ÿWPC> WÏ|èZHcºm$ÉüH˜ÅˆnÆ­ˆIØQG…1à‘‚¤©m»é£8YF-p÷d»W)©ŠµuuÆ¡²ŸTÅÝ*ŒiûL—[<.¦éã»Ù¶EñO Ì­3ãÙlz® ƒ¾}šà>ŽÆôÉÚ(¬â¼Às×bfk·ÂÅNß’{Ej*JÛé—ŸPùsØu?q®¬øÒXžãö{hµ­(ptUŒˆtÀ(žà» (˜UÉ’ï·M;£ø¥Ôd‘Sã|Òêýì@“«6p^X®úrê£íÝÌàÑ!†ŽÇ„.²ƒr5Öi½Öízòÿ­Ôv~Ð v»Ö²^—ÃÈ] 08ÃÅ+%Þ¯;ϲõ"éZöW„sU è\~g. “ó’ïIV²ð$ŒFr ægS&}†öä#Iæ9 ªÚ+ÓQÐ|ÙmùÜæ'|o®öx‘Κô3í%§O›ê½ÖfÖ‘bu”Zpˆ"%$®©Q›‡6g²Dõ y_R!Ääb“/š8+Ýd2r…ƒž±½A)ÙH_¢áq»ÖèÜ S±cÓ™¤,È£{Qþ‘BÃ~.Êi2îÛ?ªÊögí¢y¢€þrUΓ&Ÿ¦bCøZå¡ab#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ U N· w 4 z Ò— i x mz ‘ Æ™ Æ_ Æ% Æë ë N±N³ zµE/Ò11      ! )))))))))))b111111111111111111111111111111111111 0ë9999 B $$ 0¤A D5å D- 0KGG AS’Æå 0¤« 0DO A«“˜\\IB27S11T\stats1ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»GŠ/s (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular8AÅ.b014d7 ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptH45678- ù-(|G2ã$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€F­»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€X ©X»»Ô d(|3G‡$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€F­»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3G‡$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€F­»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€T»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼T»»»ÔÑ8€9XXdì»»d8ÑÓ  ÓÔ‡îWìTÔà@@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÐ Ö& Ðà@@ƒƒìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼T»îîWìî#ÔÐ üL ÐSeptember€19,€2003€SessionÐ "r ÐÔ‡X9X»¼TÔÌò òÔ#†¼T»XX9#ÔCLAUDE€E.€Ô_ÔHELTONÔ_Ô,€JR.òòóó€v.€TOWN€OF€ROGERSVILLEòòóóÔ‡X9X»¼TÔó óÐ  p ÐÌà@@¼¼ìàò ò€Direct€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Hawkins€CountyÐ  p Ðà@@ôôìàNo.€10275€€€€€€Hon.€Ô_ÔKindallÔ_Ô€T.€Lawson,€Circuit€JudgeÐ  \ ÐÌFiled€December€10,€2003Ð ä4  ÐÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<»` AßÐ ¼  ÐÌNo.€E2003„00311„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CVÐ ·  ÐÔ#†¼T»XX9»#ÔÔ‡X9X»¼TÔÌÌßA€V) °°` dE<z` AßÐ {Ë Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÓ  ÓThis€workersðð€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workersðð€CompensationÐ vÆ ÐAppeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€forÐ b² Ðhearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€Ô#†¼T»XX9×#ÔÔ‡X9X»¼TÔ€€The€trialÐ Nž Ðcourt€awarded€the€employee€40€percent€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€left€leg.€€The€employer€hasÐ :Š Ðappealed€contending€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€courtððs€finding€the€City€had€actual€noticeÐ &v Ðof€the€injury€and€that€the€award€is€excessive.€€The€judgment€is€affirmed.Ð b ÐÓ^ÓÌò òÓ  ÓTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)€(1999)€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Circuit€Court€isÐ ê: ÐAffirmed.ó óÐ Ö& ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÓ  ÓRoger€E.€Thayer,€Sp.€J.,Ô#†¼T»àX9È#ÔÔ‡X9X.¼TÔóó€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòE.€Riley€Anderson,€J.,óó€andÐ ®þ ÐòòJohn€K.€Byers,€Sr.€J.óó,€joined.Ð šê ÐÌK.€Erickson€Ô_ÔHerrinÔ_Ô,€of€Johnson€City,€Tennessee,€for€Appellant,€Town€of€Rogersville.€Ð r!  ÐÌJames€M.€Davis,€of€Ô_ÔMorristownÔ_Ô,€Tennessee,€for€Appellee,€Claude€E.€Ô_ÔHeltonÔ_Ô,€Jr.Ð J#š" ÐÌÓ ÓÓ  Óò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óÔ#†¼T»XX9e #ÔÔ‡X9X»¼TÔÐ "%r $ ÐÌÓ  ÓÔ#†¼T»XX9¨ #ÔÔ€X9X»¼TÔà  àThe€employer,€Town€of€Rogersville,€has€appealed€from€the€ruling€of€the€Circuit€CourtÐ ú&J"& Ðawarding€the€employee,€Claude€E.€Ô_ÔHeltonÔ_Ô,€Jr.,€40€percent€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€left€leg.Ð æ'6#' ÐÌÓ  Óò òòòFactsó óóóÐ ¾)%) ÐÌÓ  Óà  àEmployee€Ô_ÔHeltonÔ_Ô€was€thirty„four€years€of€age€at€the€time€of€the€trial€and€had€completed€theÐ –+æ&+ Ðeleventh€grade.€€He€later€obtained€a€GED€certificate.€€He€had€been€working€for€the€Town€ofÐ ‚,Ò', ÐRogersville€for€about€six€years€and€was€employed€as€a€pipe€fitter€in€the€water€department€at€the€timeÐ n-¾(-ýú ÐÔ_Ôin€question.Ð ° ÐÌà  àOn€Thursday,€December€28,€2000,€he€was€working€in€a€ditch€in€the€Timberlake€Subdivision.€Ð ˆØ ÐHe€testified€he€was€injured€when€he€stepped€on€a€piece€of€pipe€and€ð ðI€caught€myself€with€my€armsÐ tÄ Ðand€tried€to€throw€myself€up€out€of€the€ditch,€to€get€out,€and€I€hit€my€knee€on€the€asphalt.ðð€€KelseyÐ `° ÐPrice,€the€crew€leader€in€charge,€was€working€with€Helton€and€was€operating€a€backhoe.€€Helton€saidÐ L œ Ðcrew€leader€Price€told€the€employee€to€stop€working€and€sit€down€for€a€while.€€After€resting€heÐ 8 ˆ Ðcontinued€to€work€and€was€limping€at€the€end€of€the€work€day.€€He€stated€that€as€the€work€day€endedÐ $ t Ðhe€saw€his€foreman,€Steve€Newman,€who€asked€what€was€wrong.€€He€replied€he€had€hurt€his€legÐ  ` Ðwhile€working.€€He€worked€the€next€day€but€when€he€awoke€on€Saturday,€December€30,€he€noticedÐ ü L  Ðhis€leg€was€swollen.€€The€next€work€day€was€Tuesday,€January€2,€2001,€and€he€made€a€telephone€callÐ è 8  Ðto€foreman€Newman€and€advised€he€was€going€to€see€a€doctor.Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àThe€employee€did€not€return€to€work€until€January€10€and€worked€until€January€22€when€heÐ ¬ü  Ðwas€scheduled€for€surgery.€€The€employee€also€testified€he€had€a€telephone€conversation€with€JimmyÐ ˜è  ÐBible,€the€water€department€superintendent,€the€night€of€January€16€and€told€him€he€had€hurt€his€legÐ „Ô  Ðwhile€working.€€On€January€29,€2001,€office€worker€Karen€Mathews€filled€out€a€workerððsÐ pÀ Ðcompensation€claim€form€in€order€to€report€the€accident.€€On€February€22,€2001,€he€was€advised€hisÐ \¬ Ðclaim€had€been€denied.€€Sometime€thereafter€he€applied€for€short€term€disability€benefits.Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àSurgery€was€performed€on€January€24,€2001€and€on€April€18,€2001.€€He€did€not€return€toÐ  p Ðwork€until€January€22,€2002€and€was€working€at€the€time€of€the€trial€during€December€2002.Ð  \ ÐÌà  àThe€employee€had€previously€injured€the€same€knee€in€1984€when€he€was€a€teenager.€€Also,Ð ä4 Ðin€1996,€while€working€for€another€employer,€he€sustained€a€partial€tear€of€the€anterior€cruciateÐ Ð  Ðligament€(ACL).€€He€stated€that€the€prior€injuries€had€healed€well€and€he€was€not€having€anyÐ ¼  Ðproblems€with€his€leg€before€the€incident€in€question.€€As€to€his€present€problems€with€his€leg,€heÐ ¨ø Ðsaid€he€was€still€having€some€pain;€his€leg€swells€some;€he€cannot€climb€or€squat€very€well;€and€anyÐ ”ä Ðpressure€on€his€knee€causes€problems.Ð €Ð ÐÌà  àDr.€Mark€W.€Griffith,€an€orthopedic€surgeon,€testified€by€deposition€and€indicated€he€firstÐ X ¨ Ðsaw€the€employee€by€referral€on€January€16,€2001€and€took€a€history€of€sustaining€the€injury€whileÐ D!” Ðat€work€in€a€ditch.€€He€performed€arthroscopic€surgery€on€January€29€which€revealed€a€complete€tearÐ 0"€  Ðof€the€ACL.€€He€said€the€prior€partial€tear€of€the€ligament€caused€the€knee€to€be€weak€and€that€itÐ #l! Ðwould€not€take€much€to€tear€it€completely.€€He€stated€that€since€his€occupation€involved€heavy€labor,Ð $X" Ðit€was€necessary€for€the€knee€to€be€reconstructed€in€order€to€stabilize€it€and€the€second€procedure€wasÐ ô$D # Ðdone€during€April€2001.€€He€was€of€the€opinion€the€employee€had€a€7€percent€medical€impairmentÐ à%0!$ Ðto€his€leg€and€released€him€to€return€to€work€without€any€restrictions.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  àA€C„32€report€form€was€filed€in€evidence.€€Dr.€William€Kennedy,€an€orthopedic€surgeon,€hadÐ ¤(ô#' Ðindependently€examined€the€employee€and€concluded€his€impairment€was€7€percent€to€his€leg€butÐ )à$( Ðhe€imposed€restrictions€on€his€work€activity.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÐ h+¸&* Ðà  àKelsey€Price,€the€crew€leader€who€was€working€with€Helton€at€the€time€in€question,€testifiedÐ ° Ðhe€saw€Helton€slip€and€hit€his€knee€as€he€was€attempting€to€get€out€of€the€ditch.€€He€told€him€to€sitÐ œì Ðdown€and€rest€and€admitted€he€did€not€report€the€incident€and€now€guessed€he€should€have€reportedÐ ˆØ Ðsame.€€He€was€asked€if€he€remembered€being€present€when€the€employee€had€told€foreman€NewmanÐ tÄ Ðwhat€had€happened€to€him€and€he€said€he€did€not€recall€it.Ð `° ÐÌà  àNorman€K.€Pearson,€another€employee,€was€not€working€with€Helton€but€testified€on€JanuaryÐ 8 ˆ Ð28,€he€overheard€a€conversation€between€Helton€and€foreman€Steve€Newman€and€in€the€presence€ofÐ $ t ÐKelsey€Price.€€He€said€Newman€asked€Helton€what€happened€to€his€leg€and€Helton€replied€he€hadÐ  ` Ðhurt€it€down€at€Timberlake.Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àSteve€C.€Newman,€water€department€supervisor,€testified€he€was€aware€Helton€had€a€problemÐ Ô$  Ðwith€his€knee€and€that€was€the€reason€they€placed€him€on€light€duty€when€he€returned€to€work€onÐ À  ÐJanuary€10.€€He€stated€the€employee€never€told€him€the€injury€occurred€while€working€and€he€did€notÐ ¬ü  Ðremember€ever€asking€him€why€he€was€limping.Ð ˜è  ÐÌà  àJimmy€Bible,€water€department€superintendent,€testified€he€saw€Helton€limping€and€HeltonÐ pÀ Ðsaid€he€was€not€sure€how€he€hurt€his€leg.€He€said€on€another€occasion€in€the€presence€of€SteveÐ \¬ ÐNewman,€he€stated€he€had€not€hurt€his€leg€while€on€the€job.Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àDr.€Craig€Colvin,€a€vocational€disability€consultant,€testified€that€he€had€three€conclusionsÐ  p Ðconcerning€the€vocational€disability€of€employee€Helton.€€First,€he€stated€that€if€you€considered€theÐ  \ Ðfact€that€the€employee€had€no€work€restrictions,€then€he€would€not€have€any€work€disability;€that€ifÐ øH Ðyou€accepted€Dr.€Kennedyððs€imposition€of€work€restrictions,€the€vocational€disability€would€be€aboutÐ ä4 Ð10€percent;€and€if€you€considered€the€employeeððs€testimony,€his€vocational€disability€would€be€inÐ Ð  Ðthe€range€of€15„20€percent.Ð ¼  ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€resolved€the€conflicting€testimony€concerning€actual€notice€of€injury€in€favorÐ ”ä Ðof€the€employee€and€awarded€him€40€percent€disability€to€his€left€leg.Ð €Ð ÐÌÓ  ÓòòIssues€on€AppealÐ X ¨ ÐóóÓ  ÓÌà  àThe€Town€of€Rogersville€contends€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€finding€of€the€courtÐ 0"€  Ðon€the€question€of€notice€and€also€contends€the€40€percent€award€of€disability€to€the€leg€is€excessive.Ð #l! ÐÌÓ  ÓòòStandard€of€ReviewóóÐ ô$D # ÐÓ  ÓÌà  àThe€case€is€to€be€reviewed€on€appeal€òòde€novoóó€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€theÐ Ì&"% Ðcorrectness€of€the€findings€of€fact€unless€we€find€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€Ð ¸'#& ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(2).Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌà  àIn€weighing€conflicting€testimony,€the€trial€court€is€not€bound€by€any€witnessesðð€testimonyÐ |*Ì%) Ðbut€has€the€discretion€to€conclude€that€the€testimony€of€one€witness€should€be€accepted€over€theÐ h+¸&* Ðtestimony€of€another€witness.€€òòò òThomas€v.€Aetna€Life€&€Cas.€Co.ó óóó,€812€S.W.2d€278€(Tenn.€1991);Ð ° Ðòòò òOrman€v.€Williams„Sonoma,€Inc.óóó ó,€803€S.W.2d€672,€676€(Tenn.€1991).€€The€trial€court€is€primarilyÐ œì Ðcharged€with€the€duty€to€resolve€conflicts€in€the€evidence€and€that€decision€will€not€be€overturnedÐ ˆØ Ðon€appeal€unless€the€appellate€court€concludes€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€decision€made.€Ð tÄ ÐWhen€the€court€is€fixing€disability€to€a€scheduled€member,€loss€of€use€is€the€main€objective.òò€€ò òDuncanÐ `° Ðv.€Boeing€Tennessee€Incóóó ó.,€825€S.W.2d€416€(Tenn.€1992).Ð L œ ÐÌÓ  ÓòòAnalysis€of€IssuesóóÐ $ t ÐÌÓ  Óà  àThe€City€contends€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€trial€courtððs€finding€the€CityÐ ü L  Ðreceived€actual€notice€of€the€injury€because€its€evidence€was€more€credible€than€the€evidenceÐ è 8  Ðaccepted€by€the€trial€court.Ð Ô$  ÐÌà  àWhere€the€trial€court€has€seen€and€heard€witnesses€and€issues€of€credibility€and€the€weightÐ ¬ü  Ðof€oral€testimony€are€involved,€the€trial€court€is€in€a€better€position€to€judge€credibility€and€weighÐ ˜è  Ðevidence€and€on€appeal€considerable€deference€must€be€accorded€to€those€circumstances.€€òòò òRichardsÐ „Ô  Ðv.€Liberty€Mutual€Insur.€Co.óóó ó,€70€S.W.3d€729€(Tenn.€2002);€òòò òLanders€v.€Firemanððs€Fund€Inc.óóó ó,€775Ð pÀ ÐS.W.2d€355€(Tenn.€1989).Ð \¬ ÐÌà  àThe€trial€court€was€faced€with€a€great€deal€of€conflicting€testimony€on€this€issue.€€We€haveÐ 4„ Ðreviewed€all€of€this€evidence€and€cannot€conclude€that€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€findingÐ  p Ðthe€city€had€actual€notice€of€the€injury.Ð  \ ÐÌà  àThe€City€also€questions€the€award€of€40€percent€disability€to€the€leg.€€It€is€argued€the€awardÐ ä4 Ðis€excessive.€€In€determining€vocational€disability,€the€trial€court€is€required€to€consider€many€factorsÐ Ð  Ðin€fixing€an€award.€€Consideration€must€be€given€to€whether€there€has€been€a€decrease€in€theÐ ¼  Ðemployeeððs€capacity€to€earn€wages,€age€of€the€employee,€education,€skills€and€training,€local€jobÐ ¨ø Ðopportunities,€and€capacity€to€work€at€types€of€employment€available€in€claimantððs€disabledÐ ”ä Ðcondition.€€òòò òOrman€v.€Williams„Sonoma,€Inc.óóó ó,€825€S.W.2d€416€(Tenn.€1992).Ð €Ð ÐÌà  àConsidering€all€of€the€required€factors,€we€do€not€find€the€award€of€40€percent€disability€toÐ X ¨ Ðthe€leg€to€be€excessive.Ð D!” ÐÌÓ  ÓòòConclusionóóÐ #l! ÐÌÓ  Óà  àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€of€the€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€Town€ofÐ ô$D # ÐRogersville.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð ¤(ô#' Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àROGER€E.€THAYER,€SPECIAL€JUDGEÐ )à$( ÐÐ  |*Ì%) ÐÔ‡¼T»XX9Ôà@7 7 ìàÔ#†X9X»¼T~9#ÔÔ‡¼T»XX9ÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@° ° ìàAT€KNOXVILLE,€TENNESSEE€Ô#†X9X»¼TÒ9#ԈР ÐÌÌÌò òÔ‡¼T»XX9ÔÓ  ÓCLAUDE€E.€HELTON,€JR.€V.€TOWN€OF€ROGERSVILLEÔ#†X9X»¼T‘:#ÔÔ‡¼T»XX9ÔÐ ˜ è ÐHawkins€County€Circuit€CourtÔ#†X9X»¼T ;#Ôó óÐ ¬ ü ÐÓ°:Óà@FF&ìàò òÔ% ‡ ÔÔ%†»;ÔÔ% ‡ ÔÔ%† Ù;ÔÔ% ‡! ÔÔ%†!÷;ÔÔ% ‡" ÔÔ%†"<ÔNo.€10275ˆÐ À  ÐÌà@ÇÇ"ìàDecember€10,€2003ˆÐ ˜ è  ÐÌßA€V) °°` d€÷E<o` AßÐ pÀ  ÐÌà@èèìàNo.€Ô% ‡# ÔE2003„€00311„WC„R3„CVÔ%†#ú<ԈРk»  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<B` AßÐ C“  Ðó óÌà@±±&ìàò òJUDGMENTó óˆÐ >Ž ÐÌòòóó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€This€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€of€referralÐ f Ðto€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel's€memorandum€Opinion€settingÐ R Ðforth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ð î> ÐÌà  àà ` àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€memorandum€Opinion€of€the€PanelÐ Æ Ðshould€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÐ ² ÐÌà  àà ` àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€facts€and€conclusions€of€law€areÐ ŠÚ Ðadopted€and€affirmed€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€Judgment€of€the€Court.Ð vÆ ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€costs€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€appellant,€Town€of€Rogersville,€for€whichÐ Nž Ðexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.€Ð :Š ÐÌ€ÌÔ% € ÔÌà  àà ` àÌ