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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€TENNESSEEÌÙ€€ÙßR€+,)A1-j|yö` Å `€€@ÿRßÌSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÌAT€JACKSONÌ(November€27,€1996€Session)ÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓMARY€A.€MARSHALL,à àà àà à)€€€€€SHELBY€CIRCUITÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellant,à àà à)€€€€€Hon.€Irma€Merrill,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€€€Special€Judge.Ìv.à àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€€€No.€02S01„9606„CV„00058ÌBLUE€CROSS€/€BLUE€SHIELD€OFà àà à)ÌMEMPHIS€and€BLUE€CROSS€/€BLUEà à)ÌSHIELD,€IPA€APPLE€PLAN€MEMPHIS,à à)€€ÌALSO€KNOWN€AS€SOUTHERNà àà à)ÌHEALTH€PLAN,€INC.,à àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Defendants„Appellees.à àà à)ÌÌÌÌòòFor€Appellantóó:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òòFor€Appellees:ÌóóÌJames€V.€Ball€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Robert€D.€MeyersÌMemphis,€Tennessee€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Spicer,€Flynn€&ÏRudstromÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€€€Memphis,€TennesseeÌÌÌÌÌÌòòÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÌÌÌÌÌòòMembers€of€Panelóó:ÌÔ'  ÔÌLyle€Reid,€Associate€Justice,€Supreme€CourtÌJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌCornelia€A.€Clark,€Special€JudgeÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓÌÓ  ÓREVERSED€AND€REMANDED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Loser,ÏJudgeÓ ¹ ÓÌòòÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓMEMORANDUM€OPINIONóóÓ rAÓÌÓ  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,€theÏemployee€contends€it€was€error€to€summarily€dismiss€her€claim€as€beingÏbarred€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„203,€a€statute€of€limitation.€€AsÏdiscussed€below,€the€panel€has€concluded€the€judgment€should€be€reversedÏand€the€case€remanded€for€trial€of€all€issues€raised€by€the€pleadings.Ìà àà àThe€action€was€commenced€by€the€filing€of€a€complaint€andÏsummons€on€February€24,€1995€seeking€workers'€compensation€benefits€forÏinjuries€and€disabilities€arising€out€of€and€in€the€course€of€the€claimant'sÏemployment€with€the€defendant,€Blue€Cross€/€Blue€Shield€of€Memphis.€€InÏparticular,€the€employee€claims€that€she€has€become€permanently€disabledÏfrom€the€repetitive€trauma€of€operating€a€key€punch€machine.Ìà àà àBy€their€responsive€pleading,€the€defendants€deny€the€existenceÏof€the€injury€and€deny€that€they€received€timely€notice,€but€do€not€assert€theÏaffirmative€defense€that€the€claim€is€barred€by€any€statute€of€limitations.€ÏThe€defendants€then€took€the€claimant's€discovery€deposition€andÏinterrogated€her€concerning,€among€other€things,€when€she€first€knew€herÍwork€was€causing€pain.€€Her€deposition€reveals€that€her€pain€began€in€1992Ïand€was€reported€to€the€employer.€€The€employer,€however,€chose€to€treatÏher€claim€not€as€one€for€workers'€compensation€benefits,€but€for€groupÏhealth€benefits.Ìà àà àOn€January€18,€1996,€the€defendants€served€a€pre„trial€"MotionÏto€Dismiss"€the€claimant's€claim€"pursuant€to€Rule€41.02€of€the€TennesseeÏRules€of€Civil€Procedure"€for€"failure€to€file€such€cause€of€action€within€theÏtime€prescribed€by€Section€50„6„203€of€the€Tennessee€Code€Annotated."€ÏThe€motion€was,€according€to€the€trial€judge's€order€of€dismissal,Ï"supported€by"€the€claimant's€discovery€deposition.€€The€trial€judge€treatedÏthe€motion€as€a€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56€motion€for€summary€judgment,€foundÏfrom€the€deposition€that€the€claimant€"was€told€in€1992€that€she€wasÏsuffering€work€related€injuries€to€her€wrists,€shoulders,€neck€and€back€byÏher€physicians€(sic)€statement€to€her€employer€so€stating€and€was€told€by€herÏemployer€she€did€not€have€a€workers'€compensation€claim,"€and€dismissedÏthe€claim€as€being€time„barred.Ìà àà àBy€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56.03,€summary€judgment€will€lie€if€theÏpleadings,€depositions,€answers€to€interrogatories€and€admissions€on€file,Ïtogether€with€the€affidavits,€if€any,€show€that€there€is€no€genuine€issue€as€toÏany€material€fact€and€that€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€as€aÏmatter€of€law.€€Summary€judgment€is€almost€never€an€option€in€workers'Ïcompensation€cases;€however,€when€there€is€no€dispute€over€the€evidenceÏestablishing€the€facts€that€control€the€application€of€a€rule€of€law,€summaryÏjudgment€is€an€appropriate€means€of€deciding€such€issues€as€whether€anÏaction€is€barred€by€the€applicable€statute€of€limitations€or€by€òòres€judicataóó;Ïwhether€a€party€has€standing;€or€whether€the€court€has€jurisdiction.€€òòBerryÏv.€Consolidated€Systems,€Inc.óó,€804€€S.W.2d€€445€(Tenn.€1991).Ìà àà àAppellate€review€of€€a€summary€judgment€order€is€alsoÏgoverned€by€Rule€56.€€òòDownen€v.€Allstate€Ins.€Co.óó,€811€€S.W.2d€€523€(Tenn.Ï1991).€€Consequently,€there€is€no€presumption€of€correctness.Ìà àà àThe€complaint€in€this€case€contains€a€claim€that€the€injuryÍoccurred€gradually€over€a€period€of€time€and€suggests€an€injury€date€ofÏFebruary€28,€1994.€€The€answer€admits€the€claimant€was€employed€by€theÏdefendant€on€that€date,€but€we€find€no€assertion€that€the€claim€is€barred€byÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„203.Ìà àà àThe€claimant's€discovery€deposition€contains€undisputedÏevidence€that€she€began€having€work„related€pain€in€1992€and€that€theÏemployer€informed€her€that€she€was€not€entitled€to€workers'€compensationÏbenefits.€€We€find€in€the€record€no€answers€to€interrogatories,€admissions€orÏaffidavits.Ìà àà àAn€action€by€an€employee€to€recover€benefits€for€an€accidentalÏinjury,€other€than€an€occupational€disease,€must€be€commenced€within€oneÏyear€after€the€occurrence€of€the€injury.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€sections€50„6„203Ïand€50„6„224(1).€€However,€the€running€of€these€statutes€of€limitation€isÏsuspended€until€by€reasonable€care€and€diligence€it€is€discoverable€andÏapparent€that€a€compensable€injury€has€been€sustained.€€òòHibner€v.€St.€PaulÏMercury€Ins.€Co.óó,€619€€S.W.2d€€109€(Tenn.€1981).€€It€is€the€date€on€whichÏthe€employee's€òòdisabilityóó€manifests€itself€to€a€person€of€reasonable€diligenceÏ„€not€the€date€of€accident€„€which€triggers€the€running€of€the€statute€ofÏlimitations€for€an€accidental€injury.€€òòIdóó.Ìà àà àThe€record€on€appeal€fails€to€establish€that€the€claimant'sÏdisability€manifested€itself€more€than€one€year€before€this€action€wasÏcommenced.Ìà àà àA€condition€which€develops€gradually€over€a€period€of€timeÏresulting€in€a€definite,€work„connected,€unexpected,€fortuitous€injury,€isÏcompensable€as€an€injury€by€accident.€€òòBrown€Shoe€Co.€v.€Reedóó,€209€€Tenn.€Ï106,€€350€€S.W.2d€€65€(1961).€€For€the€purpose€of€determining€whether€theÏclaim€is€time„barred,€the€date€of€injury€may€be€fixed€as€the€date€on€whichÏthe€claimant€was€forced€to€quit€work€because€of€severe€pain.€€òòBarker€v.ÏHome„Crest€Corp.óó,€805€€S.W.2d€€373,€374.€€From€our€review,€there€appearsÏto€be€a€genuine€issue€as€to€when€that€occurred.Ìà àà àWe€note€from€the€claimant's€deposition€that€the€employer€mayÏhave€knowingly,€willfully€and€intentionally€caused€her€medical€claim€to€beÏpaid€by€its€group€health€insurance€provider,€instead€of€workers'Ïcompensation,€in€violation€of€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„128.€€If€so,€theÏemployer€may€be€subject€to€the€penalty€provided€therein.€€Since€the€case€isÏbeing€remanded€for€trial,€counsel€for€the€claimant€may€wish€to€inquireÏfurther€about€it.Ìà àà àAccordingly,€we€conclude€the€employer€is€not€entitled€toÏjudgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€The€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€reversed€andÏthe€case€remanded€to€the€Circuit€Court€for€Shelby€County.€€Costs€on€appealÏare€taxed€to€the€defendants„appellees.Ó *bÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓ_______________________________Ó ÓÌÓ  Ó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Joe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€JudgeÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌLyle€Reid,€Associate€JusticeÌÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌCornelia€A.€Clark,€JudgeÌÑ€.ÑÇÑ ` ÑÔ€Ôà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€JACKSONÔ€XÔÌÌÌÓ#` p…X LÐ X#ÓMARY€A.€MARSHALL,à àà à)à àSHELBY€CIRCUITÌÓ#` p` LÐ X#Óà à)à àNO.€68101„7€T.D.ÌÓ` p` ¸ ’XÓà àPlaintiff/Appellant,à à)à àÌÓ#` p` ¸ LÐ X#Óà àà à)à àHon.€Irma€Merrill,Ìvs.à àà à)à àSpecial€JudgeÌà àà à)ÌBLUE€CROSS/BLUE€SHIELD€OF€MEMPHIS,à à)à à02S01„9606„CV„00058Ìand€BLUE€CROSS/BLUE€SHIELD,€IPA€APPLEà à)ÌßJ€+/;+'b|VA` Å `€@ÿJßPLAN€MEMPHIS,€ALSO€KNOWN€AS€SOUTHERNà à)ÌHEALTH€PLAN,€INC.,à à)Ìà àà à)Ìà àDefendant/Appellees.à à)à àREVERSED€ANDÌà àà à)à àREMANDED.ÌÌÌÌà@ àÔ€¼ÔJUDGMENT€ORDERÔ€XÔÌÌÓÓÓ  ÓÌÓ` p`  ’XÓà 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€conclusions€ofÏlaw,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference.Ìà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€OpinionÏof€the€Panel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€andÍconclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€isÏmade€the€judgment€of€the€Court.Ìà àCosts€will€be€paid€by€Appellees,€for€which€execution€may€issue€ifÏnecessary.Ìà àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€this€23rd€day€of€January,€1997.ÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌ(Reid,€J.,€not€participating)ÌÌÌÌÔ€ÔÔ€¼Ô