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D3!! 0K"" AS^"" 0w# 0D-$ Aq$\  `&Times New Roman' IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE AOCUSER0AOCUSER .   61 $4Heading 1XXX      <:Default Para.$$ ,Title    0A .Footer (#A7X` hp x (#A:8Page Number<Zl :Balloon TextA  $TahomaAS\  `&Times New RomanS $Tahoma<00 :Body Text In X XXX     X 6// 4Body Text  XXX      8kt 6Block TextXXX     /%` ` ` hp x/     8.` hp x (#8  nO)..      1RX1XR1R  _$ (#X$  ,  (2nO$ /8!..      1RX1XR1R  Text1Text2a1a3a4a5a6'dxd&Draw Object <<=8C HKKKK WPC i K513%)+-51d~ -a8 WPC i K513%)+-51d~ -a_Opinion_SummaryText13a9a10Text15Text16a11Text17a12Text18a_Appellant_s_Attorney_Name___Appellant_Text19a_Appellee_s_Attorney_Name___Appellee_s_QuickMarkText22)Hairline d  d#|x(r8$..      1X1X1\\IB01S02\CLERKJAC,,,,0(@ Z6Times New Roman Regular1XGlj/ lk.0:i+00U((2 B$ /8!..      1RX1XR1R  X   `   0  (#$  0  3#37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)>i)(;3$2#  0  .3  0  Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5GC:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt(hH  Z 6Times New Roman Regular(9 Z(Times New Roman (3$ /8!..      1RX1XR1R  ----'dxd( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ /8!..      1RX1XR1R  ($$   1  AX[&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK /8!..      1RX1XR1R  _        8Rdd8K R    ?+ ` hp x (#X?  HK ԀINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE݌  Ќ  RH    H.` hp x (#` X(#HHRSPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANELK H  HK AT%  -  JACKSON-  %\ > K H(%  September11,2003%ԀSession)  ] XXK K XX %  %^MARIEANNBURNETTv.WALMARTSTORES,INC.XX.K    O  %  %DirectAppealfromthe%  ԀCircuitCourt%for%  %LHenryCounty  A No.%  %1767CreedMcGinley,Judge  ' -  RXX k[W$~ Kp@0 dd`  KE K K2 -  XXR No.%  %W200300060WCR3CVMailedOctober2,2003;FiledNovember10,2003 ~  -  RXX k[W$~ Kp@0 dd`  KE0 K K02 -  XXR    %  %%  -  Thisworkers'compensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers'Compensation %u AppealsPanelinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.Section506225(e)(3)forhearingand  [ reportingtotheSupremeCourtofthefindingoffactandconclusionsoflaw.-  %ԀTheonlyissues A submittedtothetrialjudgeweretheextentoftheemployeesvocationaldisabilityandwhether ' thedisabilitywasrelatedtotheaccident.Employerappealstheawardofthirtypercent   permanentdisabilitytothebodyforemployeesworkrelatedaccident.Weaffirm.    %  Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(1999)AppealasofRight% ;Judgmentofthe%  %  CircuitCourt o Affirmed% ! %!Y  U   % " JoeH.Walker,III,Sp.J.%" ,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhich% # %# % $ -  JusticeJaniceM. !q Holder-  %$) ,J.,and% % %% % & JoeC.Loser%& ԀSp.J.,joined. W % ' %' % ( -  KevinJ.Youngberg,Jackson,Tennesseefortheappellant,-  %()ԀWalMart # % ) %)RobertT.Keeton,Jr.,Huntingdon,Tennessee,fortheappellee,MarieAnnBurnett !!   &  MEMORANDUMOPINION 'k#H k##   XXXX     &    FACTUALBACKGROUND  Ԍ 7% % Ќ  XXXX    '7% X& J Atthetimeoftrial,employeewas40yearsofage.Shehasseventhgradeeducation,and 'S"' ahistoryoffactorywork.WhileworkingforWalMartinMay1998shefellandinjuredher '9#( back,rightlegandrightwrist.ShewasreferredbyheremployertoDr.TerryHarrison,who ($) treatedherconservatively.Dr.Harrisonallowedemployeetoreturntolightdutyforaperiodof )%* time,butin2001tookheroffwork,andhasnotreleasedhertoreturntowork.Duringthe *%+ courseoftreatment,shewasreferredtoDr.RayHester,Dr.PeteBlanton,Dr.FrankJordanfor +&, paintreatment,andDr.GlennBarnettforevaluation.'J' g,'-  X XDuringthecourseofmedicaltreatment,employeeexperiencedneckpain,spinalaxis  painthatradiatestoherlowerback.Sheexperiencednumbnessinherrightarmandrightleg. | Shehadmultiplediagnosticteststhatdidnotrevealthesourceofherdiscomfort. b  X XDr.RayHester,neurosurgeon,feltemployeewouldbenefitfromrestrictionssuchasnot . ~ bendingfromthewaistwhilestandingandnoworkingwithherarmsoutinfrontofherwhen  d standing,andfeltthatthemostimpairmentshewouldhavewouldbefivepercent(5%),butwas  J unwillingtoratehersinceshehadnotreachedmaximummedicalimprovement.  0  X XDr.TerryHarrisonwasoftheopinionthattheworkrelatedaccidentexacerbatedher    problemswithdegenerativejointdiseaseandpriorbackproblems,andassessedherimpairment   atfivepercent(5%)permanentdisabilitytothebodyrelatedtotheaccident.Heplacedwork x  restrictionsofliftinglessthantenpounds,standingorwalkinglessthanthreehours,sittingless ^  thanthreehourswithfrequentchangeofposition,andlimitedabilitytopushorpull.Sheshould D  engageinlimitedreaching,andnotaboveherhead.Shewasveryrestrictedinstooping, *z  kneeling,crouching,andtwisting.Sheshouldnotworkincoldenvironmentsasthiswill ` increasethespasmsthatshehas. F  X XDr.GlennBarnettsawemployeeforevaluationduringhertreatmentbyDr.Harrison.  Duringthistimeshewasworkingasadoorgreeterforemployerandreportedthatshecontinues  tohavepaininherneckandlowerback,andnumbnessinherrightarmandleg.Shewasunable  tomoveherbackmuchbeyondabouttendegrees,andcomplainedofpaininstraightlegraises. t CTofthespinewaswithinnormallimits.Hecoulddetectnofocalneurologicaldeficitsanddid Z nothaveanexplanationofhercontinuedcomplaintsofpainanddiscomfort.Herequesteda @ thoracicspinexrayandbonescan,butindicatedthatthosetestswerenotapprovedtobe &v performed.  \  X XAftertheaccident,employeecontinuedtoexperiencephysicalproblems.Duringthe ( courseofmedicalsupervisionandtreatment,shereturnedtoworkatWalMarton lightduty,  greetingpeopleatthedoor,answeringthephone,andworkinginthefittingroom.Sheworked  parttimeonlightdutyuntilMarch2001,whenDr.HarrisonwroteWalMartindicatingthatshe   couldnolongercontinuetowork.Shewasplacedonleaveofabsence,andcouldreturntowork p!  ifsheobtainsareleasefromthedoctor,whichshehasbeenunabletoobtain. V"!  X XDuringthelightdutyworkshehaddifficultywiththeduties,eventhoughheremployer "$r# madeachairavailabletoher.Shetestifiedthatshetriedtoperformthejobandwouldliketo %X $ returntowork. %>!%  X  XXXXX     !  Thetrialcourtawardedemployeevocationaldisabilityofthirtypercenttothebody, ' #' whichequatesto120weeksatthecompensationrateof$73.80perweek,foralumpsumof (#( $8,856.00. !"݌ )$)    XXXX X    XXXXX    X #   ##݌ l*%* Ќ  XXXX     XXXXX    X  & ~   $  DISABILITYBENEFITS $%݌  Ќ  XXXX     XXXXX    X   %   %%&݌̌  XXXX     XXXXX     &  Employersoughtreviewofthejudgmentarguingthattheevidencepreponderatesagainst | thetrialcourt'sfindingthatemployeeisentitledtopermanentdisabilitybenefits. &&݌ b Ќ  XXXX X  '~$ XUndertheTennesseeWorkers'CompensationLaw,injuriesbyaccidentarisingoutofand . ~ inthecourseofemploymentwhichcauseeitherdisablementordeathoftheemployeeare  d compensable.Tenn.CodeAnn.506102(a)(12).Anaccidentalinjuryarisesoutofone's  J employmentwhenthereisapparenttotherationalmind,uponconsiderationofallthe  0 circumstances,acausalconnectionbetweentheconditionsunderwhichtheworkisrequiredto    beperformedandtheresultinginjury.Finkv._Caudle_,856S.W.2d952,958(Tenn.1993).Inall    butthemostobviouscases,causationmayonlybeestablishedthroughexpertmedicaltestimony,   Thomasv.AetnaLife&_Cas_.Co.,812S.W.2d278,283(1991),butaninjuredemployeeis x  competenttotestifyastohisownassessmentofhisphysicalconditionandsuchtestimony ^  shouldnotbedisregarded._McIlvain_Ԁv.Russell_Stover_ԀCandies,Inc.,996S.W.2d179,183 D  (Tenn.1999). *z   X XAninjuredemployeewhomeetsthestatutorycriteriaisentitledtocertainmonetary F benefits,includingthepaymentofallmedicalexpensesarisingfromtheaccidenttogetherwitha , recoveryforanytemporaryorpermanentdisabilityresultingfromtheaccident.Tenn.Code  Ann.506207.   X XEmployerallegesthatsinceemployeewasdiagnosedashavingapreexistingback t problems,andwastreatedforpriorbackproblems,andsincethroughoutthecourseoftreatment Z andteststherewerenoobjectivefindings,thatthetrialcourterredinawardingbenefits. @  X XDr.Harrisonsrecordsreflectthathehadtreatedemployeeforapriorbackcomplaint,  \ whichemployeeandDr.Harrisonindicatedhadresolvedbeforetheaccidentherein.Dr. B Harrisonrelatedthecurrentcomplaintsandthedisabilitytotheaccident. (  X XWhenthemedicaltestimonydiffers,thetrialjudgemustchoosewhichviewtobelieve.  Indoingso,heisallowed,amongotherthings,toconsiderthequalificationsoftheexperts,the   circumstancesoftheirexamination,theinformationavailabletothem,andtheevaluationofthe p!  importanceofthatinformationbyotherexperts.Ormanv.Williams_Sonoma_,Inc.,803S.W.2d V"! 672,676(Tenn.1991).Moreover,itiswithinthediscretionofthetrialjudgetoconcludethat <#" theopinionofcertainexpertsshouldbeacceptedoverthatofotherexpertsandthatitcontains "$r# themoreprobableexplanation.Hinsonv.WalMartStores,Inc.,654S.W.2d675,6767(Tenn. %X $ 1983). %>!%   X XThereviewingcourtmustgiveconsiderabledeferencetothetrialcourt'sfindingswith ' #' regardtotheweightandcredibilityoforaltestimony,asitisthetrialcourtwhichhadthe (#( opportunitytoobservethewitness'sdemeanorandtoheartheincourttestimony.Longv.Tri )$) ConIndustries,Ltd.,996S.W.2d173,178(Tenn.1999)(citingHillv.EagleBendMfg.,Inc., l*%* 942S.W.2d483,487(Tenn.1997)).Thetrialcourtobservedemployeeandaccreditedher R+&+ testimonywithregardtotheaccident,thecontinuingproblemssheexperienced,andherinability 8,', tocontinueworking.Wheretheissuesinvolveexpertmedicaltestimonyandallthemedical -n(- proofiscontainedintherecordbydeposition...thenthisCourtmaydrawitsownconclusions  abouttheweightandcredibilityofthattestimony."_Krick_Ԁv.Cityof_Lawrenceburg_,945S.W.2d  709,712(Tenn.1997). |   X   XXXX    X :  Fromourindependentexaminationoftherecord,wearenotpersuadedthetrialcourt H abuseditsdiscretionbyacceptingtheopinionofDr.Harrison,thetreatingphysicianwhowas . ~ chosenbytheemployer. :t:݌  d Ќ    XXXX  XXXXX     & ~ <  AMOUNTOFAWARD<d<  @<Ԍ  0 Ќ  XXXX  XEmployermaintainsthatthetrialcourterredbyfailingtoapplythetwoandahalftimes    multipliercap,anderredbyawardingsixtimestheanatomicimpairmentrating.    X'~ X< XTennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection506241(a)(1)and(b)provideasfollows: ^   D   XXXX    <%` ` ` hp xX(#<  X >  ForinjuriesarisingonorafterAugust1,1992,incaseswherean *z  injuredemployeeiseligibletoreceiveanypermanentpartial ` disabilitybenefits,pursuantto506207(3)(A)(_i_)and(F),andthe F preinjuryemployerreturnstheemployeetoemploymentata , wageequaltoorgreaterthanthewagetheemployeewasreceiving  atthetimeofinjury,themaximumpermanentpartialdisability  awardthattheemployeemayreceiveistwoandonehalf(2_1/2_)  timesthemedicalimpairmentratingdeterminedpursuanttothe t provisionsoftheAmericanMedicalAssociationGuidestothe Z EvaluationofPermanentImpairment(AmericanMedical @ Association),theManualforOrthopedicSurgeonsinEvaluating &v PermanentPhysicalImpairment(AmericanAcademyof  \ OrthopedicSurgeons),orincasesnotcoveredbyeitherofthese, B animpairmentratingbyanyappropriatemethodusedandaccepted ( bythemedicalcommunity. >!% wageequaltoorgreaterthanthewagetheemployeewasreceiving &$"& atthetimeofinjury,themaximumpermanentpartialdisability ' #' awardthattheemployeemayreceiveissix(6)timesthemedical (#( impairmentratingdeterminedpursuanttotheprovisionsofthe )$) AmericanMedicalAssociationGuidestotheEvaluationof l*%* PermanentImpairment(AmericanMedicalAssociation),the R+&+ ManualforOrthopedicSurgeonsinEvaluatingPermanent 8,', PhysicalImpairment(AmericanAcademyofOrthopedic -n(- Surgeons),orincasesnotcoveredbyeitherofthese,an  impairmentratingbyanyappropriatemethodusedandaccepted  bythemedicalcommunity. rFG݌ | Ќ    ' X(#` ` ` Xx'XXXX   XXXX    <%` ` ` hp xX(#<   L   LrM݌̌    ' X(#` ` ` Xx'XXXX  Tenn.CodeAnn.506241(b)(1999). H  XEmployercontendstheawardisexcessiveandparticularlythatitexceedstwoandone  d halftimesthemedicalimpairmentrating.Whereaninjuredworkerisentitledtopermanent  J partialdisabilitybenefitstothebodyasawholeandthepreinjuryemployerreturnsthe  0 employeetoemploymentatawageequaltoorgreaterthanthewagetheemployeewasreceiving    atthetimeoftheinjury,themaximumpermanentpartialdisabilityawardthattheemployeemay    receiveistwoandonehalftimesthemedicalimpairmentratingpursuanttotheprovisionsofthe   AmericanMedicalAssociationGuidestotheEvaluationofPermanentImpairmentorthe x  ManualforOrthopedicSurgeonsinEvaluatingPermanentPhysicalImpairment.Tenn.Code ^  Ann.506241(a)(1).Iftheofferfromtheemployerisnotreasonableinlightofthe D  circumstancesoftheemployee'sphysicaldisabilitytoperformtheofferedemployment,thenthe *z  offerofemploymentisnotmeaningfulandtheinjuredemployeemayreceivedisabilitybenefits ` uptosixtimesthemedicalimpairment.Nelsonv.WalMartStores,Inc.,8S.W.3d625,630 F (Tenn.1999) ,  X XTheresolutionofwhatisreasonablemustrestonthefactsofeachcaseandbe  determinedthereby.Newtonv.ScottHealthCareCenter,914S.W.2d884(Tenn.1995).Ifan  employeereturnstoworkbutisunabletoperformhisdutiesduetoaworkrelatedinjury,then t theworkersresignationwouldbereasonablyrelatedtotheinjury,andtherewouldbeno Z meaningfulreturntowork.Layv.Scott,109S.W.3d293(Tenn.2003). @  X XItappearsfromtherecordthattheemployeeattemptedtoreturntolightdutyworkbut  \ wasunabletoperformeventhesedutiesbecauseofherinjury.Shedidnotquit,herdoctorsent B heremployeraletterindicatingthatshewasnotabletowork.Shehadnotbeenreleasedbythe ( doctortoreturntoanytypeofemploymentbythetimeoftrial.Undersuchcircumstances,the  evidencefailstopreponderateagainstthetrialcourt'sfindingthattheemployeedidnothavea  meaningfulreturntowork.Thelimitationoftwoandonehalftimesthemedicalimpairmentis   thereforeinapplicable. p!   X XThefactofemploymentafterinjuryisafactortobeconsideredindeterminingtheextent <#" ofaninjuredworker'sdisability,butthatfactistobeweighedinlightofallotherconsiderations, "$r# includingtheemployee'sskillsandtraining,education,age,localjobopportunities,capacityto %X $ workatthekindsofemploymentinhisorherdisabledcondition,ratingofanatomicdisability %>!% byamedicalexpertandtheemployee'sownassessmentofhisorherphysicalconditionand &$"& resultingdisability._Cleek_Ԁv.WalMartStores,Inc.,19S.W.3d770,774(Tenn.2000). ' #' Additionally,theextentofaninjuredworker'sdisabilityisanissueoffact.Walkerv.Saturn (#( Corp.,986S.W.2d204,207(Tenn.1998).Givingduedeferencetothefindingofthetrialcourt, )$) wecannotsaytheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrialcourt'sfindingwithrespecttothe l*%* extentoftheclaimant'svocationaldisability. R+&+  X 8,',   &   MEDICALEXPENSES      XEmployermaintainsthatemployeewasreferredtoDr.Harrisonfortreatmentandthat | Dr.HarrisonatsomepointreferredemployeetoDr._Blanton_,anorthopedicsurgeon,who b referredemployeetoDr.Barnettforevaluationfroma_neurosurgical_Ԁspecialist.Dr.Barnettwas H unabletodeterminethecauseofclaimantsproblemandreleasedherwithnopermanent . ~ impairmentfromtheworkrelatedaccident.Employermaintainsitdoesnotowefurthermedical  d expensesfromthetimeshewasreleasedbyDr.Barnett,eventhoughthetreatmentwasfrom  J approveddoctors.EmployermaintainsthatthereferralbyDr.Harrison, therebyessentially  0 cedinghisstatusasthedesignatedauthorizedtreatingphysiciantoDr._Blanton_.     X' ] XDr.Harrisontestifiedthathewasstilltreatingemployeeduringthetimeshewasreferred   toDrs._Blanton_ԀandBarnettforevaluation.EmployeewasnotadvisedbyemployerthatDr. x  Harrisonwasrelievedoftreatingherfortheinjury.Dr.Harrisonwasnotinformedthathewas ^  relievedbyemployerfromtreatingemployee.Dr.Harrisoncontinuedtreatingemployeeand D  continuedreferringhertootherspecialistfortestsandevaluations.Thetrialcourtproperlyruled *z  thatthesemedicalexpensesshouldbepaidbyemployer. `  X XAninjuredemployeewhomeetsthestatutorycriteriaisentitledtocertainmonetary , benefits,includingthepaymentofallmedicalexpensesarisingfromtheaccident.Tenn.Code  Ann.506207.   X XThejudgmentofthetrialcourtisthereforeaffirmed.Costsaretaxedtotheappellant. t  X   `     h     _______________________________  \  X 6 p x (#X(#6% * %*g% + JOEH.WALKER,III,_SP.J._%+gԀ B * (#X(#*  X   H.` hp x (# XH$h  RXX$hh݌̌'X(#X(#'      @9 9 K RINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @@@SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL   @((%ATJACKSON  @September11,2003Session $    MARIEANNBURNETTv.WALMARTSTORES,INC.   < j@  CircuitCourtforHenryCounty  T @&No.1767  ` @*A-J) ` dE<' ` A߈ (x  @No.W200300060_WC_ԄR3CVFiledNovember10,2003 ?  A-J) ` dE<V ` A W   @tt# JUDGMENTORDER  n KK K    ` ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingthe  orderofreferraltotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthe  Panel'sMemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsof  law,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference;     ` Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthattheMemorandumOpinionof  thePanelshouldbeacceptedandapproved;and *    ` Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactand B conclusionsoflawareadoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismade N thejudgmentoftheCourt.  !Z Ѐ "f    ` CostsonappealaretaxedtotheAppellant,WalMartStores,Inc.,for "#r whichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. .$~     ` ITISSOORDERED. F&!" #K KK m#I}R K    `     h   #PER_CURIAM_Ԉ n)$% #K  I}Rq##RK i#