ÿWPC ºkHk–ÊýªLª«©Î“o3î ‡#Ï¥Ý4]ÀH®dC"Žq‡àᢞM*d_=rÆÿ£MvLñ¾EÂÍÓ–h­Dÿœpü¦­ðØÐ¨Oþ@®«©9[D7°]|DêIõô?Ÿ#§ÕË&¨B:×ò·–l•÷÷žÐ'n, -Ÿ¹+ÈãQá/öo›êÛÁ]hŸÓxrÒVî 6,Û È8îÙBC¶a²"&2ä:'¾ Œq­5´Ï§ÜÉ¿¯@0 >ºx¤ìBœþÀª…ÓÛ„°Oë_²Æ²1D-”„ÜS¯Ñ7¢ÜtC]æs(íß™^0Ñ»©»À&Ø–5¤êÌQO$\D­z_UѱßF7?`vÙÄÔì±Ó€FÞU¡#â)¦ÌÏc5¿ˆ&UÑÖµÁï($Ux›2«‹¨6]ã¥ÅÂ験“ö=vô\C%Q& ¢ÊÑâ·ŒIÀ•À@¢}Co¼\¶©ó-cvÒþbÇìôâÙ,PY@ësÌt"–²Ûl ”Tªh“J”ÃÎs‚»ZF»Åø=!noZ4&=0ùd9„î÷:#ój9ÑÀ|Å!˜›'¬ šG8¬ ƒð¡PO Múì[þn– Ydø¸œßb %\ 0Pb 0ˆ²UN: 1uˆ 72ý 0d/ z“ Ò 0xß 0ŒW 0 ã 0´ƒ Æ7 Æý ÆÃƉ 0ÈON 0Ü 0ðõEå 1‰ç 72p^ ¢w®4²ÆÕ m×#Áî¯ 0D·Nû 72ýN/ z1Ò«UN}U@ËËËËËËb                                     0ë B þþ 0¤ D5¿ D-ô 0K!! ASlÆ¿ 0¤… 0D) A«m»((b$´´Ô2•lÔððÔ3  Ôà0  à(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular3#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i)(<$µµà0  àÔ2•lÔððÔ3  Ôà0` (#(#à ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt(P-^$¶¶à0  àà0` (#(#àÔ2•lÔððÔ3  Ôà0¸ ` (#` (#à(dž$··à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àÔ2•lÔððÔ3  Ôà0¸ (#¸ (#à(xá¨$¸¸à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àÔ2•lÔððÔ3  Ôà0h(#(#à(Œ»$¹¹à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àÔ2•lÔððÔ3  Ôà0Àh(#h(#àLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5( ÕT$ººà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àÔ2•lÔððÔ3  Ôà0À(#À(#à(´0$»»à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àÔ2•lÔððÔ3  Ôà0p(#(#à(ÈÌ}$ïïà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àà0p(#(#àÔ2•lÔððÔ3  Ôà0Èp(#p(#à x•lGaeimquy}Bullet ListBullets Listyoú(L ˜L-("3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP LaserJet 4,ü,,,,,ü0 (#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóói)&˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman Regular(ÖÃ9 Z‹(Times New Roman - ù-(|G2Ò‘$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€âd»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€XéÃX»»Ô d(|3ù$$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€âd»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ù$$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€âd»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€âd»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼âd»»»Ôà@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@22ìàSPECIAL€WORKERS'€€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELˆÐ È Ðà@''%ìàAT€JACKSONˆÐ à0 ÐÔ‡XéÃX»¼âdÔà@²²ìà(January€27,€2000€Session)ˆÐ øH ÐÌò òÔ#†¼âd»XXéÃy#ÔÓ  ÓCHRISTINE€GRIFFIN€òòóó€v.€FIREMAN'S€FUND€INSURANCE€COMPANY,Ð Ø ( ÐCHRISTINE€GRIFFIN€V.€COUNTRY€HOME€HEALTHòòóó€Ð ð @ ÐÔ‡XéÃX»¼âdÔó óÓÓÌÌà@L L ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€€Dyer€CountyˆÐ è 8  Ðà@™ ™ ìàNos.€€97€C„368€and€97€C„642€€€€€€J.€Steven€Stafford,€ChancellorˆÐ Ø(  ÐÌÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<§` A߈Ð ¨ø  ÐÌà@ÁÁ ìàNo.€W1999„02150„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CV„€Mailed€June€12,€2000;€Filed€July€25,€2000ˆÐ §÷  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<†` AßÐ ‡× Ðó óÌÌThis€worker's€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€AppealsÐ vÆ ÐPanel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð50„6„225€(e)(3)€for€hearing€andÐ f¶ Ðreporting€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€The€employer's€insurance€company,€Fireman'sÐ V¦ ÐFund€Insurance€Company,€appeals€the€judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€of€Dyer€County€where€theÐ F– Ðtrial€court€held€that€future€medical€treatment€would€remain€open€in€the€two€workersðð€compensationÐ 6† Ðcases€filed€by€the€plaintiff,€Ô_ÔMs.GriffinÔ_Ô;€and€if€the€plaintiff€required€future€medical€care,€aÐ &v Ðdetermination€of€responsibility€€would€be€made€based€upon€the€facts€presented€at€that€time.€€For€theÐ f Ðreasons€stated€in€this€opinion,€we€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.Ð V ÐÌò òTenn.€Code€Ann.€€ðð50„6„225€(e)(1999)€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Ð æ6 ÐAffirmed€ó óÐ Ö& ÐÌòòÔ#†¼âd»àXéã#ÔÔ‡XéÃX.¼âdÔ€WEATHERFORD,€Sr.€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòHOLDER,€J.,óó€and€òòÔ_ÔMALOANÔ_Ô,Ð ¶!  ÐÔ_ÔSp.JÔ_Ô,óó,€joined.Ð ¦"ö! ÐÌP.€Allen€Phillips€and€B.€Duane€Willis,€Jackson,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Firemanððs€FundÐ †$Ö# ÐInsurance€CompanyÐ v%Æ $ ÐÌThomas€P.€Cassidy,€Jr.,€Memphis,€Tennessee€for€the€appellee,€Country€Home€HealthÐ V'¦"& ÐÓ€  (•ly3ÓÌNathan€J.€Ô_ÔDearingÔ_Ô,€III,€Ô_ÔDyersburgÔ_Ô,€Tennessee€for€the€€appellee,€Christine€GriffinÐ 6)†$( ÐÌÔ  Ôà@  !ìàò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óÔ#†¼âd»XXéÃd #ÔÔ‡XéÃX»¼âdԈР+f&* ÐÌà  àPlaintiff,€Christine€Griffin,€sustained€an€injury€to€her€left€lower€extremity€while€employedÐ ö,F(, Ðby€Country€Home€Health€on€June€24,€1996€and€filed€a€complaint€seeking€worker's€compensationÐ æ-6)-ý Ðbenefits€on€July€10,€1997.Ð ° ÐÌà  àPlaintiff€suffered€another€injury€to€her€left€lower€extremity€on€October€8,€1997,€and€filed€aÐ à Ðcomplaint€for€workers'€compensation€benefits€concerning€this€injury€on€December€16,€1997.€€Ð €Ð ÐÌà  àAt€the€time€of€the€first€injury,€appellant,€Fireman's€Fund€Insurance€Company,€was€theÐ ` ° Ðemployer's€workers'€compensation€insurance€company;€and€at€the€time€of€the€second€injury,€ColonialÐ P   ÐCasualty€Insurance€Company,€was€the€employer's€workers'€compensation€insurance€company.Ð @  ÐÌà  àThe€two€cases€were€consolidated,€and€on€January€20,€1999,€the€trial€court€approved€aÐ  p  Ðsettlement€between€the€plaintiff,€Christine€Griffin,€and€both€insurance€companies.€€On€the€same€day,Ð `  Ðthe€trial€court€heard€argument€from€all€parties€concerning€the€responsibility€of€the€insuranceÐ P  Ðcompanies€for€any€future€medical€expenses€of€plaintiffs.Ð ð@  ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€found€that€both€insurance€companies€would€be€responsible€for€future€medicalÐ Ð  Ðexpenses,€with€the€extent€of€that€responsibility€to€be€determined€by€the€trial€court€at€the€appropriateÐ À Ðtime.Ð ° ÐÌà  àPlaintiff€was€52€years€of€age€at€the€time€of€the€hearing.€€At€the€time€of€the€hearing,€the€extentÐ à Ðof€permanent€partial€disability€had€been€settled,€so€the€facts€of€the€injuries€were€not€addressed€inÐ €Ð Ðdetail.€€However,€the€medical€proof€of€Dr.€David€St.€Clair€does€expound€on€both€injuries€to€someÐ pÀ Ðextent.€€On€June€24,€1996,€plaintiff€was€at€a€patient's€home€when€she€fell€through€a€stair€and€struckÐ `° Ðher€leg€against€a€concrete€block.€€Dr.€St.€Clair€diagnosed€a€medial€meniscus€tear.€€PlaintiffÐ P  Ðsubsequently€underwent€an€Ô_ÔarthroscopyÔ_Ô€on€July€23,€1996.€€The€plaintiff€was€later€diagnosed€asÐ @ Ðhaving€reflex€sympathetic€dystrophy.€€She€continued€to€be€treated€by€Dr.€St.€Clair,€and€eventuallyÐ 0€ Ðreached€maximum€medical€improvement€on€June€24,€1997.€€Dr.€St.€Clair€gave€the€plaintiff€a€ratingÐ  p Ðof€six€percent€(6%)€to€the€lower€extremity,€with€two€percent€(2%)€due€to€the€injury,€and€four€percentÐ ` Ð(4%)€due€to€the€reflex€sympathetic€dystrophy.Ð P ÐÌà  àSubsequently,€on€October€8,€1997,€plaintiff€turned€her€body€while€taking€care€of€a€patient,Ð à0 Ðexperienced€severe€knee€pain,€and€was€unable€to€extend€her€knee.€€Plaintiff€returned€to€Dr.€St.€Clair,Ð Ð  Ðwho€ran€several€tests,€including€x„rays,€which€demonstrated€a€joint€space€narrowing.€€On€NovemberÐ À! Ð12,€1997,€surgery€was€again€performed€on€the€left€knee.€€She€continued€to€see€Dr.€St.€Clair,€andÐ °"  Ðreached€maximum€medical€improvement€on€or€about€March€25,€1998.€€Dr.€St.€Clair€opined€thatÐ  #ð! Ðplaintiff€had€a€twenty„two€percent€(22%)€impairment€to€the€lower€extremity€based€upon€the€secondÐ $à" Ðinjury,€which€broke€down€into€component€parts€of€twenty€percent€(20%)€for€the€joint€space€loss,€andÐ €%Ð # Ðtwo€percent€(2%)€for€the€discoid€meniscus€tear€which€was€repaired.€€However,€the€Order€signed€byÐ p&À!$ Ðthe€Court€states€that€the€rating€for€the€second€injury€was€only€twenty€percent€(20%)€to€the€lowerÐ `'°"% Ðextremity.€€Notwithstanding,€a€settlement€was€reached€regarding€permanent€partial€impairment,Ð P( #& Ðawarding€plaintiff€twenty€percent€(20%)€to€the€lower€extremity€for€the€first€injury€(paid€by€Fireman'sÐ @)$' ÐFund),€and€fifty€five€(55%)€to€the€lower€extremity€for€the€second€injury€(paid€by€Colonial€Casualty).Ð 0*€%( ÐÌà  àDr.€St.€Clair€stated€that€the€two€meniscus€tears€were€on"completely€separate€structures."€€HeÐ ,`'* Ðopined€that€a€total€knee€replacement€was€not€recommended€after€the€first€surgery.€€He€also€stated€thatÐ ° Ðthere€was€no€way€to€a€reasonable€degree€of€medical€certainty€to€state€when€or€if€plaintiff€wouldÐ  ð Ðrequire€a€total€knee€replacement€in€the€future.€€Most€importantly,€however,€is€the€Doctor'sÐ à Ðconclusions€that€he€could€not€state€to€a€reasonable€degree€of€medical€certainty€which€one€ofÐ €Ð Ðplaintiff's€injuries€has€brought€her€closer€to€a€total€knee€replacement,€and€that€he€did€not€"knowÐ pÀ Ðexactly€how€to€proportion€between€the€two€of€them€[the€knee€injuries].€€€Dr.€St.€Clair€also€concludedÐ ` ° Ðthat€the€two€knee€injuries€accelerated€the€problem€along€with€the€condition€of€pre„existingÐ P   Ðosteoarthritis,€but€"exactly€how€much€belongs€to€each€one€of€them,€[he€did€not]€have€any€way€ofÐ @  Ðgauging€precisely."€€Finally,€Dr.€St.€Clair€stated€that,€regarding€the€osteoarthritis,€it€would€beÐ 0 € Ð"impossible€to€differentiate€how€much"€each€injury€contributed€to€the€arthritic€condition.Ð  p  ÐÌà  àAs€aforementioned,€the€permanent€partial€disability€issues€were€resolved€by€settlement,Ð P  Ðleaving€€only€the€issue€of€future€medical€expenses€before€the€trial€court.Ð ð@  ÐÌà  àThe€appellant,€Fireman's€Fund€Insurance€Company,€the€carrier€at€the€time€of€the€first€injury,Ð Ð  Ðargues€that€the€rule€in€òòòòBaxter€v.€Smithóóóó,€211€Tenn€347,€364€S.W.2d€936€(Tenn.€1962),€should€applyÐ À Ðin€this€case.€€No€apportionment€of€any€kind€is€permitted€by€Tennessee€law:Ð ° Ðà  àÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àWhere€incapacity€results€from€the€combined€effect€of€several€distinctÐ à Ðpersonal€injuries,€received€during€the€successive€periods€of€coverageÐ €Ð Ðof€different€insurers,€the€result€is€not€an€apportionment€ofÐ pÀ Ðresponsibility€nor€responsibility€on€the€part€of€either€or€any€insurer€atÐ `° Ðthe€election€of€the€employee.€€The€implication€of€the€act€is€that€onlyÐ P  Ðone€of€successive€insurers€is€to€make€compensation€for€one€and€theÐ @ Ðsame€incapacity.......Where€there€have€been€several€compensableÐ 0€ Ðinjuries,€received€during€the€successive€periods€of€coverage€ofÐ  p Ðdifferent€insurers,€the€subsequent€incapacity€must€be€compensated€byÐ ` Ðthe€one€which€was€the€insurer€at€the€time€of€the€most€recent€injuryÐ P Ðthat€bore€causal€relation€to€the€incapacity.Ðð@` x` x ÐÌà  àTennessee€law€does€not€provide€for€the€apportionment€of€liability€between€successiveÐ Ð  Ðemployers€or€their€insurance€companies.€òòòòBennett€v.€Howard€Johnson's€Motor€Lodgeóóóó,€714€S.W.2dÐ À! Ð273,€(Tenn.€1986);€òòòòMcCormick€v.€Snappy€Car€Rentals,€Inc.,óóóó€806€S.W.2d€527€(Tenn.€1991).Ð °"  ÐÌà  àThe€Court,€in€òòòòMcCormickóóóó€held,€"to€avoid€last€injurious€rule,€separate€workersòòòòóóóó'€compensationÐ $à" Ðsuit€must€be€filed€for€each€injury€against€each€employer€for€successive€injuries.Ð €%Ð # ÐÌà  àThe€appellee,€the€employer€and€the€carrier€at€the€time€of€the€second€injury,€argues€that€theÐ `'°"% Ðrule€in€òòòòRiley€v.€Ô_ÔINAÔ_Ô/Aetna€Ins.€Co.óóóó,€825€S.W.2d€80€(Tenn.€1986),€should€apply€in€this€case.€€TheÐ P( #& ÐCourt€in€òòòòRileyóóóó€held€that€the€last€injurious€injury€rule€is€not€applicable€where€separate€suits€are€filedÐ @)$' Ðfor€each€injury€and€where,€prior€to€second€injury,€there€has€been€assessment€of€permanent€disabilityÐ 0*€%( Ðproperly€attributable€to€the€first€injury.Ð  +p&) ÐÐ ,`'* Ðà  àIt€would€appear€that€the€case€at€bar€would€squarely€fall€within€the€rule€in€òòòòRileyóóóó.Ð ° ÐÌà  àDr.€David€€Ô_ÔSt.ClairÔ_Ô,€an€orthopedic€surgeon,€treated€plaintiff,€Christine€Griffin,€for€both€of€theÐ à Ðinjuries€in€question.Ð €Ð ÐÌà  àHe€gave€the€following€testimony:€€Ð ` ° ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.€à0¸ ` x` xàThe€injury€she€had€both€in€'96€and€'97€though,€was€to€the€kneeÐ @  Ðarea€itself,€is€that€correct?Ð0 €¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàRight.€€And,€to€my€knowledge,€confined€to€the€knee.Ð` ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà  àDr.€St.€Clair€further€testified:€€Ð ð@  ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàAfter€the€first€surgery,€you€didn't€recommend€to€her€that€sheÐ Ð  Ðhave€a€total€knee€replacement€done?ÐÀ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàNot€after€the€first€procedure,€no.Рð¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàAt€that€point€in€time.......Ѐи x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàI€think€I€told€her€that€she€might€have€to€have€one€done.€€IÐ `° Ðthink€I€told€her€in€terms€of€a€possibility€of€that€because€sheÐ P  Ðhad€arthritic€changes,€and€if€they€progressed€over€time,€thenÐ @ Ðshe€might€have€to.€€I€didn't€tell€her€that€it€was€highly€likely€orÐ 0€ Ðvery€probable.Ð p¸ x¸ x ÐÌà  àDr.€St.€Clair,€when€asked€if€Ms.€Griffin€would€require€a€total€knee€replacement€in€the€futureÐ P Ðtestified€as€follows:Ð ð@ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàThere's€no€way€to€a€reasonable€degree€of€medical€certainty,Ð Ð  ÐDr.€St.€Clair,€to€state€when€or€if€this€lady€will€require€a€totalÐ À! Ðknee€replacement€in€the€future;€is€that€true?а" ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàThat's€correct.€€What€I€told€her€was€that€I€thought€that€soonerÐ $à" Ðor€later,€she€would€probably€require€it.€€That€could€be€tenÐ €%Ð # Ðyears,€that€could€be€two€years.€€So,€I€really€don't€know€exactlyÐ p&À!$ Ðwhen...Ð`'°"%¸ x¸ x ÐÌà  àWhen€asked€if€Ms.€Griffin€had€been€brought€closer€to€a€total€knee€replacement€by€either€ofÐ @)$' Ðher€injuries,€Dr.€St.€Clair€testified:Ð 0*€%( ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàHas€Ms.€Griffin€been€brought€closer€to€a€total€kneeÐ ,`'* Ðreplacement€by€either€of€her€injuries€in€your€opinion?а¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàYes,€I€think€so.Ðภx¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàCan€you€state€to€a€reasonable€degree€of€medical€certaintyÐ pÀ Ðwhich€one€of€those€has€brought€her€closer€to€a€total€kneeÐ ` ° Ðreplacement€[sic]?ÐP  ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàNo,€I€can't.€€I€don't€really€know€exactly€how€to€proportionÐ 0 € Ðbetween€the€two€of€them.€€Because€I€saw€her€arthritis€advanceÐ  p  Ðmore€rapidly€than€I€would€have€expected€from€just€theÐ `  Ðdevelopment€of€osteoarthritis,€and€both€of€her€injuries€areÐ P  Ðrelatively€low€energy€injuries.Ðð@ ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàOne€was€a€fall€on€a€step.€€And€it€certainly€could€damage€theÐ Ð  Ðsurface€in€some€degree,€but,€it€usually€doesn't.€€Usually,€thatÐ À Ðsort€of€injury€either€break€the€bone€or€doesn't€do€very€much€toÐ ° Ðthe€joint.Рð¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àà0¸ ` x` xàAnd€the€other€one€was€a€relatively€minor€twisting€injury€thatÐ €Ð ÐI€would€expect€mostly€to€produce€the€meniscus€tear.€€So,€IÐ pÀ Ðdon't€really€have€any€information€in€which€to€be€able€toÐ `° Ðproportion€between€the€two€of€them.ÐP ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà  àOn€cross„examination,€Dr.€St.€Clair€testified€as€follows:Ð 0€ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àQ.à0¸ ` x` xàAnd€it's€impossible€to€differentiate€how€much€one€versus€howÐ ` Ðmuch€the€other€was€as€far€as€the€injuries€go?ÐP¸ x¸ x ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àA.à0¸ ` x` xàRight.€€I€have€no€way€of€doing€it.€€Because,€for€example,€theÐ à0 Ðchanges€that€occurred€from€the€first€injury€had€continued€toÐ Ð  Ðproduce€effects€throughout€the€whole€period€of€time.€€But,€IÐ À! Ðdon't€know.а" ¸ x¸ x ÐÌà  àConsidering€the€fact€that€separate€suits€were€filed€for€each€injury€and€where,€prior€to€theÐ $à" Ðsecond€injury,€there€had€been€an€assessment€of€permanent€disability€properly€attributable€to€the€firstÐ €%Ð # Ðinjury,€we€feel€that€this€case€would€be€within€the€rule€inòòòò€Rileyóóóó.Ð p&À!$ ÐÌà  àIn€consideration€of€the€foregoing,€and€all€the€facts€and€circumstances€of€this€case,€the€PanelÐ P( #& Ðconcludes€that€the€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€the€trial€courtððs€finding€that€if€theÐ @)$' Ðemployee€required€medical€treatment€in€the€future,€that€a€determination€of€responsibility€betweenÐ 0*€%( Ðthe€two€successive€insurance€companies€would€be€based€upon€the€evidence€presented€at€that€time.Ð  +p&) ÐÐ ,`'* Ðà  àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Ð ° ÐÌà  àCosts€of€appeal€are€adjudged€against€the€Appellant.Ð à ÐÔ#†¼âd»XXéÃæ #ÔÌÐ  ˜è ÐÑ8€éÃXXdð»»d8Ñà@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@==ìàSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELˆÐ È Ðà@''%ìàAT€JACKSONˆÐ à0 ÐÌò òÓ  ÓCHRISTINE€GRIFFIN€v.€FIREMANððS€FUND€INSURANCE€COMPANY,Ð  ` ÐCHRISTINE€GRIFFIN€V.€COUNTRY€HOME€HEALTHÐ ( x ÐÔ‡XéÃX»¼âdÔó óÓAFÓÌà@[[ìàò òChancery€Court€for€Dyer€CountyˆÐ 0 € Ðà@ìàNos.€97€C„368€and€97€C„642€€ˆÐ  p ÐÌÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<ï` A߈Ð ð@  ÐÌà@l l ìàNo.€W1999„02150„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€July€25,€2000ˆÐ ï?  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<Î` AßÐ Ï Ðó óÌà@°°&ìàò òJUDGMENTó óˆÐ Î ÐÌòòóóÌÔ‡(Xq XXXéÃÔà  àà ` àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€of€referralÐ žî Ðto€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel's€Memorandum€Opinion€settingÐ ŠÚ Ðforth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ð vÆ ÐÌà  àà ` àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€Opinion€of€the€PanelÐ Nž Ðshould€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÐ :Š ÐÌà  àà ` àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€areÐ b Ðadopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€of€the€Court.Ð þN Ѐ€ò òÐ ê: Ðó óà  àà ` àCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€Appellant,€for€which€execution€may€issue€ifÐ Ö& Ðnecessary.Ð   ÐÌà  àà ` àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED.Ð š"ê! ÐÌÌÌÔ#†XéÃX X(XqÂI#ÔÔ‡'XéÃXXXéÃÔÔ#†XéÃXX'XéÃUM#ÔÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àPER€Ô_ÔCURIAMÔ_ÔÐ :'Š"& Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àÔ#†¼âd»XXéÃØF#Ô