WPC2@ ~ʺa  inߘ=VE f#)S7Lk,o5x%2]Jϔc]Z*w8bj}]DA7D~09Ar"{3| q-j+c{]I`^CNm1? bf_mN#H s);0#ow'T8ā*j9?Q!& p a2L/E_B`%,M&[2g+n̙h*8KG/؟=cdVѓm}g+1j40Ga5"~?3m v57[~#/)a+(%UeYC&@ݶoO:/eTUvv@Wbٖ ,K'%3אD:CU^d(wQGҳ9QNiM]SD'|XO(P6f׋yDTP \#U=N % 0:% ^ _ wk 4o   m N   - 1u 72[ 0cU, 0~ 0DU)@! 0U7  0 0| 0A 0 0 0l 0 0 0a 0& 0 0 0W 0 0 0:! 0! 0\" 0# 0# 0$ 0F% 0% 0& 0 ' 0' 0<( 0( 0) 0>j* 0* 0+ 0, 0d- 0F. 0(/ 0 0 00 021 01 0:2 0Y2 0_W3 0 3 04 0B6 B*H8 D/r8 D+8 08 D/: 0; 06; 0< 0: = 0^G= 0<= 1e=U6F>U>|>U*>)>b @ @ @ @ B@\\ib01s01\clerk1nas,,,,0(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularX($USUS.,'nb1 0:i+003|xU DrowotaTurnbullHenardBaughCaulkinsKrickSonomaSandlinCaudleGoogeLawrenceburg A]nSevierCokerResser Syse]motionalReeserTindallWaringAssnSheltoncausationally o]urWilloughbyLaxtonWingertAdolphoAldridgeHardimanepicondylitistendonitis CresWallerrepeatitiveMcShaneMcElhaneySp.J.WC ##2d#3#37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i)(;3$2#  0  .3  0  ,  AZArial (.(3($ !USUS.,      0  (#$  0  (I Z(Times New Roman   ($USUS.,    3    _PXXPPInBarker,thisCourthadtodeterminethedateofagraduallyoccurringinjuryinordertodecidewhichof  multipleinsurancecompanieshadthecoverage.InLawson,theCourthadtodeterminethedateofagradually t occurringinjuryforpurposesofestablishingwhenthestatuteoflimitationsbegantorun.Inbothcases,weheldthat 8 thekeydatewasthelastdaytheemployeeswereabletoworkduetotheirinjuries.#PP#h PԀ#P h#  ($USUS.,    4    _XXXXPXXTheemployeeclaimsthattheemployersappealisfrivolousand,therefore,sheshouldbeawarded  damages.Thisappealisnotfrivolous.Accordingly,theemployeesrequestfordamagesisdenied.#PPe#PPԀ#PP##XXP#*+ (_2623  ..  ($USUS.,    2    PXX_Thechangeintheweeklycompensationrateresultedinanincreaseinthejudgmentfrom$27,188to  $33,720.*G+G (_25   /%` ` hp x /23  ../%` ` hp x /   *8+8 (_24  ," hp x ,23  ..," hp x ,  *5+5 (_23 ` ) hp x )23  ..) hp x ) ` *2+2 (_22  &hhp x &23  ..&hhp x &  */+/ (_21  #p x #23  ..#p x #  *,+, (_20 h  p x 23  .. p x h *)+) (_19  pp x 23  ..pp x   *&+& (_18   x 23  .. x   *AA (_17  5+ ` hp x 523  Ԁ5+ ` hp x 5  *GG (_16   /%` ` hp x /23  Ԁ/%` ` hp x /   *88 (_15  ," hp x ,23  Ԁ," hp x ,  *55 (_14 ` ) hp x )23  Ԁ) hp x ) ` *22 (_13  &hhp x &23  Ԁ&hhp x &  *// (_12  #p x #23  Ԁ#p x #  *,, (_11 h  p x 23  Ԁ p x h *)) (_10  pp x 23  Ԁpp x   (&& &_9   x 23  Ԁ x   (AA &_8  5+ ` hp x 523  5+ ` hp x 5  (GG &_7   /%` ` hp x /23  /%` ` hp x /   (88 &_6  ," hp x ,23  ," hp x ,  (55 &_5 ` ) hp x )23  ) hp x ) ` (22 &_4  &hhp x &23  &hhp x &  (// &_3  #p x #23  #p x #  (,, &_2 h  p x 23   p x h ()) &_1  pp x 23  pp x   &&& $_   x 23   x   0AA.Normal  5+ ` hp x 55+ ` hp x 5  <AA:Definition T  5+ ` hp x 55+ ` hp x 5  <AA:Definition L , 5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 586Definition(hh&H1  5+ ` hp x 5      5+ ` hp x 5  (]]&H2  5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 5  (]]&H3  5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 5  (]]&H4  5+ ` hp x 5 XXX 5+ ` hp x 5  (]]&H5  5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 5  (]]&H6  5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 5  2DD0Address  5+ ` hp x 55+ ` hp x 5  8MM6Blockquote , , 5+ ` hp x 5   5+ ` hp x 5,*CITE,dl*CODEKS<6X9`(Courier NewKST\  `&Times New RomanS42Emphasis64Hyperlink    <:FollowedHype    4go2Keyboard KS<6X9`(Courier NewKST\  `&Times New RomanS <:Preformatted  /%  ,Kk %#/KS<6X9`(Courier NewKST\  `&Times New RomanS/%  ,Kk %#/  <:zBottom of 7H(X7    5+ ` hp x 5?U%2A`Arial?  ST\  `&Times New RomanS7I(X75+ ` hp x 5  &  d dG)1dxd'dxd<:zTop of For7K(X7    5+ ` hp x 5?U%2A`Arial?  ST\  `&Times New RomanS7I(X75+ ` hp x 5  G)2dxd0KS.SampleKS<6X9`(Courier NewKST\  `&Times New RomanS0.Strong 8dl6TypewriterKS<6X9`(Courier NewKST\  `&Times New RomanS42Variable: 8HTML MarkupB      2 0CommentB  !"#$%&'( 35;AGMSY_11.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.<6X9`(Courier New\  `&Times New Roman%2A`Arial  ($USUS.,    1    PXX_Theemployerhasnotchallengedonappealthetrialcourtsfindingofcompensabilityortheextentofthe  employeesdisability.- - d !USUS.,  _ ,  =XXdd=W8XXdd8  @ XXAINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @kk$@@$ATNASHVILLE & #A#@ooOctober7,2004Session L    `     h     @  DENISEBONEv.SATURNCORPORATION   p @y y  XXDirectAppealfromtheChanceryCourtofWilliamsonCounty F  @llNo.28043,Hon.R.E.LeeDavies 2  #XX# @ 򀀀 0  @b b  XXM200400195SCR3CVFiledNovember2,_2004_Ԉ(#(#K(##XX-#Ԉ T   @ 򀀀 @    XXInthisworkerscompensationcase,theemployer,SaturnCorporation,hasappealedthetrialcourts d awardofbenefitsbasedonaweeklycompensationratecalculatedasofthedatetheemployeelast P workedduetoagraduallyoccurringinjury.Theemployercontendsthatanemployees < compensationrateshouldnotbedeterminedasofthedatetheemployeelastworkedduetoa (x graduallyoccurringinjurywhentheemployeehaspreviouslygiventheemployeractualnoticeofthe d injury,asoccurredinthiscase.TheappealwastransferredtothefullSupremeCourtpriortothe P SpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanelhearingoralargument.Thesolequestionbeforethis < CourtiswhetherthelastdayworkedXXXXruleappliesindetermininganemployeesweekly ( compensationratewhentheemployee,whohassufferedagraduallyoccurringinjury,hasgiventhe  employeractualnoticeoftheinjurypriortomissingtimefromworkduetotheinjury.#XXXX#ԀAfter  carefullyexaminingtherecordandtherelevantauthorities,weholdthatthelastdayworkedrule  doesnotapplywhenXXXXԀdetermininganemployeescompensationrate#XXXX #XXXXiftheemployeehasgiventhe  employeractualnoticeofagraduallyoccurringinjury#XXXXK #XXXXԀpriortomissingtimefromwork#XXXX #XXXXԀonaccount t oftheinjury.#XXXXW #ԀAccordingly,thejudgmentofthetrialcourtismodifiedXXXXtoreflectanawardbasedon ` aweeklycompensationratecalculatedasofthedatetheemployeereportedhergraduallyoccurring L  #XXXX #XXXXinjurytotheemployer.#XXXX #XXXXԀ#XXXXF#Ԁ 8! Ѐ $"t  Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3);JudgmentoftheChanceryCourtmodifiedandremanded  #` FrankF.Drowota,III,C.J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichE.RileyAnderson, $8 ! JaniceM.Holder,WilliamM.Barker,JJ.,andAllenWilsonWallace,Sp.J.,joined. %$!" CliffordWilsonandMarciaMcShaneWatson,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheAppellant,Saturn '"$ Corporation. (#% LarryR.McElhaney,II,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheAppellee,DeniseBone. p*%' @* @66'OPINION  H,')  4-(*  ,  8XdXXd8    @x x XXXX I.  FactualandProceduralBackground #XXXX#Ԉ  XXXX  #XXXXӋ#XXXXTheemployee,DeniseBone,agefortyeight,wasemployedasanassemblylineworker#XXXX#XXXXԀby  SaturnCorporation.In1997,theemployeewasdiagnosedwithepicondylitis,commonlyreferred x toastendonitisor tenniselbow,inherleftarm.Shereportedherinjurytotheemployeron d February7,1997,bycompletingaNoticeofWorkRelatedInjuries/Illnessform.Theform,which P  wassignedbytheemployee,statedthattheemployeeinjuredherself liftingstockandrepetitiveuse <  ofleftarmandelbow.Theemployeefurtherindicatedontheformthatshehadpaininherleftarm ( x whensheperformedrepetitivework.TheformlistedthedateofinjuryasFebruary7,1997.  d   Theemployeecontinuedworkingintheemployersplantwhileundergoingconservative  P  treatmentforthepaininherarm.Whenconservativetreatmentfailedtoimprovehercondition,the  <  employeeunderwentcorrectivesurgeryonMay25,2001.Shedidnotmissanyworkonaccountof (  herinjuryuntilthesurgeryonMay25,2001.     TheemployeereachedmaximummedicalimprovementsometimeinMarch2002.Her   surgeonandtreatingphysician,Dr.PaulThomas,assigneda7%anatomicalimpairmentratingto   herarm.AccordingtoDr.Thomas,theemployeesconditionhadbecomepermanentbyearly1998. t However,Dr.Thomascouldnotpinpointanexactdatetheemployeesinjurybecamepermanent. ` #XXXXn#XXXX  Thetrialcourtfoundthattheemployeesinjurywasworkrelatedandawardedbenefitsbased 8 on30%permanentpartialdisabilitytotheemployeesarm.V #  1      ׀Thebenefitswereinitiallybasedona $t weeklycompensationrateof$453.14,whichwastheapplicablerateonthedatetheemployee ` reportedtheinjurytotheemployer.However,thetrialcourtlateramendedthejudgmentusinga L weeklycompensationrateof$562.00whichwastheapplicablerateonthedateoftheemployees 8 surgery. #  2      ׀Thetrialcourtmodifiedthejudgmentbaseduponthelastdayworkedruleforgradually $ occurringinjuries.#XXXX#XXXXThetrialcourtultimatelyfoundthattheinjurydatewasthedateofsurgery#XXXX#XXXXrather  thanthedatetheemployeereportedtheinjurytotheemployerbecausetheemployeecontinuedto  workuntilhersurgery#XXXXw#XXXX.    Theemployerappealedthetrialcourtsrelianceuponthelastdayworkedruletodetermine p theemployeescompensationrate.TheappealwastransferredtothefullSupremeCourtpriorto \  #XXXX_#XXXXoralargumentbeforetheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel. H! #XXXX #XXXX  @$II.Analysis  $\"  #XXXXX!#XXXX  Anawardofbenefitsforpermanentpartialdisabilityisbaseduponanemployeesweekly $H # compensationrate,whichisanamountequaltosixtysixandtwothirdspercentoftheworkers %4!$ averageweeklywage. Tenn.CodeAnn.506207(3)(A)(Supp.2003).Averageweeklywage & "%  meanstheearningsoftheinjuredemployeeintheemploymentinwhichtheinjuredemployeewas  working atthetimeoftheinjury duringtheperiodoffiftytwo(52)weeksimmediatelypreceding   thedateoftheinjury dividedbyfiftytwo(52).... Tenn.CodeAnn.506102(2)(A)(Supp.  2003)(emphasisadded). |   Relyinguponthestatutorydefinitionofaverageweeklywage,particularlythephrases atthe T  timeoftheinjuryand thedateoftheinjury,#XXXX!#XXXXtheemployeecontendsthatbecausethedateofinjury @  inarepetitiveuseinjurycase#XXXX&#XXXXԀisthelastdayworked,thetrialcourtcorrectlydeterminedher , | compensationrateasofthedateofhersurgery,May25,2001,sinceshecontinuedworkinguntil  h then.Theemployerrespondsthatthelastdayworkedruleshouldhavenoapplicationwhenthe  T  employeehasgiventheemployeractualnoticeoftheinjurypriortomissingtimefromworkdueto  @  theinjury.Thus,theemployerarguesthattheapplicabledateof #XXXX&#XXXXinjuryinthiscaseisthedatethe ,  employeereportedtheinjurytotheemployer,February7,1997.     Sinceatleast1961,Tennesseelawhasrecognizedthatworkerscompensationbenefitsmay   beawardedforconditionswhichdonotoccurinstantaneouslyasaresultofasingleevent,but   developgraduallyfromrepeatedworkrelatedincidents.SeeBarkerv.HomeCrestCorp.,805 x S.W.2d373,375(Tenn.1991).Inaddition,thisCourthasconsistentlyrecognized#XXXX(#XXXXԀthatinthecase d ofagraduallyoccurringinjury,thedateofinjuryisthelastdaythattheemployeeisabletowork P becauseoftheinjury.See,e.g.,Lawsonv.LearSeatingCorp.,944S.W.2d340,343(Tenn.1997); < Barker,805S.W.2dat37576. #  3      ׀Thisprincipleoflaw,whichisknownasthelastdayworkedrule, (x hasnotonlybeenadoptedinTennessee,butalsoisthelawinamajorityofjurisdictions.St.Paul d Ins.Co.v.Waller,524S.W.2d478,481(Tenn.1975).Thelastdayworkedruleappliesto P repetitiveuseinjuries,andits#XXXX+#XXXXpurposeistofixadatecertainwhentheemployeeknowsorshould < knowheorshesustainedaworkrelatedinjurysothatworkerswithgradualinjurieswillnotlosethe ( opportunitytobringclaimsduetotimelimitations.Storyv.LegionIns.Co.,3S.W.3d450,454  (Tenn.WorkersComp.Panel1999).Thelastdayworkedruleisnecessarybecauseinthecaseof  arepetitiveuseinjury,thereisnoidentifiableeventorincidentbeforewhichtheemployeeisnot  injured,butafterwhichtheemployeeisinjured.Lawson,944S.W.2dat342.    AlthoughthisCourthasnotappliedthelastdayworkedruleinthecontextofdetermining `  anemployeesweeklycompensationrate,theSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanelhas L! addressedthesubjectinseveralcaseswithconflictingresults.Forexample,inKeelv.SaturnCorp., 8"  No.01S019803CV00046,1999WL85521(Tenn.WorkersComp.PanelFeb.22,1999),the $#t! Panelappliedthelastdayworkedruleindecidingthattheemployeesweeklycompensationratewas $`" correctlydeterminedtobethedatewhenhisgraduallyoccurring#XXXX.#XXXXinjuryforcedhimtostopworking $L #  shortlybeforehavingcorrectivesurgery.Insofinding,thePanelrelieduponthisCourtsdecision %8!$ inLawsonforthepropositionthatthedateofinjuryforagradualinjuryisthedateonwhichthe  employeeisforcedtoquitworkbecauseoftheinjury.     Inanothercase,ZurichAmericanIns.v.Kent,No.M199800886SCWCMCV,2000WL  765100(Tenn.WorkersComp.PanelJune13,2000),thePanelconcludedthatthelastdayworked t rulewasinapplicableinrepetitiveuseinjurycaseswheretheemployeefilesareportofinjuryform ` withtheemployer,therebygivingtheemployeractualnoticeofthegradualinjury.ThePanelin L  Zurichexplainedthatwhenadefinitedateofinjuryisknown,i.e.,whentheemployeeknowsthe 8  natureofhisorherinjuryandprovideswrittennoticeofaworkrelatedinjury,thereisnoreasonto $ t useanotherdate,suchasthelastdayworked.ThePanelinZurichconcludedthatapplicationofthe  ` lastdayworkedruleservesnousefulpurposewhenthedateoftheinjuryisknownbytheparties#XXXXe4#XXXX.  L  SeealsoCareyv.CamdenCastingsCtr.,Inc.,No.W200201367WCR3CV,2003WL21999382  8  (Tenn.WorkersComp.PanelAug.18,2003)(holdingthatthelastdayworkedruleisinapplicable $  whentheemployeegiveswrittennoticeoftheinjurytotheemployer).     Inamorerecentcase,Frazierv.SaturnCorp.,No.M200201564SCWCMCV,2003WL   22976605(Tenn.WorkersComp.PanelDec.19,2003),theemployeegraduallydevelopedcarpal   tunnelsyndromefromtherepetitiveuseofherhands.Shegavetheemployernoticeofherinjury p in1991andhadcorrectivesurgeryin1996.ShewasunabletoworkbecauseofpainfromFebruary \ 20,1994,untilMarch24,1995.Thetrialcourtfoundthedateofinjurytobein1991whenthe H employeegavenoticeofherinjurytotheemployer.ThePanelreversed,findingthatunderthelast 4 dayworkedruletheapplicablecompensationrateshouldhavebeendeterminedasofFebruary20,  p 1994,#XXXX9#XXXXthedatetheemployeefirstmissedworkduetoherinjury.  \   AfterconsideringtheseconflictingPaneldecisions,weagreewithZurichandCareythatit 4 isunnecessary#XXXX>#XXXXtoutilizethelastdayworkedrulewhentheemployeegivesactualnoticeoftheinjury   totheemployerpriortomissingtimefromworkonaccountoftheinjury.Inthatevent,thereisno   questionthattheemployeeknowstheworkrelatednatureofhisorherinjury;thusthereisnoreason  touseanotherdate.Theconcernsthatpromptedtheadoptionofthelastdayworkedrulearesimply  notimplicatedwhenthereisadatecertainbywhichtheemployeeknowsheorshehassuffereda  workrelatedinjuryasevidencedbytheemployeegivingactualnoticeoftheinjurytotheemployer. l #XXXX@#XXXXWhennosuchnoticehasbeengiventotheemployer,thelastdayworkedrulewouldapply. X    Inthiscase,thereisnodisputethattheemployeegavetheemployerwrittennoticeofher 0"  injuryonFebruary7,1997,#XXXX(C#XXXXpriortomissinganytimefromworkbecauseofherinjury.Thus,the #l! applicabledateof #XXXXsD#XXXXinjuryforpurposesofcalculatingtheemployeescompensationrateisFebruary $X" 7,1997#XXXX(E#XXXX.Accordingly,thetrialcourtsjudgmentismodifiedtoreflectanawardbasedonaweekly $D # compensationrateof$453.14,whichistheapplicablerateasofthedatetheemployeereportedthe %0!$ injurytotheemployer.#XXXXE#XXXXԀ &"%   @MM" III.Conclusion  )$(   Forthereasonsstatedabove,#XXXXG#weholdthatthelastdayworkedruledoesnotapplyXXXXwhen |*%) determininganemployeescompensationrate#XXXX1H#XXXXiftheemployeehasgiventheemployeractualnotice h+&* ofagraduallyoccurringinjury#XXXXH#XXXXԀpriortomissingtimefromwork#XXXXeI#XXXXԀonaccountoftheinjury.  Accordingly,thejudgmentofthetrialcourtismodifiedasstatedherein.Thecaseisremandedfor  anyfurtherproceedingsthatmaybenecessary.Thecostsofthisappealaretaxedtotheappellee,  DeniseBone,andhersurety,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. #  4       t    `     h     #XXXXI#XX   `     h   ____________________________________ ^     `     h   #XX9L#FRANKF.DROWOTAIII,  p     `     h   CHIEFJUSTICE XXXX   \  (#(#K(##XXXXM#