ÿWPC fJÛpî¹?ç@ë|B?c›æÖïñBÁÐZå3Ð$ÿ÷6­êºLû¥8é üx…L8htHå€ü!Ö¶¼ÆIˆ~»ÈʼՌ«<Ê‘ Ò_¯åÃ76òMgÍÂèløszCú’¹úxTžžqäü [)G^KÌU½úy»j©w‚®¼øQƒhX×ÿvu\ 왟ÑĈSF+{]ˆø˜:z³Y#+Lé­¯îtW kט`ö›[Xœçla®L¤¶¤tûÊ{Æ jÎC!¡ˆÜÊ…Ô]üYò¥²}G>u³AؼjèW¸_ŒtÅúõ$PV}{Øâ⣂Ãå ;˜i˜i?©V€#Ë?0Ô_OÐðzQF9TÁ½sRý5@%Ä%ͤ=}ëU g‚­¦Ö÷ww‚îá…4«í!µŠ>$ñ…+»#f·\æ뫬ÑÍø÷¢ªóX@—˜ }‹iâ¢4¢#:@Xæ"Ñ)€Þ¯Ú‡’óMI-¶GDZ¦ÔçÆ,ºâo£+àÇ*# LUNW %¥ 0û«U:¦4àô 0DU NG•w@ 0?Ý 0D ` U:c  U:                            AQÚ Æ+ 0Dñ 0D5 Byy D/–– BÅ D3â˜HP LaserJet 4 PlusHPPCL5MS,ð,,,,,ð0nLHÎ(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ÓH=$¡¡Ñ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÔ€XÎ_XXXÔÑ7€¾úXXdðXXdð7Ñ, øð AZ‹"Arial RegularDLL%øð 3|x–($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman Regular {|D}~D€Vî‚Ó€ŒÓ€–D(ï(3yù$¤¤Ý ƒH=!ÝÑ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÔ€X¨ðXXXÔÑ7€• XXdìdì7ÑÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó ùÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€X¨ðXXXÔÔ€wXX¨ðÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X¨ðXwÔÐ  ÐÌOctober€12,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular ùÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ 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À àà  à)Ð <Œ ÐÌÌÔ‡¼[¼¼ ¼\¥ÔÌÌò òòòFor€the€Appellant:à h àà À àà  àFor€the€Appellee:Ð žî Ðó óóóœWm›.€œKennerly›€Burgerà h àà À àà  àKitty€œBoyte›Ð ¬ü МSunTrust›€Bank€Buildingà h àà À àà  àœKimbra›€œSpann›Ð ¼  ÐSuite€306à ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à150€Second€Avenue€NorthÐ Ì  Ð201€E.€Main€Streetà h àà À àà  àSuite€201Ð Ü!, ÐP.€O.€Box€1969à  àà h àà À àà  àNashville,€TN€37201Ð ì"< ÐMurfreesboro,€TN€37133„1969ÌÌÌÌÌò òòòÓ  ÓM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€N:Ð L)œ$" ÐÌMembers€of€Panel:ÌÌó óóóJudge€Ben€H.€œCantrell›Ð „-Ô(& ÐSenior€Judge€William€H.€InmanÌSpecial€Judge€Joe€C.€Loser,€Jr.ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÌò òÌâ âAFFIRMEDà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àINMAN,€Senior€JudgeÐ 29‚41Æ Ðó óÔ#† ¼\¥¼¼¼[\#ÔÓÓà ` àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€SpecialÏâ âWorkers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordanceÏwith€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€theÏSupreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.Ô‡¼[¼¼ ¼\¥ÔÐ 4 „ Ðòòà ` àóóÔ#† ¼\¥¼¼¼[µ #ÔThe€issue€in€this€case€is€whether€the€trial€judge€properly€dismissed€theÐ ` ° Ðcomplaint€owing€to€the€failure€of€the€plaintiff€to€prove€by€a€preponderance€of€allÏthe€evidence€that€œhis›€disability€was€job„related.€€Review€of€the€findings€of€factÏmade€by€the€trial€court€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,Ð ä4 Ðaccompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€finding,€unless€theÏpreponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€òòTenn.€Code€Ann.€ððóó€50„6„Ð <Œ Ð225(e)(2).€€òòStone€v.€City€of€œMcMinnville›,€óó896€S.W.2d€548,€550€(Tenn.€1995).Ô‡¼ ¼¼ ¼\¥Ô€Ô#† ¼\¥¼ ¼¼ƒ#ÔÐ h¸ Ðò òà@žž.ÌàIˆÐ ´ Ðó óà ` àThe€complaint€alleged€that€the€plaintiff€experienced€a€ððwork„relatedÐ à0 Ðeventðð€in€November€1994€which€worsened€a€ððprogressively€deteriorating€backÏdisease.ðð€€He€is€44€years€old€and€has€worked€at€œBridgestone›/Firestone,€Inc.Ïcontinuously€from€1985€through€April€20,€1996.€€The€onset€of€back€problemsÏwas€traced€to€1988,€with€no€history€of€a€specific€injury€at€any€time.Ìà ` àOn€November€5,€1994,€he€was€working€in€the€curing€department€atÏœBridgestone›€when€he€suddenly€could€not€lift€any€more€tires.€€At€his€request,€hisÏsupervisor€helped€him€complete€his€work€that€shift,€and€he€took€a€vacation€dayÏthe€following€day.€€No€particular€event€or€incident€caused€his€inability€to€work,Ïalthough€two€days€earlier€he€had€presented€himself€at€the€Health€Unit€atÏBridgestone,€where€he€gave€a€history€of€back€pain€for€three€years€and€that€theÏpain€originally€began€on€ð ð4/11/88.ðð€€Four€days€later€he€again€visited€the€HealthÏUnit€for€ongoing€back€pain.Ð ð8@40 Ðà ` àPlaintiff€first€saw€Dr.€Gregory€Lanford€on€November€14,€1994,€to€whomÏhe€gave€a€history€of€three€years€of€back€pain€with€no€precipitating€trauma.€€HeÏwas€diagnosed€with€degenerative€disc€disease,€and€complained€of€pain€fromÏstanding€and€walking,€not€associated€with€work„related€activity.Ìà ` àPlaintiff€reached€maximum€medical€improvement€and€returned€to€work€atÏBridgestone€on€July€16,€œ1995,›€with€some€lifting€restrictions.€€He€resumedÏworking€in€the€curing€department€operating€a€fork„lift€and€again€experiencedÏpain.€€He€was€then€moved€to€a€sedentary€job€as€a€key€booth€operator.Ìà ` àAt€his€attorneyððs€request,€plaintiff€was€evaluated€by€Dr.€Richard€FishbeinÏin€January€1996,€who€opined€that€plaintiff€suffered€a€ten€percent€impairment€toÏthe€body€as€a€whole€from€a€traumatic€episode€related€to€him€by€plaintiff€whichÏoccurred€in€1994.€€When€plaintiff€filled€out€the€informational€form€on€hisÏhistory,€he€identified€the€onset€of€his€back€problems€as€œð ð5/11/94.ððñyñ"ñyñ›€Ìà ` àIn€Dr.€Fishbeinððs€first€deposition,€he€related€this€date€as€May€11,€1994.€€InÏa€later€deposition,€he€testified€that€plaintiff€had€since€explained€to€him€œthat€that›Ïdate€should€have€been€November€5,€1994,€not€May€11,€1994.€€He€testified€thatÏthere€was€a€causal€link€between€the€traumatic€injury€plaintiff€suffered€and€hisÏback€problems€but€admitted€that€plaintiffððs€symptoms€are€classic€symptoms€ofÏdegenerative€disc€disease.€€The€rating€he€gave€was€based€on€the€symptoms.Ìà ` àThe€trial€court€found€no€proof€of€a€causal€relationship€between€theÏplaintiffððs€employment€and€his€physical€condition.€€Ìò òà@pp-ÌàIIˆÐ L2œ-* Ðó óà ` àPlaintiff€argues€that€his€back€problems€result€from€his€employment€atÐ x4È/, ÐBridgestone/Firestone€because€he€suffers€from€a€progressive,€advancingÏdegenerative€disease€of€his€back€which€became€disabling€after€a€ð ðpullingððÐ Ð8 40 Ðepisode€on€November€5,€1994.€€He€has€suffered€back€problems€since€1988Ïwhen,€according€to€his€testimony,€he€was€pulling€rubber€apart€and€encounteredÏa€shooting€pain€through€his€hip.€€Plaintiff€testified€that€from€1988€to€1994,€hisÏback€pain€did€not€interfere€with€his€work€until€November€1994,€when€he€wasÏunable€to€lift€a€tire.Ìà ` àPlaintiff€did€not€go€to€the€Health€Unit€until€November€7,€1994.€€€At€thatÏtime,€he€reported€that€he€œhad€had›€pain€for€three€years€which€originally€began€onÏApril€11,€1988.€€There€was€no€mention€in€the€log€of€an€incident€occurring€onÏNovember€5,€1994.Ìà ` àOn€cross„examination,€he€admitted€that,€in€his€prior€deposition,€heÏtestified€that€there€was€no€specific€injury€in€1988€or€since€that€time€and€thatÏthere€was€no€particular€event€or€incident€which€increased€his€back€pain€orÏbrought€about€his€inability€to€work.Ìà ` àDr.€Lanford€testified€that€degenerative€disc€disease€could€cause€pain€fromÏeveryday€œactivitiesñzñ,ñzñ›€and€a€loss€of€range€of€motion€similar€to€that€suffered€byÏplaintiff.€€As€plaintiffððs€treating€physician,€Dr.€Lanford€assigned€him€a€sevenÏpercent€permanent€impairment€to€his€body€as€a€whole,€based€upon€complaintsÏof€pain€secondary€to€degenerative€disc€disease,€but€emphasized€that€he€was€notÏaware€of€a€particular€traumatic€event€that€caused€plaintiffððs€problem.Ìà ` àDr.€Fishbein€first€saw€plaintiff€in€January€1996.€€He€opined€that€plaintiffÏsuffered€a€ten€percent€permanent€impairment€to€the€body€as€a€whole€from€aÏtraumatic€episode€related€to€him€by€plaintiff,€which€occurred€in€1994€and€thatÏthere€was€a€causal€link€between€the€traumatic€injury€plaintiff€allegedly€sufferedÏand€his€back€problems.€€Dr.€Fishbein€based€his€opinion€on€statements€made€toÏhim€by€the€plaintiff€that€he€had€suffered€a€traumatic€injury€in€1994,€when€heÐ Ð8 40 Ðwas€lifting€a€tire€track€to€position€it€and€experienced€low€back€pain.€€TheseÏstatements€were€contrary€to€the€plaintiffððs€testimony€that€there€was€no€particularÏevent€which€caused€his€increase€in€pain.€€Dr.€Fishbein€testified€that€plaintiffððsÏsymptoms€are€classic€symptoms€of€degenerative€disc€disease.€€Ìà ` àPlaintiff€does€not€demonstrate€that€the€evidence€preponderates€against€theÏtrial€courtððs€judgment€finding€a€lack€of€causal€connection€between€his€workÏactivities€and€his€degenerative€back€condition.€€Dr.€Fishbeinððs€opinion€onÏcausation€is€based€on€an€alleged€traumatic€event,€which€the€plaintiff€testified€didÏnot€occur,€a€point€that€did€not€escape€the€attention€of€the€trial€judge.Ìò òà@BB-ÌàIIIˆÐ <Œ Ðà ` àó óPlaintiff€must€prove€by€expert€medical€testimony€a€causal€relationshipÐ h¸ Ðbetween€his€disability€and€his€job€activity.€€While€absolute€certainty€is€notÏrequired€for€medical€causation,€the€proof€must€not€be€so€speculative€orÏuncertain€that€attributing€the€injury€to€the€plaintiffððs€job€would€be€an€arbitraryÏopinion€or€a€mere€possibility.€€òòœTindall›€v.€œWaring›€Park€Assoc.,óó€725€S.W.2d€935,Ð #h Ð937€(Tenn.€1987).Ìà ` àThe€trial€court€accredited€the€testimony€of€Dr.€Lanford,€the€treatingÏphysician,€over€that€of€Dr.€Fishbein,€who€saw€plaintiff€for€the€first€time€inÏJanuary€1996.€€Moreover,€the€issue€of€credibility€œpermñ{ñeatesñ{ññ|ñitsñ|ñ›€this€record.€€WhereÏthe€trial€judge€has€made€a€determination€based€upon€the€testimony€of€witnessesÏwhom€he€has€seen€and€heard,€great€deference€must€be€given€to€that€finding€inÏdetermining€whether€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€trial€judgeððsÏdetermination.€€òòSeeóó€òòHumphrey€v.€David€œWitherspoon›,€Inc.,€óó734€S.W.2d€315Ð x4È/, Ðâ â(Tenn.€1987).Ð ¤6ô1. Ðà ` àWhen€he€saw€Dr.€Lanford,€the€plaintiff€made€no€mention€of€any€event€onÏâ âNovember€5,€1994.€€When€he€saw€Dr.€Fishbein€in€June€1996,€he€identified€theÏonset€of€his€problems€as€œð ð5/11/94ñ}ñ.ñ}ññ~ñ/ñ~ñððññ€ññ›€Plaintiff€explained€that€he€used€ððmilitaryÏtimeðð€for€this€date,€although€he€admitted€that€another€date€that€he€placed€on€theÏsame€form€was€not€in€military€format.€€The€history€that€he€gave€Dr.€FishbeinÏalso€included€information€that€he€had€lifted€a€tire€track€to€position€it€andÏexperienced€low€back€pain.€€This€version€of€events€differs€from€all€the€otherÏversions€given€by€plaintiff.€€Plaintiff€also€did€not€mention€a€motor€vehicleÏaccident€with€resulting€pain€in€his€neck,€thoracic€and€lumbar€spine,€either€in€hisÏdeposition€or€in€his€direct€testimony€at€trial.Ìà ` àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€we€are€unable€to€find€that€the€evidenceÏpreponderates€against€the€judgment€which€is€affirmed€at€the€costs€of€theÏappellant.ÌÌÓÓÔ‡¼[¼¼ ¼\¥Ôà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à_______________________________Ð #h Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeÔ#† ¼\¥¼¼¼[%.#ÔÐ ($x ÐCONCUR:ÌÔ‡¼[¼¼ ¼\¥ÔÌÌÌ_______________________________ÌBen€H.€œCantrell›,€JudgeÔ#† ¼\¥¼¼¼[f/#ÔÐ Ž*Þ%# ÐÔ‡¼[¼¼ ¼\¥ÔÌÌÌ_______________________________ÌJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€œJudgeÔ#† ¼\¥¼¼¼[ø/#Ôñ€ñÐ  Þ/.+( Ðñ€ñññ›ññññÒ£HÒòòÔ‡ »ܦ »¼ ¼\¥Ôà@¨ ¨ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° ÐÌà@)àAT€NASHVILLEˆÌÌÌÌRICHARD€LEE€BENNETT,à À àà  à}à p àRUTHERFORD€CHANCERYÐ 4 „ Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à}à p àNo.€95WC„933€BelowÐ J š Ðà ` àPlaintiff/Appellantà À àñññ–ñññà  àñññ–ñññà  à}Ð ` ° ÐñññŒñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@EÙz` 8ttxPvð  rßñŒñññà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à}à p àHon.€€James€WeatherfordÐ vÆ  Ðvs.à ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à}à p àJudgeÐ ŒÜ  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à}ÌBRIDGESTONE,€U.S.A.,€INC.,à À àà  à}à p àNo.€01S01„9710„CH„00236Ð ¸  Ðà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à}Ìà ` àDefendant/Appelleeà À àà  à}à p àà È àAFFIRMEDÐ ä4 ÐÌÌà@(àJUDGMENT€ORDERˆÌÌÌÓ€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€OpinionÏof€the€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€isÏmade€the€judgment€of€the€Court.ÌÓ šX°œXÓà ` àà ¸ àCosts€will€be€paid€by€Plaintiff/Appellant€and€Surety,€for€whichÏexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÓ€Óà ` àà ¸ àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€on€Ô"*USú ú, úUSú ú, ú*ÔOctober€12,€1998.ÌÌÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àPER€CURIAMÌóóÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ [9«46 Ðñññ‚ñññÔ†ÿÿÔñññ‚ñññÔ#† ¼\¥¼ » »ܦ¾0#Ôñññ‚ñññÔ  ÔÔ  Ôñññ‚ñ›