ÿWPC* …# VU:a %› 0û¡ œ w@¢ 4â ö  0? 0DL 0J 0TÚ 0^. 0hŒ 0rô 0|f 0†â 0h 1uø 0dm BÑU *îB)DCA AM„¨Ñ D3yê¬ß– 0@uÁµ›vv~!vÓ" AOb(Ʊ( 0Dw) D/») Bê)˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 , øð AZ‹"Arial RegularX(Óý,$¡¡Ñ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÔ€XûXXXÔÑ7€>‚XXdðXXdð7ÑHR ÂDÃDÄDÅUÆDÇUÈUÉUÊDËÓ€·‚^!­ÔôlX3|xÖ(ï(3\$¤¤Ý ƒý,!ÝÑ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÔ€X–XXXÔÑ7€–XXdædæ7ÑÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 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 d< Œ 9p`(Arial% Line 7 d&&&&7Border 1dd€-'Cþÿ << Gÿÿ žÝ ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÔ€%ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€%XÔÌÌò òNovemberÏ20,Ï1996ÌÌCecilÏCrowson,ÏJr.ÌÔ€%ôÔAppellateÏCourtÏClerkó ó$$$$'ÿÿdxd àÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝDr.€Cooper,€the€psychologist,€saw€the€plaintiff€on€March€31,€1994,€on€aÏreferral€from€Dr.€McGowan.€€He€specializes€in€the€treatment€of€patients€whoÏcomplain€of€pain.€€He€testified€that€the€plaintiff€had€no€psychological€restrictions€onÏemployment€nor€any€long„term€psychotic€problems.€€Following€the€initial€visit,€theÏplaintiff€returned€to€commence€a€prescribed€course€of€treatment€and€ð ðwalked€outððÏafter€fifteen€minutes.Ì ÕÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝDr.€Coyle€testified€that€the€current€edition€of€the€òòGuidelinesóó€made€noÏprovision€for€a€percentage€rating€of€impairment€for€psychiatric€problems.€€HisÏassessment€of€the€plaintiffððs€impairment€ð ðaccording€to€the€militaryðð€was€75€percent,Ïattributable€to€major€depression.€€Whether€the€military€standard€is€recognized€asÏacceptable€in€the€civilian€community€was€not€inquired€into.€€òòTenn.€Code€Ann.€ððóó€50„6„241(a)(1).€€Dr.€Coyle€conceded€that€he€might€change€his€opinion€if€it€developed€thatÏthe€plaintiff€was,€in€fact,€engaged€in€work€or€activities€that€he€testified€he€was€unableÏto€do.€€The€plaintiff€was€videotaped€working€on€his€car€on€June€28,€1995.Ì("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò ·Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€plaintiff€presents€as€an€issue€whether€the€Court€should€have€found€himÏto€be€totally€and€permanently€vocationally€disabled€as€contrasted€to€a€finding€of€85Ïpercent€permanent€partial€disability.€€The€award€was€principally€based€on€theÏplaintiffððs€mental€state.€€The€defendant€concedes€the€occurrence€of€the€accident,€butÏdenies€that€the€plaintiff€is€disabled€to€the€extent€alleged.Ì ‘Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝSee,€òòWheatly›€v.€Camden€Casting€Center,€óó1995€WL€572077,€No.€œ02S01›„9503„CV„00025;€òòNewton€v.€Scott€Health€Care€Center,€óó1995€WL€746637,€No.Ï01S01„9502„CV„00025;€òòBrown€v.€Campbell€County€Board€of€Education,€óó1995€WLÏ765041,€No.€03S01„9412„CH„00121;€òòBailey€v.€œKrueger›€œRingier›,€Inc.,€óó1995€WLÏ572056,€No.€œ20S01›„9409„CH„00061.ÌPtPtHHøHÿöÿòV,(ühhØ hd'0ÿÎÿºF ® Styl{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  BA Op Geneva ÒÒ  BA Op Geneva Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€%ÔÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ#€Xd#ÑÑ#€Xd#ÑÝ  ÝÙ€€ÙÑ  ÑÔ% € ÔßL€()';+'h|` à. `€€Lß›à@ àò òIN€THE€SUPREMEÏCOURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àSPECIAL€WORKERS'ÏCOMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌà@ àAT€KNOXVILLEÏSEPTEMBER€1996€SESSIONó óÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌTERRY€HAMBRICK,à àà àà à)à àUNICOIÏCHANCERYÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌà àPlaintiff/Appellantà àà àà à)à àNO.Ï03S01„9603„„CH„00030Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌv.à àà àà àà àà àà à)à àHON.ÏTHOMAS€J.€SEELEY,€JR.Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àJUDGEà àÌVECELLIO€&€GROGAN,€INC.,à àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àDefendant/Appelleeà àà à)ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌò òòòFor€the€Appellant:à àà àà àà àFor€theÏAppellee:ÌÌó óóóSteven€C.€Roseà àà àà àà àHowell€H.ÏSherrod,€Jr.ÌWEST€&€ROSEà àà àà àà àSHERROD,ÏSTANLEY,€LINCOLN€&Ì537€E.€CenterÏStreetà àà àà àà àGOLDSTEINÌP.€O.€Box€1404à àà àà àà à249€East€MainÏStreetÌKingsport,€TN€37662à àà àà àJohnson€City,ÏTN€37604„5707ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ  Óò òòòM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NÌÓ  ÓÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓMembers€of€Panel:ÌÌóóó óE.€Riley€Anderson,€JusticeÌJohn€K.€Byers,€Senior€JudgeÌÓ  Óà@ àà@ àWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌMODIFIEDà àà àà àà àà àà àINMAN,€Senior€JudgeÌÌÓÓà àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€SpecialÏWorkers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€withÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€CourtÏof€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€Ìà àThe€plaintiff€drove€a€heavy€truck€for€the€defendantððs€construction€firm.€€WhenÏasked€to€tell€the€Court€ð ðwhat€happened€when€you€got€hurt,ðð€he€replied:ÌÒ  ÒÒ  ÒÓÓWell€I€was€backing€up€to€get€loaded€and€the€loader€operator€pickedÏone,€a€big€old€rock€up€and€he€went€to€put€it€in€the€bed€of€the€truckÏand€when€he€did,€he€started€to€let€it€down€and€the€rock€just€comeÏout€all€at€once.€€And€when€it€did,€it€just€rattled,€you€know,€just€shookÏthe€truck€around€and€around.ÌÌÒ ½ ÒÒ „ ÒÓÓà àThe€accident€occurred€August€4,€1993.€€He€was€seen€by€Dr.€JudsonÏMcGowan,€an€orthopedic€specialist,€on€August€10,€œ1993,›€complaining€of€neck€andÏthoracic€spine€pain.€€His€condition€was€diagnosed€as€acute€cervical€lumbar€strainÏwhich€was€treated€conservatively€over€many€months€involving€sophisticated€testingÏprocedures€and€referrals€to€specialists€in€other€disciplines,€some€of€whom€believedÏthe€plaintiff€had€a€psychological€overlay€with€magnification€of€symptoms.€€Dr.ÏMcGowan€testified€œthat€›€ð ðthis€patient€is€heading€toward€the€road€of€a€chronic€painÏsyndrome,ðð€that€he€had€a€five€to€ten€percent€impairment,€and€œthat€he€was›€able€toÏreturn€to€lighter€work.Ìà àDr.€Stephen€Kimbrough,€a€neurologist,€saw€the€plaintiff€on€February€9,€1993,Ïfor€the€evaluation€of€neck€and€arm€pain.€€He€found€no€nerve€involvement€and€little€orÏno€pathology.€€He€believed€that€the€plaintiff€had€some€pain€but€ð ðfelt€that€it€wasÏsomewhat€exaggerated€and€there€was€some€overlay€to€the€pain€as€well.ðð€€Like€Dr.ÏMcGowan,€he€thought€the€plaintiff€was€likely€a€candidate€for€chronic€pain€syndrome,Ïand€that€he€exaggerated€his€symptomatology.€€He€expressed€no€opinion€aboutÏimpairment,€but€felt€that€he€could€return€to€work.Ìà àDr.€Paul€Brown,€a€specialist€in€internal€medicine€and€cardiology,€testified€thatÏhe€had€treated€the€plaintiff€for€a€number€of€years€for€various€illnesses,€one€of€whichÏwas€hypertension€which€he€attributed€in€part€to€pain,€but€he€declined€to€referenceÏthe€hypertension€to€the€accident€and€expressed€no€opinion€about€impairment.Ìà àDr.€Marcus€Cooper,€a€psychologist,× ƒ+ ××  ×€testified€that€the€plaintiff€had€some€œpain›Ïand€was€showing€signs€of€depression,€but€nothing€major.€€He€said€the€plaintiff€had€aÏlow€energy€level,€hedonism€(avoidance€of€pain),€lack€of€sexual€interest,€withdrawalÏand€social€isolation.€€He€expressed€no€opinion€about€impairment.Ìà àDr.€Susan€Taub,€also€a€psychologist,€testified€that€she€saw€the€plaintiff€inÏœOctober›€œ1994,›€when€he€weighed€300€pounds,€and€ð ðfound€him€to€be€depressed.ððÌà àDr.€Richard€Coyle,€a€psychiatrist,€saw€the€plaintiff€on€one€occasion€forÏevaluation€purposes.€€His€diagnosis€was€œsomatoform›€pain€disorder,€meaning€thatÏhe€has€complaints€of€pain€in€everything€he€does.€€Dr.€Coyle€testified€that€ð ðif€youððreÏmaking€a€guess€the€idea€of€marked€impairment€is€probably€on€the€order€of€75Ïpercent.ðð× ƒ, ××  ×€€He€agreed€that€the€prospect€of€a€monetary€payment€would€affectÏrecovery€and€that€the€plaintiff€would€ð ðlikely€have€no€work€impairment€if€he€wereÏactively€working.ððÌà àOfficials€of€the€defendant€testified€that€a€certified€letter€was€mailed€to€theÏplaintiff€offering€him€continued€employment€as€a€signalman€which€required€littleÏeffort,€at€the€same€wage€he€was€previously€earning.€€This€fact€is€not€controverted.Ìà àThe€expert€testimony€in€this€case€covers€260€pages€and€involves€six€experts,Ïsome€of€whose€œtestimony€is€redundant€and€speculative.›€€Dr.€œNorman€Hankins›Ïtestified€that€the€plaintiff€had€no€transferrable€skills€and€no€reasonable€employmentÏopportunities.€€In€his€opinion€the€plaintiff€was€100€percent€vocationally€disabled.€€WeÏtend€to€discount€this€testimony€œbecause€it€runs€counter€to€preponderant€proof.›€ÏAnother€vocational€expert,€Dr.€Colvin,€opined€that€the€plaintiff€was€25€percentÏoccupationally€disabled.Ìà àThe€trial€judge€found,€òòinter€œalia,óó›€that€the€ð ðplaintiffððs€motivation€to€work€and€toÏrehabilitate€himself€is€close€to€non„existent;ðð€that€he€ð ðdoes€nothing€but€watchÏtelevision€and€sit€on€the€porch€and€sleep;ðð€that€ð ðhe€could€have€done€the€signalmanððsÏjobðð€which€his€employer€offered€him,€and€that€he€has€a€permanent€partial€disabilityÏof€85€percent€to€his€whole€body.× ƒ. ××  ×Ìà àThe€defendant€appeals,€questioning€whether€the€evidence€generallyÏsupports€a€finding€of€85€percent€permanent€partial€disability,€and€whether€theÏmaximum€award€is€two€and€one„half€times€the€medical€rating€since€the€employerÍoffered€to€return€the€plaintiff€to€employment€at€a€wage€equal€to€or€greater€than€theÏwage€he€was€receiving€prior€to€injury.Ìà àOur€review€of€the€findings€of€fact€made€by€the€trial€court€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€theÏrecord€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€theÏfinding,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€òòTenn.€Code€Ann.€ððóóÏ50„6„225(3)(2).€€òòStone€v.€City€of€œMcMinnville›,€óó896€S.W.2d€584€(Tenn.€1991).€€ThisÏCourt€is€able€to€make€its€own€independent€assessment€of€the€medical€proof€toÏdetermine€where€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€lies€when€the€medicalÏtestimony€is€presented€by€deposition.€òòLanders€v.€Firemanððs€Fund€œIns›.€Co.,€óó775ÏS.W.2d€355€(Tenn.€1989.)€€We€are€required€to€œweigh›€in€more€depth€the€factualÏfindings€and€conclusions€of€trial€judges€in€workersðð€compensation€cases.€€òòHumphreyÏv.€David€œWitherspoon›,€Inc.,€óó734€S.W.2d€315€(Tenn.€1987).Ìà àThe€treating€physician€recommended€that€the€plaintiff€return€to€work.€€Dr.ÏMcGowan€testified:€ð ðTo€put€it€quite€frank,€I€think€he€was€maybe€happy€to€go€on€theÏporch.€€However,€literally€going€and€sitting€on€the€porch€with€the€kind€of€condition€heÏhas€will€tend€to€dramatically€exacerbate€the€patientððs€symptoms.€€In€other€words,Ïsitting€and€€taking€it€easy€will€not€make€this€man€better.€€In€fact,€it€will€make€hisÏsymptoms€worse.ðð€€The€plaintiff€was€offered€lighter€work€at€the€same€wage;€the€trialÏcourt€found€that€the€plaintiff€ð ðcould€have€done€the€signalmanððs€jobðð€and€ð ðI€think€thereÏare€other€jobs€that€he€can€do.ðð€€These€stark€findings,€fully€supported,€essentiallyÏforeclose€the€issue,€in€our€judgment,€especially€when€superimposed€upon€the€trialÏcourtððs€finding€that€ð ðthe€plaintiffððs€motivation€to€work€and€to€rehabilitate€himself€isÏclose€to€œnon„existent.ðð›Ìà àWe€have€held€in€a€number€of€cases€that€the€disability€multiplier€caps€providedÏby€òòTenn.€Code€Ann.€ððóó€50„6„241€should€be€applied€where€the€injured€employee€wasÏoffered€a€different€position€at€the€same€wage€but€unreasonably€refused€to€work.œ× ƒ/ ××  ×›€€Ìà àIt€is€abundantly€clear€in€this€record€that,€as€the€trial€judge€plainly€found,€theÏplaintiff€was€able€to€but€was€not€motivated€to€work.€€His€refusal€to€do€so€wasÏmanifestly€unreasonable,€and€under€òòTenn.€Code€Ann.€ððóó59„6„241(a)(1)€his€disabilityÏmust€be€limited€to€two€and€one„half€times€the€medical€impairment€rating€of€tenÏpercent.€€We€find€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€judgment€as€entered€andÏin€favor€of€a€finding€of€25€percent€permanent€partial€disability.Ìà àThe€judgment€is€accordingly€modified,€with€costs€to€the€appellee.ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà à__________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ_____________________________ÌE.€Riley€Anderson,€Chief€JusticeÌÌÌÌ_____________________________ÌJohn€K.€Byers,€Senior€JudgeÌÌÌà àà àà àà àœÇà àà àà àÌà àà àà àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà àà àà àà à€€€€€€€€€€AT€KNOXVILLEÌÌÌÌÌTERRY€HAMBRICK€€€€€€€€€€€€€à àà à€)à àUNICOI€CHANCERYà àà àà àà àà àà à€à à€à à€)€à àà àÌà àPlaintiff„Appellant,à àà àà à€)à àNo.€5723Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€)à àNo.€03S01„9603„CH„00030Ìvs.à àà àà àà àà àà à€)à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€)à àHon.€à àThomas€J.€Seeley,€Jr.Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€)à àChancellorÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€)ÌVECELLIO€&€GROGAN,€INC.€€€€à àà à€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€)à àÌà àDefendant„Appellee.à àà à€à à€)à àMODIFIEDÌà àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€Ìà àà àà àà à€€€€€€€€JUDGMENT€ORDERÌÌÌà àà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€theÏorder€ÌÌof€referral€to€the€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panelððs€ÌÌMemorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€whichÏare€ÌÌincorporated€herein€by€reference;ÌÌà àà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€Opinion€ofÏthe€ÌÌPanel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andIt€it,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€ÌÌfindings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€ofÏthe€ÌÌPanel€is€made€the€Judgment€of€the€Court.ÌÌÌà àà àCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€defendant/appellee,€Vecellio€&ÏGrogan,€ÌÌInc.,€for€which€€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.€ÌÌÌ11/20/96ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌ€à àà à€€à àà àà àÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌ€à àà à€€›