WPCA$ ow |MϏ@t])#uVP,i Rn9Ϯr8d0վx4ˋr`z0&2Vb~岢!R֊`<^ emV)FA\QTZeiE<83!Љ%^4" G*j\q8 }j ڥ^:s*G[$M߹rC^=AB]LZZ9}IV5bʌcCpPn jgHDTkZs\ĸ+V:tdfGC$cX51 WjL/P?Y8%";o0XcS_ <6o`Ti2Ni.E,*KYwZ4\GlleFM[ k]1T+y>>> B ) ) 0F D3 D-! 0KJ!J! AS!! 0" 0DR# A#HP LJ 4000/4050 PCL 5e,,,,0[{^- (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regulardb, bkЛ C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xU%2A`ArialTTLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(9 Z(Times New Roman `:footnote reffootnote referenceXXXW\  `*Times New RomanTTW        W\  `*Times New RomanTTWV :footnote texfootnote text  XXXW\  `*Times New RomanTTW        W\  `*Times New RomanTTW  \  `*Times New RomanTT ($     !.8dd8 @    _XqX  XqXXXqXqXXXq        #KhXq#&s*%K      XqXJ&s*XqXhXqԹ    XqXhXqXqXhXq      #KhXqY#&s*%K  1  #KJ&s*#     XqXKXqXXXq  XXqԀItshouldbenotedthattheTennesseeSupremeCourthasrecognizedthatamedicalexpertdoesnothavetoassignan > AMAGuidesanatomicalimpairmentratinginorderforacourttoawardpermanentpartialdisabilitybenefits.Walker, R 986S.W.2dat207;Corocan,746S.W.2dat457.However,thereatleastmustbepresentcompetentmedicalevidence  thatthereisamedicalprobabilityofpermanency.Kellermanv.FoodLionInc.,929S.W.2d333,335(Tenn.1996).  Ourcaselawindicatesthattheassignmentofpermanentrestrictionstoapartofthebodyandtheuseofdescriptivewords N thatindicatepermanencyareexamplesofcompetentmedicalevidence.See,Walkerat207(holdingthatthedoctors  b assignmentofpermanentrestrictionstoapatientswristandhandandhisuseoftheword chronictodescribethe  & conditionwassufficienttoestablishpermanency).Inthiscase,thereisnosuchevidencefromwhichpermanencycould   havebeenimplied.Aswellasnotassigningananatomicalratingtotheshoulder,bothdoctorsrefusedtoplace ^   permanentrestrictionsonit.Moreover,bothdoctorstestifiedthatBowmansrangeofmotionwasnormalunderthe " r  AMAGuidesandthattherewasnoshoulderinstability.Also,theEMGexamconductedbyDr._Hazlewood_sreturned  6  negativeresults. hW & % hW    # hW% & 6 # X4 X hW#XqX X X4 #  #XXq #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(9 Z 6Times New Roman Regular- -(|G2 g$ !.8D=dd8         0  XX d(|3x$ !.8D=dd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3x$ !.8D=dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8Kdd8     _K8qXXdd8  J\K @  @  @  @ @@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL & @@ATNASHVILLE#KJ\# L July2002Session "r XqXK #KXXq<#TAMMYBOWMANv._FLEETWOOD_ԀHOMESOFTENNESSEEINC.,et  p al.XqXK  4  @@ DirectAppealfromtheCriminalCourtforMaconCounty 4  @@No.00121_J.O._ԀBond,Judge  p  @@*AV) ` dE<` A 4  No.M200102188_WC_ԄR3CVMailedSeptember24,2002 /  #KXXq#XqXKFiledOctober30,_2002_  AV) ` dE<` A       #KXXq#XqXKXqXXXqThisworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkersCompensation  AppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTennesseeCodeAnnotated506  225(e)(3)forhearingandreportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactsandconclusionsoflaw. v Theemployerappealsthejudgmentofthetrialcourtawardingtheemployee5%permanentpartial b disabilityforarightshoulderinjury,eventhoughthepartieshadstipulatedpriortotrialthatthis N injurywasnotatissue.Theemployerfurtherappealsthetrialcourtsrulingcombininga20% : vocationaldisabilityratingtothearm,whichisascheduledmember,withthe5%anatomical &v impairmentratingfortheshoulder,whichistothebodyasawhole,thenmultiplyingbothbythe2.5 b maximumpursuanttoTennesseeCodeAnnotated506241(a)(1).Weholdthatthetrialcourt N erredinawardingpermanentpartialdisabilityfortherightshoulderbecausebothpartieshad : stipulatedthatitwasnotatissueandbecausenoexperttestimonysupportedafindingof & permanency.Accordingly,wereversethejudgmentofthetrialcourtawardingworkers  compensationbenefitsbaseduponaninjurytotheemployeesshoulder.   #XqXXXq##KXXq#XqXK   Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(1999)AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheCriminalCourt r#" Reversed.  ^$#     JamesL._Weatherford_,_Sr.J._#KXq] #XqX.K,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichJaniceM.Holder,J., 6&!% andJoeC.Loser,_Sp.J._,joined. "'r"& JohnR.Lewis,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheappellants,_Fleetwood_ԀHomesofTennesseeInc.,and (J$( KemperInsuranceCompanies. )6%) B.KeithWilliams,Lebanon,Tennessee,fortheappellee,TammyBowman. +'+  -(- _ԇC   MEMORANDUMOPINION #KXXq #XqXK    #KXXqN#XqXKXqXXXq  Atthetimeoftrial,Ms.Tammy#XqXXXq#XqXXXq#KXXq#XqXKԀBowman,theemployeeappellee,#KXXq#XqXK#XqXXXq>#XqXXXqԀwasa34yearolddivorced  motheroftwochildren.Shehasan11thgradeeducationand#XqXXXq##XqXXXq#KXXq#XqXKherprimaryworkexperiencehasbeen t inmanuallabor.ShehasworkedforFleetwoodHomesofTennesseeInc.( Fleetwood),the ` employerappellant,since1992.#XqXXXq##KXXq#KKXqXK L    #XqXXXqK#XqXXXq#KXXqj#XqXKԀMs.BowmanfirstnoticedaproblemwithherrightshoulderandarminMarchof2000, $ t whileworkingfor#XqXXXq##KXXq#KKXqXKԀFleetwood.ThemajorityofMs.Bowmansworkdaywasspentcontinuously  ` grippingacaulkinggunwithherrighthand,moppingwalls,andcleaningoverheadmirrorswithher  L  rightarminanoverheadposition.  8    OnMay11,2000,#XqXXXq#XqXXXq#KXXq#XqXKԀMs.BowmanwasreferredtoDr.JeffreyE.Hazlewood,whose   examinationrevealedsometendernessinheranteriorshoulderregion.However,hefoundthatMs.   Bowmanhadnormalrangeofmotioninhershoulderwithnopain,noshoulderimpingement,and   noswellingorredness.Dr.Hazlewoodconcludedthattheneurologicalexam showedno   abnormalitieswithnormalstrength,sensation,andreflexes.Dr.Hazlewoodsultimatediagnosis p wasrightwristandshouldertendonitisforwhichherecommendedphysicaltherapy.Afterfurther \ complaintsofpaininhershoulder,Dr.HazlewoodperformedanEMGnervetestonJune14,2000, H thatreturnednormalresults. 4   Dr.HazlewoodtestifiedindepositionthatMs.Bowmandidnothaveanypermanent  \ impairmentpursuanttotheAMAGuides.Therefore,hedidnotassignanyanatomicalratingsfor H theshoulderorwrist.#KXXq##KK#XqXKXqXXXqԀDr.HazlewoodtestifiedthatMs.Bowmanhadlegitimatepaininhershoulder, 4 butthatshewasabletoperformatworkandhomewithnorestrictions.     #KXXqe#XqXK#XqXXXq#XqXXXq  OnNovember14,2000,Ms.BowmansawDr.FranciscaLytleforanindependentmedical  evaluationattherequestofMs.Bowmanscounsel.Dr.Lytleassigneda10%impairmentratingto  therightextremitybasedondecreasedgripstrengthattributedtowristtendonitis.Dr.Lytle  attributedthisinjurytoMs.BowmansrepetitiveuseofacaulkinggunwhileworkingatFleetwood. l Dr.Lytletestifiedthatshewouldhaverecommendedpermanentrestrictionsinregardstoanyactivity X  thatrequiredagrippingmotion.#XqXXXq##KXXq#KKXqXK D!   Inregardtotheshoulder,Dr.Lytleperformedseveralteststhatrevealedmildshoulder #l! tendonitisthatshebelievedMs.Bowmanincurredwhileworking.#XqXXXq #XqXXXq#KXXq #XqXKԀDr.Lytlefoundsorenessinthe $X" shoulder,butshealsofoundanormalrangeofmotionandnoevidence#XqXXXq!##KXXq#"#XqXKXqXXXqԀofinstability.#XqXXXq!##XqXXXq#KXXq##XqXKԀShealso $D # testifiedthatshewouldrecommendnotworkinginanoverheadpositionbecausethatwould %0!$ aggravatetheshouldertendonitis. &"%   Basedonherevaluation,Dr.LytledidnotbelievethattheinjurytoMs.Bowmansshoulder (#' waspermanent.#KXXq##XqXK#XqXXXqs##XqXXXqShealsotestifiedthattheoverheadrestrictions mayactuallynotbepermanent. )$( ShealsobelievedthatachangeinMs.Bowmanssleepingposturewouldalleviatetheshoulderpain. |*%)  h+&*   IfMrs.Bowmanwereherpatient,#XqXXXq%##KXXqM%#XqXKXqXXXqDr.Lytlethoughtthatshewouldbeableto getridof  Mrs.Bowmansshoulderproblems.      Sincetheinjury,Ms.BowmanhasreturnedtoherjobatFleetwood,earningmorethather t preinjurywages. `   Accordingtothepretrialstipulations,thedisputewaslimitedtotheextentofinjurytoMrs. 8  Bowmansrightarm. $ t   Thetrialcourtconcludedthat, althoughnophysicianassignedanyimpairmenttothe  L  shoulder...theplaintiff[Ms.Bowman]sustaineda5%permanentpartialanatomicaldisabilitytothe  8  bodyasawholebasedontheAMAGuides.Thecourtalsofounda20%vocationaldisabilityto $  therightarm.ThetrialcourtcombinedthetworatingstoconcludethatMs.Bowmanstotal   anatomicalimpairmentwas11%tothebodyasawhole.PursuanttoTennesseeCodeAnnotated   506241(a),thetrialcourtcappedtheawardat2.5timesthecombinedratingtofinda#XqXXXq='# X4 XXXq# U  X X4'#Ԁ X4 X  U#XqX X X4,#XqXXXqvocational   disabilityof27.5%tothebodyasawhole,whichtranslatedto110weeksofbenefits,or$37,959.90.   Fleetwoodpaidthetrialcourtsjudgmentforthe20%awardtothearmandchallengestheaward  basedontheshoulderinjuryinthisappeal.#XqXXXq,# X4 XXXq# U  X X4`,# ~ ̀  X4 X  U#XqX X X4%.#XqXXXq   `     h ANALYSIS x    Reviewoffindingsoffactbythetrialcourtisdenovoupontherecordofthetrialcourt, r accompaniedbyapresumptionofthecorrectnessofthefinding,unlessthepreponderanceofthe ^ evidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2);Walkerv.SaturnCorp.,986S.W.2d204, J 207(Tenn.1998).Whenthemedicaltestimonyisgivenbydeposition,asitwasinthiscase,this 6 Courtindependentlyevaluatesthemedicalevidencetoascertainwherethepreponderanceofthe "r evidencelies.Cooperv.InsuranceCo.ofNorthAmerica,884S.W.2d446,451(Tenn.1994).  ^  I.Whethertheshoulderinjurywaspermanent  6     A.StipulationoftheParties     Legitimatestipulationsthatarewithintherangeofpossiblytruefactsandvalidlitigation "  strategiescannotbeignoredorcastaside.MastAdvertising&Pub.Inc.v.Moyers,865S.W.2d #! 900,903(Tenn.1993).ThesekindsofstipulationsaretoberigidlyenforcedbyTennesseecourts. n$" Id;butsee,Statev.Bragan,920S.W.2d227,245(Tenn.Crim.App.1995)(holdingapretrial Z% # stipulationallowingadmissionofevidenceunenforceabletotheextentthatitcontradictedacourt F&!$ orderrulingcertainevidenceinadmissable);Statev.Land,681S.W.2d589(Tenn.Crim.App.1984) 2'"% (holdingastipulationunenforceablebecauseitviolatedaTennesseeevidentiaryrule). (n#& Ѐ  )Z$'   Here,thepartiespretrialstipulationsspecificallylimitedthedisputetotheextentofinjury )F%( toMs.Bowmansrightarm,whichnecessarilyprecludedajudgmentontheshoulder.Ms. *2&) Bowmanscounselsignedthestipulation,whichindicateshewasawareoftheitemsstipulated._ +'* ЀThestipulationrepresentsbothpartieslegitimateattempttorefinethedisputetotherightextremity  basedontheevidenceandtheirrespectivelegalstrategies.Partiesmustbeaffordedtheopportunity  tolimitthescopeofatrial.    Initsappellatebrief,counselforMs.Bowman concedesthattherewasnoexpertmedical L  proofthatMs.Bowmanhadapermanentshoulderinjury.Additionally,counselprovidesno 8  argumentsupportingthecircumventionofthestipulation.Furthermore,thestipulationdoesnot $ t seeminappropriate,asitdoesnotcontradictacourtorderorviolateanevidentiaryrule.Therefore,  ` wemustholdthetrialcourterredinnotrigidlyenforcingthestipulation.#XqXXXq.# X4 XXXq# U  X X4.#  L   X4 X  U#XqX X X49;#XqXXXq  B.PermanencyofShoulderInjury F    TheTennesseeSupremeCourthasheldthata plaintiffmustestablishthepermanencyof   hisdisabilitybyapreponderanceoftheevidencewhichmustbeaccomplishedthroughexpert   medicaltestimony.OwensIllinois,Inc.v.Lane,576S.W.2d348,350(Tenn.1978);seealso   Singletonv._Procon_ԀProducts,788S.W.2d809,811(Tenn.1990);_Corocan_Ԁv.FosterAuto_GMC_,  Inc.746S.W.2d452,458(Tenn.1988).Theexpertwitness mustuselanguagethatmeansthatthe ~ medicalfactorsthatindicatepermanencyof#XqXXXq;# X4 XXXq# U  X X4;#Ԁ X4 X  U#XqX X X4J?#XqXXXqdisabilityoutweighthosetothecontrary.Owens,576 j S.W.2dat350. x     Here,theexpertmedicaltestimonydidnotestablishafindingofpermanentimpairmentof P Ms.Bowmansshoulder.Bothdoctorsusedlanguageintheirtestimonythatclearlystatedthe < conditionwasnotpermanent.Also,bothdoctorsrefusedtoassignananatomicalimpairmentrating (x orplacepermanentrestrictionsontheuseofhershoulder._   1      _Ԁ d     Mostimportantlyforthisappeal,Ms.Bowmanscounselconcedesthereisnoexpertmedical < proofthatshesustainedapermanentshoulderinjury.BecauseofMs.Bowmansconcessionand ( thelackofexpertproof,weholdthattheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrialcourtsfindingof  permanentpartialdisabilitytothebodyasawholebasedontherightshoulderinjury.    II.Whethertheawardwascalculatedcorrectly     Becauseweholdthatthetrialcourterredinassigninga5%permanentpartialdisabilityto t thebodyasawholefortheshoulderinjury,theissueofhowthetrialcourtcombinedthisratingwith ` the20%vocationaldisabilityratingfortherightarmismoot.#XqXXXq?# X4 XXXq# U  X X4?# L     `     h  X4 X  U#XqX X X4PF#XqXXXqԀ CONCLUSION  F      Thetrialcourtsawardof5%permanentpartialdisabilitytothebodyasawholeisreversed. " r  Thecostsaretaxedtotheappellee. ^  #XqXXXq&G##KXXqF#XqXK   `     h     ___________________________________ "     `     h     JAMESL._WEATHERFORD_,SR.J.    KXXq  @@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL  #XqXKI# KXXqTAMMYBOWMANv._FLEETWOOD_ԀHOMESOFTENNESSEE.INC.,et " al.#XqXKJ#   6 @@ CriminalCourtforMaconCounty  6 @@No.00121  " @@*AV) ` dE<` A   No.M200102188_WC_ԄR3CVFiledOctober30,2002   AV) ` dE<h` A i       KXXq#XqXK@M#4M  JUDGMENT KXXq#XqXKM# <   KXXq#XqXKN#KXXq#XqXKTN#XqXXXq  ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferraltothe d SpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanelsMemorandumOpinionsettingforth P itsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference. <   Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthattheMemorandumOpinionofthePanelshouldbe  acceptedandapproved;and    Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanelsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawareadopted  andaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. t   Costswillbepaidbytheappellee,TammyBowman,forwhichexecutionmayissueif L  necessary. 8!    ITISSOORDERED. #`"    `     h     PER_CURIAM_ &"&   #XqXXXqN#