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ÔÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ\R AØ'\ÑÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÒ  ÒÒ 8 ÒÖ€+ÖÑ  ÑÔ&  ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÖ€,ÖÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÔ€¼ÔÔ€ÔÞ ÞÌIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌÙ€!ÙßR€/0.A1-j|‚¥` ç `€€@ÿRßSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÌAT€NASHVILLEÌ(June€9,€1997€Session)ÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓCAMILLE€GAINES,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€à à)€€€€€DAVIDSON€CIRCUITÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€ôÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€€à à)Ìà àPlaintiff„Appellee,€€€€à àà à)€€€€€Hon.€Thomas€W.€Brothers,Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à à)€€€€€Judge.Ìv.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à à)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à à)€€€€€No.€01S01„9701„CV„00015ÌAMERICAN€AIRLINES,€INC.,€€€€€€€€€à à)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à à)Ìà àDefendant„Appellant.€Ô€ôÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€à àà à)à àÌÌÌÌÌòòFor€Appellantóó:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à àòòFor€Appellee:óóÌÌJonathan€Coleà àà àà àà àWilliam€B.€Jakes,€III€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€XÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€€€€Ïà àBaker,€Donelson,€Bearmanà àà àHowell€&€FisherÌ€&€Caldwellà àà àà àà àNashville,€TennesseeÌNashville,€TennesseeÌÌÌÌÌòòÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÌÌÌÌÌòòMembers€of€Panelóó:ÌÌAdolpho€A.€Birch,€Jr.,€Chief€Justice,€Supreme€CourtÌRobert€S.€Brandt,€Senior€JudgeÌÔ'  ÔJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓAFFIRMED€AS€MODIFIED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Loser,ÏJudgeÓ ¹ ÓÌòòÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓMEMORANDUM€OPINIONóóÓ rAÓÌÓ€ÓÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓà àà àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€theÏSpecial€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€inÏaccordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€andÏreporting€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€In€this€appeal,€theÏemployer€contends€(1)€the€trial€court€erred€in€calculating€the€claimant'sÏaverage€weekly€wage,€(2)€the€trial€court€erred€in€awarding€permanentÏpartial€disability€benefits€in€excess€of€two€and€one„half€times€her€medicalÏimpairment€rating€and€(3)€the€trial€court€erred€in€awarding€benefits€forÏhypertension.€€The€employee€contends€(4)€the€trial€court€erred€in€allowingÏthe€employer€credit€for€certain€temporary€total€disability€benefits€and€(5)Ïthe€appeal€is€frivolous.€€As€discussed€below,€the€panel€has€concluded€theÏjudgment€should€be€modified€as€to€the€claimant's€average€weekly€wage,€butÏotherwise€affirmed.Ìà àà àThe€employee€or€claimant,€Gaines,€worked€as€a€flight€attendantÏfor€American€Eagle,€the€employer.€€On€September€13,€1993,€she€injured€herÏback€and€neck€when,€as€she€was€performing€her€duties€on€a€flight€fromÍNashville€to€Asheville,€North€Carolina,€the€aircraft€encountered€extremeÏturbulence.€€She€was€thrown€about€in€the€cabin,€causing€the€injuries.€€AfterÏreceiving€medical€care€and€a€period€of€recuperation€she€returned€to€workÏbut€later€quit€because€her€residual€disability€rendered€her€unable€to€performÏher€work€without€disabling€pain.Ìà àà àAfter€a€trial€on€the€merits,€the€trial€court€found€the€employee'sÏaverage€weekly€wage€to€be€$292.76€and€awarded€permanent€partialÏdisability€benefits€based€on€forty€percent€(40%)€to€the€body€as€a€whole€andÏtemporary€total€disability€benefits€for€twenty„six€(26)€weeks.€€The€trialÏcourt€allowed€the€employer€a€credit€in€the€sum€of€$3,361.80€for€overpaidÏtemporary€total€disability€benefits.€€Appellate€review€is€de€novo€upon€theÏrecord€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctness€ofÏthe€findings€of€fact,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€ÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„225(e)(2).€€Conclusions€of€law€are€reviewedÏde€novo€without€any€presumption€of€correctness.€€òòWingert€v.€GovernmentÏof€Sumner€Countyóó,€908€€S.W.2d€€921€(Tenn.€1995).ÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓ(1)ÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓà àà àDisability€benefits€are€computed€on€a€weekly€basis€and,€subjectÏto€maximum€and€minimum€amounts€fixed€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„207,€are€based€on€a€percentage€of€the€employee's€average€weekly€wages,€orÏthe€earnings€of€the€injured€employee€in€the€employment€in€which€he€wasÏworking€at€the€time€of€the€injury€during€the€fifty„two€weeks€immediatelyÍpreceding€the€date€of€the€injury,€divided€by€fifty„two.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ïsection€50„6„102(a)(1)(A).€€Earnings,€for€the€purpose€of€computing€anÏinjured€employee's€average€weekly€wage,€include€anything€received€by€theÏemployee€under€the€terms€of€his€employment€contract€from€which€heÏrealizes€economic€gain.€€òòP.€&€L.€Construction€Company€v.€Lankfordóó,€559€ÏS.W.2d€€793€(Tenn.€1978).Ìà àà àThe€claimant's€compensation€includes€an€hourly€wage€forÏseventy€hours€a€month€plus€a€per€diem€of€one€dollar€($1.00)€per€hour€forÏeach€hour€of€overnight€travel.€€There€is€conflicting€testimony€as€to€whetherÏthe€claimant€realizes€an€economic€gain€from€the€per€diem.€€Taxes€areÏapparently€not€withheld€from€it€and€the€claimant€does€not€report€it€asÏincome€to€Internal€Revenue€Service.€€Notwithstanding€that,€the€claimantÏinsisted€to€the€trial€court€that€it€did€indeed€amount€to€economic€gain.€€TheÏemployer's€payroll€records€reflect€claimant's€total€wages,€not€including€theÏper€diem,€to€be€$10,550.19€for€the€fifty„two€weeks€immediately€precedingÏthe€injury.€€The€employer€offered€proof€that€the€per€diem€is€intended€as€anÏexpense€reimbursement€and,€on€cross„examination,€the€claimant€agreed.Ìà àà àFrom€our€independent€examination€of€the€evidence,€the€panelÏfinds€the€evidence€to€preponderate€against€the€trial€court's€finding€and€inÏfavor€of€a€finding€of€an€average€weekly€wage€of€$202.89€($10,550.19Ïdivided€by€52).€€The€judgment€is€modified€accordingly€and€the€employee'sÏcompensation€rate€is€consequently€reduced€to€$135.26€per€week€(66€2/3%Ïtimes€$202.89).ÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓ(2)€and€(3)ÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓà àà àFor€injuries€occurring€on€or€after€August€1,€1992,€in€casesÏwhere€an€injured€worker€is€entitled€to€permanent€partial€disability€benefitsÏto€the€body€as€a€whole,€as€is€the€case€here,€and€the€pre„injury€employerÏreturns€the€employee€to€employment€at€a€wage€equal€to€or€greater€than€theÏwage€the€employee€was€receiving€at€the€time€of€the€injury,€the€maximumÏpermanent€partial€disability€award€that€the€employee€may€receive€is€two€andÏone„half€times€the€medical€impairment€rating.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„241(a)(1).Ìà àà àIf€the€offer€from€the€employer€is€not€reasonable€in€light€of€theÏcircumstances€of€the€employee's€physical€disability€to€perform€the€offeredÏemployment,€then€the€offer€of€employment€is€not€meaningful€and€the€injuredÏemployee€may€receive€disability€benefits€up€to€six€times€the€medicalÏimpairment.€€òòNewton€v.€Scott€Health€Careóó,€914€€S.W.2d€€884€(Tenn.€1995).€ÏOn€the€other€hand,€an€employee€will€be€limited€to€disability€benefits€of€notÏmore€than€two€and€one„half€times€the€medical€impairment€if€his€refusal€toÏreturn€to€offered€work€is€unreasonable.€€òòId.óóÌà àà àMs.€Gaines€was€totally€disabled€for€a€period€of€twenty„sixÏweeks€following€her€injury,€then€returned€to€work€but€was€forced€to€quitÏbecause€of€severe€pain,€on€the€advice€of€her€treating€physician.€€She€was€notÏoffered€a€different€position€until€a€few€days€before€the€trial.€€Under€suchÏcircumstances,€the€panel€finds€her€return€to€work€after€twenty„six€weeks€wasÍnot€meaningful€and€her€rejection€of€the€eve€of€trial€offer€was€notÏunreasonable.€€The€two€and€one„half€multiplier€is€inapplicable.Ìà àà àIn€making€determinations€as€to€the€extent€of€a€claimant'sÏdisability,€the€courts€are€to€consider€all€pertinent€factors,€including€lay€andÏexpert€testimony,€the€employee's€age,€education,€skills€and€training,€local€jobÏopportunities€for€the€disabled,€and€capacity€to€work€at€types€of€employmentÏavailable€in€the€claimant's€disabled€condition,€as€well€as€anatomicalÏimpairment.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„241(a)(1).€€Ms.€Gaines€is€fifty„nine€years€old€and€has€some€college€but€no€degree.Ìà àà àShe€has€a€total€permanent€impairment€of€ten€percent€to€the€bodyÏas€a€whole€from€the€uncontradicted€medical€proof,€including€five€percent€toÏher€back€and€an€additional€five€percent€for€hypertension€which€her€familyÏphysician€testified€had€its€origin€in€the€work„related€accident.€€The€employerÏoffered€no€countervailing€medical€evidence.Ìà àà àFrom€a€deliberate€consideration€of€all€the€circumstances,€theÏpanel€finds€that€the€evidence€fails€to€preponderate€against€the€trial€court'sÏaward€of€permanent€partial€disability€benefits€based€on€forty€percent€to€theÏbody€as€a€whole.€€The€award€is€affirmed.ÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓ(4)ÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓà àà àFor€her€period€of€temporary€total€disability,€the€claimantÏreceived€disability€benefits€totaling€$3,361.80€more€than€the€amount€toÏwhich€she€was€entitled,€according€to€a€document€admitted€in€evidence€overÏthe€claimant's€hearsay€objection.€€We€find€no€error€by€the€trial€judge€inÏadmitting€the€document.€€The€credit€for€overpaid€temporary€total€disabilityÏbenefits€is€accordingly€affirmed.ÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓ(5)ÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓà àà àWhen€it€appears€that€an€appeal€in€a€workers'€compensation€caseÏis€frivolous€or€taken€solely€for€the€purpose€of€delay,€the€reviewing€tribunalÏmay,€upon€motion€of€either€party€or€on€its€own€initiative,€award€damagesÏagainst€the€appellant€and€in€favor€of€the€appellee€without€remand,€for€aÏliquidated€amount.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„225(i).€€This€does€notÏappear€to€be€a€proper€case€for€such€an€award.Ìà àà àAs€modified€with€respect€to€the€claimant's€compensation€rate,Ïthe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€Costs€to€be€paid€byÏDefendant/Appellant.ÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓ_______________________________Ó ÓÌÓ  Ó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Joe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓCONCUR:ÌÌ_________________________________ÌAdolpho€A.€Birch,€Jr.,€Chief€JusticeÌÌ_________________________________ÌRobert€S.€Brandt,€Special€JudgeÑ€1ÑÇÒ  ÒÒ £ ÒòòÓÓßJ€/2;+'b|` ç `€@ÿJßà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌÌCAMILLE€GAINES,à àà àà à}à àDAVIDSON€CIRCUITÌà àà àà àà àà àà à}à àNo.€94C„97€BelowÌà àPlaintiff/Appelleeà àà àà à}Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à}à àHon.€Thomas€W.€Brothers,Ìvs.à àà àà àà àà àà à}à àJudgeÌà àà àà àà àà àà à}ÌAMERICAN€AIRLINES,à àà àà à}à àNo.€01S01„9701„CV„00015Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à}Ìà àDefendant/Appellantà àà à}à àAFFIRMED€AS€MODIFIED.ÌÌÌà@ àJUDGMENT€ORDERÌÌÌÓ€Óà àà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€theÏorder€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€theÏPanel's€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusionsÏof€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference.Ìà àà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€OpinionÏof€the€Panel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌà àà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€isÏmade€the€judgment€of€the€Court.ÌÓ ` ` šXÓà àà àCosts€will€be€paid€by€Defendant/Appellant€and€Surety,€for€whichÏexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ìà àà àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€on€August€28,€1997.ÌÓÓÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌóóÌÌÌ