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XXX XXXX X  _         8  Xdd8OYрΈXXINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL  ATNASHVILLE > #XXΈJ#]5XXJuly2001Session#XX]5&#   ]       ]5XXDIANECRAWFORDv._CROTTY_ԄTENN,INC#XX]5#.݌  O Ќ   DirectAppealfromtheChanceryCourtforJacksonCounty  A No.9736,Hon.C.K.Smith,Judge  ' ________________   No.M200100715_WC_ԄR3CVMailedOctober15,2001   FiledNovember19,2001 o  ________________ U     ThisworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkersCompensation !q AppealsPanelinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3)forhearingand W reportingoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Theemployerinthiscasehadtwo = insurancecarriers.Theemployerhadoneinsureratthetimetheemployeefirstreportedher # gradualinjuryandtemporarilyleftworkduetohercarpaltunnelsyndrome.Theemployer   thenchangedinsurancecarriersandthesecondinsurerscoverageextendedthroughthetime  theemployeecontinuedtoworkandpermanentlyendedheremployment.Thetrialcourt  heldthefirstinsurerliableforpermanentpartialdisabilitybenefitsduetothefactthatthe k employeesfirstreportofworkinjuryconstitutedadefinitedateatwhichtheemployeeknew Q thenatureandthecauseofherinjury.Thefirstinsurerappealsandarguesthatthesecond 7 insurershouldbeliablebecausetheemployeecontinuedtoworkduringthesecondinsurers m coverage.Asdiscussedbelow,thePanelaffirmstheresultofthetrialcourt,butondifferent S grounds. 9 ]5XX"X]5     XS)X"XXXXXS) ݌̌XXXXXXXX  ]5XX"X]5     XS)X"XXXXXS) Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3)AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheChanceryCourt  Affirmed. ݌   ЌXXXXXXXX  ]5XX"X]5  L   XS)X"XXXXXS)L ݌̌XXXXXXXX  ]5XX"X]5  e  XS)X"XXXXXS)_GAYDEN_,Sp.J.deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhich_Drowota_,J.,andLoser,Sp.J., g"  joined.e݌ M#! ЌXXXXXXXX  !!H!HalW.Wilkins,_Leitner_,Williams,Dooley&_Napolitan_,Nashville,TNforthedefendant %i # appellant_Crotty_ԄTenn,Inc.(_AIG_). %O!$ RobertR.Davies,Davies,_Humphreys_Ԁ&Evans,Nashville,TNforthedefendantappellee &5"% _Crotty_ԄTenn,Inc.(_EBI_). '#& WilliamE._Halfacre_,III,_Madewell_,_Jared_,_Halfacre_Ԁ&Williams,_Cookeville_,TNforthe ($' plaintiffappelleeDianeCrawford. )$(   }*%) OY    _]5XX"X]5      &   -  XS)X"XXXXXS)-  Ԍ̌  XXXXXXXX     @ 0 @` 0@ ` !` !MEMORANDUMOPINION  |  >E14 <DL!XE' b  >>]5XX"X]5Q14 <DL!4X!Q    XS)X"XXXXXS)   r OnJanuary2,1995,theemployee/appelleeDianeCrawfordbegantoworkasariveterfor H CrottyTenn,Inc..Asariveter,Ms.Crawfordheldboardstogetherwhileforcingmetalclips . ~ throughthemtomakeautomotivesunvisors.Herjobinvolvedcontinuousgrippingand  d squeezingwithherhands.Q݌  J Ќ64X!4X!6XXXXXXXX >>   >>]5XX"X]5Q14 <DL!4X!Q    XS)X"XXXXXS)݌  0 Ќ64X!4X!6XXXXXXXX >>   >>]5XX"X]5Q14 <DL!4X!Q    XS)X"XXXXXS)   r Inthesummerof1996,Ms.Crawfordbegantofeelpainandnumbnessinherwristsand    handsradiatingupherarmsandintohershouldersandneck.OnAugust7,1996,Ms.    Crawfordssymptomsworsenedtothepointatwhichshewasforcedtoseekmedicaltreatment.   Ms.CrawfordfiledafirstreportofworkinjurywithCrottyTennandsawDr.NancyBlevins, x  whoprescribedmedicationforMs.Crawfordandsuspendedherfromworkforsixweeks.AIG, ^  thedefendantappellantinthisactionandCrottyTennsworkerscompensationcarrieratthe D  time,paidforMs.Crawfordstemporarytotaldisabilitybenefits.l݌ *z  Ќ64X!4X!6XXXXXXXX >>   `  >>]5XX"X]5Q14 <DL!4X!Q     XS)X"XXXXXS)   r Afterhersixweeksofleave,Ms.Crawfordreturnedtowork.Ms.Crawfordsubsequently F sawDr.AnthonyCarterandDr.SamBarnesinNovemberandDecemberof1996andDr.Jim , TalmageinJuneof1997.Ms.CrawfordwasmovedtoalightdutyjobinNovemberof1996.  Ms.CrawfordalsosawvariousotherdoctorsregardingherinjuryincludingDr.DavidGaw.Ms.  Crawfordreportedfeelingincreasingpainandwasplacedonpermanentrestrictions.Dr.  TalmagestatedthatthemosteffectivetreatmentwouldbeforMs.Crawfordtochange t vocations.However,Ms.Crawforddidnotstopherworkduetoherinjuryuntilshelefther Z employmentwithCrottyTenntwoyearslaterin1998. Q!݌ @ Ќ64X!4X!6XXXXXXXX >>   >>]5XX"X]5Q14 <DL!4X!Q  %  XS)X"XXXXXS)%o&݌ &v Ќ64X!4X!6XXXXXXXX >>   >>]5XX"X]5Q14 <DL!4X!Q  '  XS)X"XXXXXS)   r OnApril1,1997,CrottyTennchangeditsworkerscompensationcarrierfromAIGto  \ EBI.OnAugust26,1998,afterCrottyTennlostamajorcontract,Ms.Crawfordvolunteeredto B belaidoffdueinparttoherinjuryandhasnotsincereturnedtoworkatCrottyTenn.'?(݌ ( Ќ64X!4X!6XXXXXXXX >>   >>]5XX"X]5Q14 <DL!4X!Q  *  XS)X"XXXXXS)Ԁ*]+݌  Ќ64X!4X!6XXXXXXXX >>   >>]5XX"X]5Q14 <DL!4X!Q  v,  XS)X"XXXXXS)   r OnMay4,2000,Dr.Gawtestifiedthattheadditionalsqueezingandgrippingfromher  continuedworkafter1996couldhaveaggravatedMs.Crawfordsinjurybasedonan   independentmedicalevaluationthatheperformedonMs.CrawfordonApril14,1998. p!  However,Dr.GawcouldnottestifythatMs.Crawfordexperiencedananatomicalchangefrom V"! hercontinuedwork.v,.-݌ <#" Ќ64X!4X!6XXXXXXXX >>   >>]5XX"X]5Q14 <DL!4X!Q  0  XS)X"XXXXXS)00݌ "$r# Ќ64X!4X!6XXXXXXXX >>   >>]5XX"X]5Q14 <DL!4X!Q  1  XS)X"XXXXXS)   r Thetrialcourtfoundthedefendant/appellantAIG,theemployersfirstinsurer,liablefor %X $ benefitstoMs.CrawfordbecauseMs.Crawfordhadfiledherfirstreportofinjuryduringits %>!% coverage.Thetrialcourtstatedthatwhentheemployeeknewthenatureandcauseoftheinjury &$"& onadefinitedate,theliabilityofaninsurancecarrierwoulddependonthatdate.Thetrialcourt ' #' awardedMs.Crawfordpermanentpartialdisabilitybenefitsintheamountof$22,080.96based (#( onavocationaldisabilityratingof36%tothebodyasawhole.12݌ )$) Ќ64X!4X!6XXXXXXXX >>   >>]5XX"X]5Q14 <DL!4X!Q  >[6  XS)X"XXXXXS)[6!7݌̌64X!4X!6XXXXXXXX >   >>]5XX"X]5Q14 <DL!4X!Q  >%8  XS)X"XXXXXS) r Reviewonappealisdenovoupontherecordofthetrialcourt,accompaniedbya R+&+ presumptionofthecorrectnessofthefindingsoffact,unlessthepreponderanceofthe_evidence 8,', isotherwise.SeeTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2).Therulegoverningtheliabilityof  insurancecarriersingradualinjurycasesisestablishedinBarker.SeeBarkerv.HomeCrest  Corp.,805S.W.2d373,376(Tenn.1991).Barkerstatesthatinsuranceliabilityattachesonthe | daythattheemployeefirstleaveswork,temporarilyorpermanently,duetoagradualinjury.Id. b at376.%88݌ H Ќ64X!4X!6XXXXXXXX >  >K+ 4 <DL!4X!K  _AIG_Ԁarguesthattheemployerssecondinsurer,thedefendant/appellee_EBI_,isliable  d becauseMs.Crawfordsinjurywasaggravatedduring_EBI_scoverageasshecontinuedtowork  J forheremployer.However,underBarker,theinsureratthetimeoftheemployeesfirstabsence  0 fromworkisliableforbenefitsregardlessoftheaggravationoftheinjuryorthecontinuedwork    oftheemployee.Id.at3756.TherecordstatesthatMs.Crawfordfirstmissedworkduetoher    injuryforsixweeksin1996.UnderBarker,thedateofMs.Crawfordsfirstabsencefromwork   duetoherinjuryisthedateofliability,notthedateatwhichsheknewthenatureandcauseof x  herinjury.Id._AIG_Ԁprovidedinsurancecoveragefor_Crotty_ԄTennonthedateofherabsence ^  throughApril1,1997.Consequently,_AIG_,not_EBI_,isliabletoMs.Crawfordforherdisability D  payments. *z    Weaffirmtheresultofthetrialcourtbutnotthereasoning._AIG_ԀremainsliabletoMs. F Crawfordforherdisabilitybenefits.Costsofappealaretaxedtotheappellant_AIG_. ,   0 ` 0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#___________________________________Z(#(#   0 ` 0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#HAMILTON_V.GAYDEN_,JR.,JUDGE@(#(#  8,', Ї]5XX8XXd Xd8  @@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE | SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL  #XX]5RE# ]5XXDIANECRAWFORDv._CROTTY_ԄTENN,INC.#XX]5hF#    @@ ChanceryCourtforJacksonCounty x  @@No.9736 ^   @@*AV) ` dE<` A `  No.M200100715_WC_ԄR3CVFiledNovember19,2001 U  AV) ` dE<` A !      ]5XX#XX]5H#H  JUDGMENT ]5XX#XX]5BI#    ]5XX#XX]5I# XXXX  ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferraltothe ^ SpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanelsMemorandumOpinionsetting D forthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference. *z   Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthattheMemorandumOpinionofthePanelshouldbe F acceptedandapproved;and ,   Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanelsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaware  adoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt.    Costswillbepaidbytheappellant,_AIG_,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. Z     ITISSOORDERED. &"v"    `     h     PER_CURIAM_ %!&   #XXX XI#