ÿWPC—+ ÆU1Bä %& U., rZ 0Ì Yn¯i 0rŠÆŠÆPÆÆÜÆ¢w@h4¨ 0J¼ 0T 0^Z 0h¸ 0r  0|’ 0† 0” 1u$ 0d™ Bý$3B)W D3€DC³ AOö 0@E 0K…-Ðfý 0c!v~“"vÓ$ D+ä) AO* 0D^* D/¢* BÑ* A©î*ô\  `*Times New RomanTTô"ÝÆÿA€ArialTT'    0 .   (e2V$©©Ý ƒ ‡!ÝÔ€XãXôôÔÔ€XHKXXXãÔÓ  ÓÝ  Ý3|x1«ô\  `*Times New RomanTTôôCô\  PŽ6QôP"ÝÆÿA€ArialTTomanTTXXaÝÆÿptQXpô\  `*Times New RomanTT¼¼^ô\  PŽ6Q¼Pô\  `*Times New RomanTT,,)ô\  PŽ6Q,Pô\  `*Times New RomanTTXXPô\  PŽ6QXPô\  `*Times New RomanTT  kô\  PŽ6Q Pô\  `*Times New RomanTT6ô\  PŽ6QP(J‡$¡¡Ô€X„mXôôÔÔ€XÞ’XXX„mÔÓ  ÓLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 DEEDDÓ€%Ó€1·‚^!(Ôô»2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ d Ý ƒ !ÝÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ 8 ÒÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ@  ÔÚ  ÚÚ  ÚÔA  ÔÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓ Ý ƒ !ÝÑ  ÑÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ 8 ÒÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÔ@  ÔÚ  ÚÚ  ÚÔA  ÔÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓ% Line 7 d%%%%'ÿÿdxd))))7Border 1dd-.+Cþÿ << Gÿÿ("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó #Ý ƒ !ÝÑ  ÑÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€XÔÌÌò òFebruary€21,€1997ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó \Ñ\R AØ'\Ñ &Ý ƒ !ÝÓ ÓÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€XÔÌÌò òFebruary€21,€1997ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó óPtPtHHøHÿöÿòV,(ühhØ hd'0ÿÎÿºF ® Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva Ò'ÈÈÈÈdxd-‚ƒCþÿ<< Cÿÿ($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd -.:›&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ !ÝÔ . 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€PANELÌÙ€ÙßR€,/+A1-j|` Å `€€@ÿRßÌAT€KNOXVILLEÌ(December€3,€1996€Session)ÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓALAN€LEE€PRESSLEY,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€,Ô€€Ô€¼Ô€€)€€€€€ROANE€CHANCERYÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€XÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellee,€€€€€€Ô€ Ô€Ô€¼Ô€)€€€€€Hon.€Frank€V.€Williams,€III,Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€)€€€€€Chancellor.Ìv.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€XÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€Ô€Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€ôÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€€€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€)€€€€€No.€03S01„9606„CH„00058ÌUNITED€STATES€FIDELITY€AND€€€€€)ÌGUARANTY€COMPANY,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€Ô€Ô€¼Ô€Ô€XÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Defendant„Appellant.€€Ô€XÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€€€)ÌÌÌÌòòFor€Appellantóó:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òòFor€Appellee:óóÌÌDaryl€R.€Fansler€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Jennifer€P.€CraigÌFansler€&€Williams€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Moore€&€SmithÌKnoxville,€Tennessee€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€€€€€€€€€Knoxville,€TennesseeòòÌóóÌÌÌòòÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÌÌÌÌÌòòMembers€of€Panelóó:ÌÌE.€Riley€Anderson,€Associate€Justice,€Supreme€CourtÌRoger€E.€Thayer,€Special€JudgeÌJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÌÌÔ'  ÔÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓÌÓ  ÓAFFIRMED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Loser,ÏJudgeÓ 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,€theÏemployer's€insurer€contends€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€trialÏcourt's€finding€that€the€employee€has€suffered€an€injury€arising€out€of€theÏemployment.€€As€discussed€below,€the€panel€has€concluded€the€judgmentÏshould€be€affirmed.Ìà àà àThe€employee€or€claimant,€Pressley,€was€thirty„eight€years€oldÏat€the€time€of€the€trial.€€He€has€an€eighth€grade€education,€but€had€to€repeatÏthe€second,€fifth€and€seventh€grades.€€He€has€worked€as€a€bag€boy€andÏservice€station€attendant.€€He€began€working€as€a€mechanic€for€The€AutoÏPlace€in€1988.€€On€the€afternoon€of€October€4,€1994,€he€was€attempting€toÏinstall€a€gasoline€tank€on€a€vehicle€when€his€back€made€a€popping€noise€andÏhe€felt€low€back€pain.Ìà àà àLater€the€same€day,€he€reported€to€the€emergency€room€atÏHarriman€City€Hospital.€€The€history€recorded€by€the€admitting€clerkÏreflects€the€claimant€had€been€suffering€back€pain€for€about€a€year,€but€theÏclaimant's€wife€testified€at€trial€that€she€told€the€clerk€about€the€injury€thatÏhad€occurred€at€work€the€same€day.€€The€claimant€did€not€return€to€workÏthe€next€day€because€of€back€pain.Ìà àà àFour€days€later,€the€claimant€reported€to€the€emergency€roomÏat€Oak€Ridge€Methodist€Medical€Center.€€The€clerk's€notes€at€this€hospitalÏindicate€the€pain€began€five€days€earlier€as€the€claimant€was€getting€out€ofÏbed,€although€the€claimant's€live€testimony€is€that€he€explained€to€the€personÏtaking€his€history€about€the€injury€at€work.Ìà àà àHe€was€thereafter€treated€by€Dr.€Hardigree,€who€released€himÏto€return€to€work€after€a€conservative€treatment€and€a€short€period€ofÏdisability.€€We€do€not€find€in€the€record€the€testimony€of€Dr.€Hardigree,€butÏhis€office€notes,€which€were€read€into€the€record€by€Dr.€Bell,€state€that€theÏclaimant€gave€Dr.€Hardigree€a€history€of€having€suffered€a€sharp€pain€in€hisÏback€and€left€leg€while€lifting€a€gas€tank.€€Moreover,€the€claimant's€ownÏtestimony€is€corroborated€in€part€by€Barry€Wright,€a€part€owner€of€theÏemployer.Ìà àà àThe€claimant€returned€to€work,€but€was€unable€to€perform€hisÏduties€satisfactorily,€because€of€pain.€€In€November€of€the€same€year,€he€wasÏreferred€to€Dr.€John€Bell,€who€ordered€diagnostic€tests€and€diagnosed€lowÍback€strain€with€a€small€disc€herniation€and€possible€left€lumbar€nerve€rootÏirritation.Ìà àà àDr.€Bell€expressed€two€different€opinions€as€to€whether€theÏclaimant's€injury€was€work„related.€€On€the€Standard€Form€Medical€ReportÏfor€Industrial€Injuries,€which€was€based€on€information€provided€by€theÏclaimant,€he€indicated€the€injury,€more€probably€than€not,€was€one€arisingÏout€of€the€claimant's€employment.€€In€response€to€cross„examination,€in€hisÏdeposition,€he€opined€on€the€basis€of€the€emergency€room€reports€that€theÏcondition€was€probably€not€work€related.€€Both€sides€contend€the€issue€ofÏcausation€turns€on€the€testimony€of€Dr.€Bell.Ìà àà àThe€trial€court€found€in€favor€of€the€claimant.€€AppellateÏreview€is€de€novo€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€aÏpresumption€of€correctness€of€the€findings€of€fact,€unless€the€preponderanceÏof€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„225(e)(2).€€ThisÏtribunal€is€required€to€conduct€an€independent€examination€of€the€record€toÏdetermine€where€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€lies.€€òòWingert€v.ÏGovernment€of€Sumner€Countyóó,€908€€S.W.2d€€921€(Tenn.€1995).€€Where€theÏtrial€judge€has€seen€and€heard€the€witnesses,€especially€if€issues€of€credibilityÏand€weight€to€be€given€oral€testimony€are€involved,€considerable€deferenceÏmust€be€accorded€those€circumstances€on€review.€€òòMcCaleb€v.€Saturn€Corp.óó,Ï910€€S.W.2d€€412€(Tenn.€1995).Ìà àà àUnless€admitted€by€the€employer,€the€employee€has€the€burdenÍof€proving,€by€competent€evidence,€every€essential€element€of€his€claim.€ÏòòOster€v.€Yatesóó,€845€€S.W.2d€€215€(Tenn.€1992).€€In€order€to€establish€theÏelement€that€the€injury€was€one€arising€out€of€the€employment,€the€cause€ofÏthe€injury€must€be€proved.€€Causation€may€only€be€established€by€expertÏmedical€testimony,€except€in€the€most€obvious€cases.€€òòKellerman€v.€FoodÏLion,€Inc.óó,€929€€S.W.2d€€333€(Tenn.€1996).Ìà àà àIt€is€implicit€in€the€trial€court's€finding€that€he€accepted€theÏtestimony€of€the€claimant€and€his€corroborating€witnesses,€who€testifiedÏorally,€as€to€when€and€how€the€injury€occurred.€€It€follows€that€Dr.€Bell'sÏreport€establishes€the€necessary€causal€connection.ÌÓÓà àà àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€therefore€affirmed.€€Costs€onÏappeal€are€taxed€to€the€defendant„appellant.Ó *bÓÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓ_______________________________Ó ÓÌÓ  Ó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Joe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€JudgeÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌE.€Riley€Anderson,€Associate€JusticeÌÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌRoger€E.€Thayer,€JudgeÌÑ€0ÑÇÒ  ÒÒ 8 Òà àà àà àÌà àà àà àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌßJ€,1;+'b|30` Å `€@ÿJßà àà àà àà à€€€€€€€€€€AT€KNOXVILLEÌÌÌÒ S ÒÒ 8 ÒALAN€LEE€PRESSLEY,à à€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€€€€€ROANE€CHANCERYà àà àà àà àà à€à àÏà à€à à€)à àNo.€12,662€€à àà à€€à à€Plaintiff/Appellee,à àà àà àÏ)à à€à à€à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€)à àHon.€Frank€V.€Williams,€IIIà àÌvs.à àà àà àà àà àà à€)à àChancellorÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€)à àà à.Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€)à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€)à à03S01„9606„CH„00068ÌUNITED€STATES€FIDELITY€ANDà à€)€ÌGUARANTY€€COMPANY,à à€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€)Ìà à€Defendant/Appellantà àà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€à àà àà àà à€Ô€îÔÌÌÓffÓà àà àà à€€€€€€€€€€€òòJUDGMENT€ORDERóóÌÌà àà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,Ïincluding€the€order€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workerðð€CompensationÏPanel,€and€the€Panelððs€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findingsÏof€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€byÏreference;Ìà àÌà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€MemorandumÏOpinion€of€the€Panel€should€be€accepted€and€approved€;€andÌÌà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€findings€of€act€andÏconclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€theÏPanel€is€made€the€Judgment€of€the€Court.ÌÌà àCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€defendant/appellant,€UnitedÏStates€Fidelity€And€Guaranty€Company,€for€which€execution€mayÏissue€if€necessary.€€Ì€02/21/97à àà àà àà àà àà àÌÔ€¼Ô