ÿWPC| /U:¢ %Üân­ò 04ŸÓw@Ó4 0J' 0Tq 0^Å 0h# 0r‹ 0|ý 0†y 0ÿ 1u 0dU6hB)žDCÇ AQ Æ[ 0D! 0@e 0D¥ AMé D/6 Be B‚ D3Ÿ U*Ò ü ) v~+vÓ©<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpiX#|x#«<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpiXÂxþ6X@É“8õ X@( ¤U$¡¡Ó  Ó  P D E  Ó€Ó€#ujý"ÔôJ2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô  ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Courier New% Line 7 d7Border 1dd!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó!#Cþÿ << Gÿÿ(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxd< Œ 9p`(Arial üÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€*ÔÔ€*ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€*XÔÌÌAugust€28,€1997ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€*ÔÔ€*ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€*XÔÌÌAugust€28,€1997ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  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 ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ\R AØ'\ÑÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÒ  ÒÒ Ð ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÞ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌÌÌÌSTELLA€LOUISE€FLATT,€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€Plaintiff/Appellee€€€€€€€)€€JACKSON€COUNTY€CIRCUIT€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ï)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€No.€0S01„9608„CV„00168€€€€Ìv.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ï)€€HON.€BOBBY€CAPERS,€JUDGEÌÙ€!ÙßR€%+A1-j|~ÿ` ç `€€@ÿRßOSHKOSH€B'GOSH,€INC.€and€€€€€€€€€)ÌTRAVELERS€INSURANCE€COMPANY€€€€€€)€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ì€€€€€€€€Defendants/Appellants€€€€)€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óó)ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌòòFOR€THE€APPELLANTSóó:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òòFOR€THE€APPELLEEóó:ÌÌROBERT€R.€RAMSEY€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€DONALD€G.€DICKERSON€€€ÌUPCHURCH,€COLVARD,€YORK€&€RAMSEY€€€€€€310D€East€Broad€Street€€€€ÌP.€O.€Box€3549€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Cookeville,€TN€38501€€€€€€ÌCrossville,€TN€38557„3549€ÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àòòMEMORANDUM€OPINIONóóÌÌÌÌÌà@ àMEMBERS€OF€PANEL:ÌÌà@ àFRANK€F.€DROWOTA,III,€ASSOCIATE€JUSTICE,€SUPREME€COURTÌ€€€à@ à€€€€WILLIAM€H.€INMAN,€SENIOR€JUDGE€€€€€€€Ìà@ àWILLIAM€S.€RUSSELL,€RETIRED€JUDGEÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌAFFIRMED€AS€MODIFIED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€RUSSELL,€SP.€J.ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓÓÑ7€bXXXdÈXXdÈ7Ñà àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€theÏSpecial€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€CourtÏin€accordance€with€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€Section€50„6„225Ï(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findingsÏof€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.Ìà@ àÌà àThe€plaintiff€suffered€bilateral€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€asÏthe€result€of€working€for€years€at€a€sewing€job€for€the€defendantÏemployer.€€The€trial€judge€held€that€she€should€recoverÏcompensation€for€permanent€partial€vocational€disability€in€theÏamount€of€80%€to€each€arm.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà àThe€only€issue€presented€upon€this€appeal€is€whether€or€notÏthe€percentage€of€disability€awarded€is€appropriate€under€theÏevidence.Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà àThe€plaintiff€was€49€years€old€at€the€date€of€this€trial.€ÍShe€worked€in€the€garment€industry€continuously€since€herÏgraduation€from€high€school,€and€is€the€mother€of€two€adults.€ÏShe€worked€for€the€defendant€company€from€January€of€1989€throughÏMay€of€1994.€€She€first€sought€medical€attention€from€a€Dr.ÏHudson€for€her€upper€extremity€pain€in€1993.€€She€subsequentlyÏsaw€an€orthopaedic€surgeon,€a€Dr.€Barnes;€and€subsequently€wasÏsent€to€another€orthopaedic€surgeon,€Dr.€Paul€A.€Abbey,€M.D.€€WeÏhave€by€deposition€only€Dr.€Abbey's€testimony.ÌÌà àThe€plaintiff€underwent€a€protocol€of€physical€therapy€forÏtwo€or€three€weeks,€and€then€returned€to€work€doing€a€jobÏrequiring€a€reduced€use€of€her€hands€and€wrists.€€Some€liftingÏwas€required€and€this€exacerbated€her€pain.€€She€sought€moreÏtreatment€from€Dr.€Abbey,€then€returned€to€work€a€second€time,Ïworking€only€four€hours€a€day.€€She€subsequently€quit€her€job.€ÏShe€testified€that€her€condition€worsened€after€she€was€no€longerÏworking€at€the€garment€factory.€€She€has€not€sought€otherÏemployment,€and€opined€that€she€would€never€again€be€able€to€workÏin€a€garment€factory.€€She€quit€work€in€May€of€1994€and€did€notÏgo€back€to€Dr.€Abbey€or€any€other€doctor€until€April€of€1995,€andÏthat€visit€was€for€evaluation€for€purposes€of€the€trial.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà àPlaintiff€does€sewing€at€home€on€craft€items.€€Her€houseworkÏshe€testified,€is€difficult.€€She€contends€that€her€condition€hasÏcontinued€to€worsen€since€she€quit€work.€€She€has€not€soughtÏother€work.ÌÌà àPlaintiff€presented€Frank€Edwards,€a€counsellor€in€vocationÏand€rehabilitation,€who€testified€as€a€vocational€expert.€€HeÏbased€his€evaluation€upon€the€medical€documentation€that€wasÏprovided€to€him,€including€the€deposition€of€Dr.€Paul€Abbey,€andÏwhat€he€learned€in€one€interview€of€the€plaintiff.€€He€opinedÏthat€"the€likelihood€of€her€sustaining€any€type€of€significantÏgainful€employment€is€marginal",€and€estimated€her€vocationalÏdisability€from€85€to€95€percent.€€He€saw€her€for€45€minutes€toÏan€hour,€administered€no€personality€or€intelligence€or€otherÏtests.Ìà àÌà àDr.€Paul€Arthur€Abbey,€M.D.,€orthopaedic€surgeon€whoÏspecializes€in€hand€surgery,€first€saw€the€plaintiff€on€DecemberÏ20,€1993.€€Her€complaints€were€pain,€numbness€and€stiff€fingersÏinvolving€both€hands.€€She€had€previously€been€seen€by€a€Dr.ÏBarnes,€who€had€recommended€surgery;€and€she€was€sent€to€Dr.AbbeyÏin€response€to€her€request€for€a€second€opinion.€€Dr.€Abbey'sÏdiagnosis€was€moderate€right€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€and€moderateÏleft€carpal€tunnel€syndrome.ÌÌà àDr.€Abbey€saw€her€again€on€January€31,€1994.€€Her€conditionÏwas€substantially€the€same.€€Dr.€Abbey€recommended€light€duty;Ïconsisting€of€no€grabbing€over€ten€pounds,€minimal€wrist€motion,Ïrotation€of€jobs€and€continuation€of€the€use€of€splints.ÌÌà àDr.€Abbey€saw€her€again€on€February€21,€1994.€€She€was€notÍworking€at€that€time.€€Her€pain€had€improved€but€her€"tingles"Ïhad€not.€€Dr.€Abbey€prescribed€physical€therapy.ÌÌà àHe€next€saw€her€on€March€14,€1994.€€Her€wrist€and€forearmÏdiscomfort€had€improved€but€her€"tingles"€persisted.€€He€opinedÏthat€she€had€reached€maximum€medical€improvement.€€His€impressionÏwas€that€she€had€resolving€right€wrist€tendinitis€and€bilateralÏcarpal€tunnel€syndrome€(right€greater€than€left).€€He€suggestedÏthat€she€return€to€work€at€that€time,€with€her€hours€and€dutiesÏrestricted.ÌÌà àDr.€Abbey€saw€her€on€May€11,€1994,€after€she€had€returned€toÏwork€at€a€new€assignment€and€for€shorter€hours.€€She€was€havingÏpain.€€Dr.€Abbey€on€this€occasion€made€her€prior€restrictionsÏpermanent.€€He€had€previously,€on€April€13,€1995,€given€her€a€10Ïpercent€impairment€to€each€upper€extremity,€due€to€entrapmentÏneuropathy€of€the€median€nerve€in€both€wrists.€€He€also€testifiedÏthat€if€she€had€surgery€"she€may€even€have€a€0€percent€impairmentÏrating,€if€the€tingles€go€away".€€Dr.€Abbey€was€of€the€opinionÏthat€surgery€would€in€all€likelihood€improve€the€plaintiff'sÏcondition.€€Directly€quoting€Dr.€Abbey:€€"By€history,€it€soundsÏlike€she€would€be€a€good€candidate,€but€Ms.€Flatt€has€not€optedÏas€far€as€I€know€to€undergo€surgical€intervention".€€He€found€herÏgrip€strength€to€be€normal,€no€muscle€atrophy,€and€she€had€aÏnormal€sensory€examination.€€Dr.€Abbey€said€that€the€plaintiffÏcould€probably€occasionally€lift€20€to€30€pounds,€but€not€moreÍthan€10€repetitively.ÌÌà àWe€have€carefully€reviewed€and€weighed€all€of€this€evidence.€ÏAppellate€review€is€òòdeóó€òònovoóó€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,Ïaccompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€findingsÏof€fact,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€ÏTennessee€Code€Annotated€Section€50„6„225€(e)(2).ÌÌà àIn€determining€a€worker's€industrial€disability,€the€courtsÏwill€consider,€in€addition€to€anatomical€impairment€as€assessedÏby€a€medical€expert,€many€other€pertinent€factors,€including€theÏworker's€age,€job€skills,€education€and€training,€the€duration€ofÏdisability€and€job€opportunities€for€the€disabled.€€òòHinson€v.ÏWal„Mart€Stores,€Inc.óó,€654€S.W.€2d€675€(Tenn.€1983).€ÌÌà àIt€is€our€judgment€that€the€evidence€preponderates€againstÏan€award€based€on€eighty€percent€to€each€upper€extremity€and€inÏfavor€of€a€judgment€based€upon€fifty€percent€to€each€upperÏextremity.€€The€judgment€is€modified€accordingly;€and,€as€soÏmodified,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€ÌÌà àCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€equally€between€the€employee€andÏthe€employer.ÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÓÓóó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÏWILLIAM€S.€RUSSELL,€SPECIAL€JUDGEÌÌÌÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌóóFRANK€F.€DROWOTA,€III,€ÌASSOCIATE€JUSTICE€Ì€ÌÌÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌóóWILLIAM€H.€INMAN,€SENIOR€JUDGE€€€€Ì€Ìà àÌÌÌÇÓ  ÓÓ ` ¸ “XÓIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÓ  ÓÌÓ  ÓAT€NASHVILLEÌÓ  ÓÌÌÌßJ€%,;+'b|¦õ«` ç `€@ÿJßSTELLA€LOUISE€FLATTà àà àà à€€€€€)à àJackson€Countyà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€€Ï)à àNo.€1131„0„175Ìà àPlaintiff/Appelleeà àà à€€€€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€€€)à àHon.€Bobby€Capers,Ìvs.à àà àà àà àà àà à€€€€€)à àJudgeÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€€€)ÌOSKKOSH€BððGOSH,€INC.€andà àà àà à)à àSupreme€CourtÌTRAVELERS€INSURANCE€COMPANYà àà à)à àNo.€01„S„01„9608„CV„00168Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€€€)Ìà àDefendants/Appellantsà à€€€€€)à àAffirmed€as€ModifiedÌà àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€€€ÌÌÓÓà@ àòòJUDGMENT€ORDERóóÌÓ€Óà àà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€motion€for€reviewÏpursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(5)(B),€the€entireÏrecord,€including€the€order€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workers'ÏCompensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel's€Memorandum€OpinionÏsetting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€whichÏare€incorporated€herein€by€reference;ÌÌà àà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€forÏreview€is€not€well„taken€and€should€be€denied;€andÌÌà àà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€ofÏfact€and€conclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€theÏdecision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€of€the€Court.ÌÌà àà àCost€are€apportioned€evenly€between€the€parties.€€OneÏhalf€of€the€costs€are€assessed€against€the€appellant,€one€halfÏagainst€the€appellee,€and€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌà àà àIt€is€so€ordered€this€28th€day€of€August,€1997.ÌÌÓÓÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌÌDrowota,€J.,€not€participating