¸.4 Ðemployee,€Matthews,€contacted€the€company€seeking€employment€as€a€truck€driver€afterÐ 45„06 Ðseeing€an€advertisement€placed€by€Shawn„Davis€Transit€in€a€Tennessee€newspaper.Ð 7P28 ÐShawn„Davis€obtained€the€necessary€information€from€Matthews€over€the€phone€andÐ Ì84: Ðreferred€Matthews€to€Schneider€Specialized€Containers.€€Schneider€screened€MatthewððsÐ ° Ðapplication€and€approved€him€for€employment.€€A€representative€of€Shawn„Davis€TransitÐ |Ì Ðplaced€a€telephone€call€to€Matthews€in€Tennessee,€advising€him€that€he€had€been€hiredÐ H˜ Ðas€an€independent€contractor€truck€driver.€€The€Supreme€Court€applied€the€reasoning€ofÐ  d ÐòòTolleyóó€in€finding€that€Matthewððs€hiring,€via€telephone,€occurred€in€Tennessee.€Ð à 0 Ðò òà ` àó óThe€defendant€asserts€that€the€plaintiff€was€required€to€meet€a€condition€precedentÐ ¬ ü  Ðbefore€the€Company€hired€him;€to€wit,€the€plaintiff€had€to€show€up€in€Birmingham,€Alabama.€Ð xÈ  ÐThus,€the€defendant€argues€that€the€contract€for€hire€could€not€occur€until€the€plaintiffÐ D”  Ðarrived€in€Birmingham,€and€jurisdiction€of€this€subject€matter€rests€in€Alabama€and€not€theÐ ` Ðstate€of€Tennessee.€€In€support€of€its€position,€the€defendant€cites€òòPerkins€v.€B.E.€&€K.,Ð Ü, ÐInc.,€óó802€S.W.2d€215€(Tenn.€1990)€(employee€was€required€to€travel€to€Virginia);€òòAlfordÐ ¨ø ÐBurns€v.€Werner€Enterprises,€Incóó.,€No.€03S01„9504„CV„00043,€1995€WL€688889€(Tenn.Ð tÄ ÐNov.€21,€1995)€(employee€was€required€to€travel€to€Georgia);€and€òòFenner€v.€D.B.C.Ð @ ÐEnterprises€&€Travelers€Ins.€Co.óó,€No.€02S01„9703„CV„00023,€1998€WL€12058€(Tenn.€Jan.Ð  \ Ð15,€1998)€(employee€was€required€to€travel€to€Michigan).€€These€cases€can€beÐ Ø( Ðdistinguished€on€the€facts,€since€none€of€the€employees€involved€were€hired€over€theÐ ¤ô Ðtelephone€but€had€to€travel€to€the€foreign€state€to€complete€an€application€for€employment,Ð p!À  Ðtake€a€physical€exam,€or€perform€some€other€pre„employment€procedure€before€actuallyÐ <#Œ" Ðbeing€hired.Ð %X $ Ðà ` àWe€recognize€that€this€is€a€close€case.€€However,€after€careful€scrutiny€of€theÐ Ô&$"& Ðtestimonies€of€the€plaintiff,€Donnie€Varnell,€and€Edward€Kirkwood,€we€conclude€that€theÐ  (ð#( Ðplaintiff€was€hired€during€the€phone€conversation€on€or€about€July€23,€1996,€and€the€placeÐ l*¼%* Ðof€employment€is€Tennessee.€€Mr.€Varnell,€who€did€the€hiring€for€the€Company€road€crews,Ð 8,ˆ', Ðtestified€that€the€plaintiff€was€hired€over€the€phone€as€follows:Ð .T). ÐÓÓà ` àQ:à0 ¸ àNow,€whether€there€was€one€telephone€call€or€two,€and€to€me€it€really€doesnððtÐ Ð/ +0 Ðmatter,€after€„„€you€say€there€was€one€phone€call.€€After€that€phone€call,€theÐ ¶0,1 Ðdeal€was€done,€wasnððt€it?€€It€was€just€a€matter€of€him€going€to€where€„„Ðœ1ì,2¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` àA:à0 ¸ àYes,€sir.Ðh3¸.4¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` àQ:à0 ¸ àShowing€up€and€going€to€work.Ð45„06¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` àA:à0 ¸ àYes,€sir.Ð7P28¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` àQ:à0 ¸ àIn€other€words,€he€didnððt€have€to€go€through€orientation.€€No€orientation.€€DoÐ Ì84: Ðyou€know€what€that€Ô_Ôis?в95;¸ €%¸ €% Їà ` àA:à0 ¸ àYes,€sir.а¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà@——-Dà*€*€*ˆÐ |Ì ÐÌà ` àQ:à0 ¸ àDidnððt€have€to€talk€to€somebody€else€to€see€if€he€would€be€a€suitableà0@R#¸ €%¸ €%àÐ H˜ Ðemployee.Ð. ~¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` àA:à0 ¸ àNo,€sir.Ðú J¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` àQ:à0 ¸ àDidnððt€have€to€do€that.€€In€other€words,€all€he€had€to€do€after€your€phone€call,Ð Æ   Ðwhether€it€was€him€or€you,€who€initiated€it€I€donððt€care,€was€he€had€to€goÐ ¬ ü  Ðwhere€you€told€him€and€be€there€by€a€certain€time€and€he€was€going€to€work.Ð’â ¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌà ` àA:à0 ¸ àYes,€sir.Ð^® ¸ €%¸ €% ÐÌÓÓà ` àThe€preponderance€of€the€evidence€shows€that€Mr.€Ô_ÔVarnellÔ_Ô€had€the€authority€to€hireÐ *z  Ðthe€plaintiff€and€that€the€plaintiff€accepted€the€Companyððs€offer€of€employment€inÐ öF ÐTennessee.€€Both€Mr.€Ô_ÔVarnellÔ_Ô€and€the€plaintiff€thought€the€plaintiff€had€a€job€when€theyÐ Â Ðfinished€their€phone€conversation,€and€the€employment€contract€was€made€at€that€time.€Ð ŽÞ ÐIn€addition,€Edward€Ô_ÔKirkwoodÔ_Ô,€the€plaintiffððs€foreman€in€Alabama,€testified€that€he€was€toldÐ Zª Ðto€expect€the€plaintiff€at€work€on€July€23,€and€put€him€right€to€work.€€The€evidence€does€notÐ &v Ðpreponderate€against€the€trial€courtððs€findings.€€Therefore,€we€agree€with€the€trial€court€thatÐ òB ÐTennessee€has€subject€matter€jurisdiction€over€this€case.Ð ¾ Ðà ` àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€to€theÐ Š Ú Ðdefendant.Ð V"¦! ÐÓÓÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà€/€%à_________________________________ˆÐ î%>!% Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àL.€T.€Ô_ÔLAFFERTYÔ_Ô,€SENIOR€JUDGEÐ Ô&$"& ÐÌÌÌCONCUR:Ð l*¼%* ÐÌòòÌÌóó____________________________________Ð .T). ÐJANICE€M.€HOLDER,€JUSTICEÐ ê.:*/ ÐÌòòÌÌóó____________________________________Ð ‚2Ò-3 ÐF.€LLOYD€Ô_ÔTATUMÔ_Ô,€SENIOR€JUDGEÓ×^ÓÐ  h3¸.4 ÐÑ` °ÑÔ‡ XÝzXX XÝzÔà@ý ý DàÔ‡ »Ÿ¢»X XÝzÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ `  ÐÌà@ff*DàAT€JACKSONÔ#† XÝzX» »Ÿ¢°a#ԈР 0 ÐÌÌÓ-°,X…XDp X°œX-ÓCHARLES€TIMOTHY€DUNCAN,à œ à)à È àÔ_ÔMcNairyÔ_Ô€ChanceryÐ @à  ÐÓ<°,X°D‚, X°,X…XDp X<Óà œ à)à È àNO.€7063Ð  ¬  ÐÓ<°,°Dp X°,X°D‚, X<Óà ` àPlaintiff/Appellee,à œ à)à È àÐ Øx  Ðà ` àà œ à)à È àHon.€Dewey€Ô_ÔWhitentonÔ_Ô,Ð ¤D Ðvs.à ` àà œ à)à È àChancellorÐ p Ðà ` àà œ à)Ð <Ü ÐROYAL€INSURANCE€COMPANY,à œ à)à È àNO.€W1998„00093„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CVÐ ¨ Ðà ` àà œ à)Ð Ôt Ðßx€Y_B2.jzÆ`  `€€@ÿE"f#` ttx0Zž"ð ¨ xßà ` àDefendant/Appellant.à œ à)à È àAFFIRMEDÐ  !@ ÐÌÌÌà@öö(DàÔ‡ »Ÿ¢»X XÝzÔJUDGMENT€ORDERÔ#† XÝzX» »Ÿ¢nf#ԈРÐ(p" ÐÌÌÓ6°À°` p’X°,°Dp X6Óà ¸ àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€ofÐ €. %( Ðreferral€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel'sÐ L0ì&* ÐMemorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€areÐ 2¸(, Ðincorporated€herein€by€reference.Ð ä3„*. Ðà ¸ àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€Opinion€of€theÐ °5P,0 ÐPanel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÐ |7.2 Ðà ¸ àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€lawÐ H9è/4 Ðare€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€of€the€Court.Ð `  Ðà ¸ àCosts€will€be€paid€by€Defendant,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ð , Ì Ðà ¸ àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€this€15th€day€of€December,€1999.Ð ø ˜ ÐÌà ¸ àà È àà  àà x àà Ð àà (# à¼à ¸ àà È àPER€Ô_ÔCURIAMÔ_ÔÐ \ü  ÐÌÔ#† XÝzXX XÝza#Ô