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ÐGreeneville,€Tenn.€€37743à h àà À àà  àà p àGreeneville,€Tenn.€€37744„1060Ð ˆ"È" ÐÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àKathleen€W.€StrattonÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à2nd€Floor€Cordell€Hull€Bldg.Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p à425€Fifth€Ave.€NorthÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àNashville,€Tenn.€€37243„0499ÌÌÌÌÌÌò òòòÓ  ÓM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óÐ j,ª(- ÐÌò òòòMembers€of€Panel:Ð <.|*/ ÐÌó óóóE.€Riley€Anderson,€Chief€JusticeÐ 0T,1 ÐGary€R.€Wade,€Special€JudgeÌRoger€E.€Thayer,€Special€JudgeÌÓ ÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌMODIFIED€IN€PART;€REVERSED€INà  àà p àà È àTHAYER,€Special€JudgeÐ ¨<è8? ÐPART€and€REMANDED.Ð Ž=Î9@( ÐÓÓà ` àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workers'ÏCompensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€ofÏfact€and€conclusions€of€law.€Ìà ` àThe€appeal€has€resulted€from€the€action€of€the€trial€court€in€awarding€plaintiff,ÏLinda€S.€Hopson,€55%€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€left€arm€as€a€result€of€anÏaccident€while€working€for€defendant,€Philips€Consumer€Electronics.€€The€circuitÏjudge€dismissed€the€case€against€the€Second€Injury€Fund.€€Plaintiff,€beingÏdissatisfied€with€the€award€of€benefits,€contends€the€award€should€be€increased.Ìà ` àLinda€Hopson€was€42€years€of€age€and€is€a€high€school€graduate.€€She€doesÏnot€have€any€vocational€training.€€She€sustained€a€prior€injury€to€her€back€duringÏ1991€and€was€awarded€75%€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€body€as€a€wholeÏduring€a€contested€hearing€in€the€Chancery€Court€for€Greene€County.Ìà ` àThe€injury€in€the€present€action€occurred€on€defendantððs€production€line€whereÏshe€was€required€to€use€an€air€gun€and€to€make€repetitive€arm€movements.€€HerÏinjury€was€to€her€left€wrist€and€she€is€left„handed.€€She€underwent€surgery€onÏNovember€8,€1994,€when€Dr.€Christopher€T.€Lechner,€an€orthopaedic€surgeon,Ïrepaired€a€partial€tear€of€the€ligament€and€noticed€she€had€some€synovitis€(swelling);Ïshe€was€seen€on€regular€basis€and€was€still€complaining€of€pain€four€months€later.€ÏThe€doctor€testified€by€deposition€and€said€pain€that€late€after€surgery€was€notÏnormal.€€He€x„rayed€her€arm€and€noticed€changes€consistent€with€KienbachððsÏdisease,€which€is€a€condition€where€the€blood€supply€to€lunate€is€not€normal€and€theÏbone€collapses.€€He€stated€this€was€a€painful€condition€and€required€further€surgery.Ìà ` àThe€second€surgery€was€performed€on€March€28,€1995€when€the€lunate€wasÏremoved€and€the€wrist€was€stabilized€ð ðby€fusing€three€of€the€remaining€six€bonesÏtogetherðð.€€He€also€described€the€event€as€ð ðtaking€the€painful€bone€out€and€then€toÏgive€her€a€stable€wrist,€although€she€knew€that€it€would€be€a€stiffer€wrist€as€wellðð.€ÏThis€surgery€went€well€but€she€still€had€discomfort€after€a€reasonable€healing€periodÏand€Dr.€Lechner€recommended€she€get€a€second€opinion€from€another€handÏsurgeon.€€Plaintiff€saw€Dr.€Joseph€C.€DeFiore,€Jr.€and€his€report€was€introduced€intoÏâ âevidence.€€He€concurred€with€Dr.€Lechnerððs€diagnosis€and€treatment€and€stated€ð ðit€isÐ ¨9è5< Ðgoing€to€be€very€difficult€to€get€her€back€to€work€on€a€continuous€basis€and€if€anythingÏit€would€be€non„repetitive,€light€duty€workðð.Ìâ âà ` àPlaintiff€was€laid„off€during€December€1995€and€was€recalled€to€work€on€MayÏ31,€1996.€€The€company€thought€there€were€light€duty€jobs€she€could€do.€€When€sheÏreturned€to€work,€she€testified€she€was€hurting€so€bad€that€she€left€soon€afterÏreporting€and€never€returned.€€She€stated€that€her€back€pain€and€left€arm€painÏbothered€her€to€such€an€extent€that€she€could€not€perform€the€light€duty€jobs€theÏcompany€was€planning€to€offer€her.€€She€told€the€trial€court€it€was€painful€for€her€toÏwrite€a€check€and€she€always€inquired€in€a€store€if€they€had€a€check€writing€machineÏat€their€cash€register.€Ìà ` àDr.€Lechner€testified€that€although€her€permanent€injury€was€located€in€herÏwrist,€the€weakness€was€in€her€entire€arm€and€that€she€should€not€lift€over€one€poundÏon€a€frequent€basis€and€not€over€eight€pounds€on€an€infrequent€basis;€that€if€she€didÏrepetitive€type€work€with€these€restrictions,€she€should€not€work€on€very€small€objectsÏdue€to€the€limited€motion€in€her€wrist,€which€would€make€it€difficult€to€get€into€positionÏto€manipulate€small€objects.€€He€stated€the€medical€impairment€would€be€42%€to€herÏleft€arm.à ¸ àÐ € À  Ðà ` àDr.€Norman€E.€Hankins,€a€vocational€rehabilitation€consultant,€was€to€appearÏpersonally€before€the€trial€court€but€before€his€appearance,€the€parties€stipulated€thatÏhis€detailed€report€could€be€admitted€into€evidence.€€He€administered€numerousÏtests,€examined€the€medical€evidence,€etc.,€and€concluded€that€she€had€a€95%Ïvocational€disability€as€a€result€of€her€prior€back€injury€and€the€present€arm€injury.€€HeÏopined€85%€would€be€attributable€to€the€prior€back€injury€and€10%€to€the€wrist€injury.€ÏHe€also€testified€that€if€there€had€not€been€a€prior€back€injury,€he€was€of€the€opinionÏshe€would€have€a€57%€vocational€disability€as€a€result€of€the€wrist€and€arm€injury.Ìà ` àMichael€T.€Galloway,€also€a€vocational€consultant,€testified€orally€before€theÏcourt€and€was€of€the€opinion€plaintiff€could€work€as€a€receptionist,€information€clerk,Ïsecurity€guard,€inspector,€a€checker€and€an€examiner.€€He€did€not€estimate€herÏvocational€disability€on€a€percentage€basis.€€Ìà ` àThe€review€of€the€case€is€de€novo€on€the€record€accompanied€by€aÏpresumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€findings€of€fact€unless€the€preponderance€ofÏthe€evidence€is€otherwise.€€T.C.A.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(2).Ð t;´7> Ðà ` àUnder€this€review€of€a€workersðð€compensation€case,€the€appellate€court€is€notÏbound€by€the€findings€of€the€trial€court€but€must€make€its€own€determination€of€whereÏthe€preponderance€of€the€evidence€lies.€€òòDown€v.€CNA€Ins.€Co.,óó€765€S.W.2d€738Ð X˜ Ð(Tenn.€1989).Ìà ` àThe€trial€court€fixed€the€award€of€disability€at€55%€to€the€left€arm.€€From€ourÏindependent€review€of€the€record,€we€are€of€the€opinion€the€evidence€preponderatesÏin€favor€of€a€higher€award.€€Although€the€evidence€indicates€the€present€injuryÏsubstantially€affects€plaintiff€in€her€ability€to€work€and€earn€wages€in€the€open€laborÏmarket,€the€award€under€our€statute€must€be€fixed€to€a€scheduled€member,€the€leftÏarm.€€Upon€consideration€of€the€numerous€factors€which€must€be€applied,€we€fix€theÏaward€at€80%€to€the€left€arm.Ìà ` àAs€to€the€liability€of€the€Second€Injury€Fund,€T.C.A.€ðð€50„6„208(b)€providesÏthat€when€an€employee€has€received€or€will€receive€a€workersðð€compensation€awardÏor€awards€for€permanent€disability€to€the€body€as€a€whole,€and€the€combination€of€theÏawards€equals€or€exceeds€100€percent€permanent€disability€to€the€body€as€a€whole,Ïthe€awards€are€combined.€€The€Second€Injury€Fund€then€becomes€liable€for€anyÏbenefits€due€the€employee€in€excess€of€100%.€€òòSee€Burris€v.€Cross€Mountain€CoalÐ „ Ä  ÐCo.,óó€798€S.W.2d€746,€748€(Tenn.€1990).€€In€the€case€of€òòHenson€v.€City€ofÐ T"”" ÐLawrenceburg,óó€851€S.W.2d€809€(Tenn.€1993),€the€Supreme€Court€held€that€in€theÐ $$d $ Ðlimited€context€of€determining€the€liability€of€the€Second€Injury€Fund,€the€statuteððsÏpurpose€is€accomplished€by€equating€a€scheduled€member€award€to€a€percentage€ofÏthe€body€as€a€whole€by€reference€to€the€AMA€guidelines€and€then€applying€theÏprovisions€of€subsection€(b).Ìà ` àSince€we€have€increased€the€trial€courtððs€award,€the€ruling€dismissing€theÏSecond€Injury€Fund€must€be€reversed€and€the€case€remanded€for€the€purpose€ofÏdetermining€the€converted€award€and€applying€subsection€(b)€to€the€case.€€If€the€75%Ïaward€and€the€converted€award€exceed€100%,€the€Second€Injury€Fund€would€beÏliable€for€the€excess€over€100%.Ìà ` àThe€judgment€is€modified€to€fix€the€award€at€80%€to€the€left€arm€and€the€caseÏis€reversed€and€remanded€to€determine€the€liability€of€the€Second€Injury€Fund€underÏT.C.A.€ðð€50„6„208(b).€€Costs€of€the€appeal€are€taxed€to€defendants.€€ÌÐ „;Ä7> ЇÌÔ% € ÔÓÓà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________Ìà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àRoger€E.€Thayer,€Special€JudgeÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ________________________________ÌE.€Riley€Anderson,€Chief€JusticeÌÌÌÌ________________________________ÌGary€R.€Wade,€Special€Judge€œñ¢:ñÐ  F Ðñ¢:ññ£:ñ›ñ£:ññ£:ñÔ‡¼q ¼XXûÔà ` àÔ#†XûX ¼¼qz.#ÔÔ‡Šø‹ ŠXXûÔà ¸ àà  àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEE€€Ô#†XûX ŠŠø‹È.#ÔÐ À Ðà@ÌÌ.ÌàˆÌßl€*6&"h 8 `€€ExŸtt06°ž¨çlßâ °°$$âà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àAT€KNOXVILLEÌÒÒâ °°$$âà è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð àà H àà   àà ø àà P àà ¨ àÌÌà è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð àà H àà   àà ø àà P àà ¨ à¼à è àà @ àà ˜ àÌà è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð àà H à€€€à   àÐ  \ Ðà 8 àà à àà 8 àà  àà 8 àà  àà è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð àà H àà   àà ø àÌÒ(HÒâ °°°"°"âà è àà @ àÌâ °"°"°°âLINDA€S.€HOPSON,à ð àà H à€€€€à   à€€€€€€€)à ø à€GREENE€CIRCUIT€€Ð Î   Ðà è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð àà H à€€€€€€€)€à   à€No.€96CV276Ð ´ ô  ÐÒ (Òà è àPlaintiff„Appellant,à ð àà H à€€€€€€€)à   àà ø àà P àà ¨ àÐ šÚ  Ðà è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð à€€€€à H à€€€€€€€)à   àà ø àà P àà ¨ àà  àà X àÐ €À  Ðà è àà @ à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à H à€€€€€€€)€€€€No.€€03S01„9710„CV€„00141Ð f¦  Ðà è àv.à @ àà ˜ àà ð àà H à€€€€€€€)Ð LŒ  Ðà è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð àà H à€€€€€€€)ÌPHILIPS€CONSUMER€ELECTORNICS€)€€€€€€€€€à ø àà P àà ¨ àà  àà X àÐ X Ðà è à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à ø àÐ þ> Ðà è àDefendant„Appellee.à H à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€Hon.€Benk€K.€Wexlerà X àÐ ä$ Ðà è àÓ€ÓÌandà è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð àà H à€€€€€€€)à   à€Circuit€Judgeà ¨ àà  àÐ #c ÐDINA€TOBIN,€DIRECTOR€OF€THE€€€€€€€)à ø àÐ |¼ ÐDIV.€OF€SECOND€INJURY€FUNDà   à€€€€€€€)à ø àÐ Õ Ðà è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð à€€€€€€Ìà è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð àJUDGMENT€ORDERÌ€€€€€€€€Ô‡X# XXXûÔà è àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€à X àÐ à   Ðrecord,including€the€order€of€referral€to€the€SpecialÏWorkers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel'sÏMemorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€byÏreference;Ìà è àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€à  àà X àÐ %Í!, Ðmemorandum€Opinion€of€the€Panel€should€be€accepted€andÏapproved;€andÌà è àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€ofÏfacts€and€conclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€andÏthe€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€Judgment€of€theÏCourt.Ìà è àCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€defendants,for€whichÏexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.€à ø àÐ •/Õ+< ÐÌ03/10/99Ô#†XûX XX#9#Ôñ£:ñ›