WPCt& r6같jڢUa| V-'lW"cjڽ|P=B]* S:"n[cb^vF֠-v(`uOLG޴z 3r " K,7~O_W1f]#[ZV9y:F9`YBq/_(\4>T [S[kIv\P``n;<RSJJ{\ +Ǫ udk t#DGRhֹ9eia-).}w`vtt_2`)< izՏRē 3S3t$(SqY mGX-b1(Jl#sh -Nkz+7? GdZ9=b#\ %% ^ + 07 U@N w 4 z%  q  m  _% 0DwNU@EN zDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDU@'!'!'!bg!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g!g! 0o!o!o!o! B Z"Z" 0w" D5# D-P# 0K}#}# AS#$ 0$ 0D% A%HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL6V,,,,V0!1 (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regularn1:i+00 C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xU  R$      2  XƛX  _XͧXXXƛ$ XXͧAtthetimeoftrialPeterbiltMotorshadbeeninshutdownfor___over_Ԁ8monthsduetoalabordispute.#XͧX $#  #XƛXXXͧ~#ԁLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(+$  4  (() Z(Times New Roman   R$      1  XƛX  _XͧXXXƛ$ XXͧThetrialcourtdidnotspecifywhethertheawardwasmadeunderTenn.CodeAnn. 506241(a)(1),which  limitsawardsto2timesthemedicalimpairmentratingforemployeeswhohavereturnedtoworkforthepreinjury q employeratanequalorgreaterwagethantheemployeewasmakingatthetimeoftheinjury,orunderTenn.CodeAnn. 2  506241(b),whichlimitsawardsto6timesthemedicalimpairmentratingforemployeeswhohavenotreturnedto C workmakinganequalorgreaterwagethantheywereatthetimeoftheinjury.Thetrialcourtstatedinreferencetoits  useofmultipliersthat: GiventheCourtsruling,IdontreallybelievetheCourthastomakeadeterminationasto u whetherheis!whethertheCourtcoulduseamultiplieruptosixasopposedtotwoandahalf.Idontthinkhislaidoff 6  statusmakesanydifferencegiventheCourtsruling.#XͧX $##XƛXXXͧ~#XͧXXXƛԀ#XƛXXXͧ##XͧXXXƛ  G #XƛXXXͧf# R$      3  XƛX  _XXƛMr.Harrisondidnotappealthetrialcourtsruling.#XƛX~#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  R$      4  XƛX  _XXƛMartinv.LearCorp.90S.W.2d626,629(Tenn.2002)#XƛX~#(+XͧXXXƛ+$ X+XͧTennesseeCodeAnnotated#+XͧX +$#Ԁ#XƛXX+Xͧ#XͧXXXƛ$ XXͧ# $##XƛXؾ#XXƛ+$ 50-6-116declaresthe  Workers'Compensationstatutetoberemedialinnature,anddirectsthatthestatute"shallbegivenanequitable  constructionbythecourts,totheendthattheobjectsandpurposesofthischaptermayberealizedandattained."Tenn. Z Y CodeAnn.50-6-116(1999)."Accordingly,'theselawsshouldberationallybutliberallyconstrued#+XͧX +$'#Ԁ+$ X+Xͧtopromoteand  adheretotheAct'spurposesofsecuring#+XͧX +$>#+$ X+XͧԀbenefitstothoseworkerswhofallwithinitscoverage.#+XͧX +$#'"+$ X+XͧSeeWattv.  LumbermensMut.Cas.Ins.Co.,62#+XͧX +$H#Ԁ+$ X+XͧS.W.3d123,#+XͧX +$#Ԁ+$ X+Xͧ128(Tenn.2001)(quotingLindseyv.Smith&Johnson,Inc.,601  S.W.2d923,926(Tenn.1980))). k #+XͧX +$##XƛXX+XͧF#(() Z(Times New Roman - -(|G2$ !..8}dd8         0  XƛX d(|3?$ !..8}dd8     VVVV)!dxdx)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3?$ !..8}dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8}dd8     _}8ƛXXdd8  ~} @  @  @  @ @@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL # @@ATNASHVILLE#}~# F June2004Session i XƛX} #}XXƛ<#TIMOTHYL.HARRISONv._PETERBILT_ԀMOTORSCOMPANY,etal.XƛX}   b @@ DirectAppealfromtheCircuitCourtforRobertsonCounty  \ @@No.9843JohnH._Gasaway_,III,Judge  F @@*AV) ` dE<` A   No.M200301457_WC_ԄR3CVMailedNovember9,2004   #}XXƛ#XƛX}FiledDecember9,2004   AV) ` dE<j` A k      Ӏ#}XXƛ#I}XͧXIThisworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkersCompensation c AppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn._ _Ԁ506225(e)(3)for L hearingandreportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Inthisappeal, 5 theemployeewasonlayoffstatusatthetimeoftheinitialawardof50%vocationaldisability(2 n timesthemedicalimpairmentrating).Theemployeefiledacomplaintforreconsiderationshortly W afterheparticipatedinawalkthroughattheplantandafterwhichtheemployerfoundthatthere @ werenojobsavailablewithintheemployeesmedicalrestrictions.Theemployeecontendsthatthe ) trialcourterredindismissinghiscomplaintforreconsiderationofanoriginalawardwhichhe  contendswasgrantedunderTenn.CodeAnn._ _Ԁ506241(a)(1)andthat,becausehisemployer  retainshimonlayoffstatusbuthasnotreturnedhimtowork,heisnoweligibleforreconsideration  underTenn.CodeAnn._ _Ԁ506241(a)(2).Thetrialcourtdismissedthecomplaintfindingthefacts } notsufficienttoinstituteanewcauseofactionunderthestatute.Thepanelconcludedthatthe f judgmentofthetrialcourtshouldbeaffirmed. O #IXXͧ##}I#XƛX}   Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(1999)AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheCircuitCourt  "Z! Affirmed.  "D"     JamesL._Weatherford_,_Sr.J._#}Xƛ #XƛX.},deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichFrank_Drowota_,C.J., $ $ andJohnA._Turnbull_Ԁ_Sp.J._,joined. %!% WilliamL.UnderhillandMichaelL.Underhill,Madison,Tennessee,fortheappellant,Timothy '"' L.Harrison. k(#( TerryL.HillandStacey_Billingsley_ԀCason,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheappellee,_Peterbilt_ԀMotors =*%* Company. &+v&+ PaulG.Summers,AttorneyGeneral,andDianne_Stamey_Ԁ_Dycus_,DeputyAttorneyGeneral, ,H(-  -1).] _Nashville,Tennessee,fortheappellee,SueAnnHead,AdministratoroftheDivisionofWorkers  Compensation,TennesseeDepartmentofLabor,SecondInjuryFund.     MEMORANDUMOPINION #}XXƛ #XƛX} k   #}XXƛ#XƛX}  XͧXXXƛMr.TimothyL.Harrisonwas35yearsoldatthetimeoftrialandhasahighschool >  education.OnJuly12,1999,heinjuredhisbackduringthecourseandscopeofhisemployment ' w whileworkingforPeterbiltMotors.AlthoughPeterbiltdeniedtheworkerscompensationclaim,  ` Mr.Harrisonsoughtmedicaltreatmentforhisinjury.  I   Mr.Harrisonwasdiagnosedwithdegenerativediscdiseasewithbulgingdiscs.#XƛXXXͧ#XͧXXXƛԀOnJanuary    6,2000,hisphysicianinstructedhimtotakeleavefromworkuntilhereachedmaximumrecovery.   Onthesameday,PeterbiltplacedMr.Harrisonon layoffstatuswhichallowsMr.Harrisonto   retainhissenioritystatusalthoughheisnotdoinganyworkfororearninganywagesfromPeterbilt.   AtthetimeofhisinjuryMr.Harrisonwasearning$22.00perhour. o    OnMarch21,2000,#XƛXXXͧW#XͧXXXƛDr.DouglasC.Matthewsperformedbacksurgery.#XƛXXXͧ#XͧXXXƛDr.Matthewsfound A thatMr.HarrisonreachedmaximummedicalimprovementonJanuary8,2001andreleasedhimto *z returntoworkwiththefollowingpermanentrestrictions:noclimbing,crawling,bendingstooping c orliftingover50pounds.Dr.Matthewsassigneda13%permanentimpairmentratingtothebody L asawhole.Inanindependentevaluation,Dr.DavidGawassigneda20%permanentimpairment 5 ratingtothebodyasawhole.    OnJune13,2001,thetrialcourtfoundthatMr.Harrisonhadsustaineda20%anatomical  impairmentandawarded50%vocationaldisability(2timestheanatomicalimpairment),with  lifetimefuturemedicalbenefits. +  1      ׀ r #XƛXXXͧ#XͧXXXƛ  InApril2002,Mr.Harrisonwenttoworkforamotelandlateranautopartsstoreearning D $7.00to$8.00anhour. -} Ѐ#XƛXXXͧ#XͧXXXƛ f   OnMay9,2002,atPeterbiltsrequestMr.Harrisonperformedawalkthroughtodetermine O ifhecouldperformanyofthejobsavailable.AlthoughMr.Harrisonmaintainedhewasableto  8 performsomejobs,Peterbiltdeterminedthathispermanentrestrictionsprecludedhimfromfilling !!  anyofthesevacantpositions.Heremainsonlayoffstatussubjecttorecallinthefuture. " ! Ї    OnJune17,2002,Mr.Harrisonfiledacomplaintforreconsiderationofhisprevious  workerscompensationawardpursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn. 506241(a)(2).  +  2          Initsorderdismissingthecomplaintthetrialcourtstated: T 8   ` Uponconclusionoftheofferofproofattrial,theCourtfoundtheadditional & v factsconcerningthePlaintiffssubsequentcallbacktoworkbytheDefendant  _ employer,aswellasthePlaintiffssubsequentreturntolayoffstatuswerenot  H sufficientforthePlaintifftoinstituteanewcauseofactionunderTennesseeCode  1  Annotatedsection506241(a)(2),anddismissedthePlaintiffscaseonthatsole    issue.Additionally,theCourtfoundthatalthoughthePlaintiffneverreturnedto   workfortheDefendantemployerpostinjury,hislayoffstatusindicatesthePlaintiff   hasnotlosthisemploymentinaccordancewiththeaforementionedstatute.    ̀ W    ANALYSIS @ #  Reviewoffindingsoffactbythetrialcourtisdenovoupontherecordofthetrialcourtand b isaccompaniedbyapresumptionofthecorrectnessofthefinding,unlessthepreponderanceofthe K evidenceshowsotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn. 506225(e)(2);Stonev.CityofMcMinnville,896 4 S.W.2d548,550(Tenn.1995).Conclusionsoflawarerevieweddenovowithoutanypresumption  ofcorrectness.Iveyv.TransGlobalGasandOil,3S.W.3d441,446(Tenn.1999).    Theemployeeraisesthesoleissueofwhethertherewasnotameaningfulreturntoworkby  theemployersoastoallowtheemployeetoseekreconsiderationofthepreviousworkers q compensationawardpursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.506241(a)(2). Z Ѐ C   Tenn.CodeAnn.506241providesinpertinentpart: ,| 8  (a)(1)...[I]ncaseswhereaninjuredemployeeiseligibletoreceiveanypermanent N partialdisabilitybenefits...andthepre-injuryemployerreturnstheemployeeto  7 employmentatawageequaltoorgreaterthanthewagetheemployeewasreceiving !   atthetimeofinjury,themaximumpermanentpartialdisabilityawardthatthe " ! employeemayreceiveistwoandone-half(21/2)timesthemedicalimpairment #" rating. $#   8  (2)Inaccordancewiththissection,thecourtsmayreconsider,uponthefilingofa t% $ newcauseofaction,theissueofindustrialdisability....Suchreconsiderationmay ]&!% bemadeinappropriatecaseswheretheemployeeisnolongeremployedbythe F'"& pre-injuryemployerandmakesapplicationtotheappropriatecourtwithinone_(1) /(#' yearoftheemployee'slossofemployment,ifsuchlossofemploymentiswithinfour  hundred(400)weeksofthedaytheemployeereturnedtowork.8@#    $ XXͧԀ#XͧX $!-##XƛXXXͧ#XͧXXXƛ  8  (b)Subjecttofactorsprovidedinsubsection(a)ofthissection,incases...wherean C injuredemployeeiseligibletoreceivepermanentpartialdisabilitybenefits...andthe ,| pre-injuryemployerdoesnotreturntheemployeetoemploymentatawageequalto  e orgreaterthanthewagetheemployeewasreceivingatthetimeofinjury,the  N maximumpermanentpartialdisabilityawardthattheemployeemayreceiveissix  7 (6)timesthemedicalimpairmentrating.    #XƛXXXͧ-#XͧXXXƛ  Mr.Harrisoncontendsthatthetrialcourtgrantedtheoriginalawardundersubsection(a)(1). +  3          #XƛXXXͧ90#XͧXXXƛHearguesthatthetrialcourtpresumedthathewouldreturntoworkfor_Peterbilt_Ԁbasedonhislayoff   statusandontestimonyfrom_Peterbilt_Ԁofficialsexpressinganexpectationofreturninghimtowork. t  Morethanayearafterthefirsttrial,_Peterbilt_Ԁhasnotreturnedhimtoworkandheremainsonlayoff ]  status.Mr.Harrisoncontendsthathisawardqualifiesforreconsideration. F  #XƛXXXͧN1#XͧXXXƛ  Afterhearingoralargumentsthecourtstated: [_T]he_ԀargumentherethattheCourtssRuling h wassuchthatyouarenotentitledtobebeforetheCourtwithoutregardtothelayoffissueispretty Q compelling....theCourtfindsthatyouarenotlegallyjustifiedtobehereandImnotgoingtohear : yourPetitiononthebasisthattheCourtsRulingpreviouslyaddressedtheabilityordisabilityof # Mr.Harrisonatthetime.   $ XXͧԀ#XͧX $46##XƛXXXͧ3#XͧXXXƛ      Mr.Harrisonhadnotreturnedtoworkatthetimeofthefirsthearing.BecauseMr.Harrison f wasnotearningwagesequaltoorgreaterthanhispreinjurywages,hewaseligibleforanaward O undersubsection(b)atthetimeofthefirsttrial.Thefirsttrialcourtsfindingsoffactand 8 conclusionsoflawfailedtospecifywhethertheawardwasgrantedundersubsection(a)or(b). !q AfterreviewingthetrialcourtsstatementsnotingMr.Harrisonsemploymentstatusanditsbelief  Z thathisstatusdidnotaffecttheaward#XƛXXXͧ6#XͧXXXƛԀinrulingontheinitialawardanditsdismissalofthe C complaintforreconsideration,weconcludethatthetrialcourtfoundMr.Harrisonnotsubjecttothe , 2timesmultipliercapwhenitcalculatedtheaward.Wefind,therefore,thatreconsiderationwas  properlydenied.  Ѐ  Becausewefindthatthetrialcourtdidnotapplythe2timesmultiplierasamaximumto !  captheaward,wedonotreachtheissueofunderwhatcircumstancesanemployeeonlayoffstatus i"! couldbeconsidered nolongeremployedunderTenn.CodeAnn._ _Ԁ506241(a)(2)toqualifyfor R#" reconsiderationofapreviousaward.Althoughwedonotfindthistobesointhepresentcase,we ;$# canforeseecircumstanceswhereanemployercouldfrustratethepurposeoftheWorkers $%t $ CompensationAct)Q +  4      ׀bykeepinganemployeeonlayoffstatusindefinitelytoavoidprovidingthe  &]!% employeewithahigherawardundersubsection(b).#XƛXXXͧ9#XͧXXXƛԀWebelievethistobeanissueoffirst  impressionwhichcanbestberesolvedwithguidancefromtheLegislature.SeePerrinv._Gaylord_  EntertainmentCo.,120S.W.3d823,82627(Tenn.2003)(notingthattheterms nolongeremployed  withthepreinjuryemployerand lossofemploymentarenotdefinedinthestatutoryscheme). k #XƛXXXͧ>#XͧXXXƛ   `     h       CONCLUSION & v     Aftercarefulreviewandconsiderationoftherecord,thePanelaffirmsthejudgmentof  H thetrialcourt.Costsofappealaretaxedtotheappellant,TimothyL.Harrison.  1     ` #XƛXXXͧ@#   `     h     ___________________________________ n     `     h     JAMESL._WEATHERFORD_,_SR.J._  W  _}XXƛ   @ #XƛX}C#~XXƛINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @ssSPECIALWORKERS'COMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL#XƛX~PD#}XXƛԈ # @SS!June,2004Session F #XƛX}E# }XXƛ  TIMOTHYL.HARRISONv.PETERBILTMOTORSCOMPANY,ETAL#XƛX}E#  ? E@  CircuitCourtforRobertsonCounty  9 @xx&No.9843  # @*AV) ` dE< ` A߈    @No.M200301457WCR3CV   AV) ` dE<s` A t   @& JUDGMENT  l    ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferraltothe (x SpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel'sMemorandumOpinionsetting a forthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference. J   Whereupon,itappealstotheCourtthattheMemorandumOpinionofthePanelshouldbe  acceptedandapproved;and    Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaware  adoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. p   Costswillbepaidbytheappellant,TimothyL.Harrison,forwhichexecutionmayissue B ifnecessary. +{   ITISSOORDERED. M    `     h     PERCURIAM $$   _