WPC0 Qlgg aeRՖ`-o(OvGd5}NUJre7Iq8໖ؠəyTbx\"JW[`x0-Q+z֞XK-$"]zifb ΋QK*`uc!?CfF>LfA9&< I7$ZQzA$]y65ksǾ-pژ?G#y M]&Z|P(rV5Քn<3<0$!L=X9hkGwM|~nv wz%6ّ_eqP)E%mɕc|\gy>/_ڼU&Q0& {#vqp{  U2 P SV@BNDUq˼INZ UaB %` f 0  0  0tq 0 0  0g 05 0 0\ 0S 0n O 0\##nX# 0rQ%%w@%4&&UB*P*P*U:;+u+U:`,`,`,`,`,`,`,`, B,,,,, D3,,, 0,,,,,,,,,,,,, D+x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x- AO--- 0D. D/. B+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/+/ AYH// 0Fg0\  `*Times New RomanTT'  IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE "Terryl James$0Frankie Lewis .   H4heading 1heading 1&    XXXW\  `*Times New RomanTTW         W\  `*Times New RomanTTW'  H4heading 2heading 2&    ) P p x (#)XXXW\  `*Times New RomanTTW        W\  `*Times New RomanTTW>4X` hp x (#>'  h:Default ParaDefault Paragraph FontXXXW\  `*Times New RomanTTW        W\  `*Times New RomanTTW8,TitleTitle  ) P p x (#)XXXW\  `*Times New RomanTTW        W\  `*Times New RomanTTW>4X` hp x (#>H4Body TextBody Text  ) P p x (#)XXXW\  `*Times New RomanTTW        W\  `*Times New RomanTTW>4X` hp x (#>P8Body Text 2Body Text 2  ) P p x (#)XXXW\  `*Times New RomanTTW        W\  `*Times New RomanTTW>4X` hp x (#><5T.headerheader   (#        >4X` hp x (#><5T.footerfooter   (#        >4X` hp x (#>P8page numberpage numberXXXW\  `*Times New RomanTTW        W\  `*Times New RomanTTW<$1Body Text 2  XXXW\  `*Times New RomanTTW        W\  `*Times New RomanTTW`:Body Text InBody Text Indent 2  ," ` P p x (#,XXXW\  `*Times New RomanTTW        W\  `*Times New RomanTTW>4X` hp x (#>  )       (#X      03S019806CV00060Page s     X(#   XXXXXX      XX@    1  A    Ford/PhillipsvTNCoalOpinion                 H4X` hp x (#XH  ?+ ` hp x (#X?(e2$ !N+N+N+   3|x8\  `*Times New RomanTTC\  P6QP\  `*Times New RomanTTXXP\  P6QXP(J$NcNcNc  PPV !D"U# Ӏ.Ӏy&H2  )N+N+N+       (#X      03S019806CV00060Page s     X(#   XXN+XXXX      N+XX@    1  A    Ford/PhillipsvTNCoalOpinion     N+N+N+N+         H4X` hp x (#XH  ?+ ` hp x (#X?\  `*Times New RomanTT GG Ad   FILEDU-   June29,1999  CecilCrowson,Jr.AppellateCourtClerk ,kAZ"Arial Regular GG Ad   FILEDU-   June29,1999  CecilCrowson,Jr.AppellateCourtClerk ,kAZ"Arial Regular d%%%%'dxd(f3$ !N+N+N+   'dxd-C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$   1  ' dxdP Pd-:M << deUULevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(n$ (  1  ) !   XTR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T  3 P p x (#X3XXXXXX      INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  !     XX$ XP X$  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL  #l*6&"h 8 `Ett06Hl HH(#(##ATKNOXVILLE  ERNESTRODNEYFORD, h   )  ANDERSONCOUNTY   CIRCUIT `     h   )   p h  ` PlaintiffAppellee, h   ) 80   `     h   )   p       (#(#HHvs. `     h   )  NO.03S019806CV00060    `     h   )     THETENNESSEECOALCOMPANY  )  THEHONORABLE XP  COMPANY,    h   )  JAMESB.SCOTT,JR.,JUDGE     `     h   )   p     ` DefendantAppellant. h   )    `     h   ) `     h   )ODISE.PHILLIPS,   h   )   ` PlaintiffAppellee, h   )   `     h   )vs. `     h   )  NO.03S019806CV00061 `X  `     h   )THETENNESSEECOALCOMPANY,  )   ` DefendantAppellant. h   )  &  FortheAppellant:   h     FortheAppellee:'&    RobertKnowlton   h     RogerL.Ridenour h` 105DonnerDrive,SuiteB h     P.O.Box530 0 (  POBox4459    h     Clinton,Tennessee37717  ! OakRidge,TN378314459  MailedMay____,1999 $& & X MEMORANDUMOPINION  p&h(   'X%l   MembersofPanel: (!+  JusticeWilliamM.BarkerSpecialJudgeHowellN.PeoplesSpecialJudgeJoeC.Loser,Jr.  &  AFFIRMEDandREMANDED h     PEOPLES,SpecialJudge  3,9 '0u ;4C &    XXXXXX       OPINION     # ###    XX'0#   #            ` XXTheseworkerscompensationappealshavebeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers  CompensationAppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithT.C.A.Section506225(e)(3)forhearingandreportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.TheappealspresentacommonissueoflawinvolvingtheapplicationofTennesseeCodeAnnotatedSection506241.Ifanemployerinitiallyreturnsaninjuredemployeetoworkatthesamerateofpayafteraninjurybutthengoesoutofbusiness,istheemployeesawardcappedattwoandonehalftimesthemedicalimpairmentrating?Thetrialcourtrefusedtolimittheaward.Weaffirm.&    3 P p x (#X3XXXXXXXX       ErnestRodneyFord   ##    XXXXXXXX$ XP X$'##    3 P p x (#X3XXXXXXXX       P ErnestRodneyFord,age24,receivedaspecialeducationdiplomafromhigh  school.Hehastroublereadingandwriting.HewenttoschooleachdayfortwoorthreehoursthenworkedatPalletsPlusforfivetosixhoursasacoopstudent.HisworkatPalletsPlusinvolvedcatchingwood,runningaforklift,andoperatinganailgun.Afterhighschool,hewenttoworkatBeechGroveProcessing,apredecessorofTennesseeCoalCompany,asawasherandlatertransferredtothemines.Atthemines,hecarriedstraw,seededlandslidesandoldstripsites,droveatruckandfrontendloader,andhelpedmaintainequipment.Hediddeepminingforaboutfiveyearsuntilthemineshutdown.Heworkedinaspace18feetwideand42to46incheshigh.Hisback poppedwhenhepickedupatemplatethatweighed30to40pounds.Hewasoffworkfor88daysandrequestedtogobacktowork.Mr.Fordreturnedtoworkwithlimitationstoavoidexcessivebendingandstooping,andpermittinghimtoliftupto20poundsfrequentlyand40poundsoccasionally.Hehadphysicalproblemswhenhereturnedtoworkandwasthinkingofquittingwhenthecompanyclosedthemine.Hehasbeenunabletofindanotherjob.Dr.GeronBrown,orthopedicsurgeon,testifiedthatMr.Fordhasamedicalimpairmentoffivepercentasaresultofthelumbarstrain,andtwopercentforapreexistingcondition,foratotalofsixpercentunderthecombinedtableoftheAMAGuides.Dr.WilliamKevinBailey,aphysiatrist,testified 704 thatMr.Fordjustaggravatedhispreexistingspondylolisthesesandthattherewastwopercentimpairmentspecifictothisinjury.HeandDr.Brownagreedonthelimitations `;X48 placedonMr.Ford.    XXXXXXXX$ XP X$   ` RodneyCaldwell,avocationalconsultant,testifiedthatMr.Fordreadsatathird  gradelevel,candoarithmeticataninthgradelevel,andhasa45to50percentvocationaldisabilitybasedonthephysicallimitations.&    3 P p x (#X3XXXXXXXX       OdisEarlPhillips   h`  X##    XXXXXXXX$ XP X$'hh     XXXXXXXX         ` OdisEarlPhillips,age46,graduatedfromhighschoolin1970.Duringhighschool, H@  heworkedfortheJobCorpspaintingandmowinggrass.Afterhighschool,heworkedindeepminesandstripmines,droveaneighteenwheeler,operatedafrontendloader,andworkedparttimeasasecurityguard.Hehasa diplomaasaresidentialelectrician.Atthetimeoftheinjury,hewascleaningaroundabeltdriveatthemine.Hepickeduprockthathadspilledandfeltpainhisback.HewashurtonThursday,stayedoffonFriday,andwentbacktoworkonSaturdaywithlimitations.Thedoctorfoundaruptureddisc.EventhoughMr.Phillipshadpainwhileworking,hewentbacktothedeepminebecause itwashisjob.Hewasgivenrestrictionsoflifting20poundsfrequentlyand40poundsoccasionally.Hecouldnotworkundergroundwiththoserestrictions.Hewasbuildingahouseforhimselfbeforetheinjurythatledtothisclaim.Heisnotabletoworkaroundhishousenow,andisunabletodoanythingathomeafterworkbutsitinarecliner. I!    XXXXXXXX    3 P p x (#X3XXXXXXXX       P Sixmonthsafterthemineclosed,hegotajobdrivingatruckat$8perhour.At (!$ themine,heearned$13.25perhour.Hehasnewrestrictionsofsittingnomorethanfourtosixhoursperdayforonlyonetotwohoursatatime.Hetestifiedthathisbackisgettingworse.&    XXXXXXXX$ XP X$     ` Dr.WilliamKevinBaileytestifiedthathediagnosedlumbarstrainwith onedisc H0@), thatwasperhapsmoreofalargebulgeifnotasmallherniateddiscattheL4,L5level,whichisthesecondtothelastdiscinthelowerback.Heassessedapermanentmedicalimpairmentoffivepercenttothebodyandimposedrestrictionsoflifting20poundswithfrequencyand40to50poundsmaximum,anddecreasedstooping,standing,twistingandbending.Dr.GeronBrown,Jr.sawMr.PhillipsforanindependentmedicalexaminationandconcurredwithDr.Bailey. ;48   3 P p x (#X3XXXXXXXX       P RodneyCaldwell,thevocationalconsultant,testifiedthatMr.Phillipshada45  percentvocationaldisability.+    XXXXXXXX$ XP X$  &    3 P p x (#X3XXXXXXXX       TheTennesseeCoalCompany 5.   v-##    XXXXXXXX$ XP X$' -     XXXXXXXX         ` TheTennesseeCoalCompanyclosedtheminewhereMr.FordandMr.Phillips   workedonAugust5,1997.Allemployeeswerepaid60daysseverancepaythroughOctober5,1997. o/    XXXXXXXX  &    3 P p x (#X3XXXXXXXX       StandardofReview 1 H@  >1 ##    XXXXXXXX$ XP X$'HN1     ` Appellatereviewinaworkerscompensationcaseisdenovoupontherecord (  withapresumptionthatthefindingsofthetrialcourtarecorrect.Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2)(1991andSupp.1997).Whereaquestionoflawispresented,asinthiscase,appellatereviewisdenovowithoutapresumptionofcorrectness.Parksv.Mun.League  RiskManagementPool,974S.W.2d677,678(Tenn.1998)(citingPresleyv.Bennett,  860S.W.2d857(Tenn.1993).&    3 P p x (#X3XXXXXXXX       Analysis 96 h` z5 ##    XXXXXXXX$ XP X$'h5     ` ThepertinentprovisionsofTennesseeCodeAnnotatedSection506241provide H!@ asfollows:  6" ` P p x (#X6XXXXXXXX      0 `  P (a)(1)...(I)ncaseswhereaninjuredemployeeiseligibletoreceiveany %  permanentpartialdisabilitybenefits...andthepreinjuryemployerreturnstheemployeetoemploymentatawageequaltoorgreaterthanthewagetheemployeewasreceivingatthetimeoftheinjury,themaximumpermanentpartialdisabilityawardthattheemployeemayreceiveistwoandonehalf(2)timesthemedicalimpairmentrating... ` (#` (# 7    XXXXXXXX' X` P X'    9% ` P hp x (#X90 `  P  h *  * p   *   x *H0@),` (#` (#    XXXXXXXX        B" ` P p x (#` P hXB0 `  P (b)...(W)hereaninjuredemployeeiseligibletoreceivepermanentpartial (2 +. disabilitybenefits...andthepreinjuryemployerdoesnotreturntheemployeetoemploymentatawageequaltoorgreaterthanthewagetheemployeewasreceivingatthetimeoftheinjury,themaximumpermanentpartialdisabilityawardthattheemployeemayreceiveissix(6)timesthemedicalimpairmentrating... ` (#` (#  ;    XXXXXXXX    0 ` ;48` (#` (#   < P p x (#` P X<ӀTheseprovisionshavebeenconsideredandaddressedbytheSupremeCourtandbySpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanels.InMiddletonv.AlleghenyElec.Co.,Inc.,  897S.W.2d695(Tenn.1995),thepanelfoundSection506241tobeclear,plainandunambiguous.InNewtonv.ScottHealthCareCenter,914S.W.2d884(Tenn.1995),the   panelheld(1)theofferoftheemployertoreturntheemployeetoemploymentmustbereasonableinlightofthecircumstancesoftheemployeesphysicalabilitytoperformtheofferedemployment,and(2)anemployeesrefusaltoreturntoofferedworkmustnotbeunreasonable.InBrownv.CampbellCountyBd.OfEduc.,915S.W.2d407(Tenn.1995) (  cert.denied,517U.S.1222,116S.Ct.1852,134L.Ed2d952(1996),theTennesseeSupremeCourt,consideringtheconstitutionalityoftheprovisions,said: Reemploymentofinjuredworkersisalegitimatestateobjectivewhichjustifiesthedistinctionbetweenthoseinjuredemployeeswhoarereturnedtoworkandthosewhoarenot.Thedistinctionhasarationalbasis.InDavisv.Reagan,951S.W.2d766(Tenn.1997),theSupremeCourt  foundthelanguageofSection506241tobeunambiguousandtoapplyonlytocasesofpermanentpartialdisabilitytothebody.Finally,inBrewerv.LincolnBrassWorks,Inc., H!@ ___S.W.2d___(Tenn.1999),(opinionfiledApril12,1999designatedforpublication),theSupremeCourtnotedthataworkersawardiscappedattwoandonehalftimesthemedicalimpairmentifheorsheisreturnedtoworkatawageequaltoorgreaterthanthewageatthetimeoftheinjury. If,however,theemployersattemptstoaccommodateaninjuredworkerbecomefutile,theworkermayfileforincreasedbenefitsunderTenn.CodeAnn.241(a)(2).Pursuantto241(a)(2),acourtmayenlargeaworkerscompensationawardthatwaspreviouslycappedbythe2.5multiplierin241(a)(1).Id. h.`'* ЀTheemployerwouldhavethisCourtapplythe twoandonehalfcapwhenanemployermakesanefforttoreturntheemployeetoworkatthesameorgreaterwagebuttheneliminatesthejobforeconomicreasons. Abasicprincipleofstatutoryconstructionistoascertainandgiveeffecttolegislativeintentwithoutundulyrestrictingorexpandingtheintendedscopeofastatute.Parks,974S.W.2dat679(citingOwensv.State,908S.W.2d 704 923(Tenn.1995)).Section506241imposesthelimitationonanemployeewhoactuallyisreturnedtowork.Neitherthestatutenorthecasesconstruingthestatuterewardan ;48 employerandpenalizetheemployeebasedontheemployersgoodintentions.Inthepresentcases,theemployeeswerereturnedtoworkatthesameorgreaterwages,buttheirjobswereeliminatedbeforethetrialoftheirclaimsforworkerscompensationbenefits.Underthesecircumstances,theplainlanguageofthestatutedoesnotcapthepermanentpartialdisabilityattwoandonehalftimesthemedicalimpairmentrating.̀Theemployerassertsthatthetrialcourtfailedtofind,asrequiredbySection506242,thatclearandconvincingevidenceestablishedthreeofthefollowingfacts:(a)theemployeelacksahighschooldiplomaorequivalent,(b)theemployeeis55orolder,(c)theemployeelacksreasonablytransferablejobskills,(d)therearenoreasonablelocalemploymentopportunitiesconsideringtheemployeespermanentmedicalcondition.TheprovisionsofSection506242applyonlywhentheactualdisabilityexceedsthesixtimescapsetoutin506241.Davisv.Reagan,supra.Inthepresentcases,thetrialcourtdidnotawardmore  thansixtimesthemedicalimpairmentrating.  E+ ` hp x (#P XEXX `     h   XXConclusion h`   3 P p x (#X3XXXXXXXX      E+ ` hp x (#P XE ` Weholdthetrialcourtdidnoterrinawardingmorethantwoandonehalftimesthe H!@ medicalimpairmentratingwhentheemployerinitiallyreturnedtheinjuredemployeestoworkbut,then,terminatedthemwhenitclosedtheminewheretheyworked.WefurtherholdthattheprovisionsofTennesseeCodeAnnotatedSection506242donotapplytocasesofpermanentpartialdisabilitywhenthetrialcourtawardslessthansixtimesthemedicalimpairmentrating.Theactionsofthetrialcourtareaffirmedandthesecasesareremandedforallappropriatepurposes.CostsonappealaretaxedtotheAppellant..P    XXXXXXXX XX    ̀______________________________ `     h      p HowellN.Peoples,SpecialJudgeConcur:_______________________________̀WilliamM.Barker,Justice________________________________ ;48 ЀJoeC.Loser,Jr.,SpecialJudge   ` @DINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE@ff)DATKNOXVILLE    h      p      x     h      p     , @,  `  `     h      p     ERNESTRODNEYFORD,    )ANDERSONCIRCUIT      h     ) p No.97LA0192 xp  Ҁ PlaintiffAppellee,    ) p      x   h`   XX 0  0h8"8"0h8"h8"08"8") p No.03S019806CV00060 XP 8"8" v.    h   0  )H@ 8"8"     h     ) p  80  RUBBERMAID,etal.    )0 p JamesB.Scott,Jr. x   @  @  @ ( p8"p8"     h     )Judge Defendant/Appellant,    )      h     ) p   ODISE.PHILLIPS h     ) p      x        h     ) p No.03S019806CV00061   ...l*6&"h 8 `E"tt06Zl ` Z` Z` 8"` 8". PlaintiffAppellee,)        h      p    0(  )    THETENNESSEECOALCOMPANY,) DefendantAppellant.    ) h`  ` 8"` 8"` Z` Z @FF'JUDGMENTORDER ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferraltotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel'smemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference; Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthatthememorandumOpinionofthePanelshouldbeacceptedandapproved;and Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactsandconclusionsoflawareadoptedandaffirmedandthedecisionofthePanelismadetheJudgmentoftheCourt. CostsonappealaretaxedtotheAppellant,TheTennesseeCoalCompanyandRobertKnolton,surety,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary.̀06/2 9 !8!/99" ;4D Ї"