ÿWPC\ o»È«s îÁUÞ´’í)1I[JGò·ÂÔ˜Ñ1?Ýo!ÉÐ,بä¥Iã1¥êÑÏßo™ÉeiÛYŸév‰&h$ÂÖ± s›9¶’âZ¢î^Ø8ø±ÿsŽ_iÉxì°y’\µ¹$ûK£Îì£âZP-=hy½G2Óô4/>ÕÕ…(MÅŸÙê†Cè@V‰’L²Ù¾ôL!glÄ,÷IÊKÁòöÿýq¡TcäóÝݨ !;üÍ1IJhèÌyë;æ‘P+V%ù½ ÍÍ‘>² }#V±MUWGzÎØýªDR— )T0[­_>vc:U¨¥â˜™#ù¥™ ¯§€ã¸+½ÿÂ8F $ˆ°Õ÷Bí˜ Þø,˜Ÿñ)öeß„ƒ%8ât‚à’íÆÆ÷‚b,fG]fN·Zñ½¦¡"[dÉÝžÕ3>èÅ¡öy€,ƒ¼û‹ÞôIòÏm@íö"€ûúq3!¼ òGz $9Å ÏAmŸdµ§T,v )õ%HLÞQ<©Yõ\%§tgÝ=DÅyM-·ö7î.ô-ìš¹zo1â‚’ß!ú]çeÀoÍl<÷ÌfláÓ®÷_Õ‘¶"•³¨ Ùð“øÇÔy_Tñ¶ônb#Á\ % U N# 0ˆq U0Nù ^ G wS zW ÒÑ 4£ · Æ mÈ Æß Æ¥ Æk Æ1N÷Nù û zE{Ò}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}bOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 0ëWWWW B BB 0¤_ D5 D-8 0Kee AS°Æ 0¤É 0Dm A«±˜HP LaserJet 4Si,ü,,,,,ü0»(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular{,)â  ˜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.wptKë(Øa¥3|x ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5H˜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-(|G2Í$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€¦\»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€X¥ X»»Ô d(|3$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€¦\»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€¦\»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€¦\»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼¦\»»»ÔÑ8€¥ XXdð»»d8ÑÓ  ÓÔ‡îôŸî»¼¦\Ôà@@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÐ Ü, Ðà@@ƒƒìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼¦\»îîôŸî#ÔÐ X ÐApril€2000€SessionÐ 4„ ÐÔ‡X¥ X»¼¦\ÔÌò òÔ#†¼¦\»XX¥ #ÔCLAYTON€D.€Ô_ÔELLERÔ_Ôòòóó€v.€Ô_ÔLORAMÔ_Ô€MAINTENANCE€OF€WAY,€INC.,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡X¥ X»¼¦\Ôó óÐ < Œ ÐÌà@@¼¼ìàò ò€Direct€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Cumberland€CountyÐ D ” Ðà@@ôôìàNo.€CV002752€€€€€€John€Ô_ÔMadduxÔ_Ô,€JudgeÐ 4 „ ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<` AßÐ T  ÐÌNo.€E1999„00874„SC„R3„CV€„€Mailed€„€August€3,€2000Ð S  ÐÔ#†¼¦\»XX¥ á#ÔÔ‡X¥ X»¼¦\ÔÌFiled:€September€12,€2000Ð ã3 ÐßA€V) °°` dE<Ò` AßÐ Ó# Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ‡X¢ XXX¥ ÔThis€workersðð€compensation€appeal€from€the€Cumberland€County€Circuit€Court€has€been€referredÐ Ò" Ðto€the€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€withÐ ¾ ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€factÐ ªú Ðand€conclusions€of€law.€€The€Cumberland€County€Circuit€Court€dismissed€the€plaintiffððs€claim€forÐ –æ ÐTennessee€workersðð€compensation€benefits€on€the€basis€that€the€plaintiff€affirmatively€elected€to€seekÐ ‚Ò Ðworkers'€compensation€benefits€in€the€states€of€Maryland€and€Pennsylvania.€€After€a€review€of€theÐ n¾ Ðentire€record,€briefs€of€the€parties€and€applicable€law,€we€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€judgment.Ô#†X¥ XXX¢ ~#ÔÔ#†¼¦\»XX¥ ¾#ÔÔ‡X¥ X»¼¦\ÔÐ Zª ÐÓrÓÌò òÓ  ÓTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)€(1999)€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€isÐ 6† ÐAffirmed.ó óÐ &v ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ#†¼¦\»àX¥  #ÔÔ‡X¥ X.¼¦\ÔL.€Terry€Ô_ÔLaffertyÔ_Ô,€Sr.€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòWilliam€M.€Barker,€J.,óó€andÐ V ÐòòHowell€N.€Peoples,€Sp.€J.óó,€joined.Ð öF ÐÌPhilip€D.€Burnett,€Ô_ÔCrossvilleÔ_Ô,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Clayton€D.€Ô_ÔEllerÔ_Ô.Ô#†¼¦\»XX¥ 6 #ÔÔ‡X¥ X»¼¦\ÔÐ Ö!&  ÐÌJoe€M.€Looney,€Ô_ÔCrossvilleÔ_Ô,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellees,€Ô_ÔLoramÔ_Ô€Maintenance€of€Way,€et€al.Ô#†¼¦\»XX¥ ä #ÔÔ‡X¥ X»¼¦\ÔÐ ¶#" ÐÌÓ ÓÓ  Óò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óÔ#†¼¦\»XX¥ Õ #ÔÔ‡X¥ X»¼¦\ÔÐ –%æ $ ÐÓ  ÓÔ#†¼¦\»XX¥ a #ÔÔ‡X¥ X»¼¦\ÔÌòòóóÔ#†¼¦\»XX¥ Ä #ÔÔ‡¼ð\ »»¼¦\ÔÔ‡X¢ X »¼ð\Ôò òÓ  ÓPART€A.Ð v'Æ"& ÐTrial€TestimonyÐ b(²#' ÐÓNÓÌó óà  àThe€plaintiff,€age€43,€a€twelve€year€veteran€of€the€U.S.€Marine€Corps.,€testified€that€he€hasÐ :*Š%) Ðlived€in€Ô_ÔCrossvilleÔ_Ô,€Tennessee€since€his€birth.€€In€March€1994,€the€plaintiff€filed€an€application€ofÐ &+v&* Ðemployment€with€the€defendant,€Ô_ÔLoramÔ_Ô€Maintenance€of€Way,€€Inc.€€The€plaintiff€was€hired€in€eitherÐ ,b'+ ÐApril€or€May€of€1994.€€Ô_ÔLoramÔ_Ô€Maintenance€of€Way,€€Inc.€is€a€Minnesota€corporation€that€specializesÐ þ,N(, Ðin€railroad€track€maintenance€throughout€the€United€States.€€The€plaintiff€stated€that€he€was€aÐ ê-:)-ý Ðmachine€operator€that€grinds€and€reshapes€rails.€€The€defendant€paid€the€plaintiff€an€hourly€wage,Ð ° Ðhotel€expenses,€food€supplement€and€transportation€costs€while€he€worked€in€the€field.€€In€NovemberÐ œì Ð1994€in€Pennsylvania,€the€plaintiff€testified€that€he€injured€his€back€while€moving€gear€into€a€hotel.€Ð ˆØ ÐAlthough€the€plaintiff€did€not€know€the€source€of€any€benefits,€Liberty€Mutual€Insurance€CompanyÐ tÄ Ðpaid€medical€and€indemnity€benefits€to€the€plaintiff€for€his€injury€through€the€defendant.€€TheÐ `° Ðplaintiff€stated€that€he€did€not€file€a€workers'€compensation€claim€in€Pennsylvania.€Ð L œ ÐÌà  à€In€March€1995,€in€Maryland,€the€plaintiff€stated€that€he€injured€his€back€while€on€the€job.€Ð $ t ÐHe€was€referred€to€Dr.€Jerry€Reese.€€The€plaintiff€underwent€back€surgery€for€this€injury€on€April€28,Ð  ` Ð1995.€€After€a€recuperation€period,€the€plaintiff€returned€to€work€on€light€duty€in€the€company€office.€Ð ü L  ÐAlthough€his€back€pain€persisted,€the€plaintiff€was€assigned€to€work€in€the€electrical€shop€and€laterÐ è 8  Ðhe€was€moved€to€the€hydraulics€section.€€The€plaintiff€had€reached€his€maximum€medicalÐ Ô$  Ðimprovement€in€December€of€1995€and€was€returned€to€work€as€an€operator€only.€€Due€to€hisÐ À  Ðcontinuing€back€problems,€the€plaintiff€was€sent€to€Minnesota€for€another€medical€examination€by€Ð ¬ü  ÐDr.€John€Sherman€in€June€1996.€€The€defendant€offered€the€plaintiff€a€job€at€an€hourly€wage€inÐ ˜è  ÐMinnesota€which€would€require€him€to€move€to€Minnesota.€€The€plaintiff€hired€an€attorney,€JamesÐ „Ô  ÐVentura€of€Minnesota,€to€represent€him.€€The€plaintiff€testified€that€he€did€not€file€any€claims€forÐ pÀ Ðbenefits€in€either€Maryland€or€Pennsylvania.€€The€plaintiff€acknowledged€that€he€received€aÐ \¬ Ðdocument€from€Ralph€Weber€of€Pennsylvania,€but€refused€to€sign€the€document,€which€he€then€gaveÐ H˜ Ðto€his€attorney.€€Also,€the€plaintiff€stated€that€he€received€additional€paperwork€from€PennsylvaniaÐ 4„ Ðwhich€he€gave€to€his€attorney.€At€the€time€of€trial,€the€plaintiff€was€a€part„time€truck€driver.€€In€cross„Ð  p Ðexamination,€the€plaintiff€acknowledged€that€he€hired€an€attorney€to€help€with€the€claims€inÐ  \ ÐMaryland€and€Pennsylvania,€and€that€the€attorney€helped€him€to€obtain€some€benefits.€€As€to€theÐ øH Ðpaperwork€he€received€from€Pennsylvania,€the€plaintiff€stated€that€he€expected€his€attorney€to€handleÐ ä4 Ðthe€claim.€€Any€decisions€made€were€that€of€the€plaintiff's.€€The€plaintiffððs€last€day€of€work€for€Ô_ÔLoramÔ_ÔÐ Ð  Ðwas€November€1,€1996.€Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àSteve€Ô_ÔEllerÔ_Ô,€brother€of€the€plaintiff,€testified€that€the€plaintiff€continued€to€have€backÐ ”ä Ðproblems€and€could€no€longer€do€construction€work,€or€hunt.€Ð €Ð ÐÌÓ  Óò òPART€B.Ð X ¨ ЀDeposition€TestimonyÐ D!” Ðó óÓ  Óà0  àÐ (#(# ÐÓ  Óà  àJames€M.€Ventura,€attorney,€testified€that€he€has€practiced€law€in€Minnesota€since€1983.€€HeÐ #l! Ðstated€that€at€one€time€his€practice€consisted€of€approximately€two„thirds€of€workers'€compensationÐ $X" Ðcases,€but€at€the€time€of€trial,€it€was€25€percent.€€Mr.€Ventura€stated€that€he€met€the€plaintiff€in€MayÐ ô$D # Ðof€1995,€and€that€the€plaintiff€signed€a€retainer€agreement.€€Mr.€Ventura€filed€a€Notice€of€AppearanceÐ à%0!$ Ðof€Attorney€for€Employee€with€the€Minnesota€Department€of€Labor€&€Industry.€€It€was€Mr.€VenturaððsÐ Ì&"% Ðunderstanding€that€the€plaintiff€was€hired€in€Minnesota€and€returned€to€Minnesota€for€treatment.€Ð ¸'#& ÐVentura€later€learned€that€the€plaintiffððs€injuries€occurred€out€of€state€and€he€obtained€the€names€ofÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthe€adjustors€and€their€telephone€numbers.€€Ventura€identified€a€letter€he€sent€to€Sherry€Ô_ÔMitchumÔ_Ô,Ð )à$( ÐLiberty€Mutual€Insurance€Company,€Rockville,€Maryland,€dated€May€5,€1995,€requesting€verificationÐ |*Ì%) Ðof€benefits€and€enclosing€a€notice€of€appearance.€€Ventura€identified€a€letter€he€wrote€to€SteveÐ h+¸&* ÐÔ_ÔSchmittÔ_Ô,€Liberty€Mutual€Insurance€Company,€Rockville,€Maryland,€dated€September€1,€1995,€inÐ ° Ðwhich€Ventura€wrote,€ð ðMy€client€and€I€have€discussed€the€facts€surrounding€his€injury,€MinnesotaÐ œì Ðstatute€and€case€law€pertaining€to€jurisdiction.€€At€this€time,€we€concede€that€Maryland€hasÐ ˆØ Ðjurisdiction€over€this€workersðð€compensation€claim€.€.€.€.€€If€you€believe€that€Maryland€does€notÐ tÄ Ðrequire€payment€of€the€partial€wage€loss€benefit,€please€send€me€copies€of€the€case€or€Workers'Ð `° ÐCompensation€Act€that€supports€your€position.ðð€Ð L œ ÐÌà  àOn€June€6,€1995,€Steve€Ô_ÔSchmittÔ_Ô,€of€Liberty€Mutual€Insurance€Company€in€Rockville,Ð $ t ÐMaryland,€wrote€to€Ventura€in€reference€to€Venturaððs€letter€of€May€24,€1995.€€Ô_ÔSchmittÔ_Ô€advisedÐ  ` ÐVentura€that€Liberty€Mutual€was€handling€the€claim€under€Maryland€jurisdiction€since€the€plaintiffÐ ü L  Ðwas€injured€in€Maryland€and€that€the€plaintiff€did€not€work€in€Minnesota€except€for€light€duty.€€InÐ è 8  Ðthis€letter,€Ô_ÔSchmittÔ_Ô€stated,€ð ðI€note€that€Mr.€Ô_ÔEllerÔ_Ô€lives€and€was€hired€in€Tennessee.ðð€Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àVentura€explained€that€he€was€not€trying€to€get€benefits€in€any€other€state€since€he€wasÐ ¬ü  Ðlicensed€only€in€Minnesota.€€Ventura€attempted€to€find€out€that€if€they€claimed€this€was€a€workers'Ð ˜è  Ðcompensation€claim€in€another€state,€what€state€laws€applied,€what€benefits€were€available,€and€whatÐ „Ô  Ðthey€had€paid.€€In€essence,€this€was€a€letter€of€discovery.€€Ventura€stated€that€he€made€no€demandsÐ pÀ Ðor€instituted€negotiations€with€Liberty€Mutual€on€behalf€of€the€plaintiff,€nor€did€he€file€any€petitionÐ \¬ Ðin€Maryland€for€benefits.€Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àAs€to€the€plaintiffððs€Pennsylvania€injury,€Ventura€identified€a€letter€written€to€MarianneÐ  p ÐToner,€Liberty€Mutual€Insurance€Group,€Bala€Ô_ÔCynwydÔ_Ô,€Pennsylvania.€€Ventura€testified€that€he€wasÐ  \ Ðseeking€information€on€the€plaintiffððs€claim€since€the€plaintiff€had€some€problems€with€past€dueÐ øH Ðmedical€bills.€€Also,€Ventura€was€inquiring€of€any€wage€loss€Liberty€Mutual€was€paying€underÐ ä4 ÐPennsylvania€law.€€In€this€letter€Ventura€stated,€ð ðIf€you€believe€that€Pennsylvania€law€does€notÐ Ð  Ðrequire€you€to€compensate€Mr.€Ô_ÔEllerÔ_Ô€for€his€wage€loss,€please€provide€a€copy€of€the€case€law€orÐ ¼  Ðcopies€of€the€pertinent€sections€of€the€Workersðð€Compensation€Act€which€supports€that€position.ðð€Ð ¨ø ÐVentura€acknowledged€that€the€plaintiff€had€given€him€a€supplemental€agreement€from€PennsylvaniaÐ ”ä Ðand€since€he€and€the€plaintiff€could€not€determine€if€this€agreement€was€fair,€the€agreement€was€notÐ €Ð Ðsigned,€nor€was€it€returned€to€Pennsylvania.€€Likewise,€Ventura€acknowledged€that€he€receivedÐ l¼ Ðnotice€of€termination€of€benefits€against€the€plaintiff€that€was€filed€in€Pennsylvania.€€The€recordÐ X ¨ Ðreflects€that€this€petition€was€sent€to€the€plaintiff€at€his€home€in€Ô_ÔCrossvilleÔ_Ô,€Tennessee.€€After€aÐ D!” Ðdiscussion€with€the€plaintiff,€they€elected€not€to€pursue€a€claim€in€Pennsylvania.€€VenturaÐ 0"€  Ðacknowledged€that€he€wrote€a€letter€dated€July€31,€1996,€to€Judge€Thomas€G.€Ô_ÔDevlinÔ_Ô,€administrativeÐ #l! Ðlaw€judge,€in€which€he€requested€a€continuance€of€the€hearing€of€August€16,€1996,€in€regards€to€theÐ $X" Ðpetition€to€terminate€workers'€compensation€benefits.€€Ventura€explained€that€this€letter€was€sent€dueÐ ô$D # Ðto€a€lack€of€response€from€Liberty€Mutual€and€that€he€could€not€physically€appear€in€court.€Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà  àVentura€testified€that€he€decided€to€file€a€claim€with€the€state€of€Minnesota.€€At€theÐ ¸'#& Ðconclusion€of€an€evidentiary€hearing,€the€Minnesota€judge€did€not€find€that€the€plaintiff€was€aÐ ¤(ô#' ÐMinnesota€employee€and€that€Minnesota€did€not€have€jurisdiction€of€the€Maryland€or€PennsylvaniaÐ )à$( Ðclaims.€€The€record€of€the€hearing€in€Minnesota€established€that€the€judge€found€the€plaintiffððsÐ |*Ì%) Ðcontract€of€hire€was€in€Tennessee.€Ð h+¸&* ÐÔ_Ô‡à  àIn€cross„examination,€Ventura€stated€that€notwithstanding€the€letter€of€Steve€Schmitt€of€JuneÐ ° Ð5,€1995,€the€plaintiff€told€him€otherwise€as€to€his€place€of€residency.€€Ventura€acknowledged€that€theÐ œì Ðbenefits€were€being€paid€to€the€plaintiff€under€Pennsylvania€law.€€Also,€Ventura€testified€that€in€hisÐ ˆØ Ðcorrespondence€with€Liberty€Mutual€Insurance€Company€or€Loram,€and€the€defendant,€he€had€noÐ tÄ Ðintention€to€file€a€workersðð€compensation€claim€in€Tennessee.€€Ventura€stated€that€he€discussed€withÐ `° Ðthe€plaintiff€that€Liberty€Mutual€said€they€hired€him€in€Tennessee€and€that€he€did€not€advise€theÐ L œ Ðplaintiff€that€he€may€have€a€claim€in€Tennessee.€€Ventura€testified€that€he€was€not€familiar€with€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðprinciples€of€contract€for€hire€as€it€applies€to€Maryland,€Pennsylvania,€or€Tennessee.€Ð $ t ÐÌà  àJennifer€Bradley,€a€claims€adjustor€for€Liberty€Mutual€Insurance€Company€in€Minneapolis,Ð ü L  ÐMinnesota,€testified€that€she€handled€the€plaintiffððs€workers'€compensation€claim€for€an€injury€whichÐ è 8  Ðoccurred€on€November€8,€1994,€in€Pennsylvania.€€Liberty€Mutual€paid€the€plaintiff€partial€disabilityÐ Ô$  Ðwages€for€the€period€of€November€9,€1994,€through€December€15,€1994,€in€the€amount€of€oneÐ À  Ðthousand€eight€hundred€eighty„two€dollars€and€fifty„two€cents€($1,882.52).€€Also,€Liberty€MutualÐ ¬ü  Ðpaid€one€thousand€thirty„three€dollars€and€ninety„one€cents€($1,033.91)€in€medical€expenses€for€theÐ ˜è  Ðplaintiff.€€Her€records€indicate€that€the€plaintiff€was€on€light€duty€between€November€9€andÐ „Ô  ÐDecember€15,€1994.€€Ms.€Bradley€stated€that€she€talked€to€the€plaintiff€on€April€20,€1995,€when€heÐ pÀ Ðinquired€about€some€unpaid€medical€bills€and€lost€wages.€€She€next€heard€from€Mr.€Ventura,€anÐ \¬ Ðattorney.€€Ms.€Bradley€identified€copies€of€a€number€of€letters€in€her€file€from€James€Ventura€toÐ H˜ ÐLiberty€Mutual€adjustors,€Liberty€Mutualððs€attorneys€in€Philadelphia,€and€to€Judge€Thomas€G.Ð 4„ ÐDevlin.€€Ms.€Bradley€stated€that€Liberty€Mutual,€through€their€attorneys,€filed€a€petition€to€terminateÐ  p Ðbenefits€in€Pennsylvania.€€She€testified€that€the€release€form€had€been€sent€to€the€plaintiff€but€heÐ  \ Ðwould€not€sign€it,€so€Liberty€Mutual€had€the€petition€filed.€€Ms.€Bradley€stated€that€she€was€awareÐ øH Ðof€the€plaintiffððs€Maryland€claim€because€a€dispute€came€up€about€the€payment€of€medical€expenses.Ð ä4 ÐMs.€Bradley€acknowledged€that€the€plaintiff€had€a€compensable€claim€in€Pennsylvania€and€it€wasÐ Ð  Ðher€understanding€that€Ventura€was€pursuing€a€benefit€claim€in€Pennsylvania.€€In€cross„examination,Ð ¼  ÐMs.€Bradley€testified€that€Ventura€made€no€specific€demand€for€any€payment€of€a€claim.€€Also,€theÐ ¨ø Ðrelease€request€was€sent€to€the€plaintiff€in€Crossville,€Tennessee€and€a€copy€was€sent€to€theÐ ”ä Ðdefendant,€Loram.€Ð €Ð ÐÌà  àCharles€F.€Minnis,€Senior€Claims€Manager€for€Liberty€Mutual€Insurance€Company€ofÐ X ¨ ÐRockville,€Maryland,€testified€that€he€participated€in€the€plaintiffððs€claim€for€workers'€compensationÐ D!” Ðbenefits.€€He€stated€that€Liberty€Mutual€paid€to€the€plaintiff€two€thousand€four€hundred€seventeen€Ð 0"€  Ðdollars€and€six€cents€($2,417.06)€in€indemnity€payments€and€thirteen€thousand€three€hundred€eightyÐ #l! Ðdollars€and€sixty„one€cents€($13,380.61)€for€medical€expenses€for€an€injury€the€plaintiff€sustainedÐ $X" Ðin€Maryland.€€At€the€time€of€determination€as€to€whether€the€injury€was€compensable,€there€was€noÐ ô$D # Ðattorney€representing€the€plaintiff.€€Later,€Mr.€Minnis€dealt€with€attorney,€James€Ventura,€on€theÐ à%0!$ Ðplaintiff's€behalf.€€Minnis€identified€a€number€of€correspondence€between€he€and€VenturaÔ#†¼ð\ »XX¢ ,#ÔÔ‡X¢ X »¼ð\ÔÔ#†X¥ XXX¢  #ÔÔ‡X¢ XXX¥ Ô€datedÐ Ì&"% Ðbetween€May€1995€and€May€1996,€and€copies€of€letters€between€other€Liberty€Mutual€personnel.€Ð ¸'#& ÐMinnis€stated€that€he€learned€Ventura€was€going€to€file€a€claim€in€Minnesota€for€workers'Ð ¤(ô#' Ðcompensation€benefits€in€August€1996.€€In€cross„examination,€Minnis€stated€that€it€was€actually€MayÐ )à$( Ð1996,€that€he€learned€Ventura€was€going€to€file€a€claim€in€Minnesota.€Ð |*Ì%) Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ à€Ð h+¸&* Ðà  àDr.€Manuel€Eugene€Turner,€Jr.,€an€anesthesiologist,€testified€that€he€saw€the€plaintiff€inÐ ° ÐOctober€of€1998.€€The€plaintiff€related€a€work„related€back€injury€in€March€1995.€€After€a€review€ofÐ œì Ðthe€medical€records,€Dr.€Turner€determined€that€the€plaintiff€sustained€a€large€disc€herniation.€€Dr.Ð ˆØ ÐTurner€opined€that€the€plaintiff€sustained€a€15€percent€physical€impairment€to€the€body€as€a€whole,Ð tÄ Ðusing€the€AMA€Guides.€Ð `° ÐÌÓ  Óò ò€ANALYSISÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌó óÓ  Óà  àThe€plaintiff€asserts€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€finding€that€the€plaintiff€took€affirmativeÐ  ` Ðaction€in€seeking€workers'€compensation€benefits€in€the€states€of€Maryland€and€Pennsylvania,€andÐ ü L  Ðaccepting€€workers'€compensation€benefits€in€these€two€states€thus,€denying€the€plaintiffððs€claim€forÐ è 8  ÐTennessee€workers'€compensation€benefits.€€Further,€the€plaintiff€contends€that€the€actions€ofÐ Ô$  Ðattorney€James€Ventura,€were€discovery€in€nature€in€that€the€letters€written€to€the€adjustors€in€theseÐ À  Ðstates€were€an€attempt€to€obtain€information.€€Naturally,€the€defendant€contends€that€the€trial€courtÐ ¬ü  Ðproperly€found€that€the€plaintiff€sought€workers'€compensation€benefits€in€other€states€and€that€theÐ ˜è  Ðevidence€supports€the€trial€courtððs€decision.€Ð „Ô  ÐÌà  àThe€standard€of€review€in€workers'€compensation€cases€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€the€record€of€the€trialÐ \¬ Ðcourt€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€findings,€unless€the€preponderance€ofÐ H˜ Ðthe€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(2);òò€Stone€v.€City€of€McMinnville,€óó896Ð 4„ ÐS.W.2d€548,€550€(Tenn.€1995).€€The€application€of€this€standard€requires€this€Court€to€weigh€in€moreÐ  p Ðdepth€the€factual€findings€and€conclusions€of€the€trial€court€in€a€workers'€compensation€case.€€òòSeeóóÐ  \ ÐòòCorcoran€v.€Foster€Auto€GMC,€Inc.óó,€746€S.W.2d€452,€456€(Tenn.€1988).€However,€considerableÐ øH Ðdeference€must€be€given€to€the€trial€court€who€has€seen€and€heard€witnesses,€especially€where€issuesÐ ä4 Ðof€credibility€and€weight€of€oral€testimony€are€involved.€òò€Jones€v.€Hartford€Acc.€&€Indem.€Co.,€óó811Ð Ð  ÐS.W.2d€516,€521€(Tenn.€1991).€à h àà À àà  àà p àà È àà  àÐ ¼  ÐÌà  àAfter€considering€many€of€the€authorities€cited€in€both€parties'€briefs,€the€trial€court€gaveÐ ”ä Ðdetailed€findings€of€fact€in€setting€out€the€chronological€history€of€the€case€and€the€representation€ofÐ €Ð Ðthe€attorney,€James€Ventura.€€We€quote:Ð l¼ ÐÌà8  àWell,€as€I€indicated€to€you€earlier,€it€appears€to€me€that€this€is€a€close€question.€€I€amÐ D!” Ðlooking€at€the€case€„„€or€the€facts€that€we€have€here.€€It€appears€from€the€facts€that€weÐ 0"€  Ðhave€here€that€the€employee,€through€his€attorney€Mr.€Ventura,€did€affirmatively€actÐ #l! Ðto€obtain€benefits€in€another€state.€€And€not€just€one€other€state,€but€two€other€states,Ð $X" ÐPennsylvania€and€Maryland.€Ðô$D #Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àAnd€itððs€also€this€Courtððs€opinion€that€the€employee€knew€and€voluntarily€acceptedÐ Ì&"% Ðthe€benefits€under€the€law€of€another€state;€and€that€he€was€receiving€these€benefitsÐ ¸'#& Ðat€the€„„€he€was€receiving€these€benefits€and€his€attorney,€Mr.€Ventura,€either€did€orÐ ¤(ô#' Ðshould€have€explained€to€him€why€he€was€receiving€these€benefits.€€And€it€wasnððt€asÐ )à$( Ðif€the€Plaintiff€was€representing€himself.€€And€it€wasnððt€as€if€the€Plaintiff€was€soÐ |*Ì%) Ðseriously€injured€and€disabled€that€he€couldnððt€understand€what€was€going€on€byÐ h+¸&* Ðreceiving€these€benefits.€€And€it€wasnððt€as€if€these€benefits€were€just€paid€to€theÐ ° Ðemployee€with€no€information€as€to€the€nature€of€the€benefits.€€à  àà x àМìÐ Ð  Ѐ€Ð ˆØ Ðà  àWe€assume€our€in„depth€review€of€the€record€is€to€determine€if€the€preponderance€of€theÐ tÄ Ðevidence€supports€the€trial€courtððs€judgment.€Ð `° ÐÌÒe°Òà  àTennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€50„6„115€provides€that€a€Tennessee€resident,€while€workingÐ 8 ˆ Ðoutside€this€state,€who€is€injured€shall€be€entitled€to€workers€compensation€provided:Ð $ t Ðà€A#A#Js#à€ˆÌà  à(1)€The€employer€was€principally€localized€in€this€state;€orÐ ü L  ÐÌà  à(2)€The€contract€of€hire€was€made€in€this€state.Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àAn€employee€who€sustains€an€injury€in€another€state€may€be€barred€from€Tennessee€benefitsÐ ¬ü  Ðthrough€operation€of€the€doctrine€of€election€of€remedies.€€An€employee€may€be€barred€from€receivingÐ ˜è  ÐTennessee€benefits,€if€prior€to€filing€a€Tennessee€claim,€he€or€she€(a)€affirmatively€acts€to€obtainÐ „Ô  Ðbenefits€from€another€state;€or€(b)€knowingly€and€voluntarily€accepts€benefits€under€the€workerððsÐ pÀ Ðcompensation€law€of€another€state.€òò€Bradshaw€v.€Old€Republic€Ins.€Co.,€óó922€S.W.2d€503,€507€(Tenn.Ð \¬ Ð1996).€€Thus,€the€facts€in€each€case€determines€if€the€plaintiff€in€a€workers'€compensation€claim€fallsÐ H˜ Ðwithin€(a)€or€(b)€or€a€combination€of€both€categories.€Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àAs€to€the€determination€of€affirmative€acts,€the€plaintiff€asserts€that€the€Supreme€Court€hasÐ  \ Ðestablished€a€bright€line€to€determine€that€the€plaintiff€had€filed€a€formal€action€or€executed€anÐ øH Ðagreement€for€compensation.€€Citing€òòGray€v.€Holloway€Const.€Co.,€óó834€S.W.2d€277,€278€(Tenn.Ð ä4 Ð1992).€€Also,€the€plaintiff€contends€that€the€facts€in€this€case€are€similar€to€the€holding€in€òòGray€v.Ð Ð  ÐHolloway€Const.€Co.€€óóIn€òòGray,€óóthe€plaintiff€was€injured€in€Texas€in€1986,€and€received€benefits€underÐ ¼  ÐTexas€workers'€compensation€law.€€He€was€transferred€to€Tennessee€and€injured€on€the€job€in€OctoberÐ ¨ø Ð1996.€€National€Union€Insurance€Company,€in€Texas,€began€paying€benefits€under€a€claim€with€theÐ ”ä ÐTexas€Industrial€Accident€Board.€€Gray€had€a€Texas€attorney.€€National€Union,€upon€finding€the€injuryÐ €Ð Ðoccurred€in€Tennessee,€ceased€payment€of€benefits.€€The€Texas€attorney€promptly€turned€the€matterÐ l¼ Ðover€to€an€attorney€in€Columbia,€Tennessee.€€It€was€the€position€of€Royal€Insurance€Company,€theÐ X ¨ Ðemployerððs€carrier€in€Tennessee,€that€Gray€had€elected€to€accept€benefits€in€Texas.€€The€trial€courtÐ D!” Ðfound€no€binding€election€and€the€Supreme€Court€affirmed,€holding€that€the€receipt€of€benefits€inÐ 0"€  ÐTexas€did€not€amount€to€an€affirmative€action€or€knowing€election€so€as€to€defeat€Gray€from€receivingÐ #l! ÐTennessee€benefits.€€We€disagree€that€the€facts€in€the€present€case€are€similar.€Ð $X" ÐÌà  àIn€òòBradshaw€v.€Old€Republic€Ins.€Co,€óó922€S.W.2d€at€504,€our€Supreme€Court€set€forth€theÐ à%0!$ Ðchronological€history€of€Tennessee€jurisprudence€in€inter„jurisdictional€workers'€compensation€casesÐ Ì&"% Ðbeginning€with€òòTidwell€v.€Chattanooga€Boiler€and€Tank€Co.,€óó163€Tenn.€420,€43€S.W.2d€221€(1931)Ð ¸'#& Ð(Tidwellððs€widow€applied€for€and€received€Ohio€workers'€compensation€benefits€for€the€death€of€herÐ ¤(ô#' Ðhusband€thus,€her€Tennessee€claim€for€benefits€were€denied€on€the€basis€of€an€irrevocable€electionÐ )à$( Ðof€remedies.).€€In€òòThomas€v.€Transport€Insurance€Co.,€óó532€S.W.2d€263€(Tenn.€1976),€the€SupremeÐ |*Ì%) ÐCourt,€speaking€through€Justice€Harbison,€reversed€the€trial€court€which€denied€Tennessee€benefitsÐ h+¸&* Ðto€Thomas,€was€injured€in€MemphisÔ#†X¥ XXX¢ `F#ÔÔ‡X¢ XXX¥ ÔÔ#†¼ð\ »XX¢ F#ÔÔ‡X¢ X »¼ð\Ô€while€working€for€an€Arkansas€employer.€€Thomas€receivedÐ ° ÐArkansas€benefits,€but€the€circumstances€were€in€dispute€thus,€the€Court€could€not€determine€whetherÐ œì ÐThomas€made€a€ð ðbindingðð€election.€€Justice€Harbison€used€the€phrase€ð ðaffirmative€actionðð€to€defineÐ ˆØ Ðthe€effort€an€employee€must€exert€to€support€the€conclusion€that€the€election€is€ð ðbinding.ðð€€Also,€ifÐ tÄ Ðan€employee€voluntarily,€deliberately,€and€with€full€knowledge€of€options€accepts€benefits€under€theÐ `° Ðlaws€of€another€state,€he€may€be€precluded€by€his€election€and€may€not€be€entitled€to€proceed€inÐ L œ ÐTennessee€for€workers'€compensation€benefits.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àIn€òòTrue€v.€Amerail€Corp.,€óó584€S.W.2d€794€(Tenn.€1979),€the€Supreme€Court€re„affirmed€theÐ  ` Ðholdings€in€òòTidwell€óóand€òòThomas.€óó€True,€a€Tennessee€resident€whose€contract€required€him€to€workÐ ü L  Ðin€Virginia,€was€injured.€€True€applied€for€and€received€benefits€under€Virginia€workers'Ð è 8  Ðcompensation€law.€€True€was€barred€from€receiving€Tennessee€benefits€when€he€took€affirmativeÐ Ô$  Ðaction€to€proceed€under€Virginia€law.€€True€had€made€a€binding€election€to€receive€these€benefits.€€Ð À  ÐÌà  àIn€òòPerkins€v.€BE€&€K,€Inc.óó,€802€S.W.2d€215€(Tenn.€1990),€Perkins,€a€Tennessee€resident,Ð ˜è  Ðsustained€an€injury€in€Virginia.€€He€executed€an€ð ðAgreement€for€Compensationðð€with€the€insuranceÐ „Ô  Ðcarrier,€and€Virginia€paid€disability€benefits€and€medical€expenses.€€Perkinsðð€claim€in€Tennessee€forÐ pÀ Ðworkers'€benefits€was€denied€in€that€Perkins€executed€an€agreement€and€accepted€benefits,€whichÐ \¬ Ðconstituted€a€binding€election.€Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àIn€another€Virginia€case,€òòHale€v.€Fraleyððs,€Inc.,€óó825€S.W.2d€690€(Tenn.€1990),€the€plaintiffÐ  p Ðwas€hired€in€Tennessee.€€He€subsequently€began€working€in€Virginia€and€sustained€a€work„relatedÐ  \ Ðinjury.€Hale€was€paid€workers'€compensation€benefits€under€Virginia€workers'€compensation€law€andÐ øH Ðupon€receipt€of€his€first€check,€he€signed€a€ð ðMemorandum€of€Agreementðð€form€required€by€Virginia.€Ð ä4 ÐHowever,€the€proof€established€that€the€form€was€not€explained€to€him€by€the€employerððs€manager.Ð Ð  ÐOther€checks€were€mailed€directly€to€the€plaintiff's€home€in€Tennessee.€€The€plaintiff€was€unawareÐ ¼  Ðthat€he€was€paid€under€Virginia€workersðð€compensation€law.€€The€Supreme€Court€found€that€there€wasÐ ¨ø Ðno€binding€election€and€commented€on€the€fact€that€the€plaintiff€was€not€represented€by€an€attorney.€Ð ”ä ÐÌà  àFrom€our€analysis€of€the€facts€in€this€record,€we€agree€with€the€trial€court€that€the€plaintiffÐ l¼ Ðsought,€through€affirmative€action,€benefits€in€the€states€of€Maryland€and€Pennsylvania.€€AlthoughÐ X ¨ Ðthe€plaintiffððs€attorney€was€put€on€notice€that€the€contract€of€hire€was€in€Tennessee€in€June€1995,€perÐ D!” Ðthe€letter€of€Steve€Schmitt,€a€claims€representative€for€Liberty€Mutual€Insurance€Company€inÐ 0"€  ÐMaryland,€€the€plaintiffððs€attorney€acknowledged,€after€discussion€with€his€client,€that€jurisdiction€wasÐ #l! Ðin€the€state€of€Maryland.€€Likewise,€the€plaintiffððs€attorney€was€advised€that€he€could€submit€anyÐ $X" Ðauthorities€as€to€why€any€claim€should€be€in€Minnesota€rather€than€Maryland.€€In€his€letter€to€SteveÐ ô$D # ÐSchmittÔ#†¼ð\ »XX¢ †i#ÔÔ‡X¢ X »¼ð\ÔÔ#†X¥ XXX¢ Di#ÔÔ‡X¢ XXX¥ Ô€of€September€1,€1995,€concerning€partial€wage€loss€benefits,€Mr.€Ventura€wrote,€ð ðIf€youÐ à%0!$ Ðbelieve€that€Maryland€does€not€require€payment€of€the€partial€wage€loss€benefit,€please€send€meÐ Ì&"% Ðcopies€of€the€case€or€Workerððs€Compensation€Act€that€support€your€position.ðð€Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà  àAs€to€the€Pennsylvania€claim€for€benefits,€Mr.€Ventura€wrote€a€letter,€dated€September€1,Ð )à$( Ð1995,€to€Marianne€Toner,€Liberty€Mutual€Group€in€Pennsylvania,€advising€that€he€had€been€retainedÐ |*Ì%) Ðby€the€plaintiff€to€assist€him€with€regard€to€a€workers'€compensation€injury.€€Apparently,€Mr.€VenturaÐ h+¸&* Ðbelieved€that€there€was€a€dispute€over€the€plaintiffððs€pre„injury€average€weekly€wage€and€the€weeklyÐ ° Ðaverage€wage€upon€the€plaintiffððs€return€to€work.€€In€conclusion,€Mr.€Ventura€wrote,€ð ðIf€you€believeÐ œì Ðthat€Pennsylvania€law€does€not€require€you€to€compensate€Mr.€Eller€for€his€wage€loss,€please€provideÐ ˆØ Ða€copy€of€case€law€or€copies€of€the€pertinent€sections€of€the€Workers'€Compensation€Act€whichÐ tÄ Ðsupport€that€position.ððÐ `° ÐÌà  àOn€November€2,€1995,€Mr.€Ventura€wrote€a€letter€to€Ms.€Jennifer€Bradley€of€Liberty€MutualÐ 8 ˆ ÐInsurance€Company,€Minneapolis,€Minnesota.€€However,€the€deposition€of€Ms.€€Bradley€indicates€thatÐ $ t Ðshe€was€an€adjustor€for€Liberty€Mutual€in€Bala€Cynwyd,€Pennsylvania.€€Mr.€Ventura€was€seekingÐ  ` Ðinformation€concerning€loss€wages€and€unpaid€medical€expenses.€€Again,€Mr.€Ventura€wrote,€ð ðIf€youÐ ü L  Ðbelieve€that€Pennsylvania€law€does€not€require€you€to€compensate€Mr.€Eller€for€his€wage€loss,€I€againÐ è 8  Ðask€that€you€provide€me€with€a€copy€of€the€case€law€or€copies€of€the€pertinent€sections€of€theÐ Ô$  ÐWorkersðð€Compensation€Act€which€support€your€position.ðð€Ð À  ÐÌà  àOn€March€12,€1996,€Liberty€Mutual€Insurance€Company,€through€their€attorneys€inÐ ˜è  ÐPennsylvania,€filed€a€Petition€for€Termination/Suspension€with€the€Pennsylvania€WorkersððÐ „Ô  ÐCompensation€Bureau.€€The€petition€reflected€that€the€employee€was€Clayton€Eller€of€Crossville,Ð pÀ ÐTennessee.€€The€petition€alleged€that€the€plaintiff€had€returned€to€work€at€his€prior€earnings€onÐ \¬ ÐDecember€16,€1995,€and€suffered€no€loss€of€earning€power.€€On€July€31,€1996,€Mr.€Ventura€wrote€aÐ H˜ Ðletter€to€the€Honorable€Thomas€G.€Devlin,€advising€Judge€Devlin€that€he€was€aware€of€the€hearingÐ 4„ Ðof€August€16,€1996,€concerning€the€petition€for€termination.€€Due€to€not€receiving€wage€records€fromÐ  p ÐJennifer€Bradley€and€Loram€Maintenance€of€Way,€Inc.,€and€that€his€client€had€returned€to€MinnesotaÐ  \ Ðfor€further€medical€treatment,€Mr.€Ventura€requested€that€the€hearing€be€continued€to€a€later€date.€€OnÐ øH ÐJanuary€23,€1997,€Judge€Devlin€entered€an€order€granting€Liberty€Mutualððs€petition€for€terminationÐ ä4 Ðfinding€that€the€plaintiff€did€not€appear€nor€did€his€representative,€Mr.€Ventura.€Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àTwenty€five€(25)€days€after€Venturaððs€letter€to€Judge€Devlin,€Ventura€€filed€a€petition€forÐ ¨ø Ðworkers'€compensation€benefits€in€the€state€of€Minnesota€on€August€26,€1996,€on€behalf€of€theÐ ”ä Ðplaintiff.€€On€June€2,€1997,€Judge€Bonnie€Peterson,€Compensation€Judge,€entered€an€order€dismissingÐ €Ð Ðthe€petition€on€the€grounds;€(a)€the€plaintiff€is€a€resident€of€Tennessee;€(b)€the€plaintiff€was€hired€inÐ l¼ ÐTennessee;€(c)€the€plaintiff€was€hired€to€do€work€outside€the€state€of€Minnesota;€(d)€the€plaintiff€wasÐ X ¨ Ðinjured€outside€Minnesota;€and€(e)€Minnesota€does€not€have€jurisdiction€to€determine€issues€that€ariseÐ D!” Ðfrom€the€workers'€compensation€claims€in€the€states€of€Maryland€and€Pennsylvania.€Ð 0"€  ÐÌà  àWe€must€respectfully€disagree€with€the€plaintiff€that€the€total€thrust€of€VenturaððsÐ $X" Ðcorrespondence€was€discovery€and€informational€in€nature.€€The€trial€court€was€correct€in€finding€thatÐ ô$D # Ðthe€plaintiff€affirmatively€sought€benefits€in€both€Maryland€and€Pennsylvania,€thus,€we€affirm€itsÐ à%0!$ Ðjudgment.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  àSince€the€trial€court,€also€found€that€the€plaintiff€had€knowingly€and€voluntarily€acceptedÐ ¤(ô#' Ðworkersðð€compensation€benefits€from€other€states,€we€must€determine€from€the€record€the€correctnessÐ )à$( Ðof€the€trial€courtððs€findings.€€The€plaintiff€asserts€that€the€defendant€has€failed€to€meet€its€burden€ofÐ |*Ì%) Ðproof€in€establishing€medical€benefits€and€temporary€disability€benefits€from€Maryland€had€been€Ô_ÔpaidÐ h+¸&* Ðto€the€plaintiff€thus,€the€plaintiff€was€unable€to€knowingly€and€voluntarily€make€a€binding€election.Ð ° ÐThe€defendant€contends€that€the€plaintiff€continued€to€receive€benefits€well€after€his€representationÐ œì Ðby€Mr.€Ventura.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌÔ% € Ôà  àMr.€Ventura€was€hired€by€the€plaintiff€on€May€5,€1995,€and€Ventura€filed€an€EmployeeððsÐ `° ÐClaim€Petition€with€the€Minnesota€Department€of€Labor€and€Industry€on€August€23,€1996.€€In€thisÐ L œ Ðpetition,€the€plaintiff€is€alleged€to€have€sustained€a€herniated€L5„S1€disc.€€The€plaintiff€receivedÐ 8 ˆ Ðtemporary€total€benefits€from€April€28,€1995,€to€June€5,€1995,€and€temporary€partial€benefits€fromÐ $ t ÐJune€5,€1995,€through€October€19,€1995,€from€presumably€Liberty€Mutual€in€Maryland.€€Thus,Ð  ` Ðpayments€continued€to€the€plaintiff€after€he€was€put€on€notice€that€the€claims€for€benefits€were€beingÐ ü L  Ðpaid€pursuant€to€Maryland€law€in€June€1995.€€This€acceptance€is€coupled€with€Venturaððs€letter€ofÐ è 8  ÐSeptember€1,€1995,€acknowledging€that€Maryland€had€jurisdiction€to€pay€workers'€compensationÐ Ô$  Ðbenefits.€Ð À  ÐÌà  àAs€to€the€Pennsylvania€claim€for€benefits,€the€plaintiff€contends€that€he€was€unaware€of€whereÐ ˜è  Ðthe€benefits€came€from€and€that€he€believed€the€benefits€for€the€injury€of€November€1995,€were€beingÐ „Ô  Ðpaid€through€Minnesota.€€The€deposition€of€Jennifer€Bradley,€a€claims€adjustor€for€Liberty€MutualÐ pÀ ÐInsurance€Company€in€Pennsylvania,€established€that€Liberty€Mutual€paid€partial€disability€loss€wageÐ \¬ Ðand€medical€expenses€for€the€plaintiff's€injury€of€November€1994.€€However,€the€record€is€unclear€asÐ H˜ Ðto€when€these€payments€were€made.€€The€record€does€reflect€that€Bradley€was€contacted€by€theÐ 4„ Ðplaintiff€in€April€1995,€about€some€unpaid€medical€expenses.€€Whether€these€expenses€were€incurredÐ  p Ðin€Pennsylvania€or€Maryland€is€unclear.€€In€March€1996,€Liberty€Mutual€filed€a€petition€to€terminateÐ  \ Ðworkers'€compensation€benefits€on€the€basis€that€the€plaintiff€had€returned€to€work€in€December€1995,Ð øH Ðwith€no€loss€earnings.€€We€cannot€determine€from€the€record€that€the€plaintiff€received€any€benefitsÐ ä4 Ðafter€hiring€Mr.€Ventura.€€However,€from€the€letters€written€to€adjustors€and€attorneys€inÐ Ð  ÐPennsylvania,€Ventura€was€questioning€these€authorities€as€to€why€the€plaintiff€should€not€receiveÐ ¼  Ðadditional€workersðð€compensation€benefits.€€Also,€this€problem€is€compounded€by€the€fact€thatÐ ¨ø ÐVentura€sought€a€continuance€in€a€legal€proceeding,€which€was€to€determine€if€the€plaintiffððs€workers'Ð ”ä Ðcompensation€benefits€should€be€terminated.€€Although€the€plaintiff€raises€Mr.€Venturaððs€lack€ofÐ €Ð Ðexperience€in€Pennsylvania€and€Maryland€as€a€reason€for€certain€actions,€we€agree€with€the€defendantÐ l¼ Ðthat€the€plaintiff€is€bound€by€the€actions€of€his€duly„employed€attorney.€€òòSeeóó€òòSimmons€v.€Ô_ÔOððCharleyÔ_Ôððs,Ð X ¨ ÐInc.,€óó914€S.W.2d€895€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1995),€òòperm.€app.€deniedóó,€(Tenn.€1995);€òòÔ_ÔBellarÔ_Ô€v.€BaptistÐ D!” ÐHospital,€Inc.,€óó559€S.W.2d€788,€789€(Tenn.€1978).€€The€record€supports€the€trial€courtððs€ruling€andÐ 0"€  Ðwe€see€no€reason€to€disagree.Ð #l! ÐÌà  àThe€trial€courtððs€judgment€is€affirmed€and€the€costs€are€taxed€against€the€plaintiff.Ð ô$D # ÐÔ#†X¥ XXX¢ ²x#ÔÔ#†¼¦\»XX¥ px#ÔÔ€X¥ X»¼¦\ÔÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð  )ð$( Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àL.€TERRY€Ô_ÔLAFFERTYÔ_Ô,€SENIOR€JUDGEÐ  *à%) ÐÔ‡¼¦\»XX¥ Ôà@\ \ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@ò ò àAT€KNOXVILLE,€TENNESSEEˆÐ È ÐÌÔ#†X¥ X»¼¦\#ÔÌò òÔ‡¼¦\»XX¥ ÔÓ  Óà @ àCLAYTON€D.€Ô_ÔELLERÔ_Ô€€và0 @ à.à0 @ à€€Ô_ÔLORAMÔ_Ô€MAINTENANCE€OF€WAY,€INC.€òòóóÔ#†X¥ X»¼¦\ä#Ôó óÐ è8 ÐÓžÓà@    àò òCircuit€Court€for€Cumberland€CountyˆÐ  P Ðà@©©$àNo.€CV002752ˆÐ ð @ ÐÌà@*àßA€V) °°` d€÷EaÏ ` A߈Ð Ð  ÐÌà@· · àNo.€E1999„00874„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„Filed€September€12,€2000ˆÐ Ï   ÐÌßA€V) °°` dEa®` AßÐ ¯ÿ  Ðó óÌÔ‡¼¦\»XX¥ ÔÔ#†X¥ X»¼¦\µ #Ôà@ÕÕ&àò òJUDGMENTó óÔ‡¼¦\»XX¥ ÔÔ#†X¥ X»¼¦\¡#ԈР®þ  ÐÌÌà  àà ` àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€of€referral€toÐ ~Î Ðthe€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panelððs€memorandum€Opinion€settingÐ n¾ Ðforth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ð ^® Ðà  àà ` àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€memorandum€Opinion€of€the€Panel€shouldÐ Nž Ðbe€accepted€and€approved;€andÐ >Ž Ðà  àà ` àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€findings€of€facts€and€conclusions€of€law€areÐ .~ Ðadopted€and€affirmed€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€Judgement€of€the€Court.Ð n Ðà  àà ` àCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€appellant,€Clayton€Ô_ÔEllerÔ_Ô€and€Philip€D.€Burnett,€surety,Ð ^ Ðfor€which€execution€€may€issue€if€necessary.€Ð þN ÐÌòòóóÔ‡¼¦\»XX¥ ÔÔ#†X¥ X»¼¦\p¥#Ô09/12/00Ð Þ. ÐÔ‡¼¦\»XX¥ ÔÔ#†X¥ X»¼¦\Ï¥#ÔÌÌ