WPC kqjP!avϰɬ~rLMЦss>2(Z!+D<&b>Py.g^nKU':6% :T|M˚xKbK~q)1=SS6aaP!VY~s nX^ f/\ 02, U,^ 0l 0< 02 0      D+ A @ o  3@ =oG (       V t B- B 0#UNA %M(N^ w4 m 0 0DNJ 1uL 72 0cVNn zpUNUN EXU@ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ 0 D3PP 0K AS! 0 0D A\  `&Times New Roman' IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE ib0110s20ib0110s2 .   6u z4Heading 1XXXA\  `TmsRmnA      XXXS\  `&Times New RomanS\  `TmsRmn6 4Heading 2       <:Default Para.// ,Title        XXX6L^ 4Body TextA\  `TmsRmnA    S\  `&Times New RomanSa1a3a4a5a6'dxd&Draw Object <<=8C HKKKK WPC i K513%)+-51d~ -a8 WPC i K513%)+-51d~ -a_Opinion_Summarya9a10a12a_Appellant_s_Attorney_Name___Appellant_QuickMark)Hairline d  d#|x(r$..       XXX XXXX XHP LaserJet 4 Plus,,,,,,0(9 Z6Times New Roman Regular XrR-s ],<U((2$ !..       X;XX XX;XX X;  X   `   0  (#$  0  3#37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)-i)(;3$2#  0  .3  0  Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 56C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt("  Z6Times New Roman Regular(hH  Z 6Times New Roman Regular(9 Z(Times New Roman (3$ !..       X;XX XX;XX X;  'dxd( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ !..       X;XX XX;XX X;  ($$   1  0X[&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !..       X;XX XX;XX X;  _         MXX;      MINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE݌  Ќ    X;X    XX;SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANELM  MATJACKSON > MAugust16,2002Session  ] X;XMMXX; %  % :OLIVIACONNORv.CHESTERCOUNTYSPORTSWEARCOX;XM .  O  %  % DirectAppealfromthe%  ChanceryCourt% for%  % 'ChesterCounty  A No.9175JoeC.Morris,Chancellor%  %   ' -  k[W$~ Kp@0 dd`  KE K K2 -       &    No.%  % W200102114_WC_ԄR3CVMailedSeptember12,2002;FiledOctober18,2002  Ԍ ~  Ќ   '~-  k[W$~ Kp@0 dd`  KE0 K K02 -   XXXX;      X;XXX%  Thisworkers'compensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers'Compensation %u AppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTennesseeCodeAnnotated  [ 50-6-225(e)(3)forhearingandreportingoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.The A employerappealstheawardofdisabilitybenefitstoanemployeewhofeltherkneepopwhen ' shestoodandtwistedtoflushthecommodewhileusingtherestroomatwork.Wereverse.(݌   Ќ  X;XXX;    %f  %  Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(1999)AppealasofRight% ;  Judgmentofthe%  % ԀTrialCourtReversed. o     JoeH.WalkerIII,_Sp.J._,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichJaniceM.Holder,J.,and ; %  % JoeC.Loser,_Sp.J._,joined. !q XXXX;       X;XXX%  % WilliamF.KendallIII,Jackson,TN,fortheAppellant,ChesterCountySportswear. U ݌ = Ќ  X;XXX;      MichaelA._Jaynes_,Jackson,TN,fortheAppellee,OliviaConnor.          &    MEMORANDUMOPINION9  Ԍ "" Ќ     '"-    Thereviewofthefindingsofthetrialcourtisdenovowithapresumptionofthe Q$$ correctnessofthedecisionunlessapreponderanceoftheevidenceiscontrarytothosefindings. 7% % Spencerv.TowsonMoving&Storage,Inc.,922S.W.2d508(Tenn.1996). &m!&   Therelevantfactsarenotindispute.Claimantwasfortytwoyearsoldandemployed '9#( withDefendantasaseamstress.Sheisaboutfivefeetfiveinchestallandweighed ($) approximately260pounds.Claimantawokeonthemorningoftheaccident,gotoutofbed,and )%* feltalittlecatchinherleftknee.Shewenttoworkandafteraboutanhourtookarestroom *%+ break.Therestroomhadstallsthataredescribedasbasicstalls,nodifferentfromotherstalls. +&, Thecommodewasastandardcommodewithahandleontheside,describedasnodifferentfrom g,'- acommodeathomeoranywhereelse.Claimantdescribedwhathappenedafterusingthe M-(. commode: AsIstartedtogetup,Ihadtoturntopullmypantsup,andwhenIdid,myknee  twisted8.Whenasked, Butwhereyouweretwistingwastoflushthecommode.Correct?,  sheanswered Yes,sir. |   Claimanttestifiedthatthetwistinginjurycausedhertofeelasifeverythingwastornin H herleftknee.Dr.Norddeterminedshesufferedatornmedialmeniscusinherleftknee.He . ~ describedherinjuryascausedbystandingupandtwistingatthesametime.Hetried  d conservativetreatment,whichdidnothelp.An_arthroscopy_Ԁwasperformedtotrytotakecareof  J thetorncartilage.Shehadanexcessiveamountof_chondromalacia_Ԁandarthritis,andthe  0 treatmentwasnotsuccessful.Sheultimatelyrequiredtotalleftkneereplacement.Herright    kneebegantohavepainasaresultofmorepressureputonthatknee.Followingleftknee    surgery,Claimantsrightkneecontinuedtodeteriorateandultimatelyrequiredtotalrightknee   replacement. x    TheemployertreatedtheinjuryasnoncompensableundertheWorkersCompensation D  statute.Thetrialcourtawardedbenefits. *z    Aspertinenttotheissueonappeal,thetrialcourtfound: Personalcomfortactivities, F suchasseekingtoiletfacilities,aregenerallyregardedascompensable.Eventhoughthe , Plaintiffsuseofthebathroomwasnotnecessarilybeneficialtotheemployer,itwasapartof  heremploymentbecauseofitsbeingnecessaryforhealthyjobperformance.Theuseofthe  bathroomwassanctionedbyandprovidedforthebenefitoftheemployees,andtherefore,the  causeiscompensableasarisingoutofthecourseandscopeofheremployment. t   &  I.  @   '@  _T.C.A._Ԁ50-6-102(a)(5)statestheinjury,inordertobecompensable,mustbeone  \ "arisingoutof"and"inthecourseof"employment.Itdoesnotstatetheemployeemustbe B doingsomethingbeneficialforhisorheremployer.Thus,thequestionfocusesonwhetherthe ( activitybearsareasonablerelationshiptotheemployment.    Thephrases"arisingoutof"and"inthecourseofemployment"arenotsynonymous.   Woodsv.HarryB.WoodsPlumbingCo.,967S.W.2d768,771(Tenn.1998).Bothelements p!  mustbesatisfiedtoimposeliabilityontheemployer.Thorntonv.RCAServ.Co.,188Tenn. V"! 644,221S.W.2d954,955(1949). <#" X;XXX;XXXX;     & J    X;XXX IntheCourseofEmployment !  Ԍ %X $ Ќ  X;XXX;X;XXX;    "Inthecourseof"referstothetime,placeandcircumstancesoftheinjurybyaccident. &$"& _Loy_Ԁv.NorthBros.Co.,787S.W.2d916(Tenn.1990).Activitiestermedas"personalcomfort ' #' activities"aregenerallyregardedasnecessitiesintheworkplace.Theseincludesuchincidental (#( actsasseekingtoiletfacilities.Thisactivityisgenerallyfoundtobesufficientlyrelatedto )$) employmenttobeinthecourseofemployment.'J%! l*%*   InCarterv.VolunteerApparel,Inc.(holdinganemployeehadacompensableclaim 8,', wheninjuredinabreakareapriortothecommencementofnormalworkinghours),theCourt, -n(- citing1ALarson,Workmen'sCompensationLawsection21(1990),observesthat employees  who,withinthetimeandspacelimitsoftheiremployment,engageinactswhichministerto  personalcomfortdonottherebyleavethecourseofemploymentunlesstheextentofthe | departureissogreatthatanintenttoabandonthejobtemporarilymaybeinferredorunlessthe b methodchosenissounusualandunreasonablethattheconductcannotbeconsideredanincident H oftheemployment.833S.W.2d492,495(Tenn.1992).Furthermore,accordingtoProfessor . ~ Larson,activitiestermedas"personalcomfortactivities"aregenerallyregardedasnecessitiesin  d theworkplaceandincludeeating,drinking,smoking,seekingtoiletfacilities,andseekingfresh  J air,coolnessorwarmth.Id.Therefore,Claimantwas inthecourseofheremploymentwhile  0 shewasusingtherestroom.    X;XXX;XXXX;     & d )  X;XXX ArisingOutof)*  )Ԍ   Ќ  X;XXX;X;XXX;    The"arisingoutof"requirementreferstotheoriginorcauseoftheinjury.Woodsv. ^  HarryB.WoodsPlumbingCo.,967S.W.2d768,771(Tenn.1998).The"arisingoutof" D  requirementissatisfiedwhentheemployee'sinjuryhasarationalconnectiontohisorherwork *z  duties.Bradenv.Sears,833S.W.2d496,498(Tenn.1992).'d* `   Asstatedin_Houser_Ԁv.BILO,Inc.,36S.W.3d68(Tenn.2001),aninjuryarisesoutof , employment whenthereisapparenttotherationalmind,uponaconsiderationofallthe  circumstances,acausalconnectionbetweentheconditionsunderwhichtheworkisrequiredto  beperformedandtheresultinginjury.Themerepresenceoftheemployeeattheplaceofinjury  becauseoftheemploymentisnotsufficient,astheinjurymustresultfromadangerorhazard t peculiartotheworkorbecausedbyariskinherentinthenatureofthework.Asonecourthas Z putit,thedangermustbepeculiartothework...Aninjurypurelycoincidental,or @ contemporaneous,orcollateral,withtheemployment...willnotcausetheinjury...tobe &v consideredasarisingoutoftheemployment.(citationsomitted).  \   Thiscaseisanalogoustoacasewhereanemployeediedbyasphyxiationduetoapiece ( ofchewinggumlodgedinhisthroat.TheTennesseeSupremeCourtfoundthatnorelationship  existedbetweenthedutiesrequiredbyMr.Jones'employmentandhisswallowingofthegum,  whichresultedinhissubsequentaccidentaldeath.Inotherwords,thechewingofgumwasnota   riskincidenttoMr.Jonesemployment.TheCourtfoundthattoholdotherwisewouldexpose p!  theemployertorisksnotintendedbythebroadscopeoftheWorkers'CompensationAct.Jones V"! v._Sonoco_ԀProducts,Inc.,1992Tenn.LEXIS144(Tenn.1992). <#"   Consideringtheabove,wefindthatClaimantsinjurydidnot ariseoutofher %X $ employment.Uponaconsiderationofallthecircumstances,therewasnotacausalconnection %>!% betweentheconditionsunderwhichtheworkisrequiredtobeperformedbyMs.Connorandthe &$"& resultinginjury.Themerepresenceoftheemployeeattheplaceofinjurybecauseofthe ' #' employmentisnotsufficient.Claimantcouldhavetwistedtopullupherpantsandflushthe (#( commodeatanyrestroomlocation.Theinjuryhasnorationalconnectiontoherworkduties. )$) Theinjurydidnotresultfromadangerorhazardpeculiartotheworkorbecausedbyarisk l*%* inherentinthenatureofthework. R+&+   8,',   Thisrulingisconsistentwithdecisionsfromotherjurisdictions.AccordingtoLarsons   WorkmensCompensationLaw(2002), severalcaseshaveheldthatprecipitationofback  injuriesbymotionsconnectedwiththeuseofthetoilet,whiletheymightbeinthecourseof | employment,didnotariseoutofemployment.Seesection21.05 NecessaryRelieffrom b Discomfort"SeekingToiletFacilities. H   In_Miedema_Ԁv.DialCorp.,551N.W.2d309(Iowa1996),anemployeesufferedaback  d injuryasheturnedtoflushatoiletlocatedontheemployerspremises.Concedingthatunder  J thepersonalcomfortdoctrinetheinjuryoccurredinthecourseofclaimantsemployment,the  0 IowaSupremeCourtconcludedthattheinjurydidnotarisefromtheemployment.Itisnot    enoughthattheinjurycoincidentallyoccurredatwork;rather,itmustinsomewaybecausedby    orrelatedtotheworkingenvironmentorconditionsoftheemployment.     InOttov._Moak_ԀChevrolet,Inc.,36_Or.App_.149,583P.2d594(1978),anemployee ^  injuredherbackwhilereadjustingherclothingafterusingtheemployersrestroom.Indenying D  benefitstheCourtheldthattheremustbesomeconnectionbetweentheinjuryandthe *z  employmentotherthanthemerefactthattheemploymentbroughttheinjuredpartytotheplace ` ofinjury.Theremustbesomecausalconnectionbetweentheemploymentandtheinjury. F   &  II.        Employeralsomaintainsthatitdidnotreceivepropernoticeoftheaccident.However,  inviewofourrulingabove,wefinditunnecessarytoaddressthisissue.'> t   Thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisreversed,andthecaseisdismissed. @   Costsofappealaretaxedtotheplaintiffappellees.  \   6"h hhp x (#X6     p      x  _______________________________     9 p x (#hhhX(#9%  %BJOEH.WALKERIII,SPECIALJUDGE p!     H.` hp x (#X(#H  "$r# 87+/7X Xdd8@9 9 MXX;INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @@@SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL   @((%ATJACKSON  @FFAugust16,2002Session $    OLIVIACONNORv.CHESTERCOUNTYSPORTSWEARCO.   <  > No.W200102114_WC_ԄR3CVFiledOctober18,2002 ?  A9) ` dE<V ` A W   @# JUDGMENTORDER  n :MM   ` 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    ` CostsonappealaretaxedtotheAppellee,OliviaConnor,forwhich "#r executionmayissueifnecessary. .$~     ` ITISSOORDERED. F&!" #M:MF#8 M   `     h     PER_CURIAM_ v)$% #M 8K##X;XMC#