ÿWPCL 0# °U:» %õ 0(û4#7Fw@NŽŽ 0JŽ 0TØ 0^, 0hŠ 0rò 0|d 0†à 0f 1uö 0dkU *Ï AQùÆJ 0D 0@T 0D” B)Ø D/ B0 BM D3j DC AMà ç- ç v~û vÓy˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLüÏ,†r‰AZ‹"Arial RegularX($¡¡¢VK!lar3|x¶ ¤™¥P¦P§¨P©EªÓ€´µV¶î2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Arial!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó% Line 7 d(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxd%%%%7Border 1dd!#*Cþÿ << Gÿÿ ÝÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€XÔÌÌOctober€17,€1996ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó ÝÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€XÔÌÌOctober€17,€1996ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó óPtPtHPð€ÿÜÿìô”(üHPð€P € €'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  BA Op Geneva ÒÒ  BA Op Geneva ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÝ  ÝÒ € ÒÒ Ð ÒÙ€!ÙÓ  ÓÑ  Ñò òÑ\R AØ'\ÑßL€+,*;+'h|ÿ` ç `€€LßIN›€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€PANELÌAT€NASHVILLEÌÓ  ÓÌÌÌÌœ›Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌSHIRLEY€DIANE€TRAIL,à àà à€à à)à àFRANKLIN€CHANCERYÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌà àPlaintiff/Appellee,à àà àà à)à àNo.€œ01SO1„9505„CH„00071(B)›Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àNo.€Below€à àœ13,720›€€Ìv.à àà àà àà àà àà à)à àà àà àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àà àà àà àÌROYAL€INSURANCE€COMPANYà à)à àHON.€JEFFREY€F.€STEWARTÌand€CKR€INDUSTRIES,€INC.,à àà à)à àCHANCELLORÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àDefendants/Appellants.à àà à)ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌòòFor€the€Appellant:à àà àà àà àà àFor€the€Appellee:óóó óÌÌRandolph€A.€Veazeyà àà àà àà àClinton€H.€SwaffordÌConnie€Jonesà àà àà àà àà àSWAFFORD,€PETERS€&€PRIESTÌGLASGOW€&€VEAZEYà àà àà àà à100€First€Avenue,€SWÌWashington€Squareà àà àà àà àWinchester,€Tennessee€37398Ì222€Second€Avenue€North,€Suite€312ÌP.€O.€Box€198681ÌNashville,€Tennessee€37219„8681ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌò òÌÓ  ÓòòœMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óóó›ÌÌÌÌò òòòMembers€of€the€Paneló ó:óóÌÌJustice€Frank€Drowota,€IIIÌSenior€Judge€John€K.€ByersÌSpecial€Judge€Robert€L.€ChildersÌÓ  ÓÌÌò òÌÌÌœAFFIRMED.›à àà àà àà àà àà àà àœCHILDERS,›€Special€Judgeó óÌÌÓÓà àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workers'ÏCompensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€òòTenn.€Code€Ann.óó€ððÏ50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law.€€€Our€review€is€òòde€novoóó€on€the€record€accompanied€by€the€presumptionÏthat€the€findings€of€fact€of€the€trial€court€are€correct€unless€the€evidence€preponderatesÏotherwise.€€òòTenn.€Code€Ann.óó€ðð€50„6„225(e)(2).€Ìà àThe€trial€court€awarded€Ms.€€Trail€$19,421.00€permanent€partial€disability€benefits,Ïrepresenting€one„hundreed€(100)€weeks€at€the€benefit€rate€of€$194.21€per€week,€or€twenty„five€percent€(25%)€to€the€body€as€a€whole;€and€future€medical€benefits€pursuant€to€œtheÏTennessee€Workersðð€Compensation€Act.›€€The€trial€court€also€allowed€attorneys€fees€of€twentyÏpercent€(20%)€of€the€award,€in€the€amount€of€$3,884.20,€to€be€paid€in€a€lump€sum.Ìà àThe€Appellant€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in:ÌÓÓà àà à1.€€à àFinding€that€a€vocational€disability€based€upon€a€permanentÏœà àà àà àmedical›€œrestriction,›€with€medical€testimony€of€no€medicalÏœà àà àà àà àimpairment›€rating€in€œaccordance›€with€the€œA.M.A.›€Guidelines€forÏœà àà àà àEvaluation›€of€Permanent€œImpairment,›€constitutes€a€compensableÏœà àà àà àpermanent›€partial€disability€œunder›€the€Workers'€Compensation€Act.ÌÌà àà à2.à àAwarding€permanent€partial€disability€benefits€to€the€Plaintiff€thatÏœà àà àà àwere›€œexcessive›€and€against€the€weight€of€the€evidence.ÌÌà àWe€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.ÌÌÓÓà àMs.€Trail€filed€her€complaint€in€the€Chancery€Court€for€Franklin€County,€Tennessee,Ïagainst€her€employer,€Defendant€CKR€Industries,€seeking€to€recover€unpaid€benefits€underÏthe€Tennessee€Workers'€Compensation€Act€for€work„related€injuries.€€Ms.€Trail€alleged€thatÏshe€suffered€injuries€as€a€result€of€exposure€to€chemicals€in€use€at€the€CKR€Plant.€€The€caseÏwas€consolidated€with€three€(3)€other€cases€for€trial€due€to€significant€similarities€in€the€cases.€ÏThe€opinion€of€the€Court€on€the€first€issue€is€contained€in€the€case€of€òòAngela€K.€Hill€v.€RoyalÏInsurance€Company€and€CKR€Industries,€Inc.,€No.€œ01S01„9505„CH„0071,€óófiledÏsimultaneously€with€this€opinion.€€The€Court€held€that€the€trial€court€did€not€err€in€finding€that€aÏvocational€disability€existed€based€upon€the€testimony€of€the€medical€experts€that€aÏpermanent€medical€restriction€existed€which€constitutes€a€permanent€partial€disability€underÏthe€Workerððs€Compensation€Act,€even€though€no€medical€impairment€rating€was€given€by€anyÏof€the€medical€experts.›Ìà àAs€to€the€second€issue,€the€Appellants€argue€that€the€amount€of€permanent€partialÏdisability€awarded€to€Ms.€Trail€was€excessive€and€against€the€weight€of€the€evidence.€€Ms.ÏTrail€is€thirty„nine€(39)€years€old€and€has€a€ninth€grade€education.€Her€work€experienceÏincludes€working€at€Jack€Daniels€Distillery€and€as€a€sewing€machine€operator.Ìà àMs.€Trail€worked€on€a€notching€machine,€notching€rubber€pieces€at€CKR.€€In€theÏcourse€of€her€employment,€she€was€moved€to€the€spraying€booth€right€beside€the€MucoteÏspray€operation.€€She€subsequently€broke€out€in€a€rash€all€over€her€arms,€chest,€face,€andÏlegs€and€began€suffering€from€headaches,€nausea,€and€a€burning€sensation€in€her€lungs.€ÍMs.€Trail€testified€that€she€suffered€from€memory€loss,€could€not€remember€where€things€wereÏin€her€house,€could€not€drive€a€car,€and€felt€like€she€had€been€asleep.€Ìà àAt€the€trial€Ms.€Trail€also€testified€that€since€her€termination€from€employment€by€CKRÏshe€has€suffered€from€headaches€and€had€a€burning€sensation€in€her€nose€when€she€hasÏbeen€around€a€tow€motor.€€She€also€has€become€sick€or€felt€a€burning€sensation€on€her€faceÏwhen€she€has€been€around€perfume€with€a€œstrong›€odor€or€ammonia.€€On€various€occassionsÏMs.€Trail€has€also€been€required€to€go€to€the€clinic€to€receive€a€shot€€to€diminish€her€adverseÏreaction€to€these€substances.Ìà àDr.€Worthington€treated€Ms.€Trail€and€determined€that€she€was€suffering€from€loss€ofÏmemory€and€unconsciousness€and€concluded€that€Ms.€Trail€was€suffering€from€aÏneurological€problem.€€Dr.€Worthington€referred€her€to€Dr.€Clinton€who€indicated€that€sheÏsuffered€from€toxic€encephalopathy€due€to€exposure€to€Mucote.€€Dr.€Worthington€opined€thatÏMs.€Trail€suffered€no€permanent€physical€impairment€as€a€result€of€her€exposure€€and€advisedÏher€that€she€should€avoid€contact€with€the€chemicals€causing€her€reaction.Ìà àMr.€Edwards,€a€vocational€consultant€with€over€twenty€years€experience,€testified€onÏMs.€Trail's€behalf€at€trial.€He€testified€that€the€chemicals€causing€Ms.€Hill's€problems,€orÏchemicals€similar€to€those,€are€found€in€twenty„five€percent€(25%)€of€the€work€places.€€HeÏopined€that€in€his€experience€an€individual€with€a€respiratory€insult€should€not€work€in€anÏindustrial€environment€that€has€respiratory€irritants.€€He€also€conducted€an€evaluation€of€Ms.ÏTrail€to€access€industrial€disability.€€His€opinion€was€that€she€suffered€a€seventy€(70%)€toÏninety€percent€(90%)€industrial€wage€earning€€loss.€Ìà àOnce€causation€and€permanency€have€been€established€by€expert€medical€testimony,Ïthe€trial€judge€may€consider€many€pertinent€factors,€including€age,€job€skills,€education,Ítraining,€duration€of€disability,€anatomical€disabilities€established€by€medical€experts,€and€jobÏopportunities€available€to€a€worker€with€those€anatomical€disabilities,€to€determine€the€extentÏof€the€workerððs€industrial€disability.€€òòWorthington€v.€Modine€Manufacturing€Co.,€óó798€S.W.€2dÏ232,€234€(Tenn.€1990).€€Even€where€an€expert€testifies€as€to€vocational€disability,€the€trialÏjudge€is€not€required€to€accept€without€reservation€the€expertððs€opinion,€but€is€charged€withÏmaking€an€independent€evaluation€based€on€the€factors€above.€€òòMiles€v.€Liberty€MutualÏInsurance€Co.,€óó795€S.W.€2d€665,€666€(Tenn.€1990).€€à àThe€evidence€does€notÏpreponderate€against€the€trial€court's€finding€that€Ms.€Trail€€suffered€a€twenty„five€percentÏ(25%)€vocational€disability.Ìà àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€are€assessed€to€the€Appellants.€€WeÏremand€the€case€to€the€trial€court€for€the€entry€of€any€order€necessary€to€carry€out€thisÏjudgment.Ìœ›ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àœ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ïà àà àà àà àà àà à______________________________________›Ìà àà àà àà àà àœRobert›€L.€Childers,€Special€JudgeÌÓÓÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÓÓ________________________________ÌFrank€F.€Drowota,€III,€JusticeÌÓÓÌÓÓ________________________________ÌJohn€K.€Byers,€Senior€œJudgeÇÒ  ÒÒ £ ÒòòÔ€¼ÔßJ€+-;+'b|Šÿ` ç `€@ÿJßà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌÌSHIRLEY€DIANE€TRAIL,à àà à}à àFRANKLIN€CHANCERYÌà àà àà àà àà àà à}à àNo.€13,720€BelowÌà àPlaintiff/Appelleeà àà àà à}Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à}à àHon.€Jeffrey€F.€Stewart,Ìvs.à àà àà àà àà àà à}à àChancellorÌà àà àà àà àà àà à}ÌROYAL€INSURANCE€COMPANYà à}à àNo.€01S01„9505„CH„00071(B)Ìand€CKR€INDUSTRIES,€INC.,à àà à}Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à}Ìà àDefendants/Appellantsà àà à}à àAFFIRMED.€€ÌÌÌà@ àJUDGMENT€ORDERÌÌÌÓ€Óà àà 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 àà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€Opinion€ofÏthe€Panel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌà àà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€madeÏthe€judgment€of€the€Court.ÌÓ ` ` šXÓà àà àCosts€will€be€paid€by€appellants€and€their€surety€for€which€executionÏmay€issue€if€necessary.ÌÓÓà àà àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€on€October€17,€1996.ÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌóóÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÔ€XÔ›