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XX8XXXXXXXX        hX  1       XXXXXX  ݀TheclaimanttestifiedthatSt.Thomasrefusedtotreathimbecausehedidnothaveany  identification,butperformedaCTscanwhenhereturnedanddemandedit.XX3|x<\  `*Times New RomanTTC\  P6QP\  `*Times New RomanTTXXP\  P6QXP\  `*Times New RomanTT^\  P6QP(J$     Ӏ+V, -Ӏ7E89:D;<Dyk&` !"#%C<< C @ !"   vJv   Ad FILEDX:GXJ  April7,1999CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerkdA ,kAZ"Arial Regularc:\office\wpwin\template\jo.wpt,kAZ"Arial Regulari1i2i3i4i5i6i7i8i9i10Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(f3$  !AAA   (f3$  !AAA   ($$   1  i11''' dxd dP Pd&&&&'dxd @ !"   vJv   Ad FILEDX:GXJ  April7,1999CecilW.CrowsonAppellateCourtClerkdA Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5  !   TR[A'3'A' Legal3'T8  & b7      r(<,(j 8` `@E@` 8ttxPx  r INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERS'COMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANELATNASHVILLE(January19,1999Session)  NATHANV.HARRIS, h      p )DAVIDSONCIRCUIT    `     h      p ) ` PlaintiffAppellee,     p )Hon.HamiltonV.GaydenJr.,    `     h      p )Judge.v. `     h      p ) 4  `     h      p )No.01S019801CV00009WENDELADKINSd/b/aTENNESSEE p ) ` RIDERS,INC.,VALIANTINSURANCE p ) &v COMPANYandSTEPHENN.CIANCIO, p ) <  `     h      p ) ` DefendantsAppellants.     p ) h ForAppellants:   h      p ForAppellee: & SeanAntoneHunt   h      p JosephK.Dughman "R Spicer,Flynn&Rudstrom     p Bruce,Weathers,Corley, (#  #h  `     h      p Dughman&LyleNashville,Tennessee h      p Nashville,Tennessee D%    MEMORANDUMOPINION *&# MembersofPanel: -D)& AdolphoA.Birch,Jr.,AssociateJusticeJamesL.Weatherford,SeniorJudgeJoeC.Loser,Jr.,SpecialJudge        AFFIRMED   h      p      x  Loser,Judge 9651 :L62   MEMORANDUMOPINION'     ` Thisworkers'compensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.section506225(e)(3)forhearingandreportingoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Theemployeranditsinsurercontendinthisappealthatthetrialcourterredinawardingthemedicalexpensesofanonauthorizedproviderandthattheawardofpermanentpartialdisabilitybenefitsisexcessive.Asdiscussedbelow,thepanelhasconcludedthejudgmentshouldbeaffirmed. `  ` TheemployeeorclaimantinitiatedthiscivilactiontorecovermedicalanddisabilitybenefitsforinjuriesresultingfromaworkrelatedaccidentwhichoccurredonMay23,1995.Afterabenefitreviewconferenceandtrial,thetrialcourtawarded,interalia,medicalexpensesanddisabilitybenefitsbasedon   sixtypercenttothebodyasawhole.Ourreviewisdenovoupontherecordof 4 thetrialcourt,accompaniedbyapresumptionofcorrectnessofthefindingsoffact,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.section506225(e)(2). `  ` Atthetimeofthetrial,theclaimantwasthirtyyearsoldwithahighschooleducationandvocationaltraininginautomobilerepair.Hewasingoodhealthbeforetheaccident. `  ` Onthedateoftheaccident,theclaimantwasworkingfortheemployer,TennesseeRiders,operatingamowernexttoI40whenhistractorwasstruckfromtherearbyaspeedingpickuptruck.Thetruck'sbumperstruckhiminthebackanditshoodstruckhiminthehead.HewassoontransportedtotheemergencyroomatSt.ThomasHospitalinNashville,wherehewastreatedandreleased.XXXXXX           1     XXԀWhentheaccidentoccurred,hissupervisor,WendellAdkins,was #h operatingamoweraboutonehundredyardsaheadofhim,butdidnottalktohimatthescene.However,twocoworkersvisitedtheclaimanttoinquireabouthisconditionsoonaftertheaccident.HehasnotreturnedtoworkforTennesseeRiders. `  ` Whenhisconditionworsened,hecontactedDr.MelvinLaw,whodiagnosedS1radiculopathyandtwobulgingdiscswithnerverootimpingement.Thedoctorprovidedconservativecare,includingabackbrace,andreferredtheclaimanttoaneurologist.Dr.Lawassessedhispermanentimpairmentattenpercenttothewholebodyandrestrictedhimfromliftingmorethantwentypounds,thirtyminutesofcontinuousstandingandwalkingandthirtyminutesofcontinuoussitting. `  ` Theneurologist,Dr.Morgan,advisedhimnottoreturntoworkasamoweroperator.Thisdoctordiagnoseddisequilibrium,postconcussivesyndromeandintermittentparesthesiasofthehands,possiblyresultingfromamildspinalcordcontusionorbrachialplexusstretchtypeinjuryandassessed 50- hispermanentmedicalimpairmentatfourteenpercenttothewholebody,ofwhichninepercentwasfrompersistentlabyrinthinevertigo.Dr.Morganrestrictedtheclaimantfromrepetitivebendingorprolongedstandingofmorethantwohoursandfromliftingmorethantwentyfivepounds;andhereferredtheclaimanttoaclinicalpsychologistfortherapy. `  ` TheclaimantwasexaminedandevaluatedbyDr.AlanF.Bachrach,aneurologist,attherequestoftheemployer.Heassignedapermanentimpairmentratingoftwopercenttothewholebody.Theclaimantwasexaminedandevaluatedfurtherattheemployer'srequestbyDr.RobertWeiss,aneurologicalsurgeon.Dr.Weissassessedhispermanentwholebodyimpairmentatfivepercent. `  ` Theemployercontendsitshouldnotberequiredtopaythenonauthorizedmedicalexpensesbecausetheclaimantdidnotinsistonbeingprovidedwithalistfromwhichhecouldhavechosenatreatingphysician.Wefindnothing,however,inthestatutoryschemeorbodyofworkers'compensationcaseswhichpermitsanemployertowithholdmedicalbenefitsuntiltheyaredemandedbytheinjuredworker.Moreover,astotheemergencyroomexpense,thestatuteexpresslyrequirespaymentofthoseexpensesupto$300.00,wheretheemployerfailstoprovideemergencycare.Tenn.CodeAnn.section506204(g)(1). `  ` Whenacoveredemployeesuffersaninjurybyaccidentarisingoutofandinthecourseofhisemployment,hisemployerisrequiredtoprovide,freeofchargetotheinjuredemployee,allmedicalandhospitalcarewhichisreasonablynecessaryonaccountoftheinjury.Suchcareincludesmedicalandsurgicaltreatment,medicine,medicalandsurgicalsupplies,crutches,artificialmembersandotherapparatus,nursingservicesorderedbytheattendingphysician,dentalcare,andhospitalization.Theonlylimitastotheamountoftheemployer'sliabilityforsuchcareissuchchargesasprevailforsimilartreatmentinthecommunitywheretheinjuredemployeeresides.Tenn.CodeAnn.section506204(a)(1).CityofBolivarv.Jarrett,751S.W.2d137(Tenn. p'"  1988). `  ` Theemployerisrequiredtodesignateagroupofthreeormorereputablephysiciansorsurgeonsnotassociatedtogetherinpractice,ifavailableinthatcommunity,fromwhichtheinjuredemployeehastheprivilegeofselectingthetreatingphysicianoroperatingsurgeon,whichlistmayincludechiropractors.Tenn.CodeAnn.section506204(a)(4);ForestProds.v.Collins,534S.W.2d  /Z*' 306(Tenn.1976).Wheretheemployerfailsorrefusestoprovidesuchalist,theemployeemaybejustifiedinselectinghisorherowntreatingphysicianandonceanemployeejustifiablyengagesadoctoronhisowninitiative,anybelatedattemptbytheemployertoofferadoctorchosenbytheemployerwillnotcutofftherightoftheemployeetocontinuewiththeemployee'sowndoctor.Lambertv.FamousHospitality,Inc.,947S.W.2d852,854(Tenn.1997). 50-  `  ` Thefirstefforttoprovidemedicalbenefitsoccurredafewdaysbeforetrialandmorethantwoyearsaftertheinjuriousaccident.Undersuch 8 40 circumstance,wecannotsaytheemployeeactedunreasonablyorinbadfaithbychoosinghisowntreatingphysician.Thefirstissueisresolvedinfavoroftheemployee. `  ` Astothenextissue,theemployeranditsinsurercontendtheawardofpermanentpartialdisabilitybenefitsissueshouldbelimitedtoonebasedontwoandonehalftimesthemedicalimpairmentratingbecausetheclaimantreturnedtohispreinjuryparttimeemploymentasadelivererforPizzaHut.Insupportofthisargument,theemployersubmittedinevidenceavideotapeoftheclaimantdeliveringpizzas.Thevideotapedoesnotreflectthathisparttimeworkrequireshimtoexceedhisprescribedlimitations. `  ` ForinjuriesarisingafterAugust1,1992,incaseswhereaninjuredworkerisentitledtopermanentpartialdisabilitybenefitstothebodyasawholeandthe   preinjuryemployerreturnstheemployeetoemploymentatawageequaltoor 4 greaterthanthewagetheemployeewasreceivingatthetimeoftheinjury,themaximumpermanentpartialdisabilityawardthattheemployeemayreceiveistwoandonehalftimesthemedicalimpairmentratingpursuanttotheprovisionsoftheAmericanMedicalAssociationGuidestotheEvaluationofPermanent < Impairment,theManualforOrthopedicSurgeonsinEvaluatingPermanent R PhysicalImpairment,or,incaseswhereanimpairmentratingbyanyappropriate h methodisusedandacceptedbythemedicalcommunity.Tenn.CodeAnn.section506241(a)(1).Thatlimitationdoesnotapplytothiscasebecausetheemployeehasnotreturnedtoworkforthepreinjuryemployerforwhomhewasworkingwheninjured,aprerequisitefortheimpositionofit,asweunderstandthelaw.TheemployerinsiststhatbecausetheclaimantwasworkingparttimeforPizzaHutbeforehisonthejobinjurywhileworkingforit,theabovetwoandonehalfmultiplierapplies.Wedonotsoconstruethestatute. `  ` Theemployeranditsinsurerfurthercontendtheawardisexcessivebecause"theplaintiffwasmisleadinghisdoctorsregardinghisabilitiesandsymptomsandabletocarryonactivitiesthatareinconsistentwithhiscomplaintsandsymptoms."Therecorddoesnotsupportthatcontention.Moreover,thetrialjudgeimplicitlyfoundtheclaimanttobeacrediblewitnessandexpresslyaccreditedthemedicalexpertswhotestifiedinhisbehalf. `  ` Inmakingdeterminationsastotheextentofaninjuredworker'spermanentindustrialdisability,thecourtsaretoconsiderallpertinentfactors,includinglayandexperttestimony,theemployee'sage,education,skillsandtraining,localjobopportunitiesforthedisabled,andcapacitytoworkattypesofemploymentavailableintheclaimant'sdisabledcondition;Tenn.CodeAnn.section506241(a)(1);andwherethetrialjudgehasseenandheardthewitnesses,especiallyifissuesofcredibilityandweighttobegivenoraltestimonyareinvolved,considerabledeferencemustbeaccordedthosecircumstancesonreview.Collinsv.HowmetCorp.,970S.W.2d941(Tenn. x4/, 1998). `  ` Uponaconsiderationoftheaboveprinciplesandauthorities,wecannotsaytheevidencepreponderatesagainstthefindingsofthetrialjudge.The 8 40 judgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmedandthecauseremandedtotheCircuitCourtforDavidsonCountyforenforcementofthejudgmentandsuchfurtherproceedings,ifany,asmaybenecessary.Costsonappealaretaxedtothedefendantsappellants.  rA  _______________________________  rA  Ӏ @  @ JoeC.Loser,Jr.,SpecialJudge  CONCUR:_________________________________AdolphoA.Birch,Jr.,AssociateJustice_________________________________JamesL.Weatherford,SeniorJudge+   +,TR[A' Legal[A'A' LegalA' LegalT@ T INTHESUPREMEOFTENNESSEE  @  'TATNASHVILLE %  NATHANV,HARRIS%7@%%-T} p %  DAVIDSONCIRCUIT%7  n @%%-T} p No.Below%  96C1819%_8 4   ` Plaintiff/Appell%  ee%8@%%-T} J  ,8t)(>.*jx` `@E` 8ttxP<` t8,@%%-T} p Hon.%  HamiltonV.Gayden%9 `  ,8-r)(<,(j 8` `@E@w` 8ttxPxv  r-8,vs.@TT-TH%%-T} v  @%%-T}@,T} p No.%  01S019801CV00009%:   %  WENDELADKINSd/b/a  ,7,  ,7,񀀀} p    TENNESSEERIDERS,INC.,}VALIANTINSURANCECOMPANY}andSTEPH,99;E;<9e9<:,W,:,NN.CIANCIO%@;@%%-T} J @%%-T} ` Defendant/Appell%  ants%<@%%-T} p %  AFFIRMED%= &v @SS&TJUDGMENTORDER h  ` ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingthe  orderofreferraltotheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanelsMemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference. ` Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthattheMemorandumOpinionofthePanelshouldbeacceptedandapproved;and ` Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanelsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawareadoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. ` Costswillbepaidby%  defendants/appellants%6@,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. ` ITISSOORDEREDon% $ April7,1999%$@. `     h      p PERCURIAM 7 3/  ` XX,-,,-,#XXfA#,-,    ,-