ÿWPCØ :U:< %v|n­Œ 049mw@m4­ÁÁÁÆÁƇÆMÆ 0JÙ 0T# 0^w 0hÕ 0r= 0|¯ 0†+ 0± 1uA 0d¶ AQ Æk 0P1 0@ 0DÁ D/ B4 BQ D3nU6¡B)×DC AMCU*ºf½U>#&av~‡vÓ<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpiX#|x«<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpiXÂxþ6X@É“8õ X@( ¤U$¡¡Ó  Ó D¿U[PPPPÓ€]tÁ$(Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 52 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5((3Þ¸$¢¢Ý ƒ¤U!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  Ý("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxd< Œ 9p`(Courier New% Line 7 d00007Border 1dd!#1Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial ùÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€/ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€3ÔÔ€3ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€3XÔÌÌJuly€1,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó \Ñ\R AØ'\Ñ< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€/ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€3ÔÔ€3ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€3XÔÌÌJuly€1,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó óPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  ellan Geneva ÒÒ  ellan Geneva ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€/ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ Ð ÒÙ€!ÙÑ\R AØ'\ÑßR€241A1-j|` ç `€€@ÿRßÞ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌÌÌÌGALLATIN€ALUMINUM€PRODUCTS,€INC.)Ì€€€€€€€€Plaintiff/Appellee€€€€€€)€€No.€01S01„9710„CV„00238€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ï)€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìv.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€SUMNER€COUNTY€CIRCUIT€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ï)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€ÌROSIE€L.€HARRIS,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€HON.€THOMAS€GOODALL,€JUDGE€€Ì€€€€€€€€Defendant/Appellant€€€€€)€€Ìòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óó)ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌòòFOR€THE€APPELLANTóó:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òòFOR€THE€APPELLEEóó:Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌGARY€R.€GOBER€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ARTHUR€E.€McCLELLAN€€€ÌBRUCE€BALCOM€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€116€Public€Square€€€€€€€€ÌP.O.€Box€121497€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Gallatin,€Tennessee€37066€€€€ÏNashville,€Tennessee€37212€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àòòMEMORANDUM€OPINIONóóÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àMEMBERS€OF€PANELÌÌà@ àJANICE€M.€HOLDER,€ASSOCIATE€JUSTICE,€SUPREME€COURTÌà@ à€WILLIAM€H.€INMAN,€SENIOR€JUDGEÌà@ àWILLIAM€S.€RUSSELL,€SPECIAL€JUDGEÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌAFFIRMED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€RUSSELL,€SP.€J.ÌÌÓÓÑ7€"&XXdÈXXdÈ7Ñà àThis€appeal€in€a€workers'€compensation€case€has€beenÏreferred€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€ofÏthe€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tennessee€Code€AnnotatedÏSection€50„6„225€(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€SupremeÏCourt€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.Ìà@ àÌà àThis€case€involves€a€claim€for€compensation€based€upon€aÏdiagnosis€of€injury€to€the€employee€of€bilateral€carpal€tunnelÏsyndrome.€€The€trial€judge€dismissed€the€case€for€the€employee'sÏfailure€to€give€timely€notice€of€the€injury€as€required€by€T.C.A.ÏSec.€50„6„201,€and€for€the€failure€of€the€employee€to€prove€thatÏthe€injury€and€also€the€resultant€depression€was€caused€by€theÏwork€performed€in€the€course€and€scope€of€the€subject€employment.ÌÌà àSuit€was€filed€by€the€employer,€as€allowed€by€T.C.A.€Sec.Ï50„6„225,€òòetóó€òòseq.óó,€and€the€employer€alleged€in€the€complaint€thatÍliability€was€denied€for,€òòinteróó€òòaliaóó,€the€failure€of€the€employeeÏto€give€timely€notice€as€required€by€T.C.A€Sec.€50„6„201.€€ThisÏplaced€the€burden€of€proving€compliance€with€the€noticeÏrequirement€upon€the€employee.€òòYork€v.€Federal€Chemical€Companyóó,Ï216€S.W.€2d€725,€726€(Tenn.€1949).€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà àNotice€is€required€to€be€given€in€plain€and€simple€languageÏof€the€name€and€address€of€the€employee,€the€time,€place€andÏnature€and€cause€of€the€accident€resulting€in€injury€or€death,Ïand€shall€be€signed€by€the€claimant€or€by€some€person€on€hisÏbehalf,€or€by€any€one€or€more€of€the€claimant's€dependents€if€theÏaccident€resulted€in€death€to€the€employee.€€T.C.A€Sec.€50„6„202Ï(a)(1).€€€€Ìà àNotice€may€be€waived€based€on€conduct€of€the€employer€inÏrecognition€of€his€liability;€or€by€excuse€based€on€inability€orÏfaultless€omission€by€the€employee.€€òòMarshall€Const.€Co.€v.ÏRussellóó,€163€Tenn.€410,€43€S.W.€2d€208.€€This€court€hasÏconsistently€held€that€the€giving€of€statutory€notice€to€theÏemployer€is€an€absolute€prerequisite€to€the€right€of€an€employeeÏto€recover€compensation,€unless€the€employer€has€actual€knowledgeÏof€the€employee's€injury€or€waives€notice€thereof,€or€unless€theÏemployee€had€a€reasonable€excuse€for€failure€to€give€notice.€ÏòòAetna€Casualty€and€Surety€Company€v.€Longóó,€569€S.W.€2d€444,€449Ï(Tenn.€1978).ÌÌà àThe€trial€court€held€that€the€plaintiff€knew€that€she€hadÏwork€related€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€on€April€21,€1995,€and€thatÍher€obligation€to€report€it€to€her€employer€arose€at€that€time.€ÏThe€only€attempt€at€a€written€report€was€a€letter€by€her€attorneyÏdated€June€7,€1995.€€In€pertinent€part,€it€said€only:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà8 àI€hereby€give€written€notice,€pursuant€toÏTennessee€workers'€compensation€act,€thatÏyour€employee,€Rosie€L.€Harris,€sustained€anÏon€the€job€injury€on€or€about€03/12/95.€€ThisÏnotice€is€in€addition€to€any€previous€notice,Ïverbal€or€written,€previously€given;€and€toÏany€actual€notice€on€your€part€of€thisÏinjury.ÌÌÓÓÌà àThe€trial€court€correctly€held€that€this€letter€from€theÏemployee's€attorney€was€neither€timely€nor€comprehensiveÏcompliance€with€the€notice€requirement,€and€proceeded€to€examineÏthe€evidence€of€alleged€actual€notice.€€The€trial€judge€concludedÏthat€actual€notice€was€not€given€within€thirty€days€after€fullÏknowledge€was€had€by€the€employee€on€April€21,€1995.€€ActualÏnotice€was€not€given€until€after€May€30,€1995.ÌÌà àAlthough€depression€was€not€an€injury€claimed€in€herÏcounter„complaint,€the€employee€sought€compensation€for€it€atÏtrial.€€Again,€the€trial€judge€found€that€no€notice€of€thatÏcondition€was€timely€given€and€no€actual€knowledge€by€theÏemployer€proved.ÌÌà àThe€notice€issue€is€a€fact€issue.€€Our€review€is€òòdeóó€òònovoóóÏupon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumptionÍof€correctness€of€the€findings€below,€unless€the€preponderance€ofÏthe€evidence€is€otherwise.€€T.C.A€Sec.€50„6„225€(e)€(2)€(1991).€ÏThis€standard€of€review€requires€this€court€to€weigh€in€depth€theÏfactual€findings€and€conclusions€of€the€trial€court.€€òòHumphrey€v.ÏDavid€Witherspoon,€Inc.óó,€734€S.W.€2d€315€(Tenn.€1987).ÌÌà àThe€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€the€findings€ofÏthe€trial€judge€on€this€issue.ÌÌà àAs€to€the€causation€issue,€it€is€well€established€thatÏmedical€causation€and€the€permanency€of€any€injury€in€a€workers'Ïcompensation€case€must€be€established€by€expert€testimony,€in€allÏbut€simple€and€routine€cases.€€òòAetna€Casualty€&€Surety€Co.€v.ÏLongóó,€569€S.W.€2d€444€(Tenn.€1978).ÌÌà àIn€this€case€two€physicians€testified.€€Both€agreed€that€Ms.ÏHarris,€the€injured€employee,€was€suffering€from€carpal€tunnelÏsyndrome.€€Dr.€Leon€Ensalada€testified€in€person.€€He€was€of€theÏclear€opinion€that€Ms.€Harris'€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€was€notÏcausally€related€to€her€employment€by€Gallatin€Aluminum€ProductsÏCompany.ÌÌà àDr.€Arthur€Cushman€testified€that€there€are€no€scientific€orÏsystematic€studies€that€establish€a€causal€relationship€betweenÏcarpal€tunnel€syndrome€and€repetitive€work;€and€that€it€may€beÏcaused€by€arthritis,€thyroid€disease,€obesity,€age,€the€shape€ofÍthe€wrist,€gender,€injuries€to€the€hand,€and€for€no€apparentÏreason€at€all.€€He€did€say,€after€reviewing€a€video€thatÏpurported€to€depict€Ms.€Harris'€job€functions€of€repetitiveÏgrasping€and€use€of€the€hands€for€a€prolonged€period€of€time,Ïthat€her€carpal€tunnel€syndrome€was€consistent€with€theseÏactivities.€€The€accuracy€of€the€activity€depictions€as€presentedÏin€the€video€was€strongly€disputed.ÌÌà àWe€do€not€find€that€the€evidence€of€causation€at€workÏpreponderates€against€the€finding€of€the€trial€judge.ÌÌÌà àThe€dismissal€of€the€employee's€counter„complaint€by€theÏtrial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€assessed€to€theÏappellant.Ìà àÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÓÓóó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÏWILLIAM€S.€RUSSELL,€SPECIAL€JUDGEÌÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌóóWILLIAM€H.€INMAN,€SENIOR€JUDGE€€€€€€Ì€ÌÌÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌóóJANICE€M.€HOLDER,€ASSOCIATE€JUSTICE,ÌSUPREME€COURTÌ€ÌÑ€5ÑÇÒ  ÒÒ £ ÒòòÔ€/¼ÔÔ€6Ôà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌßJ€27;+'b|4` ç `€@ÿJßà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌÌGALLATIN€ALUMINUM€PRODUCTS,}à àÌINC.,à àà àà àà àà àà à}à àSUMNER€CIRCUITà àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à}à àNo.€14557„C€BelowÌà àPlaintiff/Appelleeà àà àà à}Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à}à àHon.€Thomas€Goodall,€Ìvs.à àà àà àà àà àà à}à àJudgeÌà àà àà àà àà àà à}ÌROSIE€L.€HARRIS,à àà àà à}à àNo.€01S01„9710„CV„00238Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à}Ìà àDefendant/Appellantà àà à}à àAFFIRMED.ÌÌÌà@ àJUDGMENT€ORDERÌÌÌÓ€Óà àà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€theÏorder€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€theÏPanel's€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusionsÏof€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference.Ìà àà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€OpinionÏof€the€Panel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌà àà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€isÏmade€the€judgment€of€the€Court.ÌÓ ` ` šXÓà àà àCosts€will€be€paid€by€Defendant/Appellant€and€Surety,€for€whichÏexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÓÓà àà àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€on€July€1,€1998.òˆòÌóóÔ€6XÔÔ€/ÔóˆóÌÌà àà àà àà àà àòòà àPER€CURIAMóó