ÿWPCî ;mC½ÏÑâœ]€ˆ¥¬3^ÞÇb½ïmG{OÎy`î¶™öðVWÐN–û¼¬þ“ÑÌð£XËõ˜ïþ ¸‚d[ËQÒV¥…C e# ›&Ú@0¢·§(õÕ7a±™¼´ÁÏ»y:ÖŸë]«$A=“ÑÆâ ÃïMBØe"©÷ ¸VúÄHÚ¾x9¤œÔ{Õ Üª ÖæZÇÍÆÃÕ@YbN…tk䆙ºþÄ9UqìïÙë´–fªÁ';m àu€Ù’Æï´ \'›lç‚]g¶a T}þ¹ñ4òžj¨Ö2¢B+kj%ŠËšmaöÙ­9Ú ËÈã»vj"Ñ|Q Ç_M§ÐŽÌNƒz Ýë0ÈÀ¦°~ Ò>¼Ò8zèÌódŸX¸7Ùˆ‰Ã½},î¯ &ç;­>ùØ _eO_&À"£#…ï.ðØEÁ¢*uzìWô%¦Ê$ÏÒ"‡è°2ÑÕrè´8„*½ÂD¥j¶›š+¹h'† Vž¾D2‡Ñô–{´ùÕK¥u*nN©i,#:…»fƒ›Pc ^Ý5Ëaˆ\ uƒ¦žà·xÏÔê¿>ÌÉ]d2•rì2«)ǽ)[o›„ö»¯b %\^ b 0ˆnUNöwD4H\ zkÒå· m¹ Ð #ÁØ Æ™ Æ_ Æ% Æë 0D±NõN÷ 1uùEn 72p 0c¢UNU@SN“ z•Òbáááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá 0ëéééé B ÔÔ 0¤ñ D5• D-Ê 0K÷÷ ASBÆ• 0¤[ 0Dÿ A«C»zô(L (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular˜L-(ð[¡3|x ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ ˜HP LaserJet 4,ü,,,,,ü0Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i)(;3£$´´Ô2#ÔÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0  à(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman Regular(ÖÃ9 Z‹(Times New Roman ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt- ù-(|G2å\$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€óœ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€XùûX»»Ô d(|3y*$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€óœ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3y*$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€óœ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ö”»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼ö”»»»ÔÑ  Ñà@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@OOìàSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELˆÐ È Ðà@  %ìàAT€€JACKSONˆÐ à0 Ðà@òòìà(January€27,€2000€Session)ˆÐ øH ÐÔ‡Xç#X»¼ö”ÔÌò òÔ#†¼ö”»XXç#Ç#ÔÓ  ÓHOPE€COBB€òòóó€v.€òòóó€ADVANTAGE€MANUFACTURING€CORPORATIONÔ‡Xç#X»¼ö”Ôó óÐ  P ÐÓ ÓÌà@¿ ¿ ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Crockett€CountyˆÐ  X Ðà@Q Q ìàNo.€7268€€€€€€George€R.€Ellis,€ChancellorˆÐ ø H ÐÌÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<Ç` A߈Ð È  ÐÌà@ÚÚ ìàNo.€W1999„01147„WC„R3„CV€„€Mailed€June€8,€2000;€Filed€July€19,€2000ˆÐ Ç  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<¦` AßÐ §÷  Ðó óÌThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€AppealsÐ ¦ö ÐPanel€of€the€Supreme€Court€pursuant€to€òòTennessee€Code€Annotatedóó€ðð50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€andÐ –æ Ðreporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€The€employee,€HopeÐ †Ö ÐCobb,€insists€that€the€trial€€court€erred€in€dismissing€her€claim€at€the€conclusion€of€a€bench€trial€onÐ vÆ Ðthe€grounds€that€she€failed€to€carry€the€burden€of€proof€that€she€had€given€proper€notice€of€her€injuryÐ f¶ Ðto€her€employer,€Advantage€Manufacturing€Corporation.€€The€employer€moves€that€we€find€thisÐ V¦ Ðappeal€to€be€frivolous€and€grant€attorney€fees€and€expenses€incurred€as€a€result€of€this€appeal.€€€ForÐ F– Ðthe€reasons€stated€in€this€opinion,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.Ð 6† ÐÌò òTenn€Code€Ann.€ðð50„6„225€(e)€(1999)€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€CourtÐ f ÐAffirmedó óÐ V ÐÌòòÔ#†¼ö”»àXç#W#ÔÔ‡Xç#X.¼ö”ÔWEATHERFORD,€Sr.€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòHOLDER,€J.óó€and,€MALOANòòÐ æ6 ÐSP.€J.,€óó€joined.Ð Ö& ÐÌMichael€A.€Jaynes,€Jackson,€Tennessee€for€the€appellant,€Hope€CobbÐ ¶!  ÐÌWilliam€F.€Kendall,€III€and€B.€Duane€Willis,€Jackson,€Tennessee€for€appellee,€AdvantageÐ –#æ" ÐManufacturing€Corporation.Ð †$Ö# ÐÌà@  !ìàò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONÔ#†¼ö”»XXç#ê#Ôó óˆÐ f&¶!% ÐÌÔ‡Xç#X»¼ö”Ôà  àThe€employee,€Hope€Cobb,€was€twenty„eight€years€old€at€the€time€of€trial.€€Although€thereÐ n(¾#' Ðare€conflicts€in€Ms.€Cobb's€testimony€as€to€whether€she€completed€the€ninth€grade,€she€did€not€haveÐ ^)®$( Ðany€further€education€or€vocational€training€after€she€left€Crockett€County€High€School.€€Ms.€CobbÐ N*ž%) Ðworked€almost€exclusively€in€the€sewing€field€for€several€years.€Ð >+Ž&* Ðâ âÐ .,~'+ý Ðà  àOn€July€25,€1996,€Ms.€Cobb€began€working€for€Advantage€Manufacturing€Corporation.€€SheÐ ° Ðâ âwas€assigned€to€the€plastic€molder€machine,€a€job€which€required€her€to€"mash€this€button€that€wouldÐ  ð Ðclose€the€door€and€then€it€would€make€the€product.€€I'd€have€to€pull€it€out,€sand€it€down,€turn€it€upsideÐ à Ðdown,€clip€it,€inspect€it,€put€it€in€a€plastic€bag€and€put€it€in€a€box."€€This€job€required€repetitive€workÐ €Ð Ðwith€both€of€her€hands€and€involved€the€manufacture€of€anywhere€from€380€products€to€9,000Ð pÀ Ðproducts€per€shift.Ð ` ° ÐÌà  àAccording€to€Ms.€Cobb,€she€soon€began€experiencing€pain,€numbness€and€tingling€in€herÐ @  Ðhands,€and€when€the€problems€gradually€worsened,€she€reported€the€injury€to€her€supervisor,€RickyÐ 0 € ÐAnge.€€She€testified€that€they€had€a€discussion€about€her€hands,€at€which€time€she€told€him€she€wasÐ  p  Ðgoing€to€see€Carol€Haynes,€a€family€nurse€practitioner,€and€he€"okayed"€it.€€Ms.€Cobb€stated€that€Mr.Ð `  ÐAnge€told€her€to€file€it€with€her€TennCare€insurance.Ð P  ÐÌà  àOn€August€8,€1996,€Ms.€Cobb€saw€Carol€Haynes,€a€family€nurse€practitioner,€for€theÐ à0  Ðproblems€with€her€hands.€€Nurse€Haynes€had€been€treating€Ms.€Cobb€and€her€children€forÐ Ð  Ðapproximately€ten€years.€€According€to€Haynes,€Ms.€Cobb€specifically€described€the€repetitive€workÐ À Ðthat€she€had€been€performing€for€Advantage€in€relation€to€her€symptoms.€€Nurse€Haynes€also€notedÐ ° Ðin€her€records€that€Ms.€Cobb€indicated€that€she€had€ð ðnumbness€in€both€hands,€hurts€at€night.€€ThisÐ  ð Ðstarted€while€she€was€at€Little€King€[previous€employer].ððÐ à ÐÌà  àAfter€obtaining€a€history€and€performing€a€physical€examination,€Nurse€Haynes€suspectedÐ pÀ Ðbilateral€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€and€prescribed€medication€and€wrist€splints€for€Ms.€Cobb€to€wearÐ `° Ðat€work.€€Ms.€Cobb€returned€to€work€wearing€the€wrist€splints.Ð P  ÐÌà  àWhen€asked€whether€she€had€any€other€discussions€with€Ricky€Ange€after€she€saw€CarolÐ 0€ ÐHaynes,€Ms.€Cobb€stated,€ð ðHe€never€mentioned€it€again.€€I€told€him€that€it€just€got,€you€know,€soÐ  p Ðsevere€that€I€had€to€quit.€€I€couldnððt€hold€the€job.ððÐ ` ÐÌà  àMs.€Cobb€testified€that€she€told€Mr.€Ange,€"that€my€hands,€you€know,€were€becoming€realÐ ð@ Ðnumb€and€I€couldn't€hardly€perform€the€job€anymore,€I€know€two€or€three€times,€but€he€never€didÐ à0 Ðanything€or€offered€me€anything."Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àWhen€questioned€about€how€many€conversations€she€had€with€Mr.€Ange€regarding€her€handsÐ °"  Ðafter€she€saw€Carol€Haynes,€Ms.€Cobb€also€stated:€ð ðYes,€well€I€thought€maybe€we€had€€more€thanÐ  #ð! Ðone€occasion€because€he€works€right€there€beside€us„well,€did.€€When€he€was€my€supervisor,€heÐ $à" Ðwould€come€around€and€check€all€the€employees,€and€he€saw€me€with€them€on....€€Now,€I€might€notÐ €%Ð # Ðhave.€€I€donððt€know.€€I€canððt€recall.ððÐ p&À!$ ÐÌà  àMr.€Ange,€a€supervisor€during€Ms.€Cobbððs€employment,€later€left€the€employ€of€AdvantageÐ P( #& Ðunder€adverse€circumstances.€€However,€Mr.€Ange€testified€that€he€did€not€remember€Ms.€Cobb,€orÐ @)$' Ðwhether€he€had€ever€discussed€anything€with€her€before.€€He€stated€he€did€not€remember€herÐ 0*€%( Ðcomplaining€about€any€injury,€but€that€if€she€had€reported€an€injury€to€him€he€would€have€followedÐ  +p&) Ðprocedure€by€filling€out€an€accident€report€and€turning€it€in€to€the€office.Ð ,`'* Їà  àCynthia€Jones,€Human€Resources€Manager,€testified€that€when€she€noticed€Ms.€CobbÐ ° Ðwearing€the€wrist€braces,€she€briefly€questioned€her€and€that€Ms.€Cobb€told€her,€"It's€nothing.€€It'sÐ  ð Ðwhere€I€hurt€them€[her€hands]€at€my€previous€job."€€According€to€Ms.€Jones,€Ms.€Cobb€did€not€stateÐ à Ðthat€the€work€at€Advantage€was€aggravating€her€previous€condition.€€Ms.€Jones€stated€that€she€didÐ €Ð Ðnot€ask€any€further€questions€because€Ms.€Cobb's€supervisor€had€not€reported€any€problems€with€herÐ pÀ Ðability€to€work.€€Ms.€Jones€indicated€that€one€of€her€responsibilities€as€Human€Resources€ManagerÐ ` ° Ðwas€Workersðð€Compensation€and€that€she€had€heard€of€the€condition€of€carpal€tunnel€syndrome.Ð P   ÐÌà  àAfter€reviewing€Ms.€Cobb's€attendance€records,€Ms.€Jones€stated€that€her€last€day€of€workÐ 0 € Ðwas€August€19,€1996,€and€the€reason€given€for€leaving€was€"went€home€sick".€€She€started€workingÐ  p  Ðfor€Advantage€on€July€25,€1996,€less€than€a€month€before€she€left,€and€missed€work€on€August€1,€16Ð `  Ðand€17,€either€going€home€or€calling€in€sick€each€time.Ð P  ÐÌà  àMs.€Jones€also€produced€documentation€from€Carol€Haynes,€FNP,€which€stated€that€Ms€.Ð à0  ÐCobb€had€been€under€her€care€on€August€1,€2,€and€20,€1996,€but€nothing€was€marked€as€far€as€workÐ Ð  Ðrestrictions.€€Ms.€Jones€further€testified€that€anytime€she€spoke€with€Ms.€Cobb€about€her€absencesÐ À Ðfrom€work,€Ms.€Cobb€told€her€it€was€due€to€"female€problems".€Ms€Jones€testified€that€AdvantageÐ ° Ðdid€not€have€any€documentation€that€Ms.€Cobb€had€reported€to€her€supervisor€that€she€had€beenÐ  ð Ðinjured€while€working€at€Advantage.Ð à ÐÌà  àAccording€to€Ms.€Cobb,€she€never€had€a€conversation€with€Ms.€Jones€where€she€"told€[Ms.Ð pÀ ÐJones]€that€the€problems€[she€was]€having€with€[her]€wrists€for€which€[she€was]€wearing€the€wristÐ `° Ðbraces€was€related€to€anything€other€than€[her]€employment€at€Advantage€Manufacturing."€Ð P  ÐAccording€to€Ms.€Jones€the€first€time€she€knew€that€Ms.€Cobb€was€claiming€a€work„related€injuryÐ @ Ðat€Advantage€was€when€Advantage€was€ð ðserved€the€papersðð.Ð 0€ ÐÌà  àMr.€Robert€Fine,€President€of€Advantage,€also€testified€that€he€first€learned€that€Ms.€CobbÐ ` Ðwas€claiming€a€work„related€injury€when€he€learned€she€had€filed€suit€against€the€company.Ð P ÐÌà  àMs.€Judy€Ange,€ex„wife€of€Ricky€Ange,€testified€she€had€worked€€for€Advantage€for€fiveÐ à0 Ðyears€and€part€of€her€job€as€training€instructor€€involved€showing€new€hires€how€to€operate€theÐ Ð  Ðmachines€and€going€over€safety€rules.€€Ms.€Ange€also€produced€forms€that€Ms.€Cobb€had€signedÐ À! Ðconcerning€safety€rules€which€required€an€employee€to€report€injuries€to€the€employer.€€SheÐ °"  Ðremembered€Hope€Cobb€because€there€was€a€height€issue€when€she€started€to€work€for€the€plant.€Ð  #ð! ÐShe€worked€with€Ms.€Cobb€for€two€weeks€and€they€never€had€any€discussion€about€Ms.€Cobb€beingÐ $à" Ðinjured€at€Advantage.€Ð €%Ð # ÐÌà  àMs.€Cobb€quit€working€for€Advantage€on€August€19,€1996.à È àMs.€Cobb€testified€at€trial€thatÐ `'°"% Ðshe€quit€due€to€€pain.€€She€described€her€injury€as€"numbness€and€tingling€„€in€both€[her]€hands€thatÐ P( #& Ð[she]€never€had€before."€€She€then€stated€that€she€had€tingling€while€working€at€a€previous€employer,Ð @)$' Ðbut€had€not€had€any€numbness€before€working€for€Advantage.€Ð 0*€%( Ðâ âÐ  +p&) Ðà  àAfter€conservative€measures€failed€to€improve€her€symptoms,€Carol€Haynes€referred€Ms.Ð ° Ðâ âCobb€to€Dr.€Hugh€Glenn€Barnett.€€Dr.€Barnett€testified€that€she€had€been€sent€to€see€him€in€AugustÐ  ð Ðof€1996,€but€she€had€backed€out€because€of€fear.€€€On€March€5,€1997,€Dr.€Barnett€examined€Ms.Ð à ÐCobb€and€recommended€surgery€for€bilateral€carpal€tunnel€syndrome.€€Dr.€Barnett€testified€in€hisÐ €Ð Ðdeposition€that€Ms.€Cobb,€ð ðmade€no€specific€mention€at€that€point€about€this€[her€symptoms]€being,Ð pÀ Ðin€her€mind,€caused€by€workðð.€€Ð ` ° ÐÌà  àOn€or€about€March€11,€1997,€Ms.€Cobb€filed€a€workers'€compensation€complaint€in€theÐ @  ÐCrockett€County€Chancery€Court.Ð 0 € ÐÌà  àShe€underwent€a€carpal€tunnel€release€on€the€left€extremity€on€March€11,€1997,€and€a€releaseÐ `  Ðon€the€right€on€June€23,€1997.€€Dr.€Barnett€released€Ms.€Cobb€from€his€care€on€September€12,€1997,Ð P  Ðand€opined€that€she€retained€a€five€(5%)€percent€permanent€partial€impairment€to€each€upperÐ ð@  Ðextremity.Ð à0  ÐÌà  àDr.€Joseph€Boals€examined€Ms.€Cobb€on€April€27,€1998,€and€opined€that€based€upon€theÐ À Ðhistory€he€was€given€that€he€felt€this€was€a€work€related€injury€and€that€she€retained€a€ten€(10%)Ð ° Ðpercent€permanent€partial€impairment€to€each€upper€extremity.Ð  ð ÐÌà  àImmediately€following€the€trial€on€April€12,€1999,€the€trial€court€held€that,€ð ðthe€plaintiff€hasÐ €Ð Ðfailed€to€carry€the€burden€of€proof€as€to€notice,€so€the€matter€will€be€dismissed.ððÐ pÀ ÐÌÔ  Ôà@þþ&ìàANALYSISˆÐ P  ÐÌà  àThe€scope€of€review€of€issues€of€fact€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,Ð 0€ Ðaccompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctness€of€the€findings,€unless€the€preponderance€of€theÐ  p Ðevidence€is€otherwise.€€òòTennessee€Code€Annotated€ððóó50„6„225€(e)(2);€òòòòLollar€v.€Wal„Mart€Stores,Ð ` ÐInc.,óóóó767€S.W.2d€143€(Tenn.€1989).€€When€a€trial€court€has€seen€and€heard€witnesses,€especiallyÐ P Ðwhere€issues€of€credibility€and€weight€of€oral€testimony€are€involved,€considerable€deference€mustÐ ð@ Ðbe€accorded€the€trial€courtððs€actual€findings,€òòòòHumphrey€v.€David€Witherspoon,€Inc.óóóó,€734€S.W.2d€315Ð à0 Ð(Tenn.€1987).Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àMs.€Cobb€has€presented€one€issue€in€this€appeal:Ð °"  ÐÌà  à(I)à0 ` àWhether€the€trial€court€erred€in€holding€that€Ms.€Cobb€failed€to€give€proper€notice€toÐ $à" Ðher€employer€of€her€work€related€injury.Ѐ%Ð #` (#` (# ÐÌà  àAdvantage€has€presented€an€additional€issue:Ð `'°"% ÐÌà  à(II)à0 ` àWas€Ms.€Cobbððs€appeal€frivolous.Ð@)$'` (#` (# Ðâ âÐ 0*€%( ÐÔ  Ôâ âò òI.€€Did€Ms.€Cobb€fail€to€give€proper€notice€of€her€work€related€€injury?ó óÐ ° ÐÌà  àTennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð50„6„201€provides:Ð à ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àð ðò òNotice€of€Injury.ð!ðó óEvery€injured€employee€or€such€injuredÐ pÀ Ðemployeeððs€representative€shall,€immediately€upon€the€occurrence€ofÐ ` ° Ðan€injury,€or€as€soon€thereafter€as€is€reasonable€and€practicable,€giveÐ P   Ðor€cause€to€be€given€to€the€employer€who€has€no€actual€notice,€writtenÐ @  Ðnotice€of€the€injury,€and€the€employee€shall€not€be€entitled€toÐ 0 € Ðphysicianððs€fees€or€to€any€compensation€which€may€have€accruedÐ  p  Ðunder€the€provisions€of€the€Workersðð€Compensation€Law€from€theÐ `  Ðdate€of€the€accident€to€the€giving€of€such€notice,€unless€it€can€beÐ P  Ðshown€that€the€employer€had€actual€knowledge€of€the€accident;€andÐ ð@  Ðno€compensation€shall€be€payable€under€the€provisions€of€this€chapterÐ à0  Ðunless€such€written€notice€is€given€the€employer€within€thirty€(30)Ð Ð  Ðdays€after€the€occurrence€of€the€accident,€unless€reasonable€excuse€forÐ À Ðfailure€to€give€such€notice€is€made€to€the€satisfaction€of€the€tribunalÐ ° Ðto€which€the€claim€for€compensation€may€be€presented.ððРð` x` x ÐÌà  àWhere€the€employer€denies€that€a€claimant€has€given€the€required€written€notice,€the€claimantÐ €Ð Ðhas€the€burden€of€showing€that€the€employer€had€actual€notice,€that€the€employer€has€waived€writtenÐ pÀ Ðnotice,€or€that€the€claimant€has€either€complied€with€the€requirement€or€has€a€reasonable€excuse€forÐ `° Ðher€failure€to€do€so,€for€notice€is€an€essential€element€of€the€claim.€€òòòòMasters€v.€Industrial€GarmentsÐ P  ÐMfg.€Co.óóóó,€595€S.W.2d€811€(Tenn.€1980);€See€òòòòAetna€Casualty€and€Surety€Co.€v.€Longóóóó,€569€S.W.2dÐ @ Ð444€(Tenn.€1978).Ð 0€ ÐÌà  àIn€this€case,€Ms.€Cobb€testified€that€she€told€her€supervisor,€Ricky€Ange,€that€she€was€havingÐ ` Ðproblems€with€her€hands€that€were€related€to€her€work.€€However,€Mr.€Ange€testified€that€he€did€notÐ P Ðrecall€Ms.€Cobb,€or€recall€discussing€anything€with€her€before.€€He€stated€that€if€Ms.€Cobb€hadÐ ð@ Ðreported€an€injury€to€him,€he€would€have€followed€procedure€by€filling€out€an€accident€report€andÐ à0 Ðturning€it€into€the€office.Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àCynthia€Jones€testified€that€Advantage€did€not€have€any€documentation€that€Ms.€Cobb€hadÐ °"  Ðreported€to€her€supervisor€that€she€had€been€injured€while€working€at€Advantage.€€Ms.€Jones€alsoÐ  #ð! Ðtestified€that€when€she€saw€Ms.€Cobb€with€wrist€braces,€she€questioned€her€and€was€told€by€Ms.Ð $à" ÐCobb,€ð ð[I]tððs€nothing,€itððs€where€I€hurt€them€[her€hands]€at€my€previous€job.ðð€€According€to€Ms.Ð €%Ð # ÐJones,€Ms.€Cobb€did€not€state€that€the€work€at€Advantage€was€aggravating€her€condition.Ð p&À!$ ÐÌà  àMs.€Jones€produced€documentation€from€Carol€Haynes,€FNP,€which€stated€that€Ms.€CobbÐ P( #& Ðhad€been€under€her€care€but€nothing€was€marked€as€far€as€work€restrictions.€€Ms.€Cobb€startedÐ @)$' Ðworking€for€Advantage€on€July€25,€1996,€and€quit€less€than€a€month€later€on€August€19,€1996,€givingÐ 0*€%( Ðher€reason€for€leaving€as€ð ðwent€home€sick.ðð€€She€missed€work€on€August€1,€16,€and€17,€either€goingÐ  +p&) Ðhome€or€calling€in€sick€each€time.Ð ,`'* Їà  àThe€record€also€contains€inconsistent€testimony€regarding€(1)€how€many€discussions€Ms.Ð ° ÐCobb€had€with€Ricky€Ange€regarding€her€hands€and€(2)€whether€the€ð ðnumbnessðð€in€her€hands€beganÐ  ð Ðat€her€previous€employment€or€at€Advantage.Ð à ÐÌà  àIt€is€clear€that€the€trial€judge€saw,€heard€and€ultimately€rejected€the€testimony€of€Ms.€CobbÐ pÀ Ðand€accepted€the€testimony€of€the€other€witnesses.Ð ` ° ÐÌà  àAccordingly,€the€trial€judge€after€weighing€all€of€the€facts€and€delineating€those€same€factsÐ @  Ðin€a€six€page€ruling€of€the€court,€found€that€Ms.€Cobb€had€not€met€the€burden€of€proof€as€to€noticeÐ 0 € Ðpursuant€to€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð50-6-201.Ð  p  ÐÌà  àWe€find€that€the€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€the€findings€of€the€trial€court.Ð P  ÐÌÔ  Ôò òII.€€Was€Ms.€Cobbððs€appeal€frivolous?ó óÐ à0  ÐÌà  àAfter€considering€all€the€facts€of€this€case,€this€panel€cannot€say€the€appeal€was€without€anyÐ À Ðmerit€and€frivolous.€€Advantageððs€motion€for€this€panel€to€find€this€appeal€frivolous€is€denied.Ð ° ÐÌÔ  Ôà@hh%ìàCONCLUSIONˆÐ à ÐÌà  àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€that€the€plaintiff,€Ms.€Cobb,€failed€to€carry€the€burden€of€proofÐ pÀ Ðthat€she€had€given€proper€notice€of€her€injury€to€her€employer€is€affirmed.€€Ms.€Cobb€is€taxed€withÐ `° Ðthe€costs€of€this€appeal.Ô#†¼ö”»XXç# #ÔÐ P  ÐÐ  @ ÐÑ8€ç#XXdð»»d8Ñà@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@==ìàSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELˆÐ È Ðà@''%ìàAT€JACKSONˆÐ à0 ÐÌò òÓ  ÓHOPE€COBB€v.€ADVANTAGE€MANUFACTURING€CORPORATIONÔ‡Xç#X»¼ö”Ôó óÐ  ` ÐÓNÓÌà@µ µ ìàò òChancery€Court€for€Ô_ÔCrockettÔ_Ô€CountyˆÐ  h Ðà@__&ìàNo.€€7268ˆÐ  X ÐÌÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<×` A߈Ð Ø(  ÐÌà@l l ìàNo.€W1999„01147„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€July€19,€2000ˆÐ ×'  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<¶` AßÐ ·  Ðó óÌà@°°&ìàò òJUDGMENTó óˆÐ ¶ ÐÌòòóóÌÔ‡Xî>XXXç#Ôà  àà ` àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€of€referralÐ †Ö Ðto€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel's€Memorandum€Opinion€settingÐ r Ðforth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ð ^® ÐÌà  àà ` àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€Opinion€of€the€PanelÐ 6† Ðshould€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÐ "r ÐÌà  àà ` àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€areÐ úJ Ðadopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€of€the€Court.Ð æ6 Ѐ€ò òÐ Ò" Ðó óà  àà ` àCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€Appellant,€Hope€Cobb,€for€which€execution€mayÐ ¾ Ðissue€if€necessary.Ð ªú ÐÌà  àà ` àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED.Ð ‚!Ò  ÐÌÌÌÔ#†Xç#XXXî>³P#ÔÔ‡Xç#XXXç#ÔÔ#†Xç#XXXç#U#ÔÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àPER€Ô_ÔCURIAMÔ_ÔÐ "&r!% Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àÔ#†¼ö”»XXç#RN#Ô