WPC; KxK&]؞atnIGhso4CGksiN5Ϲ0U,3KAsecUO fLA0gp<31!pI`Daz+QiWv.1wܣ`2`@KmiWҗR꼚i$,l5RN73 5Hz5{3KY/-ߚ%HӒ9һCGa@z&3ZVU]3igކ ?2FGiᰇ\ /YM'/KN^Jm&)0<&X ^F,yK'd),l.4 3NXj ~Xk1g/i?x̔ G)@X& kN8D-,ҝ`h~Co˩^GR2]h4O[usbbE,b66>;hq2B~*XгWbU)>\ 0g< 06 0- 0$ 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 0 0| 0^ 0@ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0e 0F 0' 0 0 0! 0" 0!# 0# 0<J$ 0$ 0, % 06& 0& 0:F' 0 ' 0( 0(U,* D+* C++ 0, 1ul- 7- 1u- 7f.v. 0.#./UN0 %=1MC1(G1No1^ q1 1u}1 721w$24(2<2 m>2U2334Nm5 zo5555E6666666 0 6666 B77 07 D588 0K88 AS)9|9 0B: 0D; AJ;\  `&Times New Roman' IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE "Terryl James"0Terryl James .   2P+M 0_level1  , 8.444` hp x (#823  ..  5+ ` hp x (#5  2M+M 0_level2  X 5+` ` ` hp x (#523  ..  5+ ` hp x (#5  2M+M 0_level3   5+ hp x (#523  ..  5+ ` hp x (#5  2J+M 0_level4   2( hp x (#223  ..  5+ ` hp x (#5  2J+M 0_level5   2( hp x (#223  ..  5+ ` hp x (#5  2G+M 0_level6   /% hp x (#/23  ..  5+ ` hp x (#5  2G+M 0_level7  4 /%< <<hp x (#/23  ..  5+ ` hp x (#5  2D+M 0_level8  ` ,"h hhp x (#,23  ..  5+ ` hp x (#5  2D+M 0_level9   ," p x (#,23  ..  5+ ` hp x (#5  2PM 0_levsl1  , 8.444` hp x (#823  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x (#5  2MM 0_levsl2  X 5+` ` ` hp x (#523  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x (#5  2MM 0_levsl3   5+ hp x (#523  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x (#5  2JM 0_levsl4   2( hp x (#223  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x (#5  2JM 0_levsl5   2( hp x (#223  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x (#5  2GM 0_levsl6   /% hp x (#/23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x (#5  2GM 0_levsl7  4 /%< <<hp x (#/23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x (#5  2DM 0_levsl8  ` ,"h hhp x (#,23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x (#5  2DM 0_levsl9   ," p x (#,23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x (#5  2PM 0_levnl1  , 8.444` hp x (#823   5+ ` hp x (#5  2MM 0_levnl2  X 5+` ` ` hp x (#523   5+ ` hp x (#5  2MM 0_levnl3   5+ hp x (#523   5+ ` hp x (#5  2JM 0_levnl4   2( hp x (#223   5+ ` hp x (#5  2JM 0_levnl5   2( hp x (#223   5+ ` hp x (#5  2GM 0_levnl6   /% hp x (#/23   5+ ` hp x (#5  2GM 0_levnl7  4 /%< <<hp x (#/23   5+ ` hp x (#5  2DM 0_levnl8  ` ,"h hhp x (#,23   5+ ` hp x (#5  2DM 0_levnl9   ," p x (#,23   5+ ` hp x (#5  6) 4Heading 1XXX    6: *4Heading 2XXX        6& 4Heading 3XXX   <:Default Para6'' 4Body TextXXX8w} 6Block Text  XXX F X   /%N N N hp x /     5+ ` hp x (#5  0A .Header (#A7X` hp x (#A0A .Footer (#A7X` hp x (#A:8Page Number:22 8Body Text 2XXX    <>> :Body Text In X XXX     X < :Document MapA* $TahomaAC+,4$X ddCA* $TahomaA  7+(X7S\  `&Times New RomanS  $Tahoma'dxddd  ./)..      6!%  󀀀JusticeWilliamM.Barker * #' ЀSeniorJudgeJohnK.Byers *#( ЀSpecialJudgeHowellN.Peoples +$) XtFXXXtF    &  V   AFFIRMEDPEOPLES,SPECIALJUDGEV   Ԍ 4-3 ЌXtFXXXtF  '4  `     h  X9P28 _ԇXtFXXXtF      &     OPINION q  MԌ  Ќ  XtFXXXtF    ` 'e"XtFXXXtF    "4   ` ThisworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers   CompensationAppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn. l d 506225(e)(3)forhearingandreportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactand 80 conclusionsoflaw.LibertyMutualInsuranceCo.(hereafter LibertyMutual)appeals   anawardofworkerscompensationdeathbenefitstothesurvivingspouseofan   employeekilledinthecourseandscopeofheremployment."4݌   ЌXtFXXXtF  'XtFXXXtF    'n   ` Thetrialcourt,actingonamotionforsummaryjudgment,madeanawardof h` $77,196tobepaidattherateof$144.75perweektothesurvivingspouse,whowasthe 4, onlydependentoftheemployee.LibertyMutualcontendsthatthemaximumawardto  thesurvivingspousewithnootherdependentsislimitedto$57,900(400weeksx  $144.75).Weaffirmthejudgmentofthetrialcourt.'n݌  Ќ  XtFXXXtF   ` Appealfromasummaryjudgmentorderinaworkerscompensationcaseisnot d\ controlledbythestandardofreviewprovidedbyT.C.A.506225,butbyRule56, 0 ( T.R.C.P.Downenv.AllstateIns.Co.,811S..W.2d523(Tenn.1991).Where,asinthis ! case,thefactsarenotindispute, thequestiononappealisoneoflaw,andourscopeof #  reviewisdenovowithnopresumptionofcorrectnessaccompanyingthetrialcourts %" conclusions.UnionCarbideCorp.vHuddleston,854S.W.2d87,91(Tenn.1993); `'X $ Smithv.Norris,218Tenn.329,403S.W.2d307(1966). ,)$"& 'XtFXXXtF    X'4  OnMarch27,1998,RebeccaJ.Amellsustainedfatalinjuriesinthecourseand *#( scopeofheremploymentwithArrowFactoryStoreinPigeonForge,Tennessee.She ,%* wassurvivedbyMarvinH.Amell,herspouse.Heraverageweeklywagewas$289.49 .', generatingaworkerscompensationrateof$192.99.Themaximumweeklybenefiton \0T). March27,1998,asdefinedbyT.C.A.506102(7)(a),was$492.'4݌ (2 +0 Ќ  XtFXXXtF  X ` LibertyMutualassertsthatT.C.A.506210(e)(1)limitsthebenefitspayableto 3,2 asurvivingspousewithnodependentchildtoonehalfoftheemployeesaverageweekly 5.4 wagefor400weeks.ItcitesSpencerv.TowsonMoving&Storage,Inc.,922S.W.2d508 706 (Tenn.1996)aslimitingthebenefitsto400weeks,andSchultzv.MajikMarket,aDiv.of X9P28 Mumford,621S.W.2d738(Tenn.1981)aslimitingtheweeklybenefittoonehalfofthe  deceasedemployeesaverageweeklywage.Ouranalysisdoesnotstartwiththesecases,  butwiththestatute. Legislativeintent,however,shallbederivedfromastatutesface   whenthestatutorylanguageisunambiguous.Davisv.Reagan,951S.W.2d766,768 l d (Tenn.1997). 80 'XtFXXXtF    '   ` Thestatutewhichgovernsthepaymentofworkerscompensationbenefitsin   deathcasesisT.C.A.506210whichprovidesasfollows:'" ݌   Ќ  XtFXXXtF     XtFXXXtF    & ~  !   !!  !Ԍ̌XtFXXXtF   X X  ?(` ` ` hp x X(#?!% consideredapartialdependent,andpaymentofcompensationshall ,)$"& bemadetosuchdependentsintheordernamed.01݌ * #' Ќ X'` ` ` X   X'   ""  ,XH.444` hp x (#` ` ` X H   ,?" hp x444` X(#?42(  e  )3     COMPENSATIONINDEATHCASES.Indeathcases, *#( compensationpayabletodependentsshallbecomputedonthe +$) followingbasis,andshallbepaidtothepersonsentitledthereto, ,%* withoutadministration.4m5݌ -&+ Ќ X'` ` ` X   X'    <(#381) /(83<""  ,XH.444` hp x (#` ` ` X H   ,?" hp x444` X(#?K82(  1  )3     SURVIVINGSPOUSEANDNODEPENDENTCHILD.Ifthe .', deceasedemployeeleavesasurvivingspouseandnodependent v/n(- child,thereshallbepaidtothesurvivingspousefiftypercent(50%) \0T). oftheaverageweeklywagesofdeceased.K879݌ B1:*/ Ќ X'` ` ` X   X'   ""  ,XH.444` hp x (#` ` ` X H   ,?" hp x444` X(#?';2(  2  )3     SURVIVINGSPOUSEANDCHILD.Ifthedeceasedemployee (2 +0 leavesasurvivingspouseandone(1)ormoredependentchildren, 3,1 thereshallbepaidtothesurvivingspouseforthebenefitofsuch 3,2 survivingspouseandsuchchildorchildren,sixtysixandtwothirds 4-3 (662/3%)oftheaverageweeklywagesofdeceased.';<݌ 5.4 Ќ X'` ` ` X   X'   ""  ,XH.444` hp x (#` ` ` X H   ,?" hp x444` X(#?n>2(  3  )3     SURVIVINGSPOUSEANDCHILDREN.HOWPAID.Inall 6/5 caseswherecompensationispayabletoasurvivingspouseforthe 706 benefitofherselforhimselfanddependentchildorchildren,the r8j17 courtshallhavethepowertodetermineinitsdiscretionwhatportion X9P28 ofthecompensationshallbeappliedforthebenefitofanysuchchild  orchildren,andmayorderthesamepaidtoaguardian.n>Z?݌  Ќ X'` ` ` X   X'   ""  ,XH.444` hp x (#` ` ` X H   ,?" hp x444` X(#?B2(  4  )3     REMARRIAGEOFSURVIVINGSPOUSE.Upontheremarriageof  asurvivingspouse,ifthereisnochildofthedeceasedemployee,the   compensationshallterminate;butifthereisachildorchildrenunder   eighteen(18)yearsofage,orovereighteen(18)yearsofageif  ~ physicallyormentallyincapacitatedfromearning,fromthetimeof l d theremarriagethechildorchildrenshallhavestatusoforphanor R J orphans,anddrawcompensationaccordingly,not,however,to 80 exceedsixtysixandtwothirds(662/3%)oftheaverageweekly   wagesofthedeceased.BB݌   Ќ X'` ` ` X   X'   ""  ,XH.444` hp x (#` ` ` X H   ,?" hp x444` X(#?F2(  5  )3     DEPENDENTORPHANS.Ifthedeceasedemployeeleavesone(1)   dependentorphan,thereshallbepaidfiftypercent(50%)ofthe   averageweeklywagesofthedeceased;ifthedeceasedleavestwo(2)   ormoredependentorphansthereshallbepaidsixtysixandtwo   thirds(662/3%)oftheaverageweeklywagesofthedeceased.FG݌ z  Ќ X'` ` ` X   X'   ""  ,XH.444` hp x (#` ` ` X H   ,?" hp x444` X(#?I2(  6  )3     PARENTORPARENTS.Ifthedeceasedemployeeleavesno h` survivingspouseorchildentitledtoanypaymenthereunder,but NF shouldleaveaparentorparents,eitherorbothofwhomarewholly 4, dependentonthedeceased,thereshallbepaid,ifonlyone(1)parent,  twentyfivepercent(25%)oftheaverageweeklywagesofthe  deceasedtosuchparent,andifbothparents,thirtyfivepercent(35%)  oftheaverageweeklywagesofthedeceasedtosuchparents.IJ݌  Ќ X'` ` ` X   X'   ""  ,XH.444` hp x (#` ` ` X H   ,?" hp x444` X(#?M2(  7  )3     GRANDPARENT,BROTHER,SISTER,MOTHERINLAWOR  FATHERINLAW.Ifthedeceasedleavesnosurvivingspouseor  dependentchildorparententitledtoanypaymenthereunder,but ~v leavesagrandparent,brother,sister,motherinlaworfatherinlaw d\ whollydependentuponthedeceasedforsupport,thereshallbepaid JB tosuchdependent,ifbutone(1),twentypercent(20%)ofthe 0 ( averageweeklywagesofthedeceasedor,ifmorethanone(1) ! twentyfivepercent(25%)oftheaverageweeklywagesofthe ! deceased,dividedbetweenthemoramongthemshareandshare " alike.MN݌ #  Ќ X'` ` ` X   X'   ""  ,XH.444` hp x (#` ` ` X H   ,?" hp x444` X(#?R2(  8  )3     COMPENSATIONTODEPENDENTSTOCEASEUPONDEATH $! ORMARRIAGE.Ifthecompensationisbeingpaidunderthis %" chaptertoanydependent,suchcompensationshallcease,uponthe z&r# deathormarriageofsuchdependent,unlessotherwiseprovided `'X $ herein.RS݌ F(>!% Ќ X'` ` ` X   X'   ""  ,XH.444` hp x (#` ` ` X H   ,?" hp x444` X(#?U2(  9  )3     PARTIALDEPENDENTSTORECEIVEPROPORTION.Partial ,)$"& dependentsshallbeentitledtoreceiveonlythatproportionofthe * #' benefitsprovidedforactualdependentswhichtheaverageamountof *#( thewagesregularlycontributedbythedeceasedtosuchpartial +$) dependentat,andforareasonabletimeimmediatelypriortothe ,%* injury,boretothetotalincomeofthedependentduringthesame -&+ time.UV݌ .', Ќ X'` ` ` X   X'   " "  ,XH.444` hp x (#` ` ` X H   ,?" hp x444` X(#?ZY2(  10  )3     MAXIMUMANDMINIMUMCOMPENSATION.The v/n(- compensationpayableincaseofdeathtopersonswhollydependent \0T). shallbesubjecttothemaximumweeklybenefitandminimum B1:*/ weeklybenefit;provided,thatifatthetimeofinjurytheemployee (2 +0 receiveswagesoflessthantheminimumweeklybenefit,the 3,1 compensationshallbethefullamountofsuchwagesaweek,butin 3,2 noeventshallthecompensationpayableunderthisprovisionbeless 4-3 thantheminimumweeklybenefit.Thecompensationpayableto 5.4 partialdependentsshallbesubjecttothesamemaximumand 6/5 minimumspecifiedintheforegoingsentence;provided,thatifthe 706 incomelossofthepartialdependentsbysuchdeathislessthanthe r8j17 minimumweeklybenefit,thenthedependentsshallreceivethefull X9P28 amountoftheincomeloss.Thiscompensationshallbepaidduring  dependencynottoexceedthemaximumtotalbenefit,paymentstobe  paidattheintervalswhenthewagewaspayableasnearlyasmaybe.ZYFZ݌  Ќ X'` ` ` X   X'   " "  ,XH.444` hp x (#` ` ` X H   ,?" hp x444` X(#?_2(  11  )3     ORPHANSANDOTHERCHILDREN.Incomputingand   payingcompensationtoorphansorotherchildren,inallcases,only   thoseundereighteen(18)yearsofage,orthoseovereighteen(18)  ~ yearsofagewhoarephysicallyormentallyincapacitatedfrom l d earning,shallbeincluded,theformertoreceivecompensationonly R J duringthetimetheyareundereighteen(18)yearsofage,thelatter 80 onlyforthetimetheyaresoincapacitated.Ifthedependentis   attendingarecognizededucationalinstitution,benefitsshallbepaid   untiltwentytwo(22)yearsofage._`݌   Ќ X'` ` ` X   X'   " "  ,XH.444` hp x (#` ` ` X H   ,?" hp x444` X(#?d2(  12  )3     ACTUALDEPENDENTS.Actualdependentsshallbeentitledto   takecompensationintheordernamedinsubsection(c),untilsixty   sixandtwothirdspercent(662/3%)ofthemonthlywagesofthe   deceasedduringthetimespecifiedinthischaptershallhavebeen z  exhausted,butthetotalcompensationtobepaidtoallactual h` dependentsofadeceasedemployeeshallnotexceedintheaggregate NF themaximumweeklybenefit.dme݌ 4, Ќ X'` ` ` X   X'   " "  ,XH.444` hp x (#` ` ` X H   ,?" hp x444` X(#?`h2(  13  )3     DEPENDENCYSTATUSNOTAFFECTEDBYCERTAIN  ASSISTANCEPAYMENTS.Sumsdistributedunderthe  EmploymentSecurityLaw,chapter7ofthistitle;theOldAge  AssistanceLaw,title71,chapter2,part2;theAidtoDependent  ChildrenLaw,title71,chapter3,parts1and2;AidtoBlindLaw,  title71,chapter4,part1;thefederalSocialSecurityAct,oranyother  publicassistancedistributedbytheUnitedStatesgovernment,the ~v stateofTennessee,oranycountyormunicipalitythereof,shallnotbe d\ consideredincomewithinthemeaningofthislawandshallnotaffect JB thestatusorcompensationofanypersonentitledtobenefitsasherein 0 ( provided.`hLi݌ ! Ќ X'` ` ` X   X'      E+` ` ` hp x (#` ` ` X E XE+ ` hp x (#` ` ` X(#E X X X  ?(` ` ` hp x X(#?Aspertinenttothiscase,thestatuteprovides: Thecompensation #  payableincaseofdeathtopersonswhollydependentshallbesubjectto %" themaximumweeklybenefitandminimumweeklybenefit;....This `'X $ compensationshallbepaidduringdependencynottoexceedthe ,)$"& maximumtotalbenefit,paymentstobepaidattheintervalswhenthe *#( wagewaspayableasnearlyasmaybe.T.C.A.506210(e)(10). ,%* (emphasissupplied)Thelegislaturehasdefinedtheterm maximumtotal .', benefitinanotherpartoftheworkerscompensationlaw. \0T). # XXtFXXXtF FX XX  ?%N N N hp x ` ` ` X ?  #q  ݀ (13)Maximumtotalbenefitmeansthesumofallweeklybenefitsto (2 +0 whichaworkermaybeentitled;and...(c)Forinjuries 3,2 occurringonorafterJuly1,1992,themaximumtotalbenefit 5.4 shallbefourhundredweeks(400)timesthemaximumweekly 706 benefitexceptincaseoftotaldisability.#qFr݌ X9P28 Ќ XF XX  -` ` ` X N N N X -XtFXXXtF X  X FX?%N N N hp x ` ` ` X ?Ӏ(14)Maximumweeklybenefitmeansthemaximumcompensation  payabletotheworkerperweek;and....(viii)Forinjuries  occurringonorafterJuly1,1997,themaximumweeklybenefits   shallbesixtysixandtwothirdspercent(662/3%)ofthe l d employeesaverageweeklywageuptoonehundredpercent 80 (100%)ofthestatesaverageweeklywageasdeterminedbythe   division.T.C.A.506102.     XF X  H+` ` ` hp x (#N N N X H X X  E+ ` hp x (#` ` ` X(#EӀInthecaseofJonesv.GeneralAcc.Ins.Co.ofAmerica,856S.W.2d133(Tenn. h` 1993),theCourtdeterminedthatT.C.A.506210didnotspecificallylimitdeath 4, benefitstoasurvivingspousewithnominordependentsforanysetnumberofweeks.   Consequently,anawardofdeathbenefitsshouldcontinuetobepaidbeyond400weeks  untilthemaximumtotalbenefitisreached...Theonlylimitationondeathbenefitsto  dependentsisthatthecompensationbepaidduringdependencyandmustnotexceedthe d\ maximumtotalbenefit.T.C.A.506210(e)(10).Benefitsaretobepaiduntilthe 0 ( statutorymaximumisreachedoruntilthesurvivingspousediesorremarries.856 ! S.W.2dat135. #  LibertyMutualassertsthatSpencerv.TowsonMoving&Storage,Inc.,922 %" S.W.2d508(Tenn.1996)implicitlyoverruledJones.InSpencer,thetrialcourthad `'X $ foundthedefinitionof maximumweeklybenefittobeambiguousbuttheSupreme ,)$"& Courtfoundthestatutetobeclearandunambiguous.CounselforLibertyMutualhas *#( failedtodistinguishbetween maximumtotalbenefitwhichwastheissueinJonesand ,%*  maximumweeklybenefitwhichwastheissueinSpencer.T.C.A.506210hasnot .', beenamendedsinceJoneswasdecided,andSpencerdealtwithadifferent,butrelated \0T). issue. (2 +0 ThetrialcourtcorrectlycalculatedthemaximumtotalbenefittobepaidtoMr. 3,2 Amellas400weekstimes$192.99(Mrs.Amellsweeklyworkerscompensationrate) 5.4 foratotalof$77,196.Asthesurvivingspousewithnodependentchild,Mr.Amell 706 shouldbepaidweeklybenefitsattherateof$144.75(onehalfofMrs.Amells_average X9P28 weeklywage)untilhediesorremarriesoruntilthemaximumtotalbenefitispaid.  _T.C.A._Ԁ506210(e)(1)and(e)(10).Jonesv.GeneralAcc.Ins.Co.ofAmerica,supra,at  135;Spencerv.TowsonMoving&Storage,Inc.,supra,at210,footnote4.   ( XXXtFXXXtF    (  Thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmedandremandedforenforcement.The l d costsofthisappealaretaxedtothedefendantappellant.(V݌ 80 Ќ  XtFXXXtF XX  ( XXXtFXXXtF    (  (݌   Ќ  XtFXXXtF XX                 h     ____________________________________ z      h     HowellN.Peoples,SpecialJudge h`   NF  4,          X__________________________________  ЀWilliamM.Barker,Justice  __________________________________ ! ЀJohnK.Byers,SeniorJudge !  X9P28 HXXtF@e e INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE   @"ATKNOXVILLE,TENNESSEE , $ #XtFXH# HXXtF  REBECCAJ._AMELL_,BYNEXTOFKINMARVINH._AMELL_ԀVS. * " LIBERTYMUTUALINSURANCECOMPANY#XtFXHf#  6. @~~ _Sevier_ԀCircuitCourtfor_Sevier_ԀCounty (  @&No.98346III   @-AVK) ` dEh` A߈   @_ _ No.E199901021_WC_ԄR3CVDecidedMay3,2000   AVK) ` dEh` A y  @) JUDGMENT  vn  `  ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingtheorderof (  referraltotheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanels  memorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichare  incorporatedhereinbyreference;   `  Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthatthememorandumOpinionofthe  Panelshouldbeacceptedandapproved;and   `  Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanelsfindingsoffactsandconclusions  oflawareadoptedandaffirmedandthedecisionofthePanelismadetheJudgementof r j theCourt. X!P  `  Costsonappealaretaxeddefendant/appellant,LibertyMutualInsurance >"6 CompanyandMaryElizabethMaddox,surety,forwhichexecutionmayissueif $#  necessary.  $! 05/03/00 %#