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JamesL._Weatherford_,_Sr.J._#NX=} #X=X.N,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichJaniceM.Holder,J.   andJoeC.Loser,_Sp.J._,joined. r!  JillA.Hanson,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheappellants,RelianceNationalandAllProPainting. J#" JosephD._Baugh_,Franklin,Tennessee,fortheappellee,DonnaHarlow. "%r $ K   MEMORANDUMOPINION #NXX= #X=XN &J"&   #NXX= #X=XNX=XXX=  GaryHarlowandDonnaBarberweremarriedin1973anddivorcedin1994.In1995,the ("$( _Harlows_Ԁreinitiatedtheirrelationship,andMr.HarlowmovedintoMs.Harlowshome.InApril )%) 1997,the_Harlows_Ԁparticipatedina remarriageceremonyatachurchinwhichmarriagevowswere *%* exchangedunderthedirectionofaminister.However,nomarriagelicensewasobtainedatthattime +&+ northereafter.The_Harlows_ԀlivedtogetheruntilMr.Harlowsdeath. ,',  n-(-   In1998,the_Harlows_Ԁmetwithataxpreparerwhoadvisedthemthattheycouldnotfileajoint  _taxreturnwithoutamarriagelicense.Untilthenotificationbythetaxpreparer,Ms.Harlowwas  unawarethatnomarriagelicenseexisted.Aftermeetingwiththetaxpreparer,Ms.Harlowasked  Mr.Harlowseveraltimesaboutobtainingamarriagelicense,andMr.Harlowrespondedthat itwas t notimportantor youworryaboutsillythings.Ms.Harlowtooknoaffirmativeactiontoobtain ` thelicensebeyondherquestioningofMr.Harlow. L  Ѐ  TheHarlowsfiledseparatetaxreturnsas singleor headofhouseholdforthetaxyears $ t of1997,1998and1999.Despitefilingseparatetaxreturns,theHarlowsfiledotherdocuments,  ` includingaloanapplication,indicatingtheirstatusashusbandandwife.Mr.Harlowwas  L  sporadicallyemployedduringthe remarriageperiod,andMs.Harlowservedastheprimary  8  breadwinner. $    OnJanuary11,2000,GaryHarlow,anemployeeofAllProPainting,sustainedseverehead   injuriesafterfallingfromaworkplatform,andfivedayslaterMr.Harlowdiedfromthoseinjuries.   AfterRelianceNational,theworkerscompensationinsurerforAllProPainting,denieddeath   benefitstoMs.Harlowasasurvivingspouse,Ms.HarlowfiledthisactionagainstAllProPainting p andRelianceNational( defendants)seekingpaymentofstatutorydeathbenefitsunderthe \ TennesseeWorkersCompensationLaw. H #X=XXX=~#X=XXX=  ThetrialcourtgrantedMs.Harlowsmotionforsummaryjudgmentandawardeddeath  p benefits,findingthatshewasthe lawfulwifeofMr.Harlowbecausea solemnizedrelationship  \ existedbetweentheHarlows.ThetrialcourtalsofoundthatMs.Harlowwasanactualdependent H ofthedeceasedandthatitwouldviolateTennesseepublicpolicyassetforthinTennesseeCode 4 Annotated363113todeclarethattheHarlows solemnizedrelationshipwasnotamarriage.   UponamotionbyMs.Harlow,thetrialjudgecommutedtheawardtoalumpsum.      ANALYSIS     Reviewoffindingsoffactbythetrialcourtisdenovoupontherecordofthetrialcourt, l accompaniedbyapresumptionofthecorrectnessofthefinding,unlessthepreponderanceofthe X  evidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2);Stonev.CityofMcMinnville,896S.W.2d D! 548,550(Tenn.1995).Conclusionsoflawarerevieweddenovowithoutanypresumptionof 0"  correctness.Iveyv.TransGlobalGas&Oil,3S.W.3d441,446(Tenn.1999). #l!  #X=XXX=#X=XXX=  Theworkerscompensationstatutesaretobegivenanequitableandliberalconstructionin $D # favorofworkersandtheirdependents.Tenn.CodeAnn.506116;SullivanElectricCo.v. %0!$ McDonald,541S.W.2d112,115(Tenn.1976).S'o"&" S#X=XXX=#X=XXX= 'o"%  I.WhetherMs.HarlowisthesurvivingspouseofMr.Harlow. #X=XXX=7 #X=XXX=Ԁ  ^(#&  #X=XXX= #  PX=XXX=  TennesseeCodeAnnotated#X=XXPX=>!#PX=XXX=Ԁ506210(a)provides: )$' 8  ForthepurposesoftheWorkers'CompensationLaw,thefollowingdescribed *0&( personsshallbeconclusivelypresumedtobewhollydependent:+')   PXPX=#P!#P1  8  SS1"#  #PX=XP"##X=XXPX=##PX=XXX=(1)Asurvivingspouse,unlessitisshownthatthesurvivingspousewas S voluntarilylivingapartfromthesurvivingspouse'sspouseatthetimeofinjury;1"#^#݌?   Ќ  Tenn.CodeAnn.506210(a)(1). m #X=XXPX=##X=XXX=  UndertheTennesseeCode,asurvivingspousewithnochildrenisentitledtofifty   percent(50%)oftheaverageweeklywagesofthedeceased.Tenn.CodeAnn.506210(e)(1).   Further,thetrialjudgemaycommutetheawardtoalumpsumpayment.Tenn.CodeAnn.50   6229. p     AmarriagelicenseisastatutoryrequirementinTennessee.TennesseeCodeAnnotated   363103(a)#X=XXX=7%#X=XXX=provides:   8  #X=XXX='#PX=XXX=Beforebeingjoinedinmarriage,thepartiesshallpresenttotheministerorofficer *  alicenseunderthehandofacountyclerkinthisstate,directedtosuchministeror   officer,authorizingthesolemnizationofamarriagebetweentheparties.Such   licenseshallbevalidforthirty(30)daysfromitsissuancebytheclerk.#X=XXPX=(#X=XXX=    Tenn.CodeAnn.363103(a)(2001). - Sol#X=XXX=)# SX=XXX=  Afternotificationbythetaxpreparerin1998,bothMs.HarlowandMr.Harlowknew o thatnomarriagelicenseexistedtolegallyvalidatetheir remarriage.Despiterepeatedrequests [ fromMs.Harlowtoobtainalicense,Mr.Harlowrefusedtodosoforreasonsthatarenotknown. G ЀHowever,theinescapablefactremainsthatthepartiesknowinglycohabitedforoverfouryears 3 withoutobtainingamarriagelicense. o   AlthoughcertainevidenceintherecordpointstotheHarlowslivingashusbandandwife, G otherevidenceestablishesthattheirperceptionoftherelationshipwasotherwise.Forexample, 3 Mr.HarlowandMs.Harlowfiledseparateincometaxreturnsforthetaxyearsof1997,1998and  1999as separateor headofhousehold.Thus,notonlydidtheHarlowsfailtocomplywith   thelicensingstatute,buttheyalsoassertedtothefederalgovernmentthattheywerenotmarried.    Tosubstantiateherclaim,Ms.HarlowreliesoncasesinwhichtheSupremeCourthas   awardeddeathbenefitstoallegedsurvivingspouseswhenamarriageischallengedbyathird k! party.Inthesecases,thesurvivingspouseclaimingdeathbenefitswasunawareofthedeceased W" spousesearliervalidmarriage,withabigamousmarriageresulting.TheCourtheldforthe C# claimantsurvivingspousebecauseeitherareasonablebelieformistakenbeliefexistedthatthe /$ survivingspousewasinalegalmarriage.SeePerryv.SunCoalCo.,191S.W.2d181,182 %k  (Tenn.1945);Summersv.TennesseeEastmanCorp.,87S.W.2d1005(Tenn.1935);Kinnardv. &W!! TennesseeChemicalCo.,7S.W.2d807(Tenn.1928).BecauseMs.Harlowpossessedno &C"" reasonablebeliefofalegallyvalidmarriagenoramistakenbeliefregardingherlegalmarital '/## status,thepresentcaseisdistinguishablefromPerryanditspredecessors. ($$   WefindthepresentcasemorecloselyanalogoustoJonesv.D.Canale&Co.,652 *%& S.W.2d336,338(Tenn.1983),inwhichtheSupremeCourtdeniedtheclaimofan_alleged +&' survivingspousewho,despitelivingtogetherwiththedeceasedashusbandandwifefortwenty  Єfiveyears,wasstilllegallymarriedtoanothermanandconsciouslychosenottodivorcethat  man.AtthecenteroftheCourtsreasoningwasthepartiesknowledgeoftheirmaritalstatus  andtheintentionalchoicetotakenoactiontoremedythedeficiency.Id.Similarly,Ms.Harlow t knewshewasnotlegallymarriedafternotificationbythetaxpreparerinearly1998,andno ` actionwaspursuedtorectifythesituation. L    Ms.Harlowarguesthatshedesiredtobelegallymarriedasestablishedbyherrepeated $ t requestsofMr.Harlowtoobtainamarriagelicense.However,ratherthansupportherposition,  ` thisfactreinforcesthenatureofthe_Harlows_relationshipasnonmaritalbecause,forreasons  L  unknown,Mr.Harlowrefusedtotaketherequiredlegalstepofsecuringamarriagelicense.  8    Relyingonthepreferenceforaliberalconstructionoftheworkerscompensationstatute,   Ms.Harlowurgesthispaneltostretchtheinterpretationof survivingspousetoincludeher   relationshipwithMr.Harlow.However,wedeclinetoextendthemeaningof survivingspouse   toincludecohabitingindividualswhowilfullyignorethelicensingstatute.Suchaconstruction   wouldexceedtheparameterssetbythelegislatureindefiningeligiblepartiesfordeathbenefits. p IfMs.Harlowwereallowedtorecoverdeathbenefits,uncertaintywouldensueinthe \ determinationofwhoislawfullymarried,causingproblemstoariseinmanyareas,including H workerscompensation. 4 Ѐ  Withoutguidancefromthelegislatureauthorizingtheextensionofworkers  \ compensationbenefitstopartiessuchasMs.Harlow,weareconstrainedfromawardingMs. H Harlowbenefitsasasurvivingspouse.Thefailuretocomplywiththestatutoryrequirementfor 4 amarriagelicense,alongwiththeknowledgeofthatdeficiency,doomsMs.Harlowsclaim.The   trialjudgeincorrectlyreliedonthe remarriageceremony,andsubsequentlivingarrangement,   asthebasisforfindingMs.Harlowa lawfulwifeandsurvivingspouse.Therefore,wehold  thatalegalmarriagedidnotexistbetweenthe_Harlows_ԀatthetimeofMr.Harlowsdeath,and  thusMs.Harlowisnotasurvivingspouseundertheworkerscompensationstatute.    Ms.Harlowraisesanadditionalargumentthatsheisentitledtodeathbenefitsasanactual X  dependentofMr.Harlowbecauseshewasa [_w]ife_...who[was]whollysupportedbythe D! deceasedemployeeatthetimeofdeath....Tenn.CodeAnn.506210(c).#X=XXX=*#X=XXX=ԀBecauseweholdthat 0"  Ms.Harlowisnotasurvivingspouse,shelikewiseisnota wifewithinthemeaningofthe #l! statute. $X"  II.Whetherthetrialcourterredincommutingtheawardtoalumpsum.  %0!$   BecauseweholdthatMs.Harlowisnotasurvivingspouseundertheworkers '#& compensationstatute,weneednotreachthecommutationissue. (#'  h+&*   CONCLUSION  C  Afteracarefulreviewandconsiderationoftherecord,wereversethefindingofthetrial  courtandremandfordismissal.Costsofappealaretaxedtotheappellee,DonnaHarlow. t    `     h     ___________________________________ 8     `     h     JAMESL._WEATHERFORD_,_SR.J._#X=XXX=A#  $ t SX=XXX=SD@XSX=@ INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @kk$ATNASHVILLE#SX=XSD@F#SNXSX=#SX=XSN\G#SNXSX=Ԉ &    DONNAHARLOWv.RELIANCENATIONAL,etal.  ^ #SX=XSNG#SD@XSX=#SX=XSD@MH#SD@XSX=G #SX=XSD@H#SNXSX=#SX=XSNH#SD@XSX=#SX=XSD@'I#SD@XSX=#SX=XSD@iI#@*AV) ` dE<3 ` A߈ 4    No.M200102336SCWCMCVFiledNovember26,_2002_ /  JAV) ` dE<` A W   @& JUDGMENT  R  SNXSX=#SX=XSN.K#SD@XSX=#SX=XSD@pK#SD@XSX=#SX=XSD@K#SD@XSX=#SX=XSD@K#SNXSX=#SX=XSN=L#SD@XSX=#SX=XSD@L#SD@XSX=#SX=XSD@L#  ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponApplicantsmotionforreviewpursuanttoTenn.Code d  Ann.506225(e)(5)(B),theentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferraltotheSpecial P  WorkersCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanelsMemorandumOpinionsettingforthits < findingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference; (   Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenand  shouldbeDENIED;and    Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanelsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaware t adoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. ` #X=XXSX=F#XT XXX=#X=X XXTxP#X=XXX=  InaccordancewithSupremeCourtRule4(D),theCourtdirectsthattheopinionofthe 8 SpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanelbepublished.NXX=#X=XNQ#D@XX=#D@D@P#SD@D@#SX=XSD@Q#SD@XSX=#SX=XSD@RR##X=XXSX=R#XT XXX=#X=X XXTR#SX=XXX= $t   CostswillbeassessedtoDonnaHarlow,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. L    `     h     PER_CURIAM_   Holder,J.,notparticipating !  NQ1XOQIXQ1O#Q1XQIT#N#T XXQ1kT# #X=XXSX=R#SX=XXX=#X=XXSX=U#