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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€TENNESSEEÌÌSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÌÙ€€ÙßR€/0.A1-j|` Å `€€@ÿRßAT€KNOXVILLEÌ(July€3,€1996€Session)ÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓFIREMAN'S€FUND€INSURANCE€€€€€€€)€€€€€HAMBLEN€CHANCERYÌCOMPANY,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€ôÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€Ô€Ô€XÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellee,€€€€€Ô€ôÔ€€€€Ô€¼Ô€)€€€€€Hon.€Dennis€H.€Inman,Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€€€€)€€€€€Chancellor.Ìv.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€XÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€Ô€Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€ôÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€€€Ô€ôÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€)€€€€€No.€03S01„9601„CH„00008ÌTAYLOR€BARTON€MILLS,€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€Ô€Ô€¼Ô€Ô€XÔ€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Defendant„Appellant.€€€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€€)ÌÌÌÌòòFor€Appellantóó:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òòFor€Appellee:ÌóóÌSherman€Ames€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€David€N.€WedekingÌGillenwater,€Nichol€&€Ames€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Amy€V.€HollarsÌKnoxville,€Tennessee€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Hodges,€Doughty€&€CarsonÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Knoxville,€TennesseeÌÌÌòòÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÌÌÌÌÌòòMembers€of€Panelóó:ÌÌPenny€J.€White,€Associate€Justice,€Supreme€CourtÌRoger€E.€Thayer,€Special€JudgeÌJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÌÌÔ'  ÔÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓÌÓ  ÓREVERSED€AND€REMANDED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Loser,€JudgeÓ ¹ ÓÌòòÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓMEMORANDUM€OPINIONóóÓ rAÓÌÓ€ÓÓ  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€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€trial€court'sÏfinding€that€his€injury€was€caused€by€intoxication.€€The€panel€concludes€theÏjudgment€should€be€reversed.Ìà àà àOn€February€15,€1995,€the€employee€or€claimant,€Mills,€wasÏworking€at€his€job€as€a€machinist€using€a€large€lathe€to€bore€a€specificallyÏsized€hole€into€a€fifty€inch€bull€gear.€€After€stopping€the€lathe€to€take€aÏmeasurement,€he€accidentally€„€perhaps€negligently€„€brushed€against€theÏlathe's€starter€button.€€The€lathe€started€and€the€claimant's€clothing€wasÏcaught€in€the€turning€lathe.€€As€a€result,€he€was€injured.Ìà àà àTests€done€at€the€University€of€Tennessee€Medical€CenterÏshortly€after€the€accident€revealed€a€high€level€of€cannaboid€concentrationÍfrom€probable€chronic€use€of€marijuana.€€The€claimant€admits€to€being€aÏchronic€user€of€marijuana€and€had€admittedly€smoked€two€or€three€"joints"Ïon€the€evening€before€the€accident.Ìà àà àAdditionally,€two€witnesses€testified€that€they€thought€they€sawÏhim€from€some€one€hundred€feet€away,€sharing€a€joint€with€anotherÏemployee€on€the€morning€of€the€accident,€before€beginning€work.€€TheÏclaimant€and€other€employee€denied€it.€€The€employer€knew€Mills€was€aÏheavy€marijuana€user€and€had€fired€him€for€thirty€days€on€a€previousÏoccasion€for€"suspected"€use€of€the€substance,€but€re„hired€him€30€days€laterÏat€a€higher€rate€of€pay.Ìà àà àAn€expert,€without€examining€the€claimant,€opined€from€lab€testÏresults€that€marijuana€intoxication€was€a€possible€contributing€cause€of€hisÏaccidental€injury.€€Witnesses€who€observed€the€claimant€working€before€theÏinjury,€testified€without€equivocation€that€he€did€not€appear€to€them€to€beÏintoxicated€and€was€operating€the€lathe€normally.€€The€claimant€denied€beingÏintoxicated,€but€was€wearing€an€oversized€and€bulky€sweater€which€the€latheÏfirst€caught.Ìà àà àDespite€his€addiction,€the€trial€judge€observed,€"Mr.€Mills€inÏpractically€every€sense€is€an€employer's€dream€employee.€€He€doesn't€reportÏto€work€early,€he€reports€to€work€hours€early.€€He's€paid€on€an€hourly€rate,Ïyet€he€goes€in€the€supervisor's€office€looking€for€work.€€He€exercisedÏinitiative,€he€was€a€self„motivator...."Ìà àà àThe€trial€court€found€that€intoxication€was€a€proximateÏcontributing€cause€and,€based€on€the€statute,€disallowed€the€employee's€claimÏfor€workers'€compensation€benefits.€€Appellate€review€is€de€novo€upon€theÏrecord€of€the€trial€judge,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctness€ofÏthe€findings€of€fact,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€ÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„225(e)(2).€€This€tribunal€is€required€toÏconduct€an€independent€examination€of€the€record€to€determine€where€theÏpreponderance€of€the€evidence€lies.€€òòWingert€v.€Government€of€SumnerÏCountyóó,€908€€S.W.2d€€921€(Tenn.€1995).Ìà àà àIt€has€long€been€the€rule€in€Tennessee€that€workers'Ïcompensation€benefits€are€payable€without€regard€to€the€fault€of€theÏemployer€or€the€care€exercised€by€the€employee.€€òòMorrison€v.€TennesseeÏConsolidated€Coal€Co.óó,€162€€Tenn.€€523,€€39€€S.W.2d€€272€(1931);€€òòLincolnÏMemorial€University€v.€Suttonóó,€163€€Tenn.€€298,€€43€€S.W.2d€€195€(1931).€ÏOne€of€the€purposes€of€the€Workers'€Compensation€Act€is€to€provide€theÏinjured€worker€with€compensation€for€his€loss€of€earning€capacity€withoutÏimposing€on€him€the€burden€of€establishing€liability€under€traditionalÏprinciples€of€negligence.€€òòCrane€Company€v.€Jamiesonóó,€€192€€Tenn.€41,€237€ÏS.W.2d€€546€(1951).€€Another€is€to€place€upon€industry,€rather€than€society,Ïthe€ultimate€cost€of€risks€incident€to,€and€injuries€and€death€resulting€from,Ïthe€production€and€distribution€of€goods€and€services.€€òòFranklin€v.€Stone€andÏWebster€Engineeringóó,€€183€€Tenn.€€155,€€191€€S.W.2d€€431€(1946).€ÏCommon€law€defenses€which€exist€in€tort€actions€are€not€available€for€claimsÏunder€the€Workers'€Compensation€Act.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„101Ïòòet€seqóó.Ìà àà àNotwithstanding€those€principles,€an€employer€may€refuse€toÏpay€workers'€compensation€benefits€for€an€injury€or€death€due€to€theÏemployee's€willful€or€intentional€self„inflicted€injury,€or€due€to€intoxicationÏor€willful€refusal€to€use€a€safety€appliance€or€perform€a€duty€required€byÏlaw.€€Tenn€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„110.€€In€order€to€defeat€an€injuredÏemployee's€claim€for€benefits€because€of€intoxication,€the€employer€mustÏprove€that€the€employee€had€voluntarily€become€intoxicated€and€suchÏintoxication€was€the€proximate€cause€of€the€injury€or€death.€€òòOverall€v.ÏSouthern€Subaru€Star,€Inc.óó,€545€€S.W.2d€€1€(Tenn.€1976).€€Moreover,€it€hasÏbeen€held€that€scientific€evidence€that€the€employee's€blood€contained€a€highÏlevel€of€intoxicants€is€insufficient€to€establish€intoxication€as€the€proximateÏcause.€€òòGentry€v.€The€Lilly€Co.óó,€225€€Tenn.€€708,€€476€€S.W.2d€€252€(1971);€ÏòòWooten€Transports,€Inc.€v.€Hunteróó,€535€€S.W.2d€€858€(Tenn.€1976).Ìà àà àIn€light€of€the€undisputed€proof€that€the€claimant€was€operatingÏthe€machine€normally€immediately€before€the€accident€and€from€aÏconsideration€of€the€above€principles€of€law,€the€panel€concludes€that€theÏevidence€preponderates€against€the€trial€court's€finding€of€intoxication€as€theÏproximate€cause€of€the€claimant's€injury.€€The€judgment€of€the€trial€court€isÏaccordingly€reversed€and€the€case€remanded€to€the€trial€court€for€suchÏfurther€proceedings€as€may€be€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€Costs€on€appealÏare€taxed€to€the€plaintiff„appellee.Ó *bÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓ_______________________________Ó ÓÌÓ  Ó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Joe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€JudgeÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌPenny€J.€White,€Associate€JusticeÌÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌRoger€E.€Thayer,€JudgeÌÇÖ€1ÖÑ  ÑÔ&  ÔÖ€2ÖÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÌÔ'  ÔÌ›Ñ h ÑÒ € ÒÒ 8 ÒÒ € ÒÒ À ÒÔ€ÔÑ€3ÑǜԀ4ÔÔ€4&ÔN›€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌœAT›€KNOXVILLEÌÌÓ  ÓÌFIREMAN'S€FUND€INSURANCE€œà àà à)›ÌCOMPANY,à àà àà àà àà à)Ò € ÒÒ h Ò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à àà à)ÏHamblen€Chancery,€No.€94„82ÌÒ € ÒÒ jÿ Ò€€Plaintiff„Appellee,à àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)€Hon.€Dennis€H.€Inman,à àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àœ)›ÏChancellorÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌV.à àà àà àà àà àà à)€No.€03S01„9601„CH„00008€€€€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)€ÌTAYLOR€BARTON€MILLS,à àà àœ)›€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ì€€Defendant„Appellant.à àà à)€REVERSED€AND€REMANDED.Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌÌÒ € ÒÒ ² Òà@ àòòJUDGMENT€ORDERóóÌÌÌÓÓœ›à àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€motion€for€reviewÏpursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(5)(B),€the€entireÏrecord,€including€the€order€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workers'ÏCompensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel's€Memorandum€OpinionÏsetting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€whichÏare€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ìà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€forÏreview€is€not€well€taken€and€should€be€denied;€andÌà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€factÏand€conclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decisionÏof€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€of€the€Court.€Ìà àCosts€will€be€paid€by€œplaintiff„appellee,›€for€whichÏexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÓÓà àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€this€___€day€of€December,€1996.ÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌÌÌWhite,€J.€„€Not€participating.ÓÓÔ€4¼ÔÔ€ÔœÌ