WPCv "R6./yk{̀ ;"ާE)h'|4q 9X;EP~IbN,9; F#S-ӡT:Xo!PL,>#K2X{bD ?/GFQ뻧b\MqHǯRP"sp} |0|{rNGW *8 L"Y;ˑ @bA׫EGr"o|E}OC5qmőiE'`Onyϭ0&,+*E- ~ "VҎGB8kVL, )|c2j8dzbe/{(Q||\w!>/ȿei6;JJ .b %\^ b 0nU3NwD4H\ zk m UN  &   x #> N<N=E? 1uA 72 0cNK 0DM z UNU@+++++++++++++++bkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk 0ssss B ^^ 0{ D3 D-R 0K AS 0 0D At-s (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular[-Y3|x C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptU(9 Z6Times New Roman Regular Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5HP LaserJet 4 Plus,,,,,,0 2 R$      1  XX  _XXԀAninjurytobotharmsisascheduledinjuryandthebetterpracticeistoaveragetheawardstoeacharmfor  asingleawardbasedonapercentageofbotharms. _Scalesv.CityofOakRidge,53S.W.3d649atn.1(Tenn.2001).# _X#Ԁ x Theissuedeemedwaivedsinceitwasnotraisedinthisappeal.3#37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i)(;3$2#  0  .3  0  (#$  0  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.wpt(hH  Z 6Times New Roman Regular(9 Z(Times New Roman - -(|G2$ !.8dd8         0  XX d(|32$ !.8dd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|32$ !.8dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8dd8     _8XXdd8  @@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL , @@ATJACKSON## X August16,2002Session 4 XX #XX#BRENDABARTONv.ANVILINTERNATIONAL,INC.,etal.XX  <  @@ DirectAppealfromtheChanceryCourtforChesterCounty D  @@No.9654JoeC.Morris,Chancellor 4  @@*AV) ` dE<` A T  No.W200102523_WC_ԄR3CVMailedNovember5,2002;FiledDecember11,2002 S  #XX퓜#XXAV) ` dE<` A #      Thisworkers'compensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppeals " PaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3)forhearingand  reportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Inthisappeal,#XX퓓#XXthe  employer#XX퓐#XXԀinsists(1)thetrialcourterredinconsideringanexaminingphysiciansopinionasnot  beingbasedonstatutoryguidelinesand(2)theawardofpermanentpartialdisabilitybenefitsbased  on50percenttoonearmand45percenttotheotherarmisexcessive. #  1      ׀Asdiscussedbelow,the  panelhasconcludedthejudgmentshouldbeaffirmed. r    Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2001Supp.)AppealasofRight;Judgmentofthe R ChanceryCourtAffirmed  B     JoeC.Loser,Jr.,Sp.J.#X#XX.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichJaniceM.Holder,J.,and "r Michael_Maloan_,Sp.J.,joined.  b JefferyG.Foster,Jackson,Tennessee,fortheappellant,AnvilInternational,Inc. !B  ScottG.Kirk,Jackson,Tennessee,fortheappellee,BrendaBarton #""    MEMORANDUMOPINION #XX #XX %!$   #XX #XX  Theemployeeorclaimant,Ms.Barton,initiatedthiscivilactiontorecoverworkers '"& compensationdisabilitybenefitsforaworkrelatedinjury.Theemployer,AnvilInternational, (#' deniedliabilityforpermanentdisability.Afteratrialonthemerits,thetrialcourtawarded,among r)$( otherthings,benefitsbasedonpermanentpartialdisabilitytobotharms.Theemployerhas  appealed.     X} XXXForinjuriesoccurringonorafterJuly1,1985,appellatereviewisdenovoupontherecord  ofthetrialcourt,accompaniedbyapresumptionofcorrectnessofthefindingsoffact,unlessthe l preponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.#XX X X}#Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2)(2001Supp.). X} XXXԀThe X  reviewingcourtisrequiredtoconductanindependentexaminationoftherecordtodeterminewhere X  thepreponderanceoftheevidencelies.#XX X X}&# X} XXXԀ_Wingert_Ԁv.GovernmentofSumnerCounty,908S.W.2d921, D  922(Tenn.1995).#XX X X} # X} XXXThestandardgoverningappellatereviewoffindingsoffactbyatrialcourt 0  requirestheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPaneltoexamineindepthatrialcourts  l  factualfindingsandconclusions.#XX X X}# X} XXXԀ_GAF_ԀBldg.Materialsv.George,47S.W.3d430,432(Tenn.2001). X  #XX X X}$# X} XXXWherethetrialjudgehasseenandheardthewitnesses,especiallyifissuesofcredibilityandweight D  tobegivenoraltestimonyareinvolved,considerabledeferencemustbeaccordedthose 0  circumstancesonreview,becauseitisthetrialcourtwhichhadtheopportunitytoobservethe   witnessesdemeanorandtoheartheincourttestimony.#XX X X}# X} XXXLongv.TriConInd.,Ltd.,996S.W.2d   173,177(Tenn.1999).#XX X X}# X} XXXԀThetrialcourtsfindingswithrespecttocredibilityandweightofthe   evidencemaygenerallybeinferredfromthemannerinwhichthecourtresolvesconflictsinthe  testimonyanddecidesthecase.#XX X X}T# X} XXX_Tobitt_Ԁv.Bridgestone/Firestone,Inc.,59S.W.3d57,61(Tenn. | 2001).#XX X X}# X} XXXԀTheappellatetribunal,however,isaswellsituatedtogaugetheweight,worthand h significanceofdepositiontestimonyasthetrialjudge.#XX X X}N# X} XXXWalkerv.SaturnCorp.,986S.W.2d204,207 T (Tenn.1998)#XX X X}4# X} XXX.Theextentofaninjuredworkersvocationaldisabilityisaquestionoffact.#XX X X}# X} XXXSealsv. @ England/CorsairUpholsteryMfg.,984S.W.2d912,915(Tenn.1999).#XX X X}c# X} XXXԀWherethemedicaltestimony ,| inaworkerscompensationcaseispresentedbydeposition,thereviewingcourtmaymakean h independentassessmentofthemedicalprooftodeterminewherethepreponderanceoftheprooflies. T #XX X X}# X} XXXWhirlpoolCorp.v._Nakhoneinh_,69S.W.3d164,167(Tenn.2002).#XX X X}j# @   Theclaimantis53yearsoldwithaninthgradeeducationandexperienceinproductionwork.  Sheworkedasa baggerfortheemployerformorethanayearbeforeshebeganexperiencing   numbnessinbothhandsandarms.Anorthopedicsurgeondiagnosedbilateralcarpaltunnel  syndromeandmildtendinitisinherrightelbow.Whenconservativecarefailedtorelievethe  symptoms,thedoctorperformedcorrectivesurgeryonbotharmsandprescribedphysicaltherapy.   ThesurgeonopinedtheclaimantreachedmaximummedicalimprovementonJanuary15,2001and |! wouldretainpermanentmedicalimpairmentsof3percenttotherightupperextremityand5percent l"  totheleftupperextremity.Thereisnoevidencetheinjuryinvolvedanymemberotherthanthetwo \#! arms.Theclaimantreturnedtoworkandcontinuedtoworkoffandonuntilapproximatelythree L$" weeksbeforethetrialdate,whenshequitbecauseofcontinuingpaininherhandsandwrists. <% #   Dr.Joseph_Boals_Ԁexaminedtheclaimantandestimatedherpermanentimpairmenttobe20 'l"% percenttoeachupperextremity.Hetestifiedbydepositionthattheopinionwasbasedonthelatest  (\#& editionoftheAMAGuides.TheappellantcontendsDr._Boals_Ԁusedthewrongchartinthe (L$' guidelines.AMAGuidesprovideguidancefortheuseofphysicianstoassisttheminevaluatingthe )<%( extentofaninjuredworkersmedicalimpairment.Itisnotalegaltreatise.Interpretationofmedical *,&) documentsisbestlefttomedicalexperts,includingDr._Boals_.TherecordreflectsthatDr._Boals_ +'* iseminentlyqualifiedtodoso.Moreover,thereisnoreasonforustosuspecttheawardwouldhave  beenmateriallylessifthetrialcourthadnotconsideredtheopinionofDr._Boals_,forpermanent  disabilitybenefitsarerecoverableundertheWorkersCompensationLaw X} XXXwhetherornotthereis  amedicalimpairmentrating.#XX X X}c&#ԀHillv.RoyalIns.Co.,937S.W.2d873(Tenn.1996).Thefirstissue  isaccordinglyresolvedinfavoroftheappellee.    Theemployercontendsthetrialcourtsawardofpermanentdisabilitybenefitsisexcessive p  becauseofthelowimpairmentratingprovidedbytheoperatingsurgeon,thefactshewasableto `  returntoworkfollowingsurgeryandbecauseshehassometransferableskills. X} XXXThefactof P  employmentafterinjuryisafactortobeconsideredindeterminingtheextentofaninjuredworkers P   disability,butthatfactistobeweighedinlightofallotherconsiderations,includingtheemployees <  skillsandtraining,education,age,localjobopportunities,capacitytoworkatthekindsof (x  employmentinhisorherdisabledcondition,ratingofanatomicdisabilitybyamedicalexpertand d  theemployeesownassessmentofhisorherphysicalconditionandresultingdisability.#XX X X}(#_Cleek_Ԁv. P  WalMartStores,Inc.,19S.W.3d770,774(Tenn.2000).Additionally, X} XXXtheextentofaninjured P  workersdisabilityisanissueoffact.#XX X X} ,#ԀWalkerv.SaturnCorp.,986S.W.2d204,207(Tenn.1998). P Givingduedeferencetothefindingofthetrialcourt,wecannotsaytheevidencepreponderates P againstthetrialcourtsfindingwithrespecttotheextentoftheclaimantsvocationaldisability. @   Forthosereasons,thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmed.Costsaretaxedtothe   appellant.     `     h     ___________________________________     `     h     JOEC.LOSER,JR.    ` @7 7 XXINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @==SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL  @''%ATJACKSON 0 @"August16,2002 H    BRENDABARTONv.ANVILINTERNATIONAL,INC.,etal.  ( x 0@  ChanceryCourtforChesterCounty X  @&No.9654 p  @*AV) ` dE<` A߈   @No.W200102523_WC_ԄR3CVFiledDecember11,2002   AV) ` dE<` A G  @PP& JUDGMENT  n     ` ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingtheorder f ofreferraltotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel's x MemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,which  areincorporatedhereinbyreference;     ` Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthattheMemorandumOpinionofthe  Panelshouldbeacceptedandapproved;and "    ` Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactandconclusions F oflawareadoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgment !X oftheCourt. "j Ѐ ,#|    ` CostsonappealaretaxedtotheAppellant,AnvilInternational,Inc.,for >$ whichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. P%     ` ITISSOORDERED. t'"" # 63#   `     h     PER_CURIAM_ *&% #Գ7##XXԺ/#