ÿWPCÎ hg]‡ë†ó Û„éÝs]XlúfÉíœÚêéñË,ðÃè¹ «£ZÜ_°æ\£xÄU÷/ƒáÒŒÖlJmgB£t·]âr ,ëøDÎ…öB™kó^‚6[öÈ×ô1x&¹/{ƒ§]»_ĬÁþà ZùÁp+Ãvg·tÔ+äâQ?¹L¹gáYôûÄ!ñ<%Âþ««õ´‰ñ¢ôÑ\ S™ä—b!0ŠN [ŠºIz¹cLïwÞŸËqÆTíʈĈ‹™‰Od#&½Ô³¤;>ÖœÒbo‰µm#¹¢º.¼ŒYˆ>©\Ið+2Gy÷„4ÎF à*'!Âé°(ùàüÀoHi×QùþÇÞÓÒ½ßrÇCHÒFw*îÊT læ°ÎÆœAŒßnÿ÷F§#–蘶Ûì8d濫»V Oi<ù<Œhò"¡ansgB*«]Áx#päþþ34·÷dŒïþk|1áõ6Vm›+]XÛµUb•9ù Ÿ:‚g9dÜ¡^…á³vöfÏ'LS¸×ð›~Ѭ¢¨Å û$Ì«:Ãàcîí•ÕakJІETòã@q)ÆÒà2Ê4Œ!€¬}ïo`ÃV^°­¦L=Ü´Püí )»b %\^ b 0ˆnU8NöwD4H\ zkÒå· m¹ UNÐ #Á Æß Æ¥ Æk Æ1÷NÿNU@ECU:EEEE 0DbÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà 0ëËËËË B ¶¶ 0¤Ó D3w D-ª 0K×× AS"Æu 0¤; 0Dß A«#»€‹Q-â (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regulardbï, œˆhž3|x ˜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.wptÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular˜HP LJ 4000/4050 PCL 5eÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 (ÖÃ9 Z‹(Times New Roman ,ZýµAZ‹"Arial Regular(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù-(|G2½è$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€¥»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€X]yX»»Ô d(|3ÿ{$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€¥»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ÿ{$¢¢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€]yXXdì»»d8ÑÓ  ÓÔ‡îd¥Ôà@@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÐ Ö& Ðà@@ƒƒìàAT€NASHVILLEÔ#†¼¥»îîdî#ÔÐ üL ÐJuly€25,€2002€SessionÐ "r ÐÔ‡X]yX»¼¥ÔÌò òÔ#†¼¥»XX]y#ÔJOHN€Ô_ÔCARBINOÔ_Ôòòóó€v.€PORTLAND€UTILITY€CONST.€CO.,€LLC,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡X]yX»¼¥Ôó óÐ  p ÐÌà@@¼¼ìàò ò€Direct€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÐ  p Ðà@@ôôìàNo.€99„2647„II€€€€€€Carol€McCoy,€ChancellorÐ  \ ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<Ï` AßÐ Ð  ÐÌNo.€M2001„01840„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Mailed€„€August€26,€2002Ð Ë  ÐÔ#†¼¥»XX]yÂ#ÔÔ‡X]yX»¼¥ÔFiled€„€October€17,€Ô_Ô2002Ô_ÔÐ ·  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<Ž` AßÐ ß Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÓ  ÓThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€AppealsÐ ŠÚ ÐPanel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€andÐ vÆ Ðreporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€In€this€appeal,€Ô#†¼¥»XX]y¦#ÔÔ‡X]yX»¼¥ÔtheÐ b² Ðemployer€and€its€insurer€question€(1)€the€trial€court's€finding€that€the€employee's€aortic€dissection€wasÐ Nž Ðan€injury€by€accident€arising€out€of€his€employment€and€(2)€the€award€of€permanent€partial€disabilityÐ :Š Ðbenefits€based€on€85€percent€to€the€body€as€a€whole€for€the€combined€effects€of€that€injury€and€aÐ &v Ðsubsequent€compensable€back€injury.€€As€discussed€below,€the€panel€has€concluded€the€judgmentÐ b Ðshould€be€affirmed.Ð þN ÐÓyÓÌò òÓ  ÓTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)€(2001€Supp.)€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€ChanceryÐ Ö& ÐCourt€Affirmedó óÐ Â ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ#†¼¥»àX]yï#ÔÔ‡X]yX.¼¥ÔJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Sp.€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€Jòòanice€M.€Holder,€J.,óó€andÐ šê ÐòòJames€L.€Ô_ÔWeatherfordÔ_Ô,€Sr.€J.óó,€joined.Ð † Ö ÐÌÔ_ÔBridgettÔ_Ô€A.€Ô_ÔWohlpartÔ_Ô,€Brentwood,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellants,€Portland€Utility€ConstructionÐ ^"®! ÐCompany,€LLC,€and€Travelers€Property€Casualty€CorporationÐ J#š" ÐÌLucius€P.€Ô_ÔHawesÔ_Ô,€Jr.,€Ô_ÔHopkinsvilleÔ_Ô,€Kentucky,€for€the€appellee,€John€Ô_ÔCarbinoÔ_ÔÐ "%r $ ÐÌÓó ÓÓ  Óò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óÔ#†¼¥»XX]y" #ÔÔ‡X]yX»¼¥ÔÐ ú&J"& ÐÌÓ  ÓÔ#†¼¥»XX]y; #ÔÔ€X]yX»¼¥Ôà  àThe€employee€or€claimant,€John€Ô_ÔCarbinoÔ_Ô,€initiated€this€civil€action€on€September€17,€1999Ð Ò("$( Ðto€recover€workers'€compensation€benefits€for€two€separate€allegedly€work€related€injuries.€€The€firstÐ ¾)%) Ðinjury€is€alleged€to€have€occurred€on€January€26,€1998,€the€second€on€June€23,€1999.€€On€July€3,Ð ª*ú%* Ð2001,€after€an€earlier€trial€on€the€merits,€the€trial€court€awarded,€among€other€things,€permanentÐ –+æ&+ Ðpartial€disability€benefits€on€the€basis€of€85€percent€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€The€employer,€PortlandÐ ‚,Ò', ÐUtility€Construction€Company,€and€its€insurance€carrier,€Travelers,€have€appealed.Ð n-¾(-ý  Їà  àÔ‡ X]yXXX]yÔFor€injuries€occurring€on€or€after€July€1,€1985,€appellate€review€is€de€novo€upon€the€recordÐ ° Ðof€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctness€of€the€findings€of€fact,€unless€theÐ œì Ðpreponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Ô#†X]yXX X]y²#ÔTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(2)€(2001€Supp.).Ô‡ X]yXXX]yÔ€€TheÐ ˆØ Ðreviewing€court€is€required€to€conduct€an€independent€examination€of€the€record€to€determine€whereÐ tÄ Ðthe€preponderance€of€the€evidence€lies.Ô#†X]yXX X]y;#Ô€€òòÔ_ÔWingertÔ_Ô€v.€Government€of€Sumner€Countyóó,€908€S.W.2d€921,Ð `° Ð922€(Tenn.€1995).€€Ô‡ X]yXXX]yÔThe€standard€governing€appellate€review€of€findings€of€fact€by€a€trial€courtÐ L œ Ðrequires€the€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€to€examine€in€depth€a€trial€courtððsÐ 8 ˆ Ðfactual€findings€and€conclusions.Ô#†X]yXX X]y¼#Ô€€òòÔ_ÔGAFÔ_Ô€Bldg.€Materials€v.€Georgeóó,€47€S.W.3d€430,€432€(Tenn.€2001).€Ð $ t ÐÔ‡ X]yXXX]yÔWhere€the€trial€judge€has€seen€and€heard€the€witnesses,€especially€if€issues€of€credibility€and€weightÐ  ` Ðto€be€given€oral€testimony€are€involved,€considerable€deference€must€be€accorded€thoseÐ ü L  Ðcircumstances€on€review,€because€it€is€the€trial€court€which€had€the€opportunity€to€observe€theÐ è 8  Ðwitnessesðð€demeanor€and€to€hear€the€in„court€testimony.€€òòÔ#†X]yXX X]yt#ÔLong€v.€Tri„Con€Ind.,€Ltd.óó,€996€S.W.2dÐ Ô$  Ð173,€177€(Tenn.€1999).Ô‡ X]yXXX]yÔ€€The€trial€courtððs€findings€with€respect€to€credibility€and€weight€of€theÐ À  Ðevidence€may€generally€be€inferred€from€the€manner€in€which€the€court€resolves€conflicts€in€theÐ ¬ü  Ðtestimony€and€decides€the€case.€€òòÔ#†X]yXX X]y£#ÔÔ_ÔTobittÔ_Ô€v.€Bridgestone/Firestone,€Inc.óó,€59€S.W.3d€57,€61€(Tenn.Ð ˜è  Ð2001).Ô‡ X]yXXX]yÔ€€The€appellate€tribunal,€however,€is€as€well€situated€to€gauge€the€weight,€worth€andÐ „Ô  Ðsignificance€of€deposition€testimony€as€the€trial€judge.€€Ô#†X]yXX X]y[#ÔòòWalker€v.€Saturn€Corp.óó,€986€S.W.2d€204,€207Ð pÀ Ð(Tenn.€1998)Ô‡ X]yXXX]yÔ.€€The€extent€of€an€injured€workerððs€vocational€disability€is€a€question€of€fact.€€òòÔ#†X]yXX X]y“#ÔSeals€v.Ð \¬ ÐEngland/Corsair€Upholstery€Mfg.óó,€984€S.W.2d€912,€915€(Tenn.€1999).Ô‡ X]yXXX]yÔ€€Where€the€medical€testimonyÐ H˜ Ðin€a€workersðð€compensation€case€is€presented€by€deposition,€the€reviewing€court€may€make€anÐ 4„ Ðindependent€assessment€of€the€medical€proof€to€determine€where€the€preponderance€of€the€proof€lies.€Ð  p ÐòòÔ#†X]yXX X]y#ÔWhirlpool€Corp.€v.€Ô_ÔNakhoneinhÔ_Ôóó,€69€S.W.3d€164,€167€(Tenn.€2002).Ô‡ X]yXXX]yÔÐ  \ ÐÌà  àOn€January€26,€1998,€the€claimant€was€operating€a€twenty„five€ton€Ô_ÔtrackhoeÔ_Ô,€digging€in€aÐ ä4 Ðfifteen€foot€deep€ditch.€€The€bucket€suddenly€slipped€from€beneath€a€heavy€rock,€causing€the€machineÐ Ð  Ðto€ð ðdrop€backðð€and€tossing€the€claimant€around€in€the€cab.€€During€the€episode,€the€claimantÐ ¼  Ðapparently€struck€his€chest€on€some€part€of€the€cabððs€interior.€€Soon€thereafter,€he€began€to€sufferÐ ¨ø Ðsevere€chest€pain,€which€he€first€believed€to€be€indigestion.€€It€was€later€diagnosed€as€a€tear€andÐ ”ä Ðdissection€of€his€aorta.€€The€appellants€argue€that€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€trial€courtððsÐ €Ð Ðfinding€that€this€injury€was€one€arising€out€of€the€employment€relationship.Ð l¼ ÐÔ#†X]yXX X]yU#ÔÌà  àÔ‡ X]yXXX]yÔAn€accidental€injury€arises€out€of€oneððs€employment€when€there€is€apparent€to€the€rationalÐ D!” Ðmind,€upon€consideration€of€all€the€circumstances,€a€causal€connection€between€the€conditions€underÐ 0"€  Ðwhich€the€work€is€required€to€be€performed€and€the€resulting€injury,€and€occurs€in€the€course€of€oneððsÐ #l! Ðemployment€if€it€occurs€while€an€employee€is€performing€a€duty€he€was€employed€to€do.€€òòÔ#†X]yXX X]y!#ÔFink€v.Ð $X" ÐÔ_ÔCaudleÔ_Ôóó,€856€S.W.2d€952€(Tenn.€1993)Ô‡ X]yXXX]yÔ.€€ð ðArising€out€ofðð€refers€to€the€origin€of€the€injury€in€termsÐ ô$D # Ðof€causation€and€ð ðin€the€course€ofðð€relates€to€time,€place€and€circumstance.€€òòÔ#†X]yXX X]y~##ÔÔ_ÔMcCurryÔ_Ô€v.€ContainerÐ à%0!$ ÐCorp.€of€Americaóó,€982€S.W.2d€841,€843€(Tenn.€1998).Ô‡ X]yXXX]yÔ€€For€an€accidental€injury€to€be€compensable,Ð Ì&"% Ðboth€components€are€required.€€òòÔ#†X]yXX X]yð$#ÔChapman€v.€Aetna€Ô_ÔCasÔ_Ô.€and€Sur.€Co.óó,€221€Tenn.€376,€426€S.W.2dÐ ¸'#& Ð760€(1968).Ô‡ X]yXXX]yÔ€€Generally,€an€injury€arises€out€of€and€in€the€course€of€employment€if€it€has€a€rationalÐ ¤(ô#' Ðcausal€connection€to€the€work€and€occurs€while€the€employee€is€engaged€in€the€duties€of€hisÐ )à$( Ðemployment;€and€any€reasonable€doubt€as€to€whether€an€injury€arose€out€of€the€employment€or€notÐ |*Ì%) Ðis€to€be€resolved€in€favor€of€the€employee.Ô#†X]yXX X]y&#Ô€€òòHall€v.€Ô_ÔAuburntownÔ_Ô€Industries,€Inc.óó,€684€S.W.2d€614Ð h+¸&* Ð(Tenn.€1985).€€Ô‡ X]yXXX]yÔIn€all€but€the€most€obvious€cases,€causation€and€permanency€may€only€be€establishedÐ ° Ðthrough€expert€medical€testimony.€€Ô#†X]yXX X]yT(#ÔòòThomas€v.€Aetna€Life€&€Ô_ÔCasÔ_Ô.€Co.óó,€812€S.W.2d€278,€283€(1991).Ð œì ÐÌà  àThis€record€contains€conflicting€expert€medical€testimony€concerning€the€issue€of€causation.€Ð tÄ ÐThe€operating€surgeon,€Dr.€Ô_ÔKarlaÔ_Ô€Christian,€opined€that€the€aortic€dissection€probably€resulted€fromÐ `° Ðchronic€hypertension€and€was€not€causally€related€to€the€claimantððs€work.€€However,€Dr.€ChristianÐ L œ Ðconceded€the€claimant€had€never€been€diagnosed€with€chronic€hypertension.€€Her€opinion€was€basedÐ 8 ˆ Ðon€the€scientific€fact€that€hypertension€was€the€usual€cause€of€the€type€of€injury€suffered€by€theÐ $ t Ðclaimant.€€Dr.€Gary€Spencer,€an€experienced€emergency€room€physician,€and€Dr.€John€Nadeau,€aÐ  ` Ðboard€certified€internist,€opined€that€the€injury€probably€was€causally€related€to€the€claimantððs€beingÐ ü L  Ðstruck€in€the€chest€when€he€was€thrown€around€in€the€cab€of€the€Ô_ÔtrackhoeÔ_Ô€or€that€it€could€haveÐ è 8  Ðresulted€from€acute€hypertension€triggered€by€the€same€event.€€From€the€medical€proof,€the€trial€courtÐ Ô$  Ðfound€that€the€accident€probably€aggravated€the€claimantððs€pre„existing,€but€asymptomaticÐ À  Ðhypertension.€€The€aggravation€of€a€pre„existing€condition€is€compensable€under€the€WorkerððsÐ ¬ü  ÐCompensation€Law.€€Ô‡ X]yXXX]yÔAn€employer€takes€an€employee€as€he€is€and€assumes€the€risk€of€having€aÐ ˜è  Ðweakened€condition€aggravated€by€an€injury€which€might€not€affect€a€normal€person.€Ô#†X]yXX X]y /#Ô€òòSeeóó€òòModernÐ „Ô  ÐUpholstered€Chair€Co.€v.€Russellóó,€518€S.W.2d€519€(Tenn.€1974)€and€its€progeny.Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àÔ‡ X]yXXX]yÔWhen€the€medical€testimony€differs,€the€trial€court€must€choose€which€view€to€believe.€€InÐ H˜ Ðdoing€so,€the€court€is€allowed,€among€other€things,€to€consider€the€qualifications€of€the€experts,€theÐ 4„ Ðcircumstances€of€their€examination,€the€information€available€to€them,€and€the€evaluation€of€theÐ  p Ðimportance€of€that€information€by€other€experts.€€òòÔ#†X]yXX X]y˜0#ÔOrman€v.€Williams€Ô_ÔSonomaÔ_Ô,€Inc.óó,€803€S.W.2d€672,Ð  \ Ð676€(Tenn.€1991).Ô‡ X]yXXX]yÔ€€Moreover,€it€is€within€the€discretion€of€the€trial€court€to€conclude€that€the€opinionÐ øH Ðof€certain€experts€should€be€accepted€over€that€of€other€experts€and€that€it€contains€the€more€probableÐ ä4 Ðexplanation.€€òòÔ#†X]yXX X]yæ2#ÔOrman€v.€Williams€Ô_ÔSonomaÔ_Ô,€Inc.óó,€803€S.W.2d€672,€676€(Tenn.€1991).Ô‡ X]yXXX]yÔ€€Any€reasonableÐ Ð  Ðdoubt€concerning€the€cause€of€the€injury€should€be€resolved€in€favor€of€the€employee.Ô#†X]yXX X]y…4#Ô€€òòWhirlpoolÐ ¼  ÐCorp.€v.€Ô_ÔNakhoneinhÔ_Ôóó,€69€S.W.3d€164,€168€(Tenn.€2002).Ð ¨ø ÐÌà  àGiving€due€deference€to€the€findings€of€the€trial€court,€including€due€consideration€to€theÐ €Ð Ðshortness€of€time€between€the€accident€and€the€onset€of€the€injury€and€resolving€any€reasonable€doubtÐ l¼ Ðin€favor€of€the€claimant,€we€cannot€say€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€trial€courtððs€findingÐ X ¨ Ðthat€the€injury€is€causally€related€to€the€claimantððs€work.€€The€issue€is€thus€resolved€in€favor€of€theÐ D!” Ðappellee.Ð 0"€  ÐÌà  àThe€claimant€returned€to€work€after€the€above€injury€and€continued€working€until€August€17,Ð $X" Ð1999,€when€he€suffered€compensable€back€injury.€€Although€the€employer€offered€re„employment,Ð ô$D # Ðthe€claimant€did€not€accept€and€was€not€working€anywhere€at€the€time€of€the€trial.€€The€surgeon€whoÐ à%0!$ Ðrepaired€his€back€estimated€his€medical€impairment€from€the€second€injury€to€be€7€percent€to€theÐ Ì&"% Ðwhole€body.€€The€claimantððs€own€testimony€is€that€he€is€no€more€than€half€the€man€he€was€beforeÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€first€injury€and€that€he€cannot€work.€€The€estimates€of€medical€impairment€from€the€first€injuryÐ ¤(ô#' Ðrange€from€none€to€100€percent.€€Our€independent€examination€of€the€record€reveals€no€estimate€ofÐ )à$( Ðpermanent€impairment€for€the€combined€effects€of€both€injuries.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÐ h+¸&* Ðà  àThe€appellants€next€contend€the€award€of€benefits€on€the€basis€of€85€percent€permanentÐ ° Ðpartial€disability€to€the€body€as€a€whole€is€excessive€because€it€exceeds€two€and€one„half€times€theÐ œì Ðmedical€impairment€rating€for€his€second€injury,€the€compensability€of€which€is€undisputed.€€Ô‡ X]yXXX]yÔForÐ ˆØ Ðinjuries€arising€after€August€1,€1992,€in€cases€where€an€injured€worker€is€entitled€to€permanent€partialÐ tÄ Ðdisability€benefits€to€the€body€as€a€whole€and€the€pre„injury€employer€returns€the€employee€toÐ `° Ðemployment€at€a€wage€equal€to€or€greater€than€the€wage€the€employee€was€receiving€at€the€time€ofÐ L œ Ðthe€injury,€the€maximum€permanent€partial€disability€award€that€the€employee€may€receive€is€twoÐ 8 ˆ Ðand€one„half€times€the€medical€impairment€rating€pursuant€to€the€provisions€of€the€òòAmericanÐ $ t ÐMedical€Association€Guides€to€the€Evaluation€of€Permanent€Impairmentóó€or€the€òòManual€forÐ  ` ÐOrthopedic€Surgeons€in€Evaluating€Permanent€Physical€Impairmentóó.€€In€making€determinations,€theÐ ü L  Ðtrial€courts€are€to€consider€all€pertinent€factors,€including€lay€and€expert€testimony,€the€employeeððsÐ è 8  Ðage,€education,€skills€and€training,€local€job€opportunities€for€the€disabled,€and€capacity€to€work€atÐ Ô$  Ðtypes€of€employment€available€in€the€claimantððs€disabled€condition.Ô#†X]yXX X]yÙ<#Ô€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„Ð À  Ð241(a)(1).Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àDr.€Nadeau,€whose€testimony€was€accredited€by€the€trial€court,€estimated€the€claimantððsÐ „Ô  Ðpermanent€impairment€from€the€first€injury€to€be€between€50€percent€and€100€percent€to€the€wholeÐ pÀ Ðbody.€€The€trial€court€awarded€benefits€based€on€67.5€percent€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€bodyÐ \¬ Ðas€a€whole.€€For€the€second€injury,€the€trial€court€awarded€permanent€partial€disability€benefits€basedÐ H˜ Ðon€two€and€one„half€times€the€7€percent€medical€rating€of€the€operating€surgeon,€or€17.5€percent,€toÐ 4„ Ðthe€body€as€a€whole.€€From€our€independent€examination€of€the€record,€giving€due€deference€to€theÐ  p Ðfindings€of€the€trial€court,€we€cannot€say€the€award€exceeds€the€statutory€limitation€or€is€otherwiseÐ  \ Ðexcessive.Ð øH ÐÌà  àFor€the€above€reasons,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€are€taxed€to€theÐ Ð  Ðappellants.Ð ¼  ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð l¼ Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àJOE€C.€LOSER,€JR.Ð  X ¨ ÐÔ‡X]yXXX]yÔ€€Ô#†X]yXXX]y G#ÔÔ‡X+ XXX]yÔÔ#†X]yX XX+QG#ÔÔ‡¼¥»XX]yÔà@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@§§$ìàAT€NASHVILLEˆÐ  ÐÔ#†X]yX»¼¥“G#ÔÌò òÔ‡¼¥»XX]yÔÓ  ÓòòJOHN€Ô_ÔCARBINOÔ_Ô€óóv.€òòPORTLAND€UTILITY€CONSTRUCTION€Ð À ÐCOMPANY,€LLC,€Et€Al.óóÔ#†X]yX»¼¥VH#Ôó óÐ Ô$ ÐÓuHÓÌà@› › ìàò òChancery€Court€for€Davidson€CountyˆÐ Ô $ Ðà@„„#ìàNo.€99„2647„IIˆÐ À  ÐÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<— ` A߈Ð ˜ è  ÐÌà@0 0 ìàNo.€M2001„01840„SC„WCM„CV€„€Filed€„€October€17,€2002ˆÐ “ã  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<j` AßÐ k»  Ðó óÌÌà@//#ìàò òJUDGMENT€ORDERó óˆÐ R¢  ÐÌÔ‡X+ XXX]yÔÔ#†X]yX XX+3K#ÔÔ‡ X]yXXX]yÔà  àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€motion€for€review€filed€by€defendants„appellants,Ð *z ÐPortland€Utility€Construction€Company,€LLC,€and€Travelers€Property€Casualty€Company,€pursuantÐ f Ðto€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð50-6-225(e)(5)(B),€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€of€referral€to€theÐ R ÐSpecial€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panelððs€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forthÐ î> Ðits€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€Ð Ú* ÐÌà  àIt€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€for€review€is€not€well„taken€and€is€therefore€denied.€Ð ² ÐThe€Panelððs€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€by€reference,€are€adoptedÐ žî Ðand€affirmed.€€The€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€of€the€Court.Ð ŠÚ ÐÌà  àCosts€are€assessed€to€the€defendants„appellants,€Portland€Utility€Construction€Company,Ð b² ÐLLC,€and€Travelers€Property€Casualty€Company,€and€their€sureties,€for€which€execution€may€issueÐ Nž Ðif€necessary.Ð :Š ÐÔ#†X]yXX X]yuK#ÔÔ‡X+ XXX]yÔÔ#†X]yX XX+AP#ÔÔ‡X]yXXX]yÔÌà  àIt€is€so€ORDERED.Ð !b  ÐÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àPER€Ô_ÔCURIAMÔ_ÔÐ Ö#&# ÐÌHolder,€J.,€not€participatingà@ìì*ìàÔ#†X]yXXX]yƒP#ÔÔ‡X+ XXX]yÔÔ#†X]yX XX+½Q#ÔÔ‡X]yXXX]yԈР®%þ % ÐÔ#†X]yXXX]yÿQ#ÔÔ‡X+ XXX]yÔ€Ô#†X]yX XX+WR#Ô