ÿWPC.  Ö‡ä_lº#äªle_³ ¡±#ÿªÝ_öG`k™Zf 9u˜aJ|e»Gú™=­Äl+CK/ô ¼= Ù—íÝ5=uð@xo>ÏQÃì­gº+AK¦>ê‡qU²i9dxܼª¢ u¢å¼Þ^żáØit!aqé“l§YFûÏü-&h„|õÏ8÷Àä¸ùÊW¥ä_p;L!.›•зJOÿ¡«žÿSk“¹±û,¶Ð¤›Fã͈ßlCÆÍé¤â”ò µ;Ç@˜Ê1œ@þ ËéÅÿ³´(Mü¸_šsvÛ³Èã)dÖõý½ÀCCáèO…åŽÉ¥­ðÙAÏ‚‹¸·ÁoxZ;€t×ßð’yÂ=Ûá2|Íê!M0;ñ±¡Ì|ãöfÇ–šP§VÙáï,ÆŽTî:èõâxæ±wrú£pzé~UeÐU»íþ½\„/wSxˆCþ7•R~1î>Ô7UÀqç+0ÖnCÀ'G5Ñ׊§›Iöc“xT·ü³y÷qµ¨ñÅ•Æ{ë%‚aZ^êRÜ—›ÁöÛ«çZÃë1«´1’o\á4Õ定 ˲•-³ögH‘*ªwÀ`…¤T.rCc [OÙ•msuDhPb %\^ b 0ˆnwöU,Nú4H\ zkÒå· m¹ NÐ #ÉÒ Æ› Æa Æ'Æí–³NI"K 0DmE±k³ 1uUN“ 72á 0cuvÀë«À zÕÒOOOOOOOOOOOOOb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 0ë)))) B  0¤1 D5Õ D-  0K77 AS‚ÆÕ 0¤› 0D? A«ƒ»}1Ï (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular6hö0ê:i¢×+003|x ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜\\IB01S02\CLERKJACÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 °0ÖE DYERSBURGWCSr.J.Latosha TMLCALEALeBonheurRosemanClonginerstrokelettesCardwellSevierHouserFerrellCigna CasReeser Syse]motionalCloninger Ý ƒR…—$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÔ€XÒX»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ô¦$òXXÒÔ€In€making€its€determination€as€to€causation,€the€Chancellor€relied€on€the€following€language€from€òòBaconóó:€ð ðAÐ ° Ðpremium€should€be€placed€upon€specificity€and€clarity€in€identifying€that€which€constitutes€the€ððaccidentðð€and€uponÐ qÁ Ðdemonstrating€that€such€accident€is€directly€attributable€to€the€employment.ðð€€808€S.W.2d€at€52.(+Ã$òòÚ  Ú4Ú  Úóó aÝ ƒR…—$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€XÒX»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ô¦$òXXÒÔ€Contrary€to€the€testimony€of€Drs.€Roseman€and€Wagner,€Dr.€Edwards„Lee€testified€that€given€Ô_ÔCloningerÔ_ÔððsÐ ° Ðlarge€musculature,€he€was€not€obese.€3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regulari)(;3£$´´Ô2#ÔÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0  à kÝ ƒR…—$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€XÒX»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ô¦$òXXÒÔ€In€reviewing€this€evidence,€we€likewise€conclude€that€the€record€does€not€preponderate€against€theÐ ° ÐChancellorððs€finding€that€the€employee€failed€to€establish€an€occupational€disease. ¶Ý ƒR…—$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€XÒX»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ô¦$òXXÒÔShe€stated€that€her€husband€brought€work€home€with€him€almost€every€night,€that€he€worked€more€hours€thanÐ ° Ðhe€had€worked€as€a€patrol€officer,€and€that€he€was€unable€to€relax€or€enjoy€his€hobbies.Ô‡¼ˆ)»òô¦$Ô€Ô#†ô¦$ò»¼ˆ)s#Ô Ñ  Ñ Ñ  Ñ!˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt- ù-(|G2…—$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€ˆ)»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€XÒX»»Ô d(|3ÿ $££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€ˆ)»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ÿ $¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€ˆ)»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ˆ)»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼ˆ)»»»ÔÑ8€ÒXXdé»»d8ÑÓ  ÓÔ‡îr–ˆ)ÔÑ€P¸ÑÑ€P¸Ñà@@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÐ Ó# Ðà@@ƒƒìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼ˆ)»îîr–î#ÔÐ öF ÐAssigned€on€Briefs€April€6,€2004€SessionÐ i ÐÔ‡XÒX»¼ˆ)ÔÌò òÔ#†¼ˆ)»XXÒK#ÔDAVID€B.€CLONINGER€v.€CITY€OF€DYERSBURG,€TENNESSEE,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡XÒX»¼ˆ)Ôó óÐ  b ÐÌà@@¼¼ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Dyer€CountyÐ  \ Ðà@@ôôìàNo.€00C603€€€€€€J.€Steven€Stafford,€ChancellorÐ ö F ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<³` AßÐ ´  ÐÌNo.€W2003„01716„SC„WCM„CV€„€Mailed€May€25,€2004;€Filed€August€31,€2004Ð ­ý  ÐÔ#†¼ˆ)»XXÒÑ#ÔÔ‡XÒX»¼ˆ)ÔÌßA€V) °°` dE<€` AßÐ Ñ  Ðó óÌÌÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ#†¼ˆ)»XXÒ¦#ÔÔ€XÒX»¼ˆ)ÔThis€workersðð€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workersðð€CompensationÐ b² ÐAppeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€forÐ K› Ðhearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€TheÐ 4„ ÐChancellor€determined€that€the€employer€rebutted€the€statutory€presumption€that€the€employeeððsÐ m Ðstroke€arose€out€of€his€employment€as€a€police€officer,€òòseeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€7„51„201(a)(1)€(1998),Ð V Ðand€that€the€employee€failed€to€establish€that€the€stroke€arose€out€of€his€employment.€€AfterÐ ï? Ðreviewing€the€record€and€applicable€authority,€we€conclude€that€the€evidence€in€the€record€does€notÐ Ø( Ðpreponderate€against€the€Chancellorððs€findings.€€We€therefore€affirm€the€judgment.Ð Á ÐÌÓ-Óò òÓ  ÓTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)€(1999)€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€CourtÐ “ã ÐAffirmedó óÐ }Í ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÓ  ÓE.€Riley€Anderson,€Justiceóó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòJanice€M.€Holderóó,€J.Ð P  Ðand€òòAllen€W.€Wallace,€Sr.J.óó,€joined.Ð 9 ‰ ÐÌW.€Lewis€Jenkins,€Jr.,€and€Mark€L.€Hayes,€Dyersburg,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellant,€David€B.Ð  "[! ÐCloninger.Ð ô"D" ÐÌJohn€D.€Burleson€and€Latosha€Mason€Dexter,€Jackson,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellees,€City€ofÐ Æ$ $ ÐDyersburg,€Tennessee,€and€TML€Risk€Management€Pool.Ð ¯%ÿ % ÐÌÌÓÛ ÓÓ  Óò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óÐ j(º#( ÐÌòòóóòòò òà@@ÛÛ%ìàBackgroundó óóóÐ =*%* ÐÓ  ÓÌà  àOn€April€26,€2000,€the€employee,€David€B.€Cloninger€(ð ðCloningerðð),€age€53,€a€police€officerÐ ,`', Ðâ âfor€his€employer,€the€City€of€Dyersburg€(ð ðCityðð),€suffered€a€stroke€and€was€taken€to€MethodistÐ ù,I(-ý ÐÑP¸Ñâ âÑ  Ñâ âÑ  ÑHospital€in€Dyersburg.€€After€Cloninger€later€filed€a€claim€for€workersðð€compensation€benefits,€theÐ ° Ðfollowing€evidence€was€presented€at€trial.Ð ™é Ðâ âÌà  àCloninger€testified€that€he€began€working€as€a€police€office€for€the€City€of€Dyersburg€inÐ k» Ð1991.€€Early€in€1998,€Cloninger,€while€still€a€patrol€officer,€began€working€in€the€evidence€lockerÐ T¤ Ðand€as€the€senior€training€officer.€€In€July€of€1998,€Cloninger€was€made€the€ð ðevidence€and€propertyÐ =  Ðtechnicianðð€and€was€placed€in€charge€of€reforming€the€departmentððs€evidence€locker€so€that€it€couldÐ & v Ðearn€accreditation€from€the€Commission€on€Accreditation€for€Law€Enforcement€AgenciesÐ  _ Ð(ð ðCALEAðð).€€Ð ø H ÐÌà  àCloningerððs€duties€as€the€evidence€and€property€technician€included€maintaining€the€recordÐ Ê   Ðof€all€seized€property€and€evidence,€and€ensuring€that€all€property€and€evidence€seized€was€storedÐ ³  Ðin€compliance€with€Departmental,€State,€Federal,€and€OSHA€standards.€€He€€was€subject€to€changingÐ œì  Ðschedules€and€was€ð ðon„callðð€24€hours€per€day.€€Cloninger€stated€that€the€requirements€caused€himÐ …Õ  Ðgreatly€increased€levels€of€stress€and€required€that€he€work€significant€amounts€of€overtime€and€takeÐ n¾  Ðwork€home€with€him.Ð W§  ÐÌà  àJudy€Cloninger,€the€employeeððs€wife,€testified€that€her€husbandððs€new€position€had€taken€anÐ )y Ðemotional€and€physical€toll.׃×Ý ƒ+ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€On€April€25,€2000,€her€husband€came€home€from€work€and€stated€thatÐ b Ðhe€did€not€feel€well.€€She€noticed€that€his€speech€was€ð ðsluggishðð€and€that€he€did€not€appear€ð ðsharp.ðð€Ð ûK ÐThe€next€morning,€Cloninger€told€her€that€he€felt€fine€and€went€to€work.€€At€9:00€a.m.,€CloningerÐ ä4 Ðtelephoned€to€inform€her€that€he€was€going€to€Nashville.€€Around€noon,€Judy€Cloninger€called€herÐ Í Ðhusband,€who€answered€the€phone€and€spoke€incoherently€before€hanging€up.€€Mrs.€Cloninger€calledÐ ¶ Ðthe€police€dispatcher€and€then€called€her€husband€again.€€After€determining€that€her€husband€wasÐ Ÿï Ðstill€in€Dyersburg,€Judy€Cloninger€again€called€the€police€dispatcher,€who€called€an€ambulance.€Ð ˆØ ÐCloninger€was€then€taken€to€the€emergency€room€and€treated€for€a€stroke.€€Ð qÁ ÐÌà  àCloningerððs€direct€supervisor,€Captain€Mark€Grant,€testified€that€Cloninger€had€asked€forÐ C“ Ðadditional€help€with€his€evidence€locker€responsibilities€and€that€the€department€had€assignedÐ ,| Ðofficers€to€assist€him.€€Grant€told€Cloninger€that€he€could€work€overtime€as€needed€to€make€progressÐ e Ðtowards€CALEA€accreditation,€but€he€did€not€recall€Cloninger€reporting€significant€overtime.€Ð þN ÐCloningerððs€time€sheets,€which€were€made€an€exhibit€at€trial,€revealed€that€Cloninger€worked€a€40„Ð ç 7 Ðhour€work€week€on€average,€with€occasional€overtime€that€never€exceeded€ten€additional€hours.€€Ð Ð!   ÐÌà  àDyersburg€Police€Chief€Bobby€Williams€testified€that€he€pressured€Cloninger€to€completeÐ ¢#ò" Ðthe€CALEA€accreditation€process.€€Williams€also€stated,€however,€that€he€placed€the€same€pressureÐ ‹$Û# Ðon€anyone€whom€he€assigned€a€task.€€Chief€Williams€stated€that€if€Cloninger€failed€to€reportÐ t%Ä $ Ðovertime,€he€would€be€in€violation€of€police€department€policy.Ð ]&­!% Ðâ âÐ F'–"& Ðà  àDr.€Terri€Edwards„Lee,€a€neurologist,€testified€that€she€treated€Cloninger€at€MethodistÐ ° Ðâ âLeBonheur€Healthcare€Jackson€Hospital€from€April€26,€2000,€until€June14,€2000.€€Dr.€Edwards„LeeÐ ™é Ðstated€that€when€she€treated€Cloninger€immediately€after€the€stroke,€he€was€suffering€fromÐ ‚Ò Ðhypertension,€but€that€he€had€only€borderline€hypertension€prior€to€the€stroke.€€Dr.€Edwards„LeeÐ k» Ðbelieved€that€Cloningerððs€stroke€was€related€to€his€employment€as€a€police€officer.€€She€stated€thatÐ T¤ Ðrecent€medical€literature€supported€a€conclusion€that€law€enforcement€officers€suffer€a€higher€riskÐ =  Ðof€stroke€than€the€general€population€and€that€the€higher€risk€is€associated€with€additional€stress.€Ð & v ÐDr.€Edwards„Lee€admitted,€however,€that€she€could€not€state€with€medical€certainty€what€caused€theÐ  _ Ðstroke.€€She€also€said€there€was€no€evidence€that€an€incident€of€extraordinary€exertion€or€a€stressfulÐ ø H Ðevent€caused€Cloningerððs€stroke.Ð á 1  ÐÌà  àDr.€Hal€M.€Roseman,€a€cardiologist,€testified€that€he€was€retained€by€the€City€to€perform€anÐ ³  Ðindependent€medical€examination€(ð ðIMEðð)€on€Cloninger€and€to€prepare€a€report€of€his€conclusions.€Ð œì  ÐDr.€Roseman€stated€that€Cloninger€had€several€risk€factors€that€had€caused€the€stroke,€including€mildÐ …Õ  Ðobesity,€genetic€predisposition€for€hypertension,€alcohol€consumption,€and€tobacco€usage.€€Dr.Ð n¾  ÐRoseman€stated€that€the€primary€cause€of€Cloningerððs€stroke€was€chronic€hypertension,€which€ð ðwasÐ W§  Ðwell€established€.€.€.€before€1990.ðð€€Additionally,€he€stated€that€an€MRI€had€revealed€that€five€or€sixÐ @ Ðareas€of€Cloningerððs€brain€may€have€been€damaged€by€small€strokes€prior€to€the€massive€stroke€ofÐ )y ÐApril€26,€2000.€€Dr.€Roseman€opined€that€Cloninger€suffered€from€hypertension€for€at€least€fourteenÐ b Ðyears€prior€to€the€stroke€on€April€26,€2000,€and€that€Cloningerððs€steroid€use€had€also€enhanced€theÐ ûK Ðrisk€of€stroke.€€Dr.€Roseman€concluded€that€Clonginerððs€work„related€stress€as€a€police€officer€didÐ ä4 Ðnot€increase€the€risk€of€stroke€and€did€not€cause€or€aggravate€the€stroke.Ð Í ÐÌà  àDr.€Martin€Wagner,€a€neurologist,€testified€that€the€City€retained€him€to€perform€anÐ Ÿï Ðindependent€medical€examination€and€that€Cloninger€appeared€but€refused€to€cooperate€with€anÐ ˆØ Ðexamination.€€Cloninger€left€and€Dr.€Wagner€then€prepared€a€report€based€on€Cloningerððs€medicalÐ qÁ Ðrecords€and€medical€history.€€He€stated€that€Cloningerððs€numerous€risk€factors€for€stroke€includedÐ Zª Ðhypertension€that€had€been€untreated€for€20€years,€high€cholesterol,€mild€obesity,׃×Ý ƒ+ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€history€of€chronicÐ C“ Ðtobacco€use,€and€steroid€use.€€Dr.€Wagner€cited€blood€pressure€tests€in€Cloningerððs€medical€recordsÐ ,| Ðthat€revealed€hypertension€dating€back€to€1993€and€small€ð ðstrokelettesðð€that€appeared€on€CloningerððsÐ e ÐMRI€scan.€€Like€Dr.€Roseman,€Dr.€Wagner€stated€that€these€ð ðstrokelettesðð€may€have€taken€years€toÐ þN Ðdevelop€and€could€have€gone€unnoticed€by€Cloninger.€€Dr.€Wagner€stated€that€CloningerððsÐ ç 7 Ðemployment€as€a€police€officer€did€not€cause€or€aggravate€Cloningerððs€stroke€on€April€26,€2000.Ð Ð!   ÐÌà  àConnie€Cardwell,€a€registered€nurse,€testified€that€she€was€an€emergency€room€technicianÐ ¢#ò" Ðon€April€26,€2000,€and€that€she€attended€to€Cloninger€when€he€reached€the€hospital.€€She€stated€thatÐ ‹$Û# Ðwhile€treating€Cloninger,€she€asked€Cloninger€and€his€wife€for€medical€information€and€that€mostÐ t%Ä $ Ðof€the€responses€to€her€questions€came€from€Cloningerððs€wife.€€Cardwell€noted€on€the€patientÐ ]&­!% Ðassessment€form€that€Cloninger€suffered€from€hypertension€ð ðten€years€agoðð€and€that€he€had€beenÐ F'–"& Ðtaking€steroids€of€unknown€types€for€three€to€four€years.Ð /(#' ÐÐ )h$( Ðà  àAfter€hearing€the€evidence€and€reviewing€the€depositions,€the€Chancellor€determined€thatÐ ° Ðthe€City€had€rebutted€the€statutory€presumption€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€7„51„201(a)(1),€that€CloningerÐ ™é Ðhad€failed€to€establish€causation,€and€that€Cloninger€did€not€meet€the€statutory€requirements€of€anÐ ‚Ò Ðoccupational€disease€as€defined€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„102(12).€€The€Chancellor€specificallyÐ k» Ðfound€that€there€was€no€evidence€that€a€specific€stressful€event€precipitated€the€stroke€and€dismissedÐ T¤ Ðthe€case.€€Cloninger€appealed.€Ð =  ÐÌÓw Óò òòòÔ‡X¬ XXXÒÔStandard€of€ReviewóóÐ  _ ÐÓÓó óÌà  àÔ#†XÒX XX¬®0#ÔIn€a€workersðð€compensation€appeal,€we€review€questions€of€fact€de€novo€upon€the€record€ofÐ â 2  Ðthe€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€as€to€the€trial€courtððs€findings,Ð Ë   Ðunless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(2)€(Supp.Ð ´  Ð2003);€òòClark€v.€Nashville€Machine€Elevator€Co.óó,€129€S.W.3d€42,€46€(Tenn.€2004).€€The€trial€courtððsÐ í  Ðdeterminations€as€to€the€credibility€of€witnesses€are€accorded€great€deference.€€òòClarkóó,€129€S.W.3dÐ †Ö  Ðat€46.€€However,€where€witnesses€testify€by€deposition,€this€Panel€may€draw€its€own€conclusionsÐ o¿  Ðregarding€witness€credibility.€€òòId.óóÐ X¨  ÐÌÓ÷0Óò òòòÓ  ÓAnalysisó óóóÐ *z ÐÓb4ÓÓ  ÓÌà  àThe€employee,€David€Cloninger,€contends€that€the€Chancellor€erred€in€holding€that€his€strokeÐ ýM Ðwas€not€work„related.€€He€argues€that€the€City€failed€to€rebut€the€presumption€of€causation€applicableÐ æ6 Ðto€law€enforcement€officers€under€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€7„51„201(a)(1),€and€that€heÐ Ï Ðproduced€sufficient€evidence€to€establish€causation.€€The€City€argues€that€its€medical€proof€rebuttedÐ ¸ Ðthe€statutory€€presumption€of€causation€and€that€the€Chancellor€properly€found€that€Cloninger€failedÐ ¡ñ Ðto€establish€that€any€incident€of€extraordinary€exertion€or€any€stressful€event€caused€the€stroke.Ð ŠÚ ÐÌà  àThe€Workersðð€Compensation€Act€and€our€case€law€have€developed€the€following€generalÐ \¬ Ðprinciples€relating€to€causation.€€To€be€eligible€for€workersðð€compensation€benefits,€an€employeeÐ E• Ðmust€suffer€€an€ð ðinjury€by€accident€arising€out€of€and€in€the€course€of€employment€.€.€.€.ðð€€Tenn.€CodeÐ .~ ÐAnn.€ðð€50„6„102(12)€(Supp.€2003);€òòsee€alsoóó€òòClarkóó,€129€S.W.3d€at€46„47.€€An€injury€ð ðin€the€courseÐ g Ðofðð€employment€means€that€the€injury€took€ð ðplace€while€the€employee€was€performing€a€duty€he€orÐ  P Ðshe€was€employed€to€perform.ðð€€òòClarkóó,€129€S.W.3d€at€47.€€An€injury€ð ðarising€out€ofðð€employmentÐ é 9 Ðrefers€to€causation€and€means€that€there€was€a€causal€connection€between€the€employment€and€theÐ Ò!"  Ðresulting€injury.€€òòId.óó€€Ð »" ! ÐÌà  àA€principle€specific€to€this€case€is€that€in€Tennessee,€cardiovascular€injuries€may€beÐ $Ý# Ðcompensable€if€they€ð ðarise€out€ofðð€the€course€of€employment.€€òòId.óó€€These€injuries€include€(1)€thoseÐ v%Æ $ Ðthat€are€precipitated€by€physical€exertion€or€strain,€and€(2)€those€resulting€from€a€specific,€acute,€orÐ _&¯!% Ðsudden€mentally€stressful€event.€€òòId.óó€(citing€€òòBacon€v.€Sevier€Countyóó,€808€S.W.2d€46,€49€(Tenn.Ð H'˜"& Ð1991)€(involving€a€heart€attack));€òòsee€alsoóó€òòHouser€v.€Bi„Lo,€Inc.óó,€36€S.W.3d€68,€72€(Tenn.€2001)Ð 1(#' Ð(applying€the€above„quoted€rule€in€a€case€involving€a€stroke).€€Ð )j$( ÐÌà  àAs€the€parties€observe,€however,€there€is€a€statutory€presumption€of€causation€in€cases€whereÐ ì*<&* Ðthe€employee€is€a€law€enforcement€officer:€Ð Õ+%'+ ÐÑP¸Ñâ âÑ  Ñâ âÑ  ÑÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àthere€shall€be€.€.€.€a€presumption€that€any€impairment€of€health€of€.€..Ð ™é Ðlaw€enforcement€officers€caused€by€ò òhypertensionó ó€or€heart€diseaseÐ ‚Ò Ðresulting€in€hospitalization,€medical€treatment€or€any€disability,€shallÐ n¾ Ðbe€presumed€(unless€the€contrary€is€shown€by€competent€medicalÐ W§ Ðevidence)€to€have€occurred€or€to€be€due€to€accidental€injury€sufferedÐ @  Ðin€the€course€of€employment.Ð) y` x` x ÐÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€7„51„201(a)(1)€(1998)€(emphasis€added).€€Where€the€employer€rebuts€theÐ û K Ðstatutory€presumption€by€production€of€competent€medical€evidence,€however,€the€burden€toÐ ä 4  Ðestablish€causation€shifts€to€the€party€claiming€workersðð€compensation€benefits.€€òòFerrell€v.€CignaÐ Í   ÐProperty€&€Cas.€Ins.€Co.óó,€33€S.W.3d€731,€734€(Tenn.€2000).Ð ¶  ÐÌà  àWe€begin€by€first€determining€whether€the€Chancellor€correctly€found€that€the€City€rebuttedÐ ˆØ  Ðthe€statutory€presumption€of€causation€under€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€7„51„201(a)(1).€Ð qÁ  ÐThe€City€presented€the€expert€medical€depositions€of€Dr.€Roseman,€a€cardiologist,€and€Dr.€Wagner,Ð Zª  Ða€neurologist.€€These€doctors€stated€Cloningerððs€stroke€was€the€result€of€his€numerous€risk€factors,Ð C“ Ðsuch€as€chronic€hypertension,€genetic€predisposition,€tobacco€usage,€alcohol€consumption,€and€mildÐ ,| Ðobesity.€€Dr.€Roseman€stated€that€the€types€of€changes€in€the€brainððs€blood€vessels€that€led€to€theÐ e Ðtype€of€stroke€Cloninger€suffered€could€not€have€occurred€in€the€period€of€time€that€CloningerÐ þN Ðworked€in€the€evidence€locker.€€Moreover,€Dr.€Wagner€simply€stated€that€ð ðstress€does€not€causeÐ ç7 Ðstrokes.ðð€€Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àThe€Chancellor€specifically€found€that€the€expert€medical€testimony€of€these€two€doctorsÐ ¢ò Ðrebutted€the€presumption€of€causation.€€After€reviewing€the€testimony€and€the€evidence€in€the€record,Ð ‹Û Ðwe€conclude€that€the€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€the€Chancellorððs€finding.׃×Ý ƒ+ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€WeÐ tÄ Ðtherefore€affirm€the€Chancellorððs€finding€that€the€employer€rebutted€the€statutory€presumption€ofÐ ]­ Ðcausation€under€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€7„51„201(a)(1)€(1998).€€Ð F– ÐÌà  àWe€must€next€consider€whether€Cloninger€established€causation€by€proving€that€his€strokeÐ h Ðarose€out€of€his€employment.€€In€òòBaconóó,€the€Supreme€Court€held€that€for€a€heart€attack€caused€byÐ  Q Ðemotional€stress,€and€not€physical€exertion,€to€be€compensable€under€the€Workersðð€CompensationÐ ê : ÐAct,€the€employee€has€the€burden€of€demonstrating€that€ð ða€specific€acute€or€sudden€stressful€event,Ð Ó!#  Ðrather€than€generalized€employment€conditionsðð€precipitated€the€heart€attack.€€808€S.W.3d€at€52.€Ð ¼" ! ÐThe€Court€has€explained€that€ð ðexcessive€and€unexpected€mental€anxiety,€stress,€tension,€or€worryÐ ¥#õ" Ðattributable€to€the€employment€can€cause€injuries€sufficient€to€justify€the€award€of€benefits.ðð€€òòReeserÐ Ž$Þ# Ðv.€Yellow€Freight€Sys.,€Inc.óó€938€S.W.2d€690,€692€(Tenn.€1997).€€The€Court€has€also€emphasized,Ð w%Ç $ Ðhowever,€that€ð ðthe€ordinary€stress€of€oneððs€occupation€does€not€meet€this€standard€becauseÐ `&°!% Ððð[e]motional€stress,€to€some€degree,€accompanies€the€performance€of€any€contract€of€employment.ðððð€Ð I'™"& ÐòòHouseróó,€36€S.W.3d€€at€72€(brackets€in€original)€(quoting€òòAllied€Chem.€Corp.€v.€Wellsóó,€578€S.W.2dÐ 2(‚#' Ð369,€373€(Tenn.€1979).Ð )k$( Їà  àThese€standards€are€illustrated€in€several€cases€involving€strokes€suffered€by€employees.€€InÐ ° ÐòòReeseróó,€the€Court€held€that€an€employee€who€suffered€a€stroke€after€driving€a€truck€throughÐ ™é Ðconditions€that€were€ð ðhorrendous,ðð€ð ðterrible,ðð€and€ð ðextremely€hazardousðð€had€established€causationÐ ‚Ò Ðbecause€the€stroke€was€reasonably€attributable€to€work.€€938€S.W.3d€at€693.€€In€òòHouseróó,€however,Ð k» Ðthe€Court€held€that€the€employeeððs€stroke€did€not€arise€out€of€employment€where€the€employee€wasÐ T¤ Ða€grocery€store€manager€who€suffered€a€stroke€upon€becoming€irate€after€receiving€delivery€ofÐ =  Ðexcess€stock.€€36€S.W.3d€at€72.€€The€Court€reasoned€that€if€ð ðday„to„day€mental€tensions€to€whichÐ & v Ðworkers€.€.€.€are€occasionally€subjectðð€were€deemed€compensable€under€the€workersðð€compensationÐ  _ Ðsystem,€then€ð ðworkersðð€compensation€coverage€would€become€as€broad€as€general€health€andÐ ø H Ðaccident€insurance,€which€it€is€not.ðð€€òòId.óó€Ð á 1  ÐÌà  àIn€this€case,€the€Chancellor€òòóóspecifically€stated€that€Cloninger€failed€to€prove€the€requirementÐ ³  Ðofòòóó€ð ðspecific€acute€or€sudden€stressful€event,ðð€and€was€precluded€from€receiving€workersððÐ œì  Ðcompensation€benefits€for€his€stroke.׃×Ý ƒ+ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€The€record€demonstrates€that€Cloninger€suffered€work„relatedÐ …Õ  Ðstress€as€a€result€of€being€assigned€to€the€evidence€locker€and€being€responsible€for€achievingÐ n¾  Ðaccreditation.€€He€worked€longer€hours,€took€work€home,€and€asked€for€additional€help.€€Dr.Ð W§  ÐEdwards„Lee€testified€as€to€the€potential€for€causation€between€police€officer€job€stress€and€the€riskÐ @ Ðof€stroke;€however,€Drs.€Roseman€and€Wagner€disagreed€with€that€opinion,€as€well€as€her€opinionÐ )y Ðthat€work„related€stress€could€have€caused€Cloningerððs€stroke.€€Dr.€Edward„Lee€conceded,€and€it€isÐ b Ðundisputed€in€the€record,€that€no€ð ðspecific€acute€or€sudden€stressful€eventðð€precipitated€the€strokeÐ ûK Ðand€that€Cloninger€did€not€allege€that€he€suffered€any€stress€greater€in€the€days€before€the€stroke€thanÐ ä4 Ðany€other€time.€€In€fact,€the€trial€court€found€that€the€stroke€occurred€nearly€three€months€after€theÐ Í Ðaccreditation€of€the€evidence€locker€had€been€achieved€in€ð ðlate€January,€early€February€2000.ðð€Ð ¶ ÐAdditionally€there€is€no€other€evidence€in€the€record€that€would€satisfy€the€element€of€causation.Ð Ÿï ÐÌà  àAfter€reviewing€the€record,€we€conclude€that€the€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€theÐ qÁ ÐChancellorððs€finding€that€Cloninger€failed€to€establish€causation.Ð Zª ÐÌò òòòÓ  ÓConclusionóóó óÐ ,| ÐÓZÓÌà  àAfter€reviewing€the€record€and€applicable€authority,€we€conclude€that€the€evidence€in€theÐ ÿO Ðrecord€does€not€preponderate€against€the€Chancellorððs€decision.€€We€therefore€affirm€the€judgment.€Ð è 8 ÐCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€appellant,€David€B.€Cloninger,€and€his€surety,€for€which€executionÐ Ñ!!  Ðshall€issue€if€necessary.Ð º" ! Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à_________________________________€Ð £#ó" Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àE.€RILEY€ANDERSON,€JUSTICEÐ Œ$Ü# ÐÌÌÐ  G'—"& ÐÔ_ÔÔ‡¼ˆ)»XXÒÔà@9 9 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@((%ìàAT€JACKSONˆÐ À Ðà@] ] ìàAssigned€on€Briefs€April€6,€2004€SessionˆÐ Ð  ÐÔ#†XÒX»¼ˆ)¡]#ÔÌò òÔ‡¼ˆ)»XXÒÔÓ  ÓDAVID€B.€CLONINGER€€v.€€CITY€OF€DYERSBURG,€TENNESSEEÔ#†XÒX»¼ˆ)²^#Ô,€ET€AL.ó ó.Ð É ÐÓÑ^ÓÌà@YYìàò òChancery€Court€for€Dyer€CountyˆÐ à  Ðà@þþ%ìàNo.€00C603ˆÐ ­ ý ÐÌÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<j` A߈Ð k»  ÐÌà@Œ Œ ìàNo.€W2003„01716„SC„WCM„CV€„€Filed€August€31,€2004ˆÐ d´  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<7` AßÐ 8ˆ  Ðó óÌÔ‡¼ˆ)»XXÒÔÔ#†XÒX»¼ˆ)a#Ôà@„„(ìàò òORDERó óÔ‡¼ˆ)»XXÒÔÔ#†XÒX»¼ˆ)`a#ԈР0€  ÐÌòòóóÔ‡¼ˆ)»XXÒÔÔ#†XÒX»¼ˆ)¿a#ÔÌÔ‡¼ˆ)»XXÒÔÔ#†XÒX»¼ˆ)b#ÔÔ‡X¬ XXXÒÔà  àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€motion€for€review€filed€by€David€B.€Cloningeròòò òó óóóÐ ì< Ðpursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð50-6-225(e)(5)(B),€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€of€referralÐ Õ% Ðto€the€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panelððs€Memorandum€Opinion€settingÐ ¾ Ðforth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€Ð §÷ ÐÌà  àIt€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€for€review€is€not€well„taken€and€is€therefore€denied.€Ð yÉ ÐThe€Panelððs€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€by€reference,€areÐ b² Ðadopted€and€affirmed.€€The€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€of€the€Court.Ð K› ÐÌà  àCosts€are€assessed€to€David€B.€Cloninger,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ð m ÐÌÔ#†XÒX XX¬Db#ÔÔ‡¼ˆ)»XXÒÔÔ#†XÒX»¼ˆ)f#ÔÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àPER€CURIAMÐ “"ã" ÐÌAnderson€and€Holder,€JJÐ e$µ$ ÐNot€Participatingà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àà x àà Ð àÐ N%ž % Ðà  à