WPC ^ +T&7g]x+EE* Y9i6aYtd7|_'7 3[vE.eo)>"FaZRz1`R2-KB*(l@XM}қg*}zk/y՟;~4)0%Qurd_n:NEK ӜPv),!O)YW(}y,Hpv?S.Պw?N5g͖qIwS Z>~aJp*$)c3@pV kfk]p -fy/2e\UF WOz;ƛBѽ 58"I_]_CBVͲeϺ 8as/1 U:5\@ɭz NiƊc%fLwNCQHT{Ftƶc2b %\U@b 0U1N*x^ [ wg zk  4   m    E 0D NO#QENU:UNXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXb 0 B  0 D3Z D- 0K ASX 0 0D A(9 Z(Times New Roman (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular Rf$      1  XZqX  __Paresthesias_Ԁisnumbnessandtinglingofthearmsandlegs.݈%-  C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptdb,x8bk%3|xULevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(%$  1  HP LJ 4000/4050 PCL 5e,,,,0 ,yAZ"Arial Regular(9 Z6Times New Roman Regular- -(|G2f$ !..8=dd8         0  XZqX d(|3l$ !..8=dd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3l$ !..8=dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8=dd8     _=8ZqXXdd8  =@@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL & @@ATNASHVILLE#=# L March27,2002Session "r XZqX= #=XXZq#ALCOA_FUJIKURA_,LTD.v.KENNETHANDERSONXZqX=   p @@ DirectAppealfromtheChanceryCourtforDavidsonCounty  p @@No.993151IICarolMcCoy,Chancellor  \ @@*AV) ` dE<` A   No.M200101949_WC_ԄR3CVMailedMay22,2002   #=XXZq#XZqX=FiledSeptember5,2002   AV) ` dE<z` A {      XZqXXXZqThis#=XXZq#XZqX=ԀworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkersCompensation v AppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.#=XXZq#XZqX=Ԁ506225(e)(3)for b hearingandreportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.#XZqXXXZqO##=XXZq#XZqX=ԀTheplaintiff N appealsthetrialjudgesdecisionthatthedefendantsufferedtheworkrelatedinjuryofbilateral : carpaltunnelsyndromewhichresultedina12percentpermanentpartialdisabilitytoeacharm.We &v affirmthejudgmentofthetrialcourt. b C   Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(1999)AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheChanceryCourt : isAffirmed  &     Byers,_Sr.J._#=XZqr#XZqX.=,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhich_Drowota_,C.J.,andLoser,_Sp.J._,joined.  DavidT.Hooper,ofBrentwood,Tennessee,forAppellant,Alcoa_Fujikura_,Ltd.   N.EvanHarris,ofNashville,Tennessee,forAppellee,KennethAnderson. ^"!    MEMORANDUMOPINION #=XXZq #XZqX= 6$#   #=XXZq #XZqX=XZqXXXZq  Reviewofthefindingsoffactmadebythetrialcourtisdenovoupontherecordofthetrial &^!% court,accompaniedbyapresumptionofthecorrectnessofthefinding,unlessthepreponderanceof &J"& theevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.#=XXZqy #XZqX=#XZqXXXZq #XZqXXXZq506225(e)(2).Stonev.Cityof_McMinnville_,896 '6#' S.W.2d548,550(Tenn.1995).TheapplicationofthisstandardrequiresthisCourttoweighinmore ("$( depththefactualfindingsandconclusionsofthetrialcourtsinworkerscompensationcases.See )%) Corcoranv.FosterAuto_GMC_,Inc.,746S.W.2d452,456(Tenn.1988).#XZqXXXZqI#XZqXXXZq#=XXZq#XZqX= *%*  n-(- _   FACTS     Thedefendantwas#XZqXXXZqb##=XXZq#XZqX=fiftyyearsofageatthetimeofthistrial.Heisahighschoolgraduateand  heattendedtwoyearsofcollegestudyingautomotivetechnology.Hetestifiedattrialthathebegan t workingfortheplaintiffscompany,DixieWire,asautilityoperatorin1993.Asautilityoperator, ` thedefendanttestifiedthathisdutiesincludedsomerepetitiousworkwithhishandsandarms. L    In1997,thedefendantbeganworkingasaPVCextruderoperatorforDixieWire.He $ t testifiedthathisdutiesinthispositioninvolvedquiteabitmoreuseofhishands,wrists,andarms.  `   OutsideofhisemploymentatDixieWire,thedefendantalsolaidcarpetforsupplemental  8  income.Hetestifiedthatfrom1993towhenheperformedhislastcarpetjobin1999,heperformed $  atotalof38carpetjobs,averagingaboutsixhoursofcarpetworkpermonth.Hetestifiedthathe   neverhadanyproblemswithhiswristsorhandswhileperformingcarpetwork.     In1997,whileworkingasaPVCextrudeoperator,thedefendantbegantonoticenumbness   andtinglinginhishandsandwrists.HewenttoseeDr.DarrellG.Arnettbutwasnottreatedforthe p numbnessandtinglingatthattime.Thedefendanttestifiedthathishandandwristproblemsabated \ forsometimeafterthat. H   In1998,whilestillworkingasaPVCextruderoperatorforDixieWire,thedefendants  p problemswithhishandsgoingnumbreappearedandworsened.HesawDr.ArnettagainonJanuary  \ 22,1999,andDr.Arnettdiagnosedthedefendantwithbilateralcarpaltunnelsyndrome.The H defendantthensawDr.ThomasE.TompkinsonJune29,1999.Dr.Tompkinsconcurredwiththe 4 diagnosisofbilateralcarpaltunnelsyndromeandrecommendedthedefendanthavesurgery.     Thedefendantwasatfirstreluctanttohavesurgery,butaftermoreproblemsatworkwith  hishandsgoingnumbhedecidedtohavethesurgery,afterwhichhereturnedtowork.     MEDICALEVIDENCE  l   Themedicalevidenceforthepurposesoftheissuesraisedinthistrialwaspresentedbythe D! depositionsofDr.DarrellE.ArnettandDr.ThomasE.Tompkins. 0"    Dr.Arnett,aninternalmedicinespecialistinNashville,testifiedthathefirstsawthe $X" defendantonAugust14,1997.Atthattime,thedefendantcomplainedofweaknessand $D # paresthesias. %  1      ׀Dr.ArnetttestifiedthatthedefendantnextvisitedhimonJanuary22,1999,atwhich %0!$ timethedefendantcomplainedofhishandsgoingnumb15to20timesdaily.Atthattime,Dr. &"% Arnetttestified,hediagnosedthedefendantwithbilateralcarpaltunnelsyndrome.Dr.Arnettdid '#& notformanyopinionastocausationatthattime,butlateratdeposition,whengiventhedefendants (#' fullhistory,Dr.ArnetttestifiedthatitwashisopinionthatthedefendantsworkatDixieWirewas )$( thecauseofhiscarpaltunnelsyndrome.Hefurthertestifiedthatitwouldbe hard[forhim]to  believethatthecarpetlayingwasthecausationforthedefendantscondition.Dr.Arnetttestified  thathesawthedefendantagainonMay25,2001,andatthattimeheassignedamedicalimpairment  ratingof10percenttoeachwrist. t   Dr.Tompkins,anorthopedistinNashville,testifiedthathefirstsawthedefendantonJune L  29,1999.HetestifiedthatheconcurredwithDr.Arnettsopinionthatthedefendanthadbilateral 8  carpaltunnelsyndrome.Dr.Tompkinssuggestedsurgerytothedefendantatthattime,butthe $ t defendantdidnotwanttohavesurgery.ThedefendantreturnedtoDr.Tompkinsofficeon  ` September26,2000,withnumbnessinbothhandsanddecidedtohavesurgery.Surgerywas  L  performedontherightwristonOctober10,2000,andontheleftwristonNovember9,2000.Dr.  8  Tompkinstestifiedthathedidnothaveenoughinformationtoformanopinionastocausationfor $  thedefendantsinjuries.      DISCUSSION    $  Althoughwearerequiredtoweightheevidenceinacaseindepthtodeterminewherethe p preponderanceoftheevidencelies,wearerequiredtomakesuchevaluationwithintheconfinesof \ establishedrulesinevaluatingtheproprietyofthetrialcourt. H   Theplaintiffappealsthejudgmentofthetrialcourtonthegroundsthatthedefendantdidnot  p meethisburdenofproofthathesufferedbilateralcarpaltunnelsyndromebyvirtueofhisworkas  \ aPVCextruderoperatorforDixieWire. H   XZqXXXZqInordertobeeligibleforworkerscompensationbenefits,anemployeemustsuffer an   injurybyaccidentarisingoutofandinthecourseofemploymentwhichcauseseitherdisablement   ordeath.Tenn.CodeAnn.506102(a)(5).Thephrase arisingoutofreferstocausation.The  causationrequirementissatisfiediftheinjuryhasarational,causalconnectiontothework.Reeser  v.YellowFreightSys.,Inc.,938S.W.2d690,692(Tenn.1997)(citationsomitted);Finkv.Caudle,  856S.W.2d952(Tenn.1993).#XZqXXXZq'# l   XZqXXXZqAlthoughcausationcannotbebaseduponmerelyspeculativeorconjecturalproof,absolute D! certaintyisnotrequired.Anyreasonabledoubtinthisregardistobeconstruedinfavorofthe 0"  employee.Wehavethusconsistentlyheldthatanawardmayproperlybebaseduponmedical #l! testimonytotheeffectthatagivenincident couldbethecauseoftheemployeesinjury,when $X" thereisalsolaytestimonyfromwhichitreasonablymaybeinferredthattheincidentwasinfactthe $D # causeoftheinjury.Reeserv.YellowFreightSys.,Inc.,938S.W.2d690,692(Tenn.1997)(citations %0!$ omitted).Onlymedicalexpertmaytestifyastowhetheragivendisabilityispermanent.Boltonv. &"% CNAIns.Co.,821S.W.2d932(Tenn.1991).GAFBld.Materialv.George,42S.W.3d430(Tenn. '#& 2001).#XZqXXXZq*#ԀXZqXXXZqInallbutthemostobviouscases,suchasthelossofamember,experttestimonyisrequired (#' toestablishcausation.Thomasv.AetnaLife&CasualtyCo.,812S.W.2d278(Tenn.1991).#XZqXXXZq.# )$(   XZqXXXZqWhenthemedicaltestimonyispresentedbydeposition,asitwasinthiscase,thisCourt_is h+&* abletomakeitsownindependentassessmentofthemedicalprooftodeterminewherethe  preponderanceoftheevidencelies.Cooperv._INA_,884S.W.2d446,451(Tenn.1994);Landers  v.FiremansFundIns.Co.,775S.W.2d355,356(Tenn.1989).#XZqXXXZq/#    Insupportoftheplaintiffscontentionthatthedefendanthasnotmethisburdenofproof,the ` plaintiffargues:thatthedefendantsworkdutieswerenotfrequentenoughorstressfulenoughto L  causehisbilateralcarpalsyndrome;thathehadnothadthejobasPVC_extruder_Ԁoperatorforlong 8  enoughwhenhewasdiagnosedforhisdutiestohavecausedhiscondition;thathisworkasacarpet $ t layer,outsideofhisworkfortheplaintiffscompany,causedoratleastcontributedtohiscondition;  ` andthatthemedicalproofofferedattrialintheformofdepositionsofDrs._Arnett_Ԁand_Tompkins_Ԁ  L  didnotsupportthecontentionthatthedefendantsbilateralcarpaltunnelsyndromewascausedby  8  hisemploymentfortheplaintiffscompany. $    XZqXXXZqThetrialcourthasthediscretiontoaccepttheopinionofonemedicalexpertoveranother   medicalexpert._Kellerman_Ԁv.FoodLion,Inc.,929S.W.2d333(Tenn.1996);Johnsonv._Midwesco_,   Inc.,801S.W.2d804,806(Tenn.1990).#XZqXXXZq6#ԀInthiscase,thetrialjudgereceivedtestimonyfrom   medicalexpertsbydepositionandusedthattestimonyinrenderingherdecision.Thistestimony p includedDr._Arnett_sopinionthatthedefendantsworkasamachineoperatorinexcessof40hours \ perweekcausedhiscarpaltunnelsyndromeandthattheconditionwasnotcausedbyhisworkas H acarpetlayer.ThistestimonyalsoincludedDr._Tompkins_opinionthathedidnothaveenough 4 informationaboutthedefendantsworkdutiestodefinitivelysaythatthesedutiescausedhiscarpal  p tunnelsyndrome,butthathethoughtitwasworkrelated.  \    `      Inrenderingherverdict,thetrialjudgeexpressedsomeuncertaintyoverthiscase,butshe 4 nonethelessproperlyusedherdiscretioninassessingthecredibilityoftheexpertwitnessesonthe   issueofcausation.Nothingintherecordindicatesthatthisdiscretionwasabused.Accordingly,we   cannotsaythattheevidencepreponderatesagainstthefindingsofthetrialjudgeontheissueof  causationbroughtbytheappellantandweaffirmthejudgment.Thecostofthisappealistaxedto  theappellant.         `     h     ___________________________________ %0!$    `     h     JOHNK.BYERS,SENIORJUDGE  &"% _XZqXXXZqԀ#XZqXXXZq>#Xg XXXZq#XZqX XXg?#=XXZq@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @$ATNASHVILLE  #XZqX=^?# =XXZq  ALCOAFUJIKURA,LTD.v.KENNETHANDERSON#XZqX=!@#   @@@  ChanceryCourtforDavidsonCounty   @#No.993151II   @*AV) ` dE<o ` A߈ p   @ No.M200101949SCWCMCVFiledSeptember5,2002_Ԉ k  AV) ` dE<B` A C   @//# JUDGMENTORDER  *z  Xg XXXZq#XZqX XXgB#XZqXXXZq  ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponthemotionforreviewfiledbyAlcoaFujikura,Ltd., R pursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.50-6-225(e)(5)(B),theentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferral > totheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanelsMemorandumOpinionsetting * forthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.    ItappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenandisthereforedenied.  ThePanelsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedbyreference,areadopted  andaffirmed.ThedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. v   Costsareassessedtotheappellant,AlcoaFujikura,Ltd.,anditssurety,forwhichexecution N mayissueifnecessary. : #XZqXXXZqB#Xg XXXZq#XZqX XXgF#XZqXXXZq  ItissoORDERED. b    `     h     PERCURIAM !&! Drowota,C.J.,notparticipating@*#XZqXXXZq?G#Xg XXXZq#XZqX XXg]H#XZqXXXZqԈ $$ #XZqXXXZqH#Xg XXXZqԀ#XZqX XXgH#