WPC = A;G^o xtF.5KzS,\wmnlZhoÒD"zTУȕj^'մ!=VkqK5FˣD\4Hjhg;Fw&UZ.0>m_0Y?f2!47*AMz͙0}j*OD'96F7MR绮,ՋF`/ /0bX؋ ;i%H槆%%,!"C/`2{Fى BI^,xK#C\̬+2FA?E)ܵq=3sI$ ~`OZY wW-R@l{k1}`*RX#?ב1ipH ,a#?zu~Gd\T7P0p-2p5t T(Cl( x\[$Mk"F0hiq:Tj=4'C)1vOoZdU>x 0d 0y 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0! 0" 0# 0$ 0% 0n& 0<& 0p&U*4( 1e^( 7( B( 0C(1)@* 1eH* 0*+ 0+#Y,U N. %h.Mn.(r.N. 1u. 72/^ C/wO/4S/g/ mi/$/1j2 0Z344N5 AS5 05 A6 zR777UN8E8UN88888888888888888 D3<9<9<9<9 0o9%:: 0D; A; D-< 0K<\  `&Times New Roman'  (Michele O'Leary(0Michele O'Leary .   4[+[ 2_level11   , 8.` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  2[+[ 0_level2   X 8.` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  2[+[ 0_level3    8.4` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  2[+[ 0_level4    8.` ` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  2[+[ 0_level5    8. ` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  2[+[ 0_level6    8. ` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  2[+[ 0_level7   4 8. ` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  2[+[ 0_level8   ` 8.` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  2[+[ 0_level9    8.<` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levsl1   , 8.` hp x (#823  Ԁ   8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levsl2   X 8.` hp x (#823  Ԁ   8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levsl3    8.4` hp x (#823  Ԁ   8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levsl4    8.` ` hp x (#823  Ԁ   8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levsl5    8. ` hp x (#823  Ԁ   8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levsl6    8. ` hp x (#823  Ԁ   8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levsl7   4 8. ` hp x (#823  Ԁ   8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levsl8   ` 8.` hp x (#823  Ԁ   8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levsl9    8.<` hp x (#823  Ԁ   8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levnl1   , 8.` hp x (#823     8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levnl2   X 8.` hp x (#823     8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levnl3    8.4` hp x (#823     8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levnl4    8.` ` hp x (#823     8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levnl5    8. ` hp x (#823     8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levnl6    8. ` hp x (#823     8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levnl7   4 8. ` hp x (#823     8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levnl8   ` 8.` hp x (#823     8.` hp x (#8  2[[ 0_levnl9    8.<` hp x (#823     8.` hp x (#8  <:Default ParaXXX<:Footnote Ref2+} 0_level1              ? ;1 4 <DL!(#;23  ..  e[X` hp x (#e  %2A`Arial(35;AGMSY_1i.i.i.i.i.i.i.i."i. d($      <)..      -XXX-XXXX-X  _ XXXX @  1     35;AGMSY_21)11111111111111(2V$ +y!..      -XXX-XXXX-X  XXX  0  #|x(ry$..      -X XX-XX XX-X HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 60(9 Z6Times New Roman Regular-X3#37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)2i)Cv[) qL)2+00U  )V$..      -XXX-XXXX-XXXX  1    _CarriersrefusaltopayDr._Milek_Ԁwasnotan_afront_ԀtothetrialcourtforCarrierrespectfully  advisedthetrialcourtthatitintendedtoappealtheorderrequiringitpayDr._Milek_.Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 <)..      -XXX-XXXX-X  _XX@*  1  (3$ +y!..      -XXX-XXXX-X  ݄Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5^A]`YE<<C(3$ +y!..      -XXX-XXXX-X  _]cb&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKKDC:\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("  Z6Times New Roman Regular(9 Z 6Times New Roman Regular$$$$'dxd(3$ +y!..      -XXX-XXXX-X  ݃Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$   1  _]cb I&mage <=8C HKKKK)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  +y!..      -XXX-XXXX-X  _       !XXXX  "(832  ; !ޥX!XINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL   ATNASHVILLE#!XX!ޥ# @  !aX!XKATHYGEORGEv. F CARRIERCORPORATION,et.al.#!XX!ai#   R  DirectAppealfromtheCannonCountyCircuitCourt  D No.3170,RobertE._Corlew_,III,Judge   * 򀀀    No.M199902577_WC_ԄR3CVMailedSeptember26,2000  r  󀀀 FiledOctober27,2000 󀀀 X  d    ThisworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers $t CompensationAppealsPanelinaccordancewiththeTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3)  Z forhearingandreportingfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Theissueonappeal @ presentedbytheemployer/appellantiswhethertheCourterroneouslyawardeda25% & penaltyontemporarytotaldisabilitybenefitsintheabsenceofafindingofbadfaith.   Theemployeealsoappealsandpresentsaseparateissue,whethertheemployeris  entitledtoanoffsetfordisabilityinsurancebenefitsreceivedbytheemployeeforthe  periodofdisability.Thepanelhasconcludedthatthejudgmentofthetrialcourtshould n beaffirmed. T  Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3)AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheCircuit  p CourtAffirmed. V   < FrankG.Clement,Jr.,Sp.J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichFrankF. " Drowota,III,J.,andJohnA.Turnbull,Sp.J.,joined.  B.TimothyPirtle,McMinnville,TNfortheappellant/employerCarrierCorporation,et.al. ! &;FrankBuckandLenaAnnBuck,Smithville,TN,fortheappelleeKathyGeorge. P#! @FF' OPINION  %l #    `  XKathyGeorge(George),theemployee,workedforCarrierCorporationfor &8"% seventeen(17)years.SheinjuredherleftarmatworkonApril10,1995whenshewas '#& usinganairguntorepairlargeairconditioningunits.Useoftheairgunwouldjerkthe ($' operatorsarm.NumerousemployeesofCarrierreportedsimilararminjuriesresulting )$( fromtheuseoftheairgun. *%)   f+&* Georgewenttothecompanynursetocomplainofthepain.Thenursetreated   Georgewithhotwaxdips,whichdidnotabateherpain.Georgecontinuedtocomplain  ofpainsoinJulyof1995,Carrierprovidedapanelofthreegeneralpracticephysicians, | fromwhichpanelGeorgechoseDr.BryanChastain.AfterseveralvisitstoDr.Chastain b didnotrelievethepain,Georgerequestedanarmspecialist.Shewasthenreferredto H anotherpanelofthreedoctorsandshechoseDr.JohnMoorefromthatpanel. . ~   d Dr.MooretreatedGeorgefromAugust10,1995untilSeptember6,1996.Dr.  J MoorediagnosedGeorgeashavingoverusesyndromeandcarpaltunnelsymptoms  0 causedbyherwork.Herecommendedseveralliftingrestrictions.Whileunderthecare    ofDr.Moore,Georgecontinuedtoexperiencepain.Dr.Mooresubsequentlyconcluded    thathehadnothingfurthertoofferGeorge.HerecommendedthatsheseeeitherDr.   FrankJones,Dr.MichaelMilek,orDr.DavidSchmidt,allorthopaedicsurgeons,fora x  surgicalevaluation. ^   D  GeorgeselectedDr.Milek,however,CarrierwouldonlyapproveDr.Jones. *z  GeorgeobligedandelectedtobeseenbyDr.Jones,whodeterminedthatGeorge ` shouldcontinuewiththesametreatmentshehadbeenusinginthepast.Sincethis F treatmentwasnoteffectiveandshewasstillexperiencingpain,Georgeelectedtosee , Dr.MilekwithouttheapprovalofCarrier.Dr.Milek,anorthopaedicsurgeon,  recommendedsurgery.Carrierrefusedtopayforthesurgery.SinceCarrierwouldnot  payforthesurgery,Georgehadtomakeprivatearrangementstopayforthesurgery.  Dr.MilekperformedsurgeryonGeorgesarmonJanuary12,1998.Georgereported t thatshefelt90%betterasaresultofthesurgery. Z  @ GeorgefiledacomplaintonJanuary21,1997,seekingworkerscompensation &v benefits.Tendayslater,Carrierfiledaseparatecomplainttodeclarethatithadno  \ furtherobligationstoGeorgeundertheWorkersCompensationAct. B  ( GeorgedidnotworkfromJune25,1997untilMarch30,1998.Though  numerousCarrieremployeeshadexperiencedsimilararminjuries,Carrierclaimedthat  Georgesinjurydidnotariseinthecourseandscopeofheremployment.AfterCarrier   deniedhertemporarytotaldisabilitybenefits,claimingherconditionwasnotwork p!  related,Georgeappliedforandreceivedbenefitsunderherpersonaldisability V"! insurance.Shereceived$3,144.30fromherdisabilitycarrierfortheperiodof <#" temporarytotaldisabilityatissue. "$r#  %X $ OnMay30,1997,GeorgefiledamotiontocompelCarriertoprovidemedical %>!% treatmentbyDr.Milek.ThereafterthetrialcourtorderedCarriertopayfortreatmentby &$"& Dr.Milek.ThecourtreasonedthatGeorgehadacompensableinjury,neededfurther ' #' medicaltreatment,andwasentitledtoselectthetreatingphysicianfromthepanel (#(  notwithstandinganyotherpanelswithwhichshewasprovided.ThoughCarrier )$) refusedtopayforDr.Mileksservicesafterbeingorderedtodosobythetrialcourt,9 %  1      ׀Dr.   MilekperformedthesurgeryonGeorgesarmonJanuary12,1998,afterGeorges  healthinsurancecompanyagreedtopay60%ofthebill.Thus,Georgeusedher | personalassetstopaythebalanceofthemedicalexpensesforthesurgerywhilethis b litigationwaspending. H  . ~ TheTrialCourtfoundthatGeorgesinjuryaroseinthecourseandscopeofher  d employmentandawardedworkerscompensationbenefits.Withreferencetothe  J specificissuesonappeal,theTrialCourtawardedtemporarytotaldisabilitybenefits  0 fromSeptember25,1997throughMarch30,1998,anda25%penaltyagainstCarrier    pursuanttoT.C.A.506225(j)forrefusingtopaytemporarytotalbenefits.TheTrial    CourtfurtherruledthatCarrierisentitledtoa setoffforthefundsGeorgereceived   fromherdisabilityinsurer,being$3,114.30. x   ^  Ourreviewisdenovowithapresumptionofcorrectnessunlessthe D  preponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2). *z   ` CarrierassertsthattheTrialcourtcannotawardapenaltyunlessthereisan F affirmativefindingofbadfaith.CarriercorrectlystatesthattheTrialCourtdeclinedto , makeaspecificfindingofbadfaith;however,theapplicablestatutedoesnotrequirean  affirmativefindingofbadfaith.Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(j)provides:    8 ` Ifanemployerwrongfullyfailstopayanemployeesclaimfor t temporarytotaldisabilitypayments,theemployershallbe Z liable,inthediscretionofthecourt,topaytheemployee,in @ additiontotheamountduefortemporarytotaldisability &v payments,asumnotexceedingtwentyfivepercent(25%)of  \ suchtemporarytotaldisabilityclaim;provided,thatitismade B toappeartothecourtthattherefusaltopaysuchclaimwas ( notingoodfaith....(emphasisadded).` x` x   Whileotherstatutesrequireafindingof badfaith,wefindTenn.CodeAnn.50   6225(j)tobetheapplicablestatuteanditdoesnotrequireafindingofbadfaith.This p!  statutemerelyrequiresthatthecourtdeterminewhethertherefusaltopaytemporary V"! totalbenefitswasnotingoodfaith. <#"  "$r# TheevidenceshowedthatnumerousCarrieremployeesreportedexperiencing %X $ similararminjuriesasaresultoftheairgunwhichcausedGeorgesinjury.The %>!% evidencefurthershowedthatGeorgeworkedforCarrierfor17years,andthatDr. &$"& Moore,Dr.Talmage,andDr.Milekfoundherpaintobejobrelated.Moreover,theTrial ' #' Courtspecificallyfound thereisnoquestionbutthatthePlaintiffwas,infact, (#( temporarilytotallydisabledfortheperiodinquestion.(emphasisadded).TheTrial  Courtalsofoundthat theevidenceshowsthatreasonablytheemployershouldnot  denythecompensabilityofthePlaintiffsinjury.TheTrialCourtsfindingthatCarrier | couldnotreasonablydenycompensabilityisbutoneofseveralwaysofstatingthat b Carrieractedunreasonablyindenyingthecompensation.WeinterprettheTrialCourts H useofthewordunreasonablytomeanthesameasnotactingingoodfaith. . ~ Accordingly,Carriersdenialoftemporarytotaldisabilitybenefitsinthefaceofthis  d evidencewasnotingoodfaith.Wefurtherfindthattheevidencedoesnot  J preponderateagainsttheTrialCourtsfindingthatGeorgeincurredadditionalexpense  0 asaresultofthisdenialofbenefitsandthattheawardofa25%penaltyisappropriate    consideringtheexpensesanddamagesGeorgeincurredasaresultofthedenialof    thesebenefits.    x  Asaseparateissueonappeal,Georgeassertsthatthetrialcourterroneously ^  grantedCarriera setofffordisabilitybenefitspaidtoherintheamountof$3,114.30. D  GeorgearguesthatCarriersfailuretopaymedicalbillsandtemporarytotalbenefits *z  pursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.506225(j)and506128justifiesdenialofthesetoff.For ` theemployertobebarredfromreceivinganoffsetforbenefitspaidtotheemployee, F Tenn.CodeAnn.506128requiresthatanemployer knowingly,willfully,and , intentionallycausealossclaimtobepaidundersicknessoraccidentinsurance.While  weagreewiththeTrialCourtthatCarrierdidnotactingoodfaithindenyingtemporary  totalbenefits,thatfindingdoesnotnecessarilyrequireafindingthatCarrierknowingly,  willfullyandintentionallycausedaclaimtobefiledforunderadisabilityinsurance t policy.Indeed,thedenialofbenefitsbyCarrieristhereasonGeorgefiledaclaimunder Z herdisabilitypolicy,butthatisdifferentfromCarrier knowingly,willfully,and @ intentionallycausingittobefiled.Moreover,theevidenceintherecorddoesnot &v preponderateinfavoroffindingthatCarrierknowingly,willfullyandintentionally  \ causedtheclaimtobefiledbyGeorgeunderherpersonaldisabilityinsurancecarrier. B Theevidencedoesnotpreponderateagainstthetrialcourtsfindingastothisissue; ( accordingly,weaffirmtheTrialCourtsdecisionthatCarrierisentitledtothesetoffin  theamountofthepaymentsreceivedbytheemployeefromherdisabilityinsurer.     Thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmed.Costsonappealaretaxedtothe p!  appellant,CarrierCorporation. V"!  <#"  "$r#  %X $  %>!%  &$"&  ` 0 0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#_____________________________________' #'(#(#  ` 0 0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#FrankG.Clement,Jr.,SpecialJudge(#((#(#  )$)   l*%* !aX!X8FFXXdd8  @@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL     #!XX!a9# $  !aX!XKATHYGEORGEv.CARRIERCORPORATION,etal.#!XX!aR:#       @@ CircuitCourtforCannonCounty   @@No.3170    x   ^   @@*A$G) ` dE<C` A D   K  No.M199902577_WC_ԄR3CVFiledOctober27,2000 1   g  A$G) ` dE<` A M    T         =  JUDGMENT !aX!X#!XX!a[=#      !aX!X#!XX!a=#HXXX!X ` ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferral  totheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanelsMemorandumOpinion h settingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinby N reference. 4  j  ` Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthattheMemorandumOpinionofthePanel P shouldbeacceptedandapproved;and 6    ` Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanelsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaware  adoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt.   ~  ` Costswillbepaidbytheappellant,CarrierCorporation,forwhichexecutionmay d issueifnecessary. J    0!!  ` ITISSOORDERED. "f"  "L#  #2$  $ %  `     h      p PERCURIAM % &  ` #!XXXHX>#