ÿWPC+ ¢Q¥±›“l\ÄÀ¹Éü ÑÇ÷^…•å½³ ×ÅB‡“F€W%PÕV¿=²pCñ¼C%åsŸµÃI1PœOK0]óÈôYä§€«D•²î„Z;,/ºmØ‘ªb™d_.ŒÌ B}…3Åü¬æ·:÷¾ü€éñШ2õ×¢ Úýèz-å¬Ý2“.Û<Îj·êP7aR"@1NàL”N VLžJÊŒÙë®=…R¾b§ücdó.‚ æ}ÛàŠ¶.Ó·évò5ÈÛ•Ös_ˆë£âÜñ•OR¼ÚxÉå" y™fø%ÿpí€K †o†¾¾ûéã‘x•lk]¡ãÖ)·<⃗JàaOR¼ªõv£‚¼kƒu«‘’yïŒ5òtÕtÍœCûWòÌ’4`6æ0lÄ ß¥‰}”»“ýÒ›J"µYiåmèwxl4hsYÏmš‚H‰:ö¸/aEó?'B¿ÿA6sMÞƒÑÈ…Á/„hÀräë9¯z¢åj;8¥K-&FˆXIž·~¦BJ:=F»0!ß\©BQî‰Óo¬Zç4°8åšýZRëÒ7 Z}ÌÚ[X jŒàÖü°¸…ö1m]ƒÛ|h=àlâ –Pá§–zÕç·UB %D U.J rx kê 0UUBâ$nY4 0rÿw@ÿ4?LSTŸLóî?U:-- D/gî–U:„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„ B¾¾¾¾¾ D3ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ 0Ž AOœÆëë 0D± Aõ Btttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt 0š‘ô\  `*Times New RomanTTô"ÝÆÿA€ArialTT'    0 .    aÝ ƒfn)ÝÔ€XOÏXôôÔÔ€X˜+XXXOÏÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ°ÒÒ8°ÒÓ  ÓÓ<(ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°œX<ÓÔ  ÔÔ@  ÔÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚÔA  ÔÐ ° ÐÓ  ÓÓ?+ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿ` ‹X?Ó(e2fn$©©Ý ƒ ƒ!ÝÔ€X_ŒXôôÔÔ€X˜<XXX_ŒÔÓ  ÓÝ  Ýô\  `*Times New RomanTT3|x«ô\  `*Times New RomanTTôôCô\  PŽ6QôP"ÝÆÿA€ArialTTomanTTXXaÝÆÿptQXpô\  `*Times New RomanTT¼¼^ô\  PŽ6Q¼Pô\  `*Times New RomanTT„„yô\  PŽ6Q„Pô\  `*Times New RomanTT,,)ô\  PŽ6Q,P(Jƒ$¡¡Ô€XOÑXôôÔÔ€XaXXXOÑÔÓ  Ó rUsEtuPvDwxPyÓ€„P…Ó€ux-&\ XC:\OFFICE\WPWIN\TEMPLATE\STANDARD.WPTc:\office\wpwin\template\legal\11deny.wptC:\OFFICE\WPWIN\TEMPLATE\STANDARD.WPT äÔ€ônz ôôôÔÔ€è« è ôônzÔÔ Ad ÔÓ  ÓFILEDÔ€<  èè«ÔÐ  ÐÌò òJanuary€20,€1999Ð  ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€CourtÏClerkó ó,kû¤AZ‹"Arial Regular„„'÷ÿ dxd äÔ€ônz ôôôÔÔ€è« è ôônzÔÔ Ad ÔÓ  ÓFILEDÔ€<  èè«ÔÐ  ÐÌò òJanuary€20,€1999Ð  ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌAppellate€CourtÏClerkó ó,kû¤AZ‹"Arial Regular d%%%%'ÿÿdxd(f3zð$££Ý ƒ ƒ!ÝÔ€X_ŒXôôÔÔ€X˜<XXX_ŒÔÓ  ÓÝ  Ý€`‚Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó`yúÿ  <<= 8ÀÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿüÿP Pd(r3;°$««Ý ƒ ƒ!ÝÔ€X_ŒXôôÔÔ€X˜<XXX_ŒÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ d ÔÝ ƒ ƒ!ÝÔ€XOÏXôôÔÔ€X˜+XXXOÏÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑTR[¤ AØ'3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÒ°ÒÒ8°ÒÖ€ÿÿÖÑ  ÑÓ  ÓÓ<(ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°œX<ÓÔ€¼†ý¼XX˜+ÔÔ€¼wõ¼¼¼†ýÔÔ  Ô€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐÌSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÌAT€KNOXVILLEÌñ…ñßl€*6&"h 8 `€€EŽ tt06Æ ¨çlßâ ÆÆ # #âñ…ñ(June€30,€1998€Session)ÌÌñ„ñà @ àñ„ñÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ?+ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿ` ‹X?ÓINDIANA€LUMBERMEN'S€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€„Œ„¼¼wõÔ€Ô€¼wõ¼„„ŒÔ€€€€€)Ð ŒÜ  ÐMUTUAL€INSURANCE€COMPANY€€€€)€Ìâ  # #ÆÆâas€workers'€compensation€insurance€€€€€€€€)Ìcarrier€for€CANTLEY€ELLIS€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€„Œ„¼¼wõÔ€Ô€¼wõ¼„„ŒÔ€€€€)à p àà È àà  àÐ  p  ÐMANUFACTURING€COMPANY,€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellant,€€€€€€Ô€,ýÑ,¼¼wõÔÔ€,ýÑ,,,ýÑÔ€Ô€¼wõ¼,,ýÑÔÔ€¼wõ¼¼¼wõÔ€€€€)€€€€€SULLIVAN€CIRCUITÐ ´ Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€Ìv.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€Hon.€Richard€Ladd,Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€Judge.ÌDARRELL€MEADE,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€ô.ô¼¼wõÔ€Ô€¼wõ¼ôô.Ô€€€€)€€Ð  \ Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Defendant„Appellee.€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€No.€03S01„9712„CV„00146ÌÌÌÌÌòòFor€Appellantóó:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òòFor€Appelleeóó:Ð ¦"ö ÐÌRobert€M.€Shelor€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Jonathan€R.€BunnÌKristi€D.€McKinney€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Bristol,€VirginiaÌKennerly,€Montgomery€&€FinleyÌKnoxville,€TennesseeòòÐ (d#  ÐóóÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ<(ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿŒX<ÓòòM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÐ ‚-Ò(% ÐÌÌÌÌòòMembers€of€Panelóó:Ð ð2@.* ÐÌWilliam€M.€Barker,€Associate€Justice,€Supreme€CourtÌJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌRoger€E.€Thayer,€Special€JudgeÌÌÓ  ÓÓ?+ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿ` ‹X?ÓÌÓ  ÓÓ<(ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿŒX<ÓÌÓ?+ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿ` ‹X?ÓÓ  ÓAFFIRMED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Loser,€JudgeÓ {ÀÓÐ  ;ð62 ÐÓ  ÓÓ<(ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿŒX<ÓòòÓ @{ÀÓMEMORANDUM€OPINIONóóÐ ° ÐÓ  ÓÓ?+ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿ` ‹X?ÓÓ€Óà ` àà ¸ àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€SpecialÏWorkers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€withÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€of€findingsÏof€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€The€employer€insists€the€award€of€permanentÏpartial€disability€benefits€is€excessive€and€the€employee€insists€he€isÏpermanently€and€totally€disabled.€€Additionally,€the€employee€contends€"the€trialÏcourt€erred€in€rejecting€the€testimony€of€the€vocational€specialist€in€its€totality."€ÏAs€discussed€below,€the€panel€has€concluded€the€judgment€should€be€affirmed.Ìà ` àà ¸ àThe€trial€court€awarded€permanent€partial€disability€benefits€basedÏon€sixty€percent€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€Appellate€review€is€de€novo€upon€theÏrecord€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctness€of€theÏfindings€of€fact,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€section€50„6„225(e)(2).€€The€extent€of€an€injured€worker's€disabilityÏis€an€issue€of€fact.€€òòJaske€v.€Murray€Ohio€Mfg.€Co.óó,€750€€S.W.2d€€150€(Tenn.Ð  ð Ð1988).€€Where€the€trial€judge€has€seen€and€heard€the€witnesses,€especially€ifÏissues€of€credibility€and€weight€to€be€given€oral€testimony€are€involved,Ïconsiderable€deference€must€be€accorded€those€circumstances€on€review.€€òòJonesÐ ƒ Ó! Ðv.€Sterling€Last€Corp.óó,€962€€S.W.2d€€469€(Tenn.€1998).Ð $"t# Ðà ` àà ¸ àThe€employee€or€claimant,€Meade,€is€58€years€old€with€a€thirdÏgrade€education,€an€intelligence€quotient€of€74€and€experience€as€a€laborer.€€HeÏsuffered€a€compensable€soft€tissue€injury€to€his€back,€which€is€the€subject€of€thisÏcase.€€The€undisputed€medical€proof€is€that€he€has€a€permanent€impairment€ofÏfive€percent€to€the€body€as€a€whole€and€is€permanently€restricted€from€anyÏrepeated€bending,€stooping€or€squatting,€heavy€lifting,€working€over€heavyÏterrain,€excessive€ladder€or€stair€climbing,€strenuous€pushing€or€pulling,€orÏworking€with€his€hands€above€the€level€of€his€shoulders.€€One€doctor€restrictedÏhim€from€lifting€even€twenty€pounds€occasionally.€€The€claimant€attempted€toÏreturn€to€work€but,€because€of€his€restrictions,€could€not€perform€his€duties,€andÏwas€not€working€at€the€time€of€the€trial.Ìà ` àà ¸ àHe€has€no€other€educational,€vocational€or€job€training.€€AÏvocational€expert€testified€that€he€had€no€reasonably€transferable€job€skills€fromÐ !8q3= Ðformer€employment€and€opined€his€vocational€disability€was€one€hundredÏpercent.€€The€expert€qualified€his€opinion€by€saying€that€although€the€claimantÏwas€not€reasonably€employable€on€the€open€labor€market,€there€may€be€someÏjobs€he€could€perform.Ìà ` àà ¸ àWhere€an€injured€worker€is€entitled€to€receive€permanent€partialÏdisability€benefits€to€the€body€as€a€whole,€and€the€pre„injury€employer€does€notÏreturn€the€employee€to€employment€at€a€wage€equal€to€or€greater€than€the€wageÏthe€employee€was€receiving€at€the€time€of€the€injury,€the€maximum€permanentÏpartial€disability€award€that€the€employee€may€receive€is€six€times€the€medicalÏimpairment€rating.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„241(b).€€If€a€court€awards€aÏmultiplier€of€five€or€greater,€then€the€court€must€make€specific€findings€of€factÏdetailing€the€reasons€for€its€award,€considering€all€relevant€factors,€including€layÏand€expert€testimony,€the€employee's€age,€education,€skills€and€training,€localÏjob€opportunities€and€capacity€to€work€at€types€of€employment€available€inÏclaimant's€disabled€condition.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„241(c).Ìà ` àà ¸ àNotwithstanding€the€above€limitations,€a€court€may€awardÏpermanent€partial€disability€benefits,€not€to€exceed€four€hundred€weeks,€inÏappropriate€cases€where€permanent€medical€impairment€is€found.€€In€such€cases,Ïthe€court€must€make€a€specific€documented€finding,€supported€by€clear€andÏconvincing€evidence,€that€on€the€date€the€employee€reached€maximum€medicalÏimprovement,€at€least€three€of€the€following€four€circumstances€existed:Ìà0 ` àà ¸ àà  à(1)€€The€employee€lacked€a€high€school€diploma€or€generalÏequivalency€diploma€or€could€not€read€or€write€on€a€grade€eight€level;Ð `  #`  # Ðà0 ` àà ¸ àà  à(2)€€€€The€employee€was€age€fifty„five€or€older;Ð `  #`  # Ðà0 ` àà ¸ àà  à(3)€€The€employee€had€no€reasonably€transferable€job€skillsÏfrom€prior€vocational€background€and€training;€andÐ `  #`  # Ðà0 ` àà ¸ àà  à(4)€€The€employee€had€no€reasonable€employmentÏopportunities€available€locally€considering€the€employee's€permanentÏmedical€condition.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„242.Ð `  #`  # ÐÓ š™@Óà ` à€€€€The€opinion€of€a€vocational€expert€is€generally€necessary€to€establishÏthat€the€employee€had€"no€reasonably€transferable€job€skills€from€priorÐ f8¶3< Ðvocational€background€and€training"€or€"the€employee€had€no€reasonableÏemployment€opportunities€available€locally€considering€the€employee'sÏpermanent€medical€condition,"€or€both.€€òòIngram€v.€State€Industries,€Inc.óó,€€943€Ð òB ÐS.W.2d€€381€(Tenn.€1995).€€"Clear€and€convincing€evidence"€means€evidenceÏin€which€there€is€no€serious€or€substantial€doubt€about€the€correctness€of€theÏconclusions€drawn€from€the€evidence.€€òòMiddleton€v.€Allegheny€Elec.€Co.,€Inc.óó,Ð Õ %  Ð897€€S.W.2d€€695€(Tenn.€1995).ÌÓ €š™Óà ` àà ¸ àThe€trial€judge€discredited€the€vocational€expert's€opinion€that€theÏclaimant€was€one€hundred€percent€disabled,€but€found,€based€on€clear€andÏconvincing€evidence,€that€the€claimant€lacked€a€high€school€or€generalÏequivalency€diploma,€was€more€than€fifty„five€years€old€and€had€no€reasonablyÏtransferable€job€skills.€€The€trial€judge€made€detailed€findings€of€fact,€asÏrequired,€and€found€the€claimant€to€be€a€credible€witness;€and€his€rejection€ofÏthe€opinion€of€the€vocational€expert€with€respect€to€the€extent€of€permanentÏdisability€was€well€grounded.€€We€do€not€find€from€the€record€that€the€trial€judgeÏrejected€the€expert's€opinion,€supported€by€the€claimant's€own€credibleÏtestimony,€that€the€claimant€had€no€reasonably€transferable€job€skills.Ìà ` àà ¸ àUnder€such€circumstances,€we€are€unable€to€say€the€evidenceÏpreponderates€against€the€finding€of€the€trial€judge€despite€the€fact€that€itÏresulted€in€an€award€that€exceeded€the€statutory€multiplier,€but€is€less€than€theÏmaximum€award€for€permanent€partial€disability.€€The€judgment€of€the€trialÏcourt€is€affirmed.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€plaintiff„appellant.ÌÓ€ÓÓ  ÓÓ<(ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿŒX<Ó_______________________________Ó €ÓÌÓ  Ó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à @ àà @ àà @ àà @ àà @ à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Joe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÓ  ÓÓ?+ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿ` ‹X?ÓCONCUR:ÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌWilliam€M.€Barker,€Associate€JusticeÌÌ_________________________________Ìâ âRoger€E.€Thayer,€Special€JudgeÐ æ460; ÐÓ-ÿÿçÈ xÐ (#ÿÿŒX-ÓÒ€ÒÒ„8ÒÑ` °Ñâ âÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿLegal Red[¤ AØ' AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€IN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ `  Ðñyñßl€*6&"h 8 `€€E<w tt06tv ¨çlßâ €t€t€T$€T$âñyñà@""!zàAT€KNOXVILLEˆÌÌÌà ç àÌT€à ç à€Ð În ÐINDIANA€LUMBERMEN'S€MUTUALà@SS'zà)ˆà ç àSULLIVANÐ ä„ ÐCIRCUITÌâ €T$€T$€t€tâINSURANCE€COMPANY€as€workers'à@ÃÃ.êà)ˆà ç àC31580€(L)Ð ° Ðcompensaiton€insurance€carrier€forà@ÃÃ.êà)ˆÐ &Æ  ÐCANTLEY€ELLIS€MANUFACTURINGà@ÃÃ.êà)ˆÐ <Ü  ÐCOMPANY,à@ÃÃ.êà)ˆà ç àHON.€RICHARD€LADD,€€à (# à€€€€€€ñtñÐ Rò  Ѐ€€PLAINTIFF/APPELLANTñtñ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ñvñ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à ç àñuñà ç àñuñJUDñvññwñ€)ñwññxñà ç àJUDñxñGEÐ h  Ðà@ÃÃ.êà)ˆÌà ç àñpñ/APPELLANTà@ÃÃ.êà)ñpññqñÌñqñà@ÃÃ.êà)ˆÌv.à@ÃÃ.êà)ˆà ç àS.€C.€NO€03S01„9712„CV„146Ð ªJ Ðà@ÃÃ.êà)ˆÌDARRELL€MEADE,à@ÃÃ.êà)ˆÐ Öv Ðà@ÃÃ.êà)ˆÌà ç àñrñÌñrññsññrñà ç àñrññsñDEFENDANT/APPELLEE.à@ÃÃ.êà)ˆà0 ç àAFFIRMEDиçT$çT$ ÐÌÌà@ÊÊ*êàòòò òJUDGMENTó óóóˆÐ Z"ú ÐÌÓÓ€€€€€€€€€€€€This€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€motion€for€review€pursuant€toÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð50„6„225(e)(5)(B),€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€ofÏreferral€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel'sÏMemorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€ofÏlaw,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;à È àà  àà x àà Ð à€€€€€€€€€€€Ð n-$! ÐWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€for€review€is€not€wellÏtaken€and€should€be€denied;€and€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€It€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€and€conclusionsÏof€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€theÏjudgment€of€the€Court.Ð J8ê.+ Ðà ç àCosts€will€be€paid€byÏPlaintiff/Appellant,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ìà ç àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED.ÌÌà ç àà È àà  àà x àà Ð àà (# à¼à ç àPER€CURIAMÌÌBARKER,€J.,€NOT€PARTICIPATING