WPCM ^s/{LW(Z tOކɪc_*$:J6O.Dnh:r+ZG&f/X{@+:Μ w]9>"o}O_ΝFn"dف]~XEmM2 ig"LlP> ٶaeݝlڽ%Z%aZHkxcl'^tMɋp0ιҮɛߙ$j@i[ ,hXha`1 3d!V9Fd|Zc&Gu:׫toQhKjN.ϊt&8\ -f ޻3gCq=v^)UNI % 0()4w@UBYU:UBU<)SU:|  | B             AQ  0D 0D) 0Dmm D/ B B D3HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nLh(9 Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($  !"   X|NXXX cqX X|N   Ad FILED X|NX cq   September1,1998  CecilCrowson,Jr. X X|NAppellateCourtClerk [$3|x  h Di Dj k Dl m Ӏy Vz { Ӏ 4*NewsGoth BT Roman,cAZ"Arial Regular+@FAZ*NewsGoth BT Roman.B' Z$Arrus BT Roman  !"  X|NXXXcqXX|N   Ad FILEDX|NXcq   September1,1998  CecilCrowson,Jr.XX|NAppellateCourtClerk ,cAZ"Arial RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 !"#%C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ !  (3$ !  ($$   1  ''' dxd dP Pd&&&&'dxd !  m m X      TR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'T   XXXX7 ez %%dd7m r(<,(j 8` `@E ` ttx$X rߛm @  D INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @[[DSPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANELg g ̜@pp*Dg g ATJACKSONf f f f @``#Df f (April13,1998,Session)  CAROLDOUGLAS,   h     ) @   `     h     ) ` Plaintiff/Appelli eei j antj , h     ) p   MADISONCOUNTYCHANCERY $t   `     h     )v. `     h     ) p   NO.02S019801CH00011 X   `     h     )GRAVESGOLDLEAFGALLERYOF  )   p HON.JOEC.MORRIS, <  WESTTENNESSEE,INC.,a/k/a    ) p   CHANCELLOR . MARSHAS.GRAVES,d/b/a h   )   GRAVESGOLDLEAFGALLERY, h   )   `     h     ) ` Defendant/Appellk antk l eel . h   )   FortheAppellant:   h     󀀀 p   FortheAppellee:  R ScottG.Kirk    h      p   DavidA.Riddick 6 МHardee,Martin,&Jaynes h      p   P.O.Box1117 (x 213EastLafayette   h      p   Jackson,TN383021117  j Jackson,TN383022004@&D MEMORANDUMOPINION  %!# М̛̛̜@'D MEMBERSOFPANEL:  V-(+ @#D JUSTICEJANICEM.HOLDER :/*- @"DSENIORJUDGEJOHNK.BYERS@DSPECIALJUDGEJ.STEVENSTAFFORD  1n,/ ̜h h ̜ REVERSEDINPART,  ;6: М AFFIRMEDINPART, v<7; ANDREMANDED   h      p     STAFFORD,SPECIALJUDGE   @,D OPINION   Л ` ThisworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)forhearingandreportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw. ` ThepartieshaveraisedtwoissuesforthePanelsconsideration: ` I.0 Whetherapreponderanceoftheevidencesupportsthetrialcourtsfindingthat <  thedefendantdidnotemployfiveormorepersonsmakingitsubjecttotheWorkersCompensationAct?  % %  ` II.0 Whetherapreponderanceoftheevidencesupportsthetrialcourtsfindingthat  theplaintiffprovidednoticetothedefendantwithinthirtydaysoftheplaintiffsdiscoveryofaworkrelatedinjury?  % %  ` Reviewofthefindingsoffactmadebythetrialcourtisdenovoupontherecordofthe | trialcourt,accompaniedbyapresumptionofthecorrectnessofthefindings,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2);Stonev.City D ofMcMinnville,896S.W.2d548,550(Tenn.1995).Theapplicationofthisstandardrequiresthis (x Courttoweighinmoredepththefactualfindingsandconclusionsofthetrialcourtinaworkerscompensationcase.SeeCorcoranv.FosterAutoGMC,Inc.,746S.W.2d452,456(Tenn. "@  1988).However,considerabledeferencemustbegiventothetrialjudge,whohasseenandheardwitnessesespeciallywhereissuesofcredibilityandweightoforaltestimonyareinvolved.Jonesv.HartfordAccidentandIndemnityCompany,811S.W.2d516(Tenn.1991). (#&  ` @XX-D FACTS *%(  ` Theplaintiffisa48yearoldmarriedwoman.Sheisahighschoolgraduatewithsome d,'* additionaltraining.Shehaspreviouslyworkedinafactoryandasabuildingcaretaker. ` Thedefendantisacorporation.RobertGravesisthepresidentandMarciaGravesisthevicepresidentandsecretarytreasurerofthecorporation. ` InJuly1990,theplaintiffbeganworkforthedefendant.Shetestifiedthatherjobrequiredhertofillframesastheyweremade,cleanglass,andassembleproducts.Sometimein1994,theplaintiffbeganexperiencingproblemswithherrightarm.ShecontinuedtoworkforthedefendantuntilMay4,1995,whenshelefttohavesurgery. ;6: @++'D MEDICALTESTIMONY    ` InAugust1994,theplaintiffvisitedherfamilyphysician,Dr.Hayden,becauseofacystthatdevelopedonherwrist. Afterexaminingher,Dr.HaydenreferredhertoDr.Johnsonwho x performedanultrasoundontheplaintiffsarm.Dr.JohnsonreferredhertoDr.Binghamwhoultimatelydiagnosedtheplaintiffwithcarpaltunnelsyndrome.Aftermakinghisdiagnosis,Dr.BinghamreferredtheplaintiffbacktoDr.Johnsonwhotoldtheplaintiffsheneededtohavesurgery.InJanuary1995,theplaintiffsawDr.Haydenandwasinformedthathercarpaltunnelinjurywasworkrelated.Astheresultofthisinformation,Dr.HaydenwrotealetterdatedJanuary24,1995,advisingthedefendantthattheplaintiffsinjuriescouldbeworkrelated.Theplaintiffdeliveredthislettertothedefendantwithinthirtydaysofthedateitwasreceived.OnMay4,1995,Dr.Keeoperatedontheplaintiffsrightarm.ShewasreleasedtoreturntoworkinOctober1995.However,theplaintiffwasneverallowedtoreturntoworkwiththedefendant.@&D COVERAGEBYTHEACT D   `  Thetrialcourtfoundthatthedefendantdidnotregularlyemployfiveormore (x personstherebyexcludingitfromcoverageundertheWorkersCompensationAct.Werespectfullydisagree. ` Tenn.CodeAnn.506102(a)(3)(A)definesanemployeeasfollows:8 ` 8 ` (#` (# Employeeincludeseveryperson,includingaminor,whetherlawfullyorunlawfullyemployed,thepresident,anyvicepresident,secretary,treasurerorotherexecutiveofficerofacorporateemployerwithoutregardtothenatureofthedutiesofsuchcorporateofficials,intheserviceofanemployer,asemployerisdefinedinsubdivision(a)(4),underanycontractofhireorapprenticeship,writtenorimplied...    ` Tenn.CodeAnn.506102(a)(4)definesanemployeras:8 ` 8 ` (#` (# Employerincludesanyindividual,firm,associationorcorporation,orthereceiver,ortrusteeofthesame,orthelegalrepresentativeofadeceasedemployer,usingtheservicesofnotlessthanfive(5)personsforpay,exceptasprovidedin50-6-113,andinthecaseofanemployerengagedintheminingandproductionofcoal,one(1)employeeforpay.Iftheemployerisinsured,itshallincludetheemployer'sinsurer,unlessotherwisehereinprovided.    ` TheevidenceintroducedattrialrevealedthatonSeptember26,1994,October10,1994,October17,1994,andOctober24,1994,thedefendantemployedRobertS.Pettigrew,Carol :59 Douglas,AmyLeeper,andAnnaWilliams.Duringthissametime,RobertGravesservedasϜpresidentandMarciaGravesservedasvicepresidentandsecretarytreasurerofthedefendant. ` Countingthecorporateofficers,thedefendantwouldhavesixemployees.However,thedefendantsubmitsthatthecorporateofficersshouldnotbecountedasemployeesbecausetheyarenotunderanycontractofhire.InGarnerv.Reed,856S.W.2d698,701(Tenn.1993), $t  theSupremeCourtdiscussedthisissueandcitedProfessorLarsonstreatise,Larsons X  WorkmensCompensationLaw,47.10,p.8145: <  8 ` 8 ` (#` (# [t]heword'hire'connotespaymentofsomekind.Bycontrastwiththecommonlawofmasterandservant,whichrecognizedthepossibilityofhavingagratuitousservant,thecompensationdecisionsuniformlyexcludefromthedefinitionof'employee'workerswhoneitherreceivenorexpecttoreceiveanykindofpayfortheirservices.   8 ` 8 ` (#` (#***   ̀8 8 (# (#Theelementofpayment,tosatisfytherequirementofa R contractofhire,neednotbeinmoney,butmaybeinanythingofvalue.Board,room,andtraining,suchasmightbefurnishedtoastudentnurseorhospitalintern,aretreatedastheequivalentofwages.Indeed,foodandlodginghavefiguredaspaymentinasdiverseemploymentsascollegefootballandcountyprisoner.Andevenrefreshmentswhichwerethesolepaymentgivenacasualporterfortheoddjobshedid,wereheldsufficienttosustainafindingofemployment.Ontheotherhand,meregratuitiesorgifts,unlessunderstoodbythepartiestoconstitutetheequivalentofwages,arenotconsideredpaymentunderacontractofhire.Thesameistrueofvariousdiscountsthatmaygowithclaimant'sposition...     ` TheundisputedproofattrialrevealedthatMarciaGravesdidnotreceiveanypaymentfromthedefendant.Therefore,shecannotbecountedasanemployeeofthedefendant.However,RobertGravestestifiedattrialthathewaspaidinhiscapacityaspresidentwhentherewasmoney.Thisstatutorilyqualifieshimasanemployeeofthecorporation.CountingMr.Graves,thedefendantwouldhavetherequisitefiveemployeesandwouldsubjectitcoverageundertheWorkersCompensationAct. @mm'D NOTICEOFINJURY  625  ` Thetrialjudgefoundthattheplaintiffgavethedefendantnoticeofherinjurywithinthirtydaysofthedatethatshebecameawarethattheinjurywasworkrelated.Thedefendantassertsthatthetrialcourterredinthisfinding.  ` Tenn.CodeAnn.506201requiresanemployeetoimmediatelynotifytheemployerinwritingoftheoccurrenceofaninjury.Thisnoticemustbegivenwithinthirtydaysaftertheinjuriousoccurrenceunlesstheinjuredemployeehasareasonableexcuseforthefailuretogivethenotice.8 ` 8 ` (#` (# Wheretheemployerdeniesthataclaimanthasgiventherequiredwrittennotice,theclaimanthastheburdenofshowingthattheemployerhadactualnotice,thattheemployerhaswaivedwrittennotice,orthattheclaimanthaseithercompliedwiththerequirementorhasareasonableexcuseforherfailuretodoso,fornoticeisanessentialelementofherclaim.Masters  v.IndustrialGarmentsMfg.Co.,595S.W.2d811(Tenn.1980).   ` Theplaintiffwasdiagnosedwithcarpaltunnelsyndromeinthefallof1994.ShedidnotgivethedefendantnoticeofherinjuryuntilJanuary1995,attheearliest.Shetestifiedthateventhoughshewasawarethatshehadacarpaltunnelproblem,shedidnotknowthatitwasdefinitelyworkrelateduntilJanuary1995.Althoughshewasquestionedoncrossexaminationaboutinconsistencieswithherdepositiontestimony,thetrialjudgeaccreditedhertestimony.Additionally,nomedicaltestimonywasintroducedfromanyofhertreatingphysiciansthatwasinconsistentwithhertestimony.Assuch,theonlyevidencethetrialjudgehadtoconsideronthisissuewastheplaintiffstestimony.8 ` 8 ` (#` (# Wherethetrialjudgehasseenandheardwitnesses,especiallywhereissuesofcredibilityandweightoforaltestimonyareinvolved,onreviewconsiderabledeferencemuststillbeaccordedtothosecircumstances.Humphreyv.DavidWitherspoon,Inc., r+&) 734S.W.2d315(Tenn.1987).    ` Althoughthetrialjudgestatedthatitwasacloseissue,hefoundthattheplaintiffgavepropernoticebecauseshewasnotsurethatherproblemwasworkrelateduntilinformedbyDr.Hayden.Shethengavethedefendantnoticeoftheinjurywithinthirtydaysofthereceiptofthisinformation.Basedonthesefactors,wecannotsaythattheevidencepreponderatesagainstthefindingofthetrialjudgeandthereforefindthisissuetobewithoutmerit. @..D PERMANENTPARTIALDISABILITYAWARD  948  ` Inthejudgmentorder,thetrialcourtstatedthatintheeventthattheplaintiffs injurieswerecompensable,shewouldbeentitledtoanawardof5%permanentpartialdisabilitytotheleftarmand9%permanentpartialdisabilitytotherightarm.TheonlyevidenceintroducedregardingtheextentoftheplaintiffsdisabilitywastheplaintiffstestimonyandDr.JosephBoalsindependentmedicalevaluation.Dr.Boalsopinedthattheplaintiffhadsuffereda5%impairmenttoboththerightandleftarms.Theplaintiffalsotestifiedabouttheeffecttheinjurieshaduponher.8 ` 8 ` (#` (# Oncecausationandpermanencyhavebeenestablishedbyexpertmedicaltestimony,thetrialjudgemayconsidermanypertinentfactors,includingage,jobskills,education,training,durationofdisability,anatomicaldisabilitiesestablishedbymedicalexperts,andjobopportunitiesavailabletoaworkerwiththoseanatomicaldisabilities,todeterminetheextentoftheworker'sindustrialdisability.Hillv.RoyalIns.Co.,937S.W.2d873,877(Tenn.1996).   ` ThePanelfindsthattheevidencedoesnotpreponderateagainstthetrialcourtsfindingof5%permanentpartialdisabilitytotheleftarmand9%permanentpartialdisabilitytotherightarm. ` ThejudgmentofthetrialcourtisreversedontheissueoftheapplicabilityoftheWorkersCompensationActandaffirmedontheissuesofnoticeoftheinjuryandawardofpermanentpartialdisabilitybenefits.Thecaseisremandedtothetrialcourtforimplementationofthisorder.Thecostsofthisappealaretaxedtothedefendant.̛̜ `     h      p  #(s#) Ѐ    h      p   J.STEVENSTAFFORD,SPECIALJUDGE )e$*  ̜m m m m m m ̛̜ CONCUR:  0+2 ̛̜򀀀 _507 М JANICEM.HOLDER,JUSTICE Q618  ̛̜̀  ;[6= М JOHNK.BYERS,SENIORJUDGE z z y   y z z z , X X+ XX Xz { { z z { r(<,(j 8` `@E- ` ttx$, r{    z @\ \ INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEEz   z @66)ATJACKSONz   z z   z z  t(>.*jxj` `@E" ` ttx$Z, y t z CAROLDOUGLAS,   8   )  MADISONCHANCERY ,   0      8   )  No.51381T.D.Below ,  Plaintiff/Appellant,   8   ) ,   0      8   )  Hon.JoeC.Morris, ,  v.  0      8   )  Chancellor ,    0      8   )  0      8   )  No.02S019801CH00011 ,  GRAVESGOLDLEAFGALLERYOF  ) ,  WESTTENNESSEE,INC.,etal.,  )   ,   0      8   ) Appellees.     8   )  ReversedinPart,Affirmedin #  ,   0      8     Part,andRemanded.@'JUDGMENTORDER , # XX X X++C#z { z XfwXX X# XXXXfwH#z { z  X|NXX X  0 ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponmotionforreviewpursuanttoTenn. ,! CodeAnn.506225(e)(5)(B),theentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferraltotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel'sMemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference;  0 Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenandshouldbedenied;and  0 Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawareadoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt.  X1,')    0 Costsonappealaretaxedtotheappellee. $3(+   0 ITISSOORDEREDthis____dayof______,1998.# XXX X|NJ#z { z XfwXX X# XXXXfwL#z { z  X|NXX X 4*-   0      8   PERCURIAMHolder,J.Notparticipating.# XXX X|NN#z