ÿWPC^ §PPeUðQÞÚr>ß‚üt2ƒ¶ÙŽjB? ”„UI ‘nEZÍ–wÇ'nÇ“é6wÿfíQ0î@À°f %±½G°. Кbþ‚ÙÜ#ãŸÇBdç8n/ææýðn˜%þ®$ê¾›bî§+9¨*Å 9⾉¹.-Z©HÂ4!¯?qAÂ̤åúqsÌÿ³–ýÍLzÐMòH†BþÜâ¶]ž›*€¨z}[¢Ã‡¶I-æ[„QšSº-ƒjl:˜”Óþöÿ^ìQä‚ë Á \9ò¥¨{8¢íÄÿçMš"¤gi1¬Lp–¤÷LmwH™Ô×Rý/z=¯´Yhºþõ(öß]ÄZÊàe{Q¾¶XÑ$:Œ \AÛ”z•9`OÆDÏØš¸|Ä5=D¯FçFrOEŽP„ᬠ_êö(¨&±Ë·¢M“[á#—¢ƒÞ§±PC}7ô9èf%ÓQv¤µŽ‘î+Ù>R^÷3xb ‰®óÌǪgï®lŒ ëÑU'#ü æ‚å%'§z‹¶V¤3Ê|ñÆxYPi ÷L÷×U:š@èD„"‡³ÜŸ£Õ"ÆsÎeXÄŠ $·Ç@﹄rækbÿ8À!·ÎwTøb#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ UN· w 4 z Ò— i x mz ‘ Æ™ Æ_ Æ% Æë N±N³ zµÒ/EUNbQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ 0ëYYYY B DD 0¤a D5 D-: 0Kgg AS²Æ 0¤Ë 0Do A«³˜HP LaserJet 8000 Series PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0»fš,)â (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularûr')¢Ø+00 ˜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.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5˜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(ÆúI Z‹6Times New Roman Regular- ù-(|G2ïŠ$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€N\»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€X3¤X»»Ô d(|3 ÿ$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€N\»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3 ÿ$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€N\»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Sü»»d dÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼ŠÑ»»»ÔÑ8€5<XXdê»»d 8ÑÓ  Óà@@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÐ Â Ðà@@ƒƒìàAT€KNOXVILLEÐ Ô$ Ð(April€27,€2000€Session)Ð æ6 ÐÔ‡Xß X»¼ŠÑÔÌò òÔ#†¼ŠÑ»XXß Ù#ÔTHEODORE€DAVISòòóó€v.€U.€S.€COALòòóó€INC.Ô‡Xß X»¼ŠÑÔó óÐ ä 4 ÐÌà@@¼¼ìàò ò€Direct€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Scott€CountyÐ ä 4 Ðà@@ôôìàNo.€8088€€€€€€Billy€Joe€White,€ChancellorÐ Ð  ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<“` AßÐ ”ä  ÐÌNo.€E1999„01297„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Mailed€„€August€2,€2000Ð ß  ÐFiled:€September€12,€2000€Ô#†¼ŠÑ»XXß L#ÔÔ‡Xß X»¼ŠÑÔÐ {Ë  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<R` AßÐ S£ Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÓ  ÓThis€workersðð€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workersðð€CompensationÐ Nž ÐAppeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ò òððó óÔ#†¼ŠÑ»XXß D#ÔÔ‡Xß X»¼ŠÑÔ€50„6„225(e)(3)€forÐ :Š Ðhearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€Ô#†¼ŠÑ»XXß Ñ#ÔÔ‡Xß X»¼ŠÑÔTheÐ *z Ðappellant„employer€appealed€the€trial€courtððs€ruling€awarding€appellee„employee€32%€permanentÐ f Ðpartial€disability€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€Appellant€argues€the€trial€court€was€in€error€in€acceptingÐ R Ðcertain€medical€testimony€when€the€doctor€failed€to€follow€AMA€Guides€in€conducting€examinationÐ î> Ðand€evaluation€of€employee.€€Judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.Ð Ú* ÐÓßÓÌò òÓ  ÓTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)€(1999)€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€CourtÐ ² Ðis€Affirmed.ó óÐ žî ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÓ  ÓThayer,€Sp.€J.Ô#†¼ŠÑ»àXß “#ÔÔ‡Xß X.¼ŠÑÔóó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòAnderson,€C.€J.,óó€and€òòByers,€Sr.€J.óó,Ð vÆ Ðjoined.Ð b² ÐÌLinda€J.€Hamilton€Ô_ÔMowlesÔ_Ô,€of€Knoxville,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellant,€U.€S.€Coal,€Inc.Ð :!Š  ÐÌCharles€B.€€Sexton,€of€Oneida,€Tennessee,€for€the€Appellee,€Theodore€Davis.Ð #b" ÐÌÓK ÓÓ  Óò òOPINIONó óÔ#†¼ŠÑ»XXß ˆ #ÔÔ‡Xß X»¼ŠÑÔòòÐ ê$: $ ÐÓ  ÓóóÔ#†¼ŠÑ»XXß s #ÔÔ‡Xß X»¼ŠÑÔÌÔ#†¼ŠÑ»XXß Ü #ÔÔ‡Xß X»¼ŠÑÔÓ  Óòòò òFactsó óóóÐ Â&"& ÐÓ> ÓÌà  àThe€trial€court€awarded€the€employee,€Theodore€Davis,€32%€permanent€partial€disabilityÐ š(ê#( Ðbenefits€to€the€body€as€a€whole€as€a€result€of€a€work„related€accident.€€The€employer,€U.€S.€Coal,€Inc.,Ð †)Ö$) Ðhas€appealed.Ð r*Â%* ÐÌà  àThe€employee€was€53€years€of€age€and€had€an€8òòthóó€grade€education.€He€has€no€vocationalÐ J,š', Ðtraining€and€most€of€his€work€experience€has€been€in€the€coal€or€construction€industry.€€He€also€hasÐ 6-†(-ý ÐÔ_Ôsome€experience€as€a€school€bus€driver.Ð ° ÐÌà  àOn€February€20,€1997,€he€was€employed€as€a€truck€driver€and€was€injured€while€working€withÐ ˆØ Ða€shovel€removing€waste€from€a€pit.€€He€was€off€work€two€days€and€then€continued€working€untilÐ tÄ ÐJune€1997€when€a€doctor€excused€him€from€work€for€about€one€month.€€He€then€worked€untilÐ `° ÐJanuary€1998€when€a€general€layoff€occurred€affecting€several€workers€including€employee€Davis.€Ð L œ ÐSince€the€layoff,€he€has€not€worked€anywhere€and€contends€he€is€not€able€to€work€at€jobs€he€isÐ 8 ˆ Ðqualified€for.Ð $ t ÐÌà  àHe€has€been€treated€conservatively€with€medicine€and€recommendations€for€therapy.€€He€toldÐ ü L  Ðthe€trial€court€he€was€still€having€low€back€pain€which€went€down€his€left€leg€into€his€heel.€€He€hasÐ è 8  Ðbeen€seen€by€numerous€doctors€and€all€of€the€expert€medical€evidence€by€deposition€was€fromÐ Ô$  Ðdoctors€who€performed€independent€medical€examinations.Ð À  ÐÌà  àDr.€William€E.€Kennedy,€an€orthopedic€surgeon,€testified€by€deposition€and€first€saw€theÐ ˜è  Ðemployee€during€September€1998;€he€viewed€numerous€records€of€various€doctors,€examined€resultsÐ „Ô  Ðfrom€different€tests,€and€after€conducting€a€physical€examination€concluded€that€he€had€degenerativeÐ pÀ Ðdisc€disease€with€probable€nerve€root€irritation€L5€on€the€left;€that€the€work„related€incident€causedÐ \¬ Ðand€injury€to€his€pre„existing€condition€which€resulted€in€a€13%€medical€impairment;€and€heÐ H˜ Ðrecommended€restrictions€of€not€lifting€over€twenty„five€pounds€occasionally€or€seven€poundsÐ 4„ Ðfrequently€and€he€should€avoid€repeated€bending,€stooping€or€squatting€activities.Ð  p ÐÌà  àDr.€J.€Samuel€Marcy,€an€orthopedic€surgeon,€testified€by€deposition€and€stated€he€first€sawÐ øH Ðthe€employee€during€October€1997;€he€was€of€the€opinion€he€had€a€chronic€lumbar€strain;€thatÐ ä4 Ðinitially,€he€felt€he€should€not€lift€over€fifty€pounds€occasionally€or€over€twenty„five€poundsÐ Ð  Ðfrequently€and€should€avoid€repetitive€bending.€He€said€that€upon€seeing€him€at€a€later€date€andÐ ¼  Ðobserving€heavy€calluses€on€his€hands€with€grease€or€engine€oil€stains,€this€was€inconsistent€with€hisÐ ¨ø Ðtestimony€he€was€not€able€to€do€any€work;€and€that€he€changed€his€initial€opinion€about€restrictionsÐ ”ä Ðand€said€he€could€do€almost€any€type€of€work€except€heavy€stressful€activities.€€He€also€stated€he€wasÐ €Ð Ðof€the€opinion€he€had€recovered€from€the€back€strain€and€had€no€medical€impairment.Ð l¼ ÐÌà  àDr.€Gilbert€L.€Hyde,€an€orthopedic€surgeon,€testified€by€deposition€and€gave€a€5%€medicalÐ D!” Ðimpairment€as€a€result€of€the€back€strain€which€he€said€was€near€an€old€compression€fracture.€€HeÐ 0"€  Ðrecommended€restrictions€of€not€lifting€over€forty€pounds€occasionally€and€twenty€pounds€frequently.Ð #l! ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€also€heard€the€deposition€testimony€of€Dr.€Norman€E.€Hankins,€a€vocationalÐ ô$D # Ðrehabilitation€witness,€who€fixed€the€employeeððs€vocational€disability€between€35%€„€65%€dependingÐ à%0!$ Ðon€which€medical€restrictions€would€apply.€€Defense€witness€Arthur€Klar,€also€a€vocationalÐ Ì&"% Ðspecialist,€gave€oral€testimony€and€testified€he€did€not€give€vocational€disability€ratings€but€that€thereÐ ¸'#& Ðwere€numerous€jobs€that€the€employee€could€perform.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌà  àIn€resolving€the€conflicting€evidence,€the€Chancellor€specifically€found€that€Dr.€KennedyððsÐ |*Ì%) Ðtestimony€was€to€be€given€more€weight€than€the€testimony€of€Dr.€Marcy€and€that€although€theÐ h+¸&* Ðemployee€probably€did€not€have€a€meaningful€return€to€work,€the€court€was€of€the€opinion€that€anÐ ° Ðaward€of€32%€disability,€which€was€approximately€two€and€one„half€times€medical€impairment,€wasÐ œì Ðreasonable€under€the€proof.Ð ˆØ ÐÌÓ  Óòòò òIssue€on€Appealó óóóÔ#†¼ŠÑ»XXß  #ÔÔ€Xß X»¼ŠÑÔÐ `° ÐÓnÓÌà  àThe€only€issue€on€appeal€is€whether€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€trial€courtððs€awardÐ 8 ˆ Ðof€32%€disability€to€the€body€as€a€whole.Ð $ t ÐÌÓ  Óòòò òStandard€of€Reviewó óóóÐ ü L  ÐÓ¾ ÓÌà  àThe€review€of€the€issue€is€òòde€novoóó€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€theÐ Ô$  Ðfindings€of€the€trial€court€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€Ð À  Ððð€50„6„225(e)(2).€€The€trial€court€is€primarily€charged€with€the€duty€to€resolve€conflicts€in€theÐ ¬ü  Ðevidence€and€that€decision€will€not€be€overturned€on€appeal€unless€the€appellate€court€concludes€theÐ ˜è  Ðevidence€preponderates€against€the€decision€made.Ð „Ô  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àÌÓ  Óòòò òAnalysisó óóóÐ \¬ ÐÓd#ÓÌà  àThe€employer€argues€the€trial€court€was€in€error€in€giving€Dr.€Kennedyððs€testimony€more€orÐ 4„ Ðgreater€weight€than€the€testimony€of€Dr.€Marcy€who€found€no€impairment.€€In€this€connection,€it€isÐ  p Ðinsisted€that€Dr.€Kennedy€failed€to€use€an€inclinometer€as€recommended€by€the€AMA€Guides€to€theÐ  \ ÐEvaluation€of€Permanent€Impairment,€4òòthóó€Edition,€to€measure€the€employeeððs€spine€motion.Ð øH ÐÌà  àSeveral€pages€of€the€AMA€Guides€were€admitted€into€evidence€and€it€is€therein€stated€thatÐ Ð  Ðan€inclinometer€is€a€small€device€used€by€carpenters€and€mechanics€to€measure€angles€and€the€deviceÐ ¼  Ðis€sometimes€referred€to€as€ð ðangle€findersðð.€€It€was€also€stated€that€an€inclinometer€works€like€aÐ ¨ø Ðplumb€bob.Ð ”ä ÐÌà  àDr.€Kennedy€testified€that€he€did€not€use€an€inclinometer€because€it€could€have€ð ðskewed€theÐ l¼ Ðpercentages€too€high€and€I€could€not,€in€good€conscience,€use€that€systemðð€in€this€case;€that€the€AMAÐ X ¨ ÐGuides€are€merely€ð ðguidesðð€and€that€he€determined€the€range€of€spine€motion€by€observing€theÐ D!” Ðemployee€during€his€examination€tests.Ð 0"€  ÐÌà  àWe€must€note€that€Dr.€Marcy€did€not€indicate€that€he€used€an€inclinometer€as€a€apart€of€hisÐ $X" Ðexamination€and€that€Dr.€Hyde€was€the€only€doctor€who€stated€he€used€this€procedure.€€Dr.€Hyde€alsoÐ ô$D # Ðfound€permanent€impairment€and€admitted€this€procedure€was€merely€a€ð ðguideðð€for€physicians€inÐ à%0!$ Ðconducting€examinations€of€this€nature.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  àThe€Chancellor€was€also€of€the€opinion€that€Dr.€Marcy€was€a€little€too€quick€to€assume€thatÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€employee€had€been€working€due€to€heavy€calluses€on€the€employeeððs€hands€which€the€ChancellorÐ )à$( Ðdid€not€observe€in€his€examination€of€same€and€that€the€doctor€was€probably€not€aware€of€the€stainsÐ |*Ì%) Ðthat€could€develop€on€hands€of€a€person€who€had€worked€in€the€coal€industry€over€a€period€of€time.Ð h+¸&* Їà  àWe€do€not€agree€with€the€argument€that€the€testimony€of€Dr.€Kennedy€was€incompetentÐ ° Ðevidence.€€As€a€general€rule,€the€decision€of€whether€to€admit€expert€testimony€into€evidence€restsÐ œì Ðwithin€the€sound€discretion€of€the€trial€judge.€€òòShelby€County€v.€Bardenóó,€527€S.W.2d€124,€131€(Tenn.Ð ˆØ Ð1975).€€While€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„204€does€require€physicians€to€utilize€the€AMA€Guides€toÐ tÄ Ðthe€Evaluation€of€Permanent€Impairment€or€the€Manual€for€Orthopedic€Surgeons€in€EvaluatingÐ `° ÐPermanent€Impairment,€a€physician€must€determine€the€best€approach€to€reach€a€fair€rating€under€theÐ L œ Ðguidelines€when€several€different€methods€are€recommended€to€determine€impairment.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌÓ  Óòòò òConclusionó óóóÐ  ` ÐÓ„/ÓÌà  àDuring€the€trial€and€appeal€of€this€case,€the€appellant€employer€has€argued€the€employeeÐ è 8  Ðexaggerated€his€physical€condition.€€We€are€of€the€opinion€that€Dr.€Kennedy€took€this€intoÐ Ô$  Ðconsideration€in€determining€assessment€of€impairment.€€Likewise,€the€trial€judge€fixed€an€award€ofÐ À  Ðdisability€that€did€not€exceed€two€and€one„half€times€medical€impairment€even€though€the€return€toÐ ¬ü  Ðwork€did€not€appear€to€be€meaningful.Ð ˜è  ÐÌà  àThe€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€the€findings€of€the€trial€court.€€The€judgment€isÐ pÀ Ðaffirmed€and€costs€of€the€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€appellant„employer.Ð \¬ ÐÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à____________________________________Ð øH Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àROGER€E.€THAYER,€SPECIAL€JUDGEÐ  ä4 ÐÔ‡¼ŠÑ»XXß Ôà@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@Í Í ìàAT€KNOXVILLE,€TENNESSEEˆÐ  ÐÌÔ#†Xß X»¼ŠÑÍ3#ÔÌò òÔ‡¼ŠÑ»XXß ÔÓ  Óà @ àTHEORORE€DAVIS€€€và0 @ à.à0 @ à€€U.€S.€COAL,€INC.òòóóÔ#†Xß X»¼ŠÑœ4#Ôó óÐ Ò" ÐÓ»4Óà@TTìàò òChancery€Court€for€Scott€CountyˆÐ æ 6 Ðà@xx&ìàNo.€8088ˆÐ Ò " ÐÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<© ` A߈Ð ª ú ÐÌà@” ” ìàNo.€E1999„01297„WC„R3„CV€„Filed€September€12,€2000ˆÐ ¥ õ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<|` AßÐ }Í  Ðó óÌà@±±&ìàò òJUDGMENTó óˆÐ xÈ  ÐÌÌà  àà ` àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€of€referralÐ <Œ Ðto€the€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panelððs€memorandum€Opinion€settingÐ (x Ðforth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ð d Ðà  àà ` àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€memorandum€Opinion€of€the€PanelÐ P Ðshould€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÐ ì< Ðà  àà ` àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€findings€of€facts€and€conclusions€of€law€areÐ Ø( Ðadopted€and€affirmed€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€Judgement€of€the€Court.Ð Ä Ðà  àà ` àCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€appellant,€U.€S.€Coal,€Inc.€and€Lewis,€King,€Krieg,Ð ° ÐWaldrop€Nine€and€Catron,€surety,€for€which€execution€€may€issue€if€necessary.€Ð œì ÐÌòòóó09/12/00Ð tÄ ÐÌÌÌ