WPC9 | ~.>j ,J j'- jܫ%U"Q+E]ŢxMK+_(ŔReOIQ嵤ogѼɽOFs\(eM/^q,]Xq YI;&6K `,21S]gV# *Nwn[\2Zc)l/ %hFZiH 2LywO׬%jYĘ|S"8P:g\x'RgDt.R"XxgƷߗO!`р{0Hy.#=dܭH uG Q|׶ivnNՙ)}TE@O NH#! U :# %] 0(c w@ 4   m &U :-bg:oU:U:T1 0DLLiU:oU:N AQ< 0D 0DF 0D D/ B B D37777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 Ajjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj 0PHP LaserJet 8000 DN PS0,cAZ"Arial RegularX($ DDeӀVӀ{Z='pppp63|xU Wardlaw LTLHalfordOlingerherniationSonomaWitherspoonTenn.CodeMcAdamsCanaleLivingstonTindallWaringAssn,  AZ"Arial Regular- - 0#Xd#   !"  XXXXKXX   Ad FILEDXXK  September7,1999CecilCrowson,Jr.AppellateCourtClerkdAh ,yAZ"Arial Regular !"  XJXXXĹXXJ   Ad FILEDXJXĹ  September3,1999CecilCrowson,Jr.AppellateCourtClerkdAh ,yAZ"Arial Regularc:\office\wpwin\template\legal\11deny.wpt(3$ !  C:\OFFICE\WPWIN\TEMPLATE\STANDARD.WPTC:\OFFICE\WPWIN\TEMPLATE\STANDARD.WPT !"  XXXXKXX   Ad FILEDXXK  September7,1999CecilCrowson,Jr.AppellateCourtClerkdAh ,yAZ"Arial Regular !"  XXXXyXX   Ad FILEDXXy  September3,1999CecilCrowson,Jr.AppellateCourtClerkdAh ,yAZ"Arial Regular !"#(C<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ !  (3$ !  ($$   1  ''' dxd dP Pd&&&&'dxd"y  <<= 8C((3/Q$ !   d !  X   TR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T 4r(<,(j 8` `@E ` ttx0X rr(<,(j 8` `@E ` 8ttxPX  r_INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANELFEBRUARY1999SESSION   E *,XXXX*JIMMYC.WARDLAW, h    p )   \  `     h    p )   H <XXxX,XXX< ` Plaintiff/Appellee, h        p )  ShelbyCircuitNo.876955  .   `     h        p )      v. `     h        p )  No.02S019807CV00063    `     h        p )      STANDARDCOFFEESERVICECOMPANY  p )   HonorableKayS.Robilio,Judge  v  ЀandCONTINENTALCASUALTYCOMPANY ,)   b   `     h        p )  N   ` Defendants/Appellants.       p )  4 FortheAppellants : h        p   FortheAppellee :  CarlWyatt    h        p   JohnD.Horne  Glassman,Jeter,Edwards&Wade     p   TheWinchesterLawFirm n 26NorthSecondStreet h        p   6060PoplarAvenue,Suite295 T Memphis,TN38103 h        p   Memphis,TN38119 :    MEMORANDUMOPINION T&!% MembersofPanel: *T%)  JusticeJaniceM.Holder +,'+ SeniorJudgeL.T.LaffertySpecialJudgeJ.StevenStaffordS  AFFIRMED    h        p LAFFERTY,SeniorJudge  839  47XXdXXd7    4#Xd#     F;6<  4  #Xd#      47XXdXXd7    47XXdXXd7    ~;6=  47XXdXXd7    4#Xd#    _  }pXXOPINION   #XX}pn#   ` ThisworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers  CompensationAppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn. XXXX#XXX X#Ԁ506225(e)(3)forhearingandreportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactand f  conclusionsoflaw. ` Thetrialcourtfoundthattheplaintiffsinjuryaroseoutofandinthecourseandscopeofhisemployment,resultinginatwentyfivepercentpermanentpartialdisabilitytothebodyasawhole.Weaffirm. ` Atthetimeoftrial,theplaintiffwas59yearsoldwithaB.S.degreeinmarketingandtraininginsalesmanagement.Hispreviousjobexperienceconsistedmainlyofsalesandsalesmanagementjobswithlargecompanies.Thesejobsrequirednophysicalskills.PriortohisemploymentwithStandardCoffeeServiceCompany,theplaintiffwasanovertheroadindependenttruckerhaulinganddeliveringcomputersandaccessoriestovariousmedicalsites.Priortohisinjury,theplaintiffhadbeenengagedinaphysicalexerciseprogram,consistingofliftingweightsandlongdistancewalking.TheplaintifftestifiedhebeganworkingforthedefendantinSeptemberof1995asaroutesalesman,afterundergoingapreemploymentphysical.Hehadnohistoryofbackproblems. ` Attrial,theplaintifftestifiedthathewasinLouisianainOctoberof1995,trainingunderthesupervisonsupervisionofanotherroutesalesman,BillToupe.Aspartofhisjobtraining,theplaintiffwouldservicevariouscustomeraccountsbyreplacingcoffee,takinginventory,andcleaningequipment.Thisactivityinvolvedbendingandliftingcasesofcoffeefromthecompanyvan. ` OnOctober19,1995,Mr.Toupeandtheplaintiffmadethirtytoforty30to40callsbeforereturningtoMr.Toupeshometodojobrelatedpaperwork.TheplaintiffstatedthattheycarriedacomputerandotherrecordstotheupstairsofMr.Toupeshomeandgotonthefloorontheirhandsandkneestodojobrelatedpaperwork.Afteranhourorso,theplaintifffeltanumbnessinhisrightlegandaburningsensationinhisrightheel.HewaslimpingbythetimeheleftMr.Toupeshouse.Hetestifiedthathedidnotnoticeanyproblemsearlierthatdaywhilegettinginandoutofthevan,digginginthevan,pullingboxesofcoffee,orcarryingitemsupstairs.Thenextday,October20,theplaintiffadvised :n5; Mr.Toupethathewasinpainandunabletocontinueworking.TheplaintiffreturnedtoMemphisthatsameday.Hissymptomsworsenedinthefollowingthreeorfourdays,whichhereportedtohissupervisorinMemphis,BobWagaman. ` Shortlythereafter,theplaintiffsawDr.JackHalford,whoreferredhimtoDr.RodneyOlingerafteranMRIandnerveblockwereperformed.Dr.OlingerperformedsurgeryontheplaintiffsbackonDecember15,1995,andtheplaintiffwasoffworkuntilJanuary29,1996.HeattemptedtoreturntoworkinFebruary,1996,butwasunabletodohisjob.Atthetimeoftrial,theplaintiffhadnotreturnedtoworknorsoughtemployment.TheplaintiffwasdrawingSocialSecuritybenefits,disabilitybenefits,andretirementbenefitstotalingapproximatelywhathehadbeenmakingperweekwiththedefendant. ` Mrs.JeanetteWardlaw,theplaintiffswifewhoisalsoanurse,testifiedsheandtheplaintiffhavebeenmarriedfor33thirtythreeyears.Shecorroboratedherhusbandsworkhistoryandhisdenialofpreviousbackproblems.Sincehisinjury,Mrs.Wardlawtestifiedthatherhusbandisverylimitedinhisactivities,and,duetohisbackpain,eitherstandsorliesonthefloormostofthetime. ` Dr.RodneyOlinger,theplaintiffsneurosurgeon,testifiedbydeposition.Dr.OlingerfirstsawtheplaintiffonDecember12,1995,uponreferralfromDr.JackHalford.Theplaintiffgaveahistoryofpreviousbackproblemsanddegenerativediskdiseasebuthadneverhadlegpainbefore.TheplaintifftoldDr.Olingerthathedevelopedlegpainafterdoinganumberofworkactivitiesonthedayofinjury.TheMRIorderedbyDr.HalfordrevealedalargediskherniationbetweentheplaintiffsL4andL5,whichDr.OlingerremovedonDecember15,1995.TheplaintiffprogressedwellaftersurgeryandwasreleasedtoreturntolightdutyworkonJanuary29,1996.TheplaintiffreturnedtoDr.OlingersofficeonFebruary23,complainingofdifficultywithbendingandreaching.Dr.Olingerprescribedacourseoftreatmentforsignificantmuscletightnessandspasmintheplaintiffsbackrelatedtothesurgery.WhentheplaintiffwasnobetteronMarch12,Dr.Olingerreleasedhimfromworkforthreeweeks.ArepeatMRIwasperformedonApril5,1996.Dr.Olingertestifiedthatnonewdiskruptureswereseenatthattime,buttheplaintiffdidhaveadvanceddegenerativechangesinthelumbarspine.OnNovember22,1996,Dr.Olingerdeterminedthatplaintiffhadsustainedatenpercentpermanentanatomical 84: disabilitytothebodyasawholeasaresultoftheOctober19,1995,injury,whichwascausedbyexcessiveactivity.Basedonplaintiffsmedicalhistoryandphysicalcondition,Dr.Olingerstatedhisopinion,basedonareasonabledegreeofmedicalcertainty,thattheplaintiffsbackproblemsstartedonOctober19,1995.Thedoctoracknowledgedthattheplaintiffdidnotinformhimthathehadbeenonallfoursonthefloorwhenhenoticedthebackpain,whichDr.Olingerdidnotputdownasacausativefactor. ` Attheconclusionofthetrial,thetrialjudgefound:K% X XXxXXXxXK8 ` 8 ` (#` (#1.8 ! !Therewasanaccidentandinjurysustainedbytheplaintiff D  whicharoseoutofandoccurredinthecourseandscopeoftheplaintiffsemployment.   8 ` 8 ` (#` (#2.8 ! !Theplaintiffsmaximummedicalimprovementdateforthe , lumbardiscinjurywasMay28,1996,andaftersaiddatealltreatmentrenderedtoplaintiffwasfordegenerativechangesinthelumbarspine.   8 ` 8 ` (#` (#3.8 ! !Thepartiesagreedthattheplaintiffscompensationrateis Z $333.33perweek,basedonanaverageweeklyrateof$500.00.   8 ` 8 ` (#` (#4.8 ! !Theplaintiffhassustainedavocationaldisabilityof25% B permanentpartialdisabilitytothebodyasawhole.   - ` Thedefendantshaveraisedoneissueonappeal.TheycontendthatthetrialjudgeerredinfindingtheplaintiffsustainedaninjurybyaccidentarisingoutofandoccurringinthecourseandscopeofemploymentonOctober19,1995.  DISCUSSION %>!%     ` Theplaintiffinaworkerscompensationsuithastheburdenofprovinghiscase in ' #' allitspartsbyapreponderanceoftheevidence.OwensIllinois,Inc.v.Lane,576S.W.2d )$) 348,350(Tenn.1978).Thus,itistheburdenoftheplaintifftoestablish,byapreponderanceoftheevidence,thathisinjury aroseoutofandinthecourseofemployment.Tenn.CodeAnn. XXXX#XXX X_5#Ԁ506102(5). .:*/  ` ThestandardofreviewtobeusedbythisCourtis denovo, accompaniedbya 0,1 presumptionofthecorrectnessofthefindingsofthetrialcourt,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn. XXXX#XXX X6#Ԁ506225(e)(2).Thisstandardrequires N4/5 thisCourttoweighindepthfactualfindingsandconclusionsoftrialjudgesinworkerscompensationcases.Wherethetrialjudgehasseenandheardwitnesses,especiallywhereissuesofcredibilityandweightoforaltestimonyareinvolved,considerable 95; deferencemuststillbeaccordedtothosecircumstancesonreview.Ormanv.Williams  Sonoma,Inc.803S.W.2d672,675(Tenn.1991);Humphreyv.DavidWitherspoon,Inc., | 734S.W.2d315,315(Tenn.1987). H  ` Sincethetrialjudgefoundtheplaintiffsinjurywasanaccidentandaroseoutofandinthecourseofemployment,wemustdetermineiftherecordsupportsthatconclusion.Thedefendantscontendthattheinjurywasnotonewhicharoseoutoftheplaintiffsemployment,duetothefactthattheinjurywasofsuchnaturethatitcouldhavebeensustainedanywhereandwasnottheresultofahazardpeculiartotheemployment. ` TheTennesseeWorkersCompensationAct,Tenn.CodeAnn. XXXX#XXX XF<#Ԁ506101,etseq., ` providestheexclusiveremediesforworkerssustainingworkrelatedinjuries.Tenn.CodeAnn. XXXX#XXX X=#Ԁ506108.AnemployeesrighttorecoverundertheActrequiresafindingthatthe  injuryarose outofandinthecourseofemployment.Tenn.CodeAnn. XXXX#XXX X>#Ԁ506102(5). t Thephrases arisingoutofand inthecourseofemploymentcompromisetwoseparaterequirements.Anaccident arisesoutofemploymentwhenthereisacausalrelationshipbetweentheemploymentandtheinjury.Woodsv.HarryB.WoodsPlumbingCo.,967 ( S.W.2d768,771(Tenn.1998);Ormanv.WilliamsSonoma,Inc.803S.W.2d672,676  (Tenn.1991);McAdamsv.Canale,200Tenn.655,294S.W.2d696,699(Tenn.1956). p!  Thephrase arisingoutofreferstoaninjurysorigin.Id.Thephrase inthecourseof <#" referstothetime,place,andcircumstancesunderwhichtheinjuryoccurred.The courseofemploymentrequirementissatisfiedwhenaninjuryoccurswithinthetimeandplacelimitationsoftheemploymentrelationshipandduringanactivitythathadsomeconnectionwiththeemployeesjobrelatedfunctions.Woods,967S.W.2dat771.Generally,aninjury l*%* arisesoutofandisinthecourseandscopeofemploymentifithasarationalconnectiontotheworkandoccurswhiletheemployeeisengagedinthedutiesofhisemployment. .T). Orman,803S.W.2dat676. / +0  ` Furthermore,theclaimantinaworkerscompensationcasemustestablishacausalrelationshipbetweentheclaimeddisabilityandtheemploymentactivitybyexperttestimony.Id.Althoughabsolutecertaintyisnotrequiredtoprovecausation,themedical 4506 testimonyconnectingtheinjurywiththeworkrelatedactivitymustnotbesouncertainorspeculativethatassigningliabilitytotheemployerwouldbearbitraryoronlyamere 84: possibility.Livingstonv.ShelbyWilliamsIndus.,Inc.,811S.W.2d511,515(Tenn.1991)  (quotingTindallv.WaringParkAssn,725S.W.2d935,937(Tenn.1987)).Theplaintiff | mustuseexpertmedicaltestimonytoestablishcausationandpermanency,butsuchtestimonymustbeconsideredinconjunctionwiththeemployeestestimonyastohowhisinjuryoccurredandhissubsequentphysicalcondition.Thomasv.AetnaLife&Casualty  0 Co.,812S.W.2d278,283(Tenn.1991).     ` ThetestimonyinthisrecordestablishesthattheplaintiffwasperformingjobrelatedactivityinservicingthedefendantsvariouscoffeecustomersonOctober19,1995.Thisactivityconsistedofgettinginandoutofacompanyvan,bendingandliftingcasesofcoffee,andservicingandcleaningcoffeeequipment.Theplaintiffacknowledgedthathefeltnobackpainoranysymptomsofabackproblemduringtheseactivities.Thatevening,whileontheupstairsfloorofacoworkershome,bothemployeesweregoingovercompanyaccounts.Suddenlytheplaintifffeltanumbnessinhisrightlegandaburningsensationinhisrightheel.Whenleavingthehome,theplaintiffwasnoticeablylimping.UpontheplaintiffsreturntoMemphis,heattemptedtowork,butthepainpersisted.Henotifiedthedefendantofhisinjuryandwassubsequentlytreatedforaherniateddisk. ` Whenquestionedastothecauseoftheplaintiffinjuries,Dr.Olinger,theonlymedicalexperttotestifyinthiscase,opined, Hedidnthavelegpainbefore.Hestartedthatday,andyouknow,hedidnthaveonespecificinjurywherehebentdownandpoppedandthatwasitandyouknow,youcanpinpointit.Butobviously,ashewasgoingthroughhisactivityduringtheday,hislegpaincameon.Youdonthaveanythingelsetoattributeitto.  CONCLUSION 8,',    ` Thetrialcourtfoundbyapreponderanceoftheevidencethattheplaintiffsinjury .T). aroseoutofandinthecourseofemploymentand,thus,wascompensable.Weagree.Thefactremainsthattheplaintiffwasinjuredonthejob,andthecompensabilityofhisinjuryisclearinthisrecord. ` Theplaintiffattemptstoraiseanadditionalissueforthefirsttimeonappeal.Hecontendsthatthedefendantsareestoppedfromappealingthetrialcourtsjudgment,becausetheyfailedtofileanoticeofcontroversywiththeDirectoroftheWorkers 84: CompensationDivisionasrequiredbyTennesseeCodeAnnotated506205(d)(1)and,therefore,cannotnowcontestliability.Thisissueshouldhavebeenraisedinthetrialcourt,andthereisnothingintherecordshowingthattheplaintiffdidso.Theissueiswaivedonappeal.See,e.g.,Duckworthv.GlobeBusinessFurniture,Inc.,806S.W.2d526(Tenn.  d 1991);Tenn.R.Civ.P.8.03;Tenn.R.App.P.36(a). ` Thetrialcourtsjudgmentisaffirmed.Costsareassessedagainstthedefendants/appellants. `      h   ________________________________________ `      h   L.T.LAFFERTY,SENIORJUDGECONCUR:___________________________________JANICEM.HOLDER,JUSTICE___________________________________ XXXX  J.STEVENSTAFFORD,SPECIALJUDGE   X` TR[A'Legal Red[A' LegalA' LegalA' LegalTr(<,(j 8` `@Ef ` ttx0,` r@ INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE `  @uu)ATJACKSONJIMMYC.WARDLAW,@.)    ~ @.)  SHELBYCOUNTY d  APPELLEE@.) J @.)  HON.KAYROBILIO 0 v.@.)  JUDGE v  @.)STANDARDCOFFEESERVICE@.)  NO.02S019807CV00063 B  w(A1-j|`  `@E7` tx0( wߛCOMPANYandCONTINENTAL@.) (  CASUALTYCOMPANY,@.)   @.) APPELLANTS@.)0  z T$T$ @* WX X JUDGMENT # XX W;\#Ԉ r @. ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponmotionforreviewpursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(5)(B),theentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferraltotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel'sMemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference; Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenandshouldbedenied;and Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawareadoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. Costswillbepaidbytheappellants,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. Itissoordered.    0      8   PERCURIAM 9/5 HOLDER,J.NOTPARTICIPATING  `  ` TRY3'Letterhead[A'Legal Red3' LetterA' LegalTќ#XXX XػU#