ÿWPC¶ s|†®¢èFæíê¸ ¿Ÿ@ífM~ë¿}˜ XOÅ\Ê+Ø;%%ƹ´g¨þ_Ü÷KÒu|UFŒô)“î"Y亴•ô/iú}0µÑë‹)K¡½‡$u΂OL¹ÐœE’5Á«í‘\\eÂŒÄÁ0ï0gôeš=òhÇóÈ>Áñ‡RÃ0oùä²ï‚©Ðèê¼Þ›ý'/'"n!ñDˆ$ÞÕ,ÔE=Ö7Ð~܉~ ®E†ƒmveFc^cÈ´®¥†^|BotRܳ ½)t,¢hñ™¦#u‰8Q ÞÄ£î{eŸ;®¦0Gp™CŠqã³Nû~›æqp®™k3c‘00óáDΉ6‡ê ¾•Yd…Ž;ÄÁTÝg…_ÛÂúÉÌ Öj¡­ŒŠá¦m×mâl8­úÊOW'þë“NêeƒM={O˜{n¥ß„¯žëôJ ,—S¸‹Óݪ*~;Ô$i³ô;ÕäM­1¹ÜXV6B¤o„ÄÒª‹)Cß3ò’÷Ã@–±IÆ5ÝèÒ…OÐs”qoLºÙ'z<<Ø4ø+kG$‘½'ŸÐƒ€ŽWL_ÊþgÛ:}$eéÑðÚä‚g5‘7­ü '|ú&ž–ÛšnÄwHÿžHõ'‡ãb %\U@b 0ˆ¢U+N*^ xw„4ˆ zœÒ è ÷ mù #Á ÆÑ Æ— Æ] Æ#U>éN')U N1EU*b«««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««««« 0ë³³³³ B žž 0¤» D3_ D-’ 0K¿¿ AS Æ] 0¤# 0DÇ A« »(ÖÃ9 Z‹(Times New Roman (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular.ne-s {r, £ ˜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|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP LaserJet 4050ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ0Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ô\  `&Times New Roman (@øÐ Z‹6Times New Roman Regular%ä2¼A`‹Arial- ù-(|G2Eá$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ }»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€XCqX»»Ô d(|3ÿk$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ }»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ÿk$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ }»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ »»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼ »»»ÔÑ8€OAXXdì»»d8ÑÓ  ÓÔ‡î ü Ôà@@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÐ Ö& Ðà@@ƒƒìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼ »îî üî#ÔÐ üL ÐMay€23,€2002€SessionÐ "r ÐÔ‡XOAX»¼ ÔÌò òÔ#†¼ »XXOA#ÔÔ_ÔMABLEÔ_Ô€CALHOUNòòóó€v.€Ô_ÔQUEBECORÔ_Ô€PRINTING,€INC.Ô‡XOAX»¼ Ôó óÐ  p ÐÌà@@¼¼ìàò ò€Direct€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Sullivan€CountyÐ  p Ðà@@ôôìàNo.€29513(M)€€€€€€John€S.€Ô_ÔMcLellanÔ_Ô,€III,€ChancellorÐ  \ ÐÌFiled€October€28,€Ô_Ô2002Ô_ÔÐ ä4  Ðà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<Ï` AßÐ Ð  ÐÌÌNo.€E2001„00839„WC„R3„CVÐ ·  ÐÔ#†¼ »XXOAË#ÔÔ‡XOAX»¼ ÔÌÌßA€V) °°` dE<z` AßÐ {Ë Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ‡XOAXXXOAÔThisÔ#†¼ »XXOAç#ÔÔ‡XOAX»¼ Ô€workersðð€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workersðð€CompensationÐ vÆ ÐAppeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.ððÔ#†¼ »XXOAÀ#ÔÔ‡XOAX»¼ Ô€50„6„225(e)(3)€forÐ b² Ðhearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.Ô#†XOAXXXOAz#ÔÔ#†¼ »XXOAº#ÔÔ‡XOAX»¼ Ô€€TheÐ Nž Ðdefendant€appeals€the€trial€court's€decision€to€award€the€plaintiff€temporary€total€disability€benefitsÐ :Š Ðfor€the€period€of€May€19,€1999,€through€January€5,€2000,€and€to€award€fifty„five€percent€permanentÐ &v Ðpartial€disability€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€We€affirm€the€decision€of€the€trial€court.Ð b ÐÓnÓÌò òÓ  ÓTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)€(1999)€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Sullivan€CountyÐ ê: ÐChancery€Court€is€Affirmedó óÐ Ö& ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÓ  ÓByers,€Ô_ÔSr.J.Ô_ÔÔ#†¼ »àXOA#ÔÔ‡XOAX.¼ Ôóó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòAnderson,€J.óóÔ#†¼ »XXOAa #ÔÔ‡XOAX»¼ Ô,€and€òòThayer,€Ô_ÔSp.J.Ô_ÔÔ#†¼ »àXOAç #ÔÔ‡XOAX.¼ Ôóó,€joined.Ð ®þ ÐÌSteven€H.€Trent,€of€Johnson€City,€Tennessee,€for€Appellant,€Ô_ÔQuebecorÔ_Ô€Printing,€Inc.Ð † Ö ÐÌTony€A.€Ô_ÔSeatonÔ_Ô,€of€Johnson€City,€Tennessee,€for€Appellee,€Ô_ÔMableÔ_Ô€Calhoun.Ð ^"®! ÐÌÓ ÓÓ  Óò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óÔ#†¼ »XXOA_ #ÔÔ‡XOAX»¼ ÔÐ 6$†# ÐÌÓ  ÓÔ#†¼ »XXOA #ÔÔ‡XOAX»¼ Ôà  àÔ‡XOAXXXOAÔReview€of€the€findings€of€fact€made€by€the€trial€court€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€the€record€of€the€trialÐ &^!% Ðcourt,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€finding,€unless€the€preponderance€ofÐ ú&J"& Ðthe€evidence€is€otherwise.€€òòóóTenn.€Code€Ann.Ô#†¼ »XXOA‚ #ÔÔ‡XOAX»¼ ÔÔ#†XOAXXXOA­ #ÔÔ‡XOAXXXOAÔòò€ððóó€50„6„225(e)(2).€€òòStone€v.€City€of€Ô_ÔMcMinnvilleÔ_Ô,€óó896Ð æ'6#' ÐS.W.2d€548,€550€(Tenn.€1995).€€The€application€of€this€standard€requires€this€Court€to€weigh€in€moreÐ Ò("$( Ðdepth€the€factual€findings€and€conclusions€of€the€trial€courts€in€workersðð€compensation€cases.€€òòSeeÐ ¾)%) ÐCorcoran€v.€Foster€Auto€Ô_ÔGMCÔ_Ô,€Inc.,€óó746€S.W.2d€452,€456€(Tenn.€1988).Ô#†XOAXXXOAR#ÔÔ#†¼ »XXOA#ÔÔ‡XOAX»¼ ÔÐ ª*ú%* Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àÌÌÐ n-¾(-ýà Їò òÓ  ÓòòFactsóóÐ ° ÐÓAÓÌó óà  àThe€plaintiff€was€Ô#†¼ »XXOAŽ#ÔÔ€XOAX»¼ Ôfifty„eight€years€of€age€at€the€time€of€trial.€€She€has€completed€the€tenthÐ ˆØ Ðgrade€and€also€has€earned€a€general€equivalency€degree.€€She€has€no€vocational€or€specializedÐ tÄ Ðtraining.€€She€is€married€and€her€husband€is€retired.€€They€have€no€dependent€children.Ð `° ÐÌà  àThe€plaintiff€began€working€for€the€defendant€company€in€1983.€€The€company,€which€wasÐ 8 ˆ Ðthen€known€as€Kingsport€Press,€Inc.,€is€primarily€engaged€in€the€manufacture€of€books.€€In€herÐ $ t Ðseventeen€years€with€the€defendant€company,€the€plaintiff€worked€in€a€variety€of€positions.€€At€theÐ  ` Ðtime€of€the€injury€that€is€the€basis€for€her€claim€in€this€case,€she€was€employed€as€a€sewing€machineÐ ü L  Ðoperator.Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àThe€plaintiff€testified€that€on€July€27,€1997,€she€was€attempting€to€move€a€palate€or€ð ðskid,ððÐ À  Ðwhich€was€part€of€the€duties€of€her€position.€€While€doing€so,€her€foot€became€caught€between€twoÐ ¬ü  Ðof€the€palates,€causing€her€to€fall€and€injure€her€back€and€right€leg.€€She€reported€her€injury€to€herÐ ˜è  Ðsupervisor€and€worked€the€remainder€of€her€shift.€€The€evening€of€the€accident,€the€plaintiff€went€toÐ „Ô  Ðthe€emergency€room€and€was€diagnosed€with€a€Ô_ÔlumbosacralÔ_Ô€strain.€€Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àIn€the€days€following€the€July€27€accident,€the€plaintiff€continued€to€work€but€experiencedÐ H˜ Ðpain€in€increasing€frequency€and€severity,€so€her€supervisor€offered€her€a€panel€of€three€physicians€Ð 4„ Ðfrom€which€to€choose€a€physician€to€see.€€The€plaintiff€chose€Dr.€John€Marshall€and€first€saw€himÐ  p Ðon€July€30,€1997,€for€examination€and€treatment.€€Dr.€Marshall€placed€several€temporary€workÐ  \ Ðrestrictions€on€the€plaintiff€and€returned€her€to€work.€€The€plaintiff€continued€to€see€Dr.€MarshallÐ øH Ðthroughout€1997.€€After€months€of€the€plaintiffððs€continued€working€under€restrictions€whileÐ ä4 Ðreceiving€treatment,€Dr.€Marshall€determined€that€she€€had€reached€maximum€medical€improvementÐ Ð  Ðon€January€26,€1998,€and€assessed€permanent€partial€disability€at€ten€percent€to€the€body€as€a€whole.Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àDuring€her€course€of€treatment€with€Dr.€Marshall,€the€plaintiff€also€saw€Dr.€Fred€Ô_ÔKillefferÔ_Ô,Ð ”ä Ða€neurosurgeon.€€Dr.€Ô_ÔKillefferÔ_Ô€examined€the€plaintiff€and€agreed€with€Dr.€Marshallððs€assessment€ofÐ €Ð Ða€ten€percent€impairment€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€The€plaintiff€continued€to€have€severe€pain€in€herÐ l¼ Ðback€and€right€leg,€but€Dr.€Marshall€and€Dr.€Ô_ÔKillefferÔ_Ô€recommended€against€surgery.Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àThe€plaintiff€then€sought€treatment€from€Dr.€Gregory€Ô_ÔCorradinoÔ_Ô,€a€non„panel€physician.€Ð 0"€  ÐContrary€to€the€opinions€of€Dr.€Marshall€and€Dr.€Ô_ÔKillefferÔ_Ô,€Dr.€Ô_ÔCorradinoÔ_Ô€recommended€surgery€beÐ #l! Ðperformed€on€the€plaintiffððs€back.€€This€surgery€was€not€authorized€by€her€employer.€€She€continuedÐ $X" Ðto€work€for€the€defendant€company€until€May€19,€1999,€when€she€left€work€for€the€unauthorizedÐ ô$D # Ðsurgery.€€On€May€27,€1999,€Dr.€Ô_ÔCorradinoÔ_Ô€performed€a€Ô_ÔhemiÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔlaminotomyÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔdiskectomyÔ_Ô€on€theÐ à%0!$ Ðplaintiff.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  àFollowing€the€plaintiffððs€surgery,€she€testified€that€her€condition€was€relatively€unchanged,Ð ¤(ô#' Ðand€that€the€surgery€provided€no€significant€improvement€in€her€symptoms.€€Dr.€Ô_ÔCorradinoÔ_Ô€foundÐ )à$( Ðthat€the€plaintiff€had€reached€maximum€medical€improvement€ð ðrelative€to€her€surgeryðð,€on€JanuaryÐ |*Ì%) Ð5,€2000.€€He€assessed€her€a€fifteen€percent€impairment€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€She€continued€to€seeÐ h+¸&* ÐDr.€Marshall,€who€released€the€plaintiff€to€work€under€restrictions€identical€to€those€she€was€underÐ ° Ðprior€to€surgery.€€The€plaintiff,€however,€testified€that€working€under€those€restrictions€was€tooÐ œì Ðpainful€and€she€did€not€return€to€work€for€the€defendant€company.Ð ˆØ ÐÌò òÓ  ÓòòMedical€Evidenceóóó óÐ `° ÐÓ %ÓÌà  àThe€medical€evidence€for€the€purpose€of€the€issues€raised€in€this€trial€was€provided€by€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðdeposition€testimony€of€Dr.€John€Marshall€and€Dr.€Gregory€Ô_ÔCorradinoÔ_Ô.Ð $ t ÐÌà  àDr.€Marshall,€a€board„certified€physician€in€the€area€of€physical€medicine€and€rehabilitation,Ð ü L  Ðtestified€that€he€first€saw€the€plaintiff€on€July€30,€1997,€for€examination€and€treatment.€€He€testifiedÐ è 8  Ðthat€his€initial€impression€on€that€visit€was€that€the€plaintiff€had€a€probable€contusion€or€sprain€of€theÐ Ô$  Ðlower€back€and€right€hip€area.€€At€that€time€he€ruled€out€the€possibility€of€a€herniated€disc€or€nerveÐ À  Ðcontusion€involving€the€sciatic€nerve.€€He€placed€her€on€restrictions€and€returned€her€to€work.€€Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àDr.€Marshall€testified€that€he€saw€the€plaintiff€again€on€August€12,€1997,€and,€upon€reviewÐ „Ô  Ðof€a€magnetic€resonance€image€(MRI)€of€the€plaintiffððs€back,€confirmed€his€earlier€impression€thatÐ pÀ Ðshe€had€not€suffered€a€herniated€disc.€€He€testified€that€he€noted€at€that€time€that€she€had€returned€toÐ \¬ Ðwork€and€was€working€under€his€initial€restrictions.€€Dr.€Marshall€testified€that€he€continued€to€seeÐ H˜ Ðthe€plaintiff€throughout€the€fall€of€1997€and€that€he€repeatedly€recommended€against€surgery.€€AfterÐ 4„ Ðcontinued€treatment,€Dr.€Marshall€found€the€plaintiff€had€reached€maximum€medical€improvementÐ  p Ðon€January€26,€1998,€and,€pursuant€to€the€AMA€Guidelines€to€the€Evaluation€of€PermanentÐ  \ ÐImpairment,€assessed€permanent€partial€disability€at€ten€percent€to€the€body€as€a€whole.Ð øH ÐÌà  àDr.€Marshall€testified€that€during€the€course€of€his€examination€and€treatment€of€the€plaintiff,Ð Ð  Ðshe€was€also€examined€and€treated€by€Dr.€Fred€Ô_ÔKillefferÔ_Ô,€a€board„certified€neurosurgeon€from€whomÐ ¼  Ðthe€plaintiff€had€sought€a€second€opinion.€€Dr.€Marshall€testified€that€Dr.€Ô_ÔKillefferÔ_Ô€recommended€aÐ ¨ø Ðsecond€MRI.€€Dr.€Ô_ÔKillefferÔ_Ô€also€recommended€that€she€refrain€from€surgery€and€agreed€with€Dr.Ð ”ä ÐMarshallððs€opinion€that€pursuant€to€the€AMA€Guidelines,€the€plaintiff€had€a€ten€percent€impairmentÐ €Ð Ðto€the€body€as€a€whole.€Ð l¼ ÐÌà  àDr.€Ô_ÔCorradinoÔ_Ô€testified€that€he€first€saw€the€plaintiff€on€April€23,€1999,€when€she€came€to€hisÐ D!” Ðoffice€seeking€a€third€opinion€on€her€back€problems.€€Dr.€Ô_ÔCorradinoÔ_Ô€testified€that€contrary€to€theÐ 0"€  Ðopinions€of€Drs.€Marshall€and€Ô_ÔCorradinoÔ_Ô,€he€recommended€back€surgery€for€the€plaintiff.€€Dr.Ð #l! ÐÔ_ÔCorradinoÔ_Ô€performed€a€Ô_ÔhemiÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔlaminotomyÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔdiskectomyÔ_Ô€on€the€plaintiff€on€May€27,€1999.€€HeÐ $X" Ðtestified€that€he€later€noted€that€the€procedure€did€not€provide€any€significant€improvement€in€theÐ ô$D # Ðplaintiffððs€symptoms.€€Dr.€Ô_ÔCorradinoÔ_Ô€made€no€findings€as€to€the€plaintiffððs€ability€to€function€withinÐ à%0!$ Ðthe€requirements€of€her€job,€and€he€did€not€obtain€a€Functional€Capacity€Evaluation.€€He€did,Ð Ì&"% Ðhowever,€find€that€the€plaintiff€had€reached€maximum€medical€improvement€ð ðrelative€to€her€surgeryððÐ ¸'#& Ðon€January€5,€2000,€and€he€assessed€her€a€fifteen€percent€impairment€to€the€body€as€a€whole.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌò òÓ  ÓòòVocational€Expertóóó óÐ |*Ì%) ÐÓŠ4ÓÐ h+¸&* ÐÔ_Ôà  àÔ‡XOAXXXOAÔDr.€Norman€Hankins,€a€vocational€expert,€testified€as€to€the€effects€of€the€plaintiffððs€medicalÐ ° Ðimpairments€upon€her€ability€to€work.€€Ô#†XOAXXXOA5#ÔDr.€Hankins€testified€that€based€on€the€restrictions€on€theÐ œì Ðplaintiff€set€by€Dr.€Marshall€as€well€as€her€age,€education,€and€previous€work€experience,€he€foundÐ ˆØ Ðthat€she€could€only€perform€about€sixty„three€percent€of€the€jobs€for€which€she€was€qualified.€€TakingÐ tÄ Ðinto€consideration€the€plaintiffððs€testimony€about€her€having€to€change€position€every€twenty€to€thirtyÐ `° Ðminutes,€Dr.€Hankins€testified€that€she€was€unable€to€do€the€job€she€had€prior€to€the€accident,€andÐ L œ Ðthat€she€was€one€hundred€percent€vocationally€disabled.€€However,€when€told€of€the€long€car€andÐ 8 ˆ Ðplane€trips€the€plaintiff€had€taken€since€her€injury,€Dr.€Hankins€testified€that€it€was€apparent€that€sheÐ $ t Ðwas€not€totally€disabled.€€Dr.€Hankinsðð€testimony€was€not€entirely€conclusive€as€to€the€extent€of€theÐ  ` Ðplaintiffððs€disability.Ð ü L  ÐÌò òòòÓ  ÓDiscussionóóó óÐ Ô$  ÐÓÅ9ÓÌà  àThe€defendant€appeals€the€trial€courtððs€decision€on€three€grounds:€that€the€trial€court€erredÐ ¬ü  Ðin€awarding€the€plaintiff€temporary€total€disability€benefits€for€the€period€between€May€19,€1999,€andÐ ˜è  ÐJanuary€5,€2000,€when€the€defendant€contends€the€evidence€presented€at€trial€demonstrated€that€theÐ „Ô  Ðplaintiff€was€not€totally€disabled€from€working,€had€previously€returned€to€work,€and€only€voluntarilyÐ pÀ Ðleft€work€to€pursue€unauthorized€medical€treatment;€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€awarding€the€plaintiffÐ \¬ Ðfifty„five€percent€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€body€as€a€whole€when€the€defendant€contendsÐ H˜ Ðthe€award€should€have€been€limited€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€Ô‡XOAXXXOAÔðð€Ô#†XOAXXXOA=#Ô50„6„241(a)(1)€to€two€and€one„half€timesÐ 4„ Ðthe€plaintiffððs€medical€impairment€rating;€and,€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€its€finding€that€the€plaintiffÐ  p Ðsustained€fifty„five€percent€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€body€as€a€whole€when€the€defendantÐ  \ Ðcontends€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€presented€at€trial€indicates€that€such€an€award€is€clearlyÐ øH Ðexcessive.Ð ä4 ÐÌà  àThe€plaintiff€contends€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€its€finding€of€fifty„five€percent€permanentÐ ¼  Ðpartial€disability€and€that€the€award€should€have€instead€been€permanent€total€disability.Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àAlthough€we€are€required€to€weigh€the€evidence€in€a€case€in€depth€to€determine€where€theÐ €Ð Ðpreponderance€of€the€evidence€lies,€we€are€required€to€make€such€evaluation€within€the€confines€ofÐ l¼ Ðestablished€rules€in€evaluating€the€propriety€of€the€trial€court.Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àRegarding€the€defendantððs€first€issue€on€appeal,€in€order€to€establish€a€prima€facie€case€ofÐ 0"€  Ðentitlement€to€temporary€total€disability€an€employee€must€prove:€(1)€that€she€was€totally€disabledÐ #l! Ðto€work€by€a€compensable€injury;€(2)€that€there€was€a€causal€connection€between€the€injury€and€herÐ $X" Ðinability€to€work;€and€(3)€the€duration€of€that€period€of€disability.€òòSimpson€v.€Satterfieldóó,€564€S.W.2dÐ ô$D # Ð953€(Tenn.€1978).€€Benefits€for€temporary€total€disability€are€payable€until€the€injured€employee€isÐ à%0!$ Ðable€to€return€to€work€or,€if€she€does€not€return€from€work,€until€she€attains€maximum€recovery€fromÐ Ì&"% Ðher€injury,€at€which€time€her€entitlement€to€such€benefits€terminates.€òòPrince€v.€Sentry€Ins.€Co.óó,€908Ð ¸'#& ÐS.W.2d€937€(Tenn.€1995);€òòYount€v.€Henrite€Products,€Inc.óó,€754€S.W.2d€47€(Tenn.€1988);€òòFagg€v.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐHutch€Mfg.€Co.óó,€755€S.W.2d€446€(Tenn.€1988);€òòSimpson€v.€Satterfieldóó,€564€S.W.2d€953€(Tenn.Ð )à$( Ð1978).€€Such€benefits€are€not€recoverable€during€a€period€of€time€when€the€employee€is€able€to€workÐ |*Ì%) Ðbut€remains€unemployed€after€a€layoff€from€a€work„related€injury.€òòVinson€v.€Firestone€Tire€Ô_ÔandÐ h+¸&* ÐRubber€Co.,€Inc.óó,€655€S.W.2d€931€(Tenn.€1983).Ð ° ÐÌà  àIn€this€case,€the€plaintiff€suffered€her€original€injury€on€July€27,€1997.€€Following€the€injury,Ð ˆØ Ðshe€continued€to€work€while€being€treated€by€Dr.€Marshall,€who€assessed€that€she€had€reachedÐ tÄ Ðmaximum€medical€improvement€on€January€26,€1998.€€However,€the€plaintiff€testified€that€her€Ð `° Ðattempt€to€return€to€work€was€made€impossible€by€her€continued€pain€from€the€original€injury.€TheÐ L œ Ðtrial€court€heard€the€live€testimony€of€the€plaintiff€and€found€her€testimony€credible.€€Ô‡XOAXXXOAÔWhere€the€trialÐ 8 ˆ Ðjudge€has€made€a€determination€based€upon€the€testimony€of€witnesses€whom€he€has€seen€and€heard,Ð $ t Ðgreat€deference€must€be€given€to€that€finding€in€determining€whether€the€evidence€preponderatesÐ  ` Ðagainst€the€trial€judgeððs€determination.€€òòSeeóó€òòHumphrey€v.€David€Ô_ÔWitherspoonÔ_Ô,€Inc.,€óó734€S.W.2d€315Ð ü L  Ð(Tenn.€1987).Ô#†XOAXXXOA@I#Ô€€Thus€we€will€not€disturb€the€trial€judgeððs€determination€that€the€plaintiffððs€testimonyÐ è 8  Ðat€trial€was€credible.Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àThe€record€shows€that€the€plaintiffððs€later€ð ðtotal€disabilityðð€(as€assessed€by€Dr.€Ô_ÔCorradinoÔ_Ô,)Ð ¬ü  Ðand€inability€to€work€were€causally€related€to€the€original€compensable€injury.€€While€the€surgeryÐ ˜è  Ðwas€not€authorized€by€the€defendant€and€therefore€was€not€compensable€itself,€it€was€notÐ „Ô  Ðunreasonable€for€the€plaintiff€to€seek€such€medical€treatment€outside€the€panel.€€Further,€the€plaintiffÐ pÀ Ðand€her€doctor€would€never€have€felt€she€needed€the€surgery€had€there€not€been€an€injury€in€theÐ \¬ Ðcourse€and€scope€of€her€employment.€€As€there€is€such€ð ðcausal€connectionðð€between€the€originalÐ H˜ Ðinjury€and€the€plaintiffððs€inability€to€work€between€May€19,€1999,€and€January€5,€2000,€the€trial€courtÐ 4„ Ðwas€within€its€discretion€in€finding€the€plaintiff€should€receive€temporary€total€disability€benefitsÐ  p Ðfrom€the€defendant€for€that€period€of€time,€and€therefore€we€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€decision€on€thatÐ  \ Ðissue.Ð øH ÐÌà  àAs€for€the€second€issue€on€appeal,€the€defendant€contends€that€the€plaintiff€did€indeed€haveÐ Ð  Ða€meaningful€return€to€work€and€should€therefore€be€limited€to€an€award€of€two€and€one„half€timesÐ ¼  Ðher€medical€impairment€rating€pursuant€to€Ô‡XOAXXXOAÔTenn.€Code€Ann.Ô#†XOAXXXOA‡Q#ÔÔ‡XOAXXXOAÔòò€ððóó€50„6„241(a)(1).€€In€support€of€thisÐ ¨ø Ðcontention,€the€defendant€argues€that€the€plaintiff€in€fact€òòdidóó€return€to€work€following€the€initialÐ ”ä Ðinjury,€and€worked€at€the€same€or€greater€wage€for€a€period€of€twenty„two€months€before€electingÐ €Ð Ðto€have€unauthorized€surgery.Ô#†XOAXXXOAØQ#ÔÐ l¼ ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€awarded€the€plaintiff€permanent€partial€disability€benefits€in€the€amount€ofÐ D!” Ðfifty„five€percent€to€the€body€as€a€whole€based€upon€the€courtððs€perception€that€there€was€no€proofÐ 0"€  Ðin€the€record€that€the€plaintiff€could€perform€the€work€that€was€offered€to€her€by€her€employerÐ #l! Ðfollowing€her€surgery.€€€Because€the€record€shows€the€plaintiff€was€unable€to€have€a€meaningfulÐ $X" Ðreturn€to€work€following€the€surgery€that€she€and€her€doctor€felt€was€necessary€to€enable€her€toÐ ô$D # Ðcontinue€working€for€the€defendant,€the€trial€court€was€within€its€discretion€to€award€the€plaintiffÐ à%0!$ Ðbenefits€beyond€the€statutory€maximum€of€two€and€one„half€times€her€medical€impairment€rating,Ð Ì&"% Ðpursuant€to€Ô‡XOAXXXOAÔTenn.€Code€Ann.Ô#†XOAXXXOAÒV#ÔÔ‡XOAXXXOAÔòò€ððóó€50„6„241(a)(1)Ô#†XOAXXXOA#W#Ô.€€In€the€absence€of€any€showing€by€the€defendant€thatÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€trial€court€abused€its€discretion€in€making€such€a€finding,€we€affirm€the€decision€of€the€trial€court.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌà  àThe€defendantððs€third€issue,€that€the€evidence€at€trial€preponderates€that€an€award€of€fifty„fiveÐ |*Ì%) Ðpercent€to€the€body€as€a€whole€is€excessive,€is€simply€not€borne€out€by€the€facts€in€the€record.€€AtÐ h+¸&* Ðtrial€the€plaintiff€presented€a€substantial€amount€of€evidence,€through€medical€and€lay€testimony,€thatÐ ° Ðsupported€her€contention€that€she€can€no€longer€work€for€the€defendant€and€that€she€should€receiveÐ œì Ðpermanent€total€disability.€€The€defendant€of€course€offered€its€own€evidence€in€contrast€to€that€point,Ð ˆØ Ðand€the€trial€court€weighed€both€sides€of€the€issue.€€It€is€entirely€within€the€trial€courtððs€discretion€toÐ tÄ Ðdetermine€matters€of€this€nature,€and€absent€evidence€in€the€record€that€the€trial€court€abused€itsÐ `° Ðdiscretion,€we€will€not€disturb€the€trial€courtððs€finding.€€There€is€no€such€evidence€here,€and€weÐ L œ Ðaffirm€the€decision€of€the€trial€court€to€award€the€plaintiff€fifty„five€percent€permanent€partialÐ 8 ˆ Ðdisability€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€Ð $ t ÐÌà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€The€cost€of€this€appealÐ ü L  Ðis€taxed€to€the€defendant.Ð è 8  ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð ˜è  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àJOHN€K.€BYERS,€SENIOR€JUDGEÐ „Ô  ÐÐ  pÀ ÐÔ‡XOAXXXOAÔÔ‡î üîXXOAÔà@™ ™ ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@WW$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†XOAXîî üÖ^#ÔÔ‡¼ »XXOAԈРÖ& ÐÌò òÓ  ÓÔ_ÔMABLEÔ_Ô€CALHOUN€V.€Ô_ÔQUEBECORÔ_Ô€PRINTING,€INC.òòóóó óÐ ^ ÐÔ#†XOAX»¼ _#ÔÔ‡î üîXXOAÔÓ¸_ÓÌò òÔ#†XOAXîî üm`#ÔÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<3 ` A߈Ð 4 „ ÐÌÓ  ÓNo.€€E2001„00839„SC„WCM„CVÐ /  ÐÓ.aÓÌßA€V) °°` dE<` AßÐ W  ÐÌó óà@±±&ìàò òJUDGMENTó óˆÐ R  ÐÔ‡î üîXXOAÔÌòòóóÔ#†XOAXîî ü b#Ôà  àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€Applicantððs€motion€for€review€pursuant€to€Tenn.€CodeÐ d  ÐAnn.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(5)(B),€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€of€referral€to€the€Special€WorkersððÐ P  ÐCompensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panelððs€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€factÐ ì< Ðand€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ð Ø( ÐÌà  àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€for€review€is€not€well„taken€and€shouldÐ ° Ðbe€DENIED;€andÐ œì ÐÌà  àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€are€adoptedÐ tÄ Ðand€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€of€the€Court.€Ð `° ÐÌà  àCosts€will€be€assessed€to€Ô_ÔQuebecorÔ_Ô€Printing,€Inc.,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ð 8ˆ ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àPER€Ô_ÔCURIAMÔ_ÔÐ ` ÐAnderson,€J.,€not€participatingÐ üL ÐÌÌÔN‡´" XÔÔO‡¼Ì » X´"ÔÌÔO#†´" X »¼Ì-g#ÔÔN#†P X X´"g#Ôò òó óÔ#†XOAXXXOA·^#ÔÌ