WPC )V, B Mxx /(K,a4=9'|BЙO鰵b %\UNb 0U)N8^ w4 z$   m  &   x #> NU*  E33333 0D5555555555555555555byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy 0 B ll 0 D3- D-` 0K AS+ 0 0D A(9 Z6Times New Roman Regular(`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular(/ X2/bk3 C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xU Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL6V,,,,V0%2A`Arial(#$  0  - -(|G2$ !.8dd8         0  XwX d(|37)$ !.8dd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|37)$ !.8dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8dd8     _8GXXdd8  0&@@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL # @@ATNASHVILLE#0&# F July31,2003Session i XGX #XXG#HELENLOUISEHENSONv.FACTORY&STEELTRANSPORTATION,  b INC.,etal.XGX  # s @@ DirectAppealfromtheCircuitCourtfor_Humphreys_ԀCounty  m @@No.8978AllenWallace,Judge W  @@*AV) ` dE<` A   No.M200202761_WC_ԄR3CVMailedSeptember30,2003#XXG#XGX   FiledDecember15,2003   AV) ` dE<` A       Thisworkers'compensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppeals  PaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3)forhearingand s reportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Inthisappeal,#XXG#XGXԀTennessee \ InsuranceGuarantyAssociationinsiststhetrialcourterredindetermining(1)theemployeewas E permanentlyandtotallydisabled,(2)thelastinjuriousinjuryruledidnotapplyand(3)the .~ employee'spermanentandtotaldisabilitybenefitsaccruedbeginningMarch14,2001.The g employeeinsiststhepreponderanceoftheevidencesupportsthefindingsofthetrialcourt.As P discussedbelow,thepanelhasconcluded#XXG#XGXthejudgmentshouldbemodifiedwithrespecttothedate 9 ofinjury. " r   Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2002Supp.)AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheCircuit  CourtAffirmedasModified       #XG< #XGX.JoeC.Loser,Jr.,Sp.J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichJaniceM.Holder,J.,and a  JamesL._Weatherford_,Sr.J.,joined. J!  RobertO._Binkley_,Jr.and_Latosha_ԀMasonDexter,_Rainey_,_Kizer_,_Reviere_Ԁ&Bell,Jackson, #l" Tennessee,fortheappellant,TennesseeInsuranceGuarantyAssociation $U# J.FrankThomasandJenniferL._Shumate_,_Leitner_,Williams,Dooley&_Napolitan_,Nashville, %'!% Tennessee,fortheappellee,Commerce&IndustryInsuranceCompany &"& CharlesL.Hicks,Camden,Tennessee,fortheappellee,HelenLouiseHenson (#(    MEMORANDUMOPINION #XXG #XGX d*%*   #XXG#XGX  Theemployeeorclaimant,MaryLouiseHenson,initiatedthiscivilactiontorecover#XXG|#&v%workers' 7,', compensationbenefitsagainstheremployer,Factory&SteelTransportation,andits#%&v#XGXԀinsurer,Reliance  -p(- _InsuranceCompany,allegingthatshesufferedworkrelatedinjuriesonoraboutMarch14,2001,  May22,2001andJune19,2001.Theappellant,TennesseeInsuranceGuarantyAssociation  (TIGA),waslateraddedasadefendant.Thedefendantsdeniedliability,particularlyforanyinjuries  occurringafterApril1,2001,whentheemployerchangedinsurancecarriers.Afteratrialonthe k merits,thetrialcourtfoundtheclaimanttobepermanentlyandtotallydisabledasaresultofthe T March14,2001injuryandthatshesufferednodisabilityasaresultofthelaterinjuries.TIGAhas =  appealed. & v   Appellatereviewisdenovoupontherecordofthetrialcourt,accompaniedbyapresumption  H ofcorrectnessofthefindingsoffact,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.  1  CodeAnn.506225(e)(2).Thistribunalisnotboundbythetrialcourt'sfindingsbutinstead    conductsanindependentexaminationoftherecordtodeterminewherethepreponderancelies.   Gallowayv.MemphisDrumServ.,822S.W.2d584,586(Tenn.1991).Xz XXXGWherethetrialjudgehas   seenandheardthewitnesses,especiallyifissuesofcredibilityandweighttobegivenoraltestimony   areinvolved,considerabledeferencemustbeaccordedthosecircumstancesonreview,becauseit n  isthetrialcourtwhichhadtheopportunitytoobservethewitnessesdemeanorandtohearthein W  courttestimony.#XGX XXz=#Longv.TriConInd.,Ltd.,996S.W.2d173,178(Tenn.1999).Xz XXXGԀTheappellate @ tribunal,however,isaswellsituatedtogaugetheweight,worthandsignificanceofdeposition )y testimonyasthetrialjudge.#XGX XXzm#Walkerv.SaturnCorp.,986S.W.2d204,207(Tenn.1998). b Xz XXXGConclusionsoflawaresubjecttodenovoreviewonappealwithoutanypresumptionofcorrectness.#XGX XXz#Ԁ K Nuttv.ChampionIntern.Corp.,980S.W.2d365,367(Tenn.1998).#XXG#XGX 4   Theclaimantisapproximately56yearsoldwithatenthgradeeducationandexperienceas  apunchpressoperator,waitressandschoolbusdriver.Sheworkedfortheemployerfrom1995,  asatruckdriver,untilshewaslaidoffinJune2001.Herdutiesincludedloadingandunloading  cargo. q   Shesufferedthreeseparateinjuriesbyaccidentwhileworkingfortheemployer.OnMarch C 14,2001,shetrippedoverarubberbarrierinthewarehouse,felltotheground,bouncedandslid ,| severalfeet.OnMarch17,shewasexaminedbyDr.StanleyHopp.Dr.Hoppfoundnopermanent e disabilityresultingfromthefirstinjury.Headvisedhertocontinueworking,whichshedid. N   OnMay22,2001,shetrippedagain.Althoughshedidnotfallshefeltpainintheupperand !   lowerback.Achiropractor,Dr.WaylandBrooks,treatedherforpainfromMay24,2001through " ! thedateoftrial,October9,2001.Dr.Brooksadvisedtheclaimanttocontinueworkingwith #" restrictedlifting,bendingandstooping.Shedid. $#   ThethirdinjurybyaccidentoccurredonJune19,2001,whentheclaimantbackedatruck ]&!% underatrailerandstruckthetankpin.Theaccident jerkedeverythingallthewayupmyspine, F'"& accordingtotheclaimantstestimony.Shewaslaidoffbytheemployerthreedayslaterandhasnot /(#' workedsincethen.CommerceandIndustryInsuranceCompanyinsuredtheemployersliability )h$( onthatdate. *Q%)   TIGAandCommerceandIndustryInsuranceCompanycontendtheclaimantisnot +#'+ permanentlyandtotallydisabled.Xz XXXGWhenaninjury,nototherwisespecificallyprovidedforinthe  Act,totallyincapacitatesacoveredemployeefromworkingatanoccupationwhichproducesan  income,suchemployeeisconsideredtotallydisabled.#XGX XXz"#Tenn.CodeAnn.506207(4)(B).Xz XXXGԀThe  definitionfocusesonanemployeesabilitytoreturntogainfulemployment.#XGX XXz$#Davisv.Reagan,951 k S.W.2d766,767(Tenn.1997). T   Dr.GraftonThurman,acertifiedindependentmedicalexaminerandsocialsecuritydisability & v examiner,examinedtheclaimantonAugust13,2002.Hediagnosedmultilevellumbarandcervical  _ injuriesandassessedherpermanentmedicalimpairmentat33percentforthecombinedinjuries.  H Theclaimanttestifiedthatshehasappliedforworkatseveralotheremployers,buthasbeen  1  unsuccessfulinacquiringgainfulemploymentbecause,asshetestified,thereisnotajobshecan    performand everythingItrytodocausespain.Thetrialcourtobservedthatsheis toughas   nailsandwouldbeworkingifshecouldwork.Intheabsenceofanycountervailingevidence,we   cannotsaytheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrialcourtsfindingthattheclaimantis   permanentlyandtotallydisabled.ThefirstissueisresolvedinfavorofMs.Henson. n    Byitssecondissue,TIGAquestionsthetrialcourtsfindingthattheoperativedatefor @ determiningwhetheritorCommerceandIndustryInsuranceCompanyisliablefordisability )y benefits,andthetrialcourtsdeterminationthatthebeginningdateforsuchbenefitsisMarch14, b 2001,thedateofthefirstoftheclaimantsthreesuccessiveinjuries.Xz XXXGWhereanemployeeis K permanentlydisabledasaresultofacombinationoftwoormoreaccidentsoccurringatdifferent 4 timesandwhiletheemployeewasworkingfordifferentemployers,theemployerforwhomthe  employeewasworkingatthetimeofthemostrecentaccidentisgenerallyliableforpermanent  disabilitybenefits.#XGX XXz+#McCormickv.SnappyCarRentals,Inc.,806S.W.2d527(Tenn.1991)Xz XXXG.The  samedoctrineapplieswheretheemployeespermanentdisabilityresultsfromsuccessiveinjuries  whiletheemployeeisworkingforthesameemployer,buttheemployerhaschangedinsurance q carriers.Thecarrierwhichprovidedcoverageatthetimeofthelastinjuryisliableforthepayment Z ofpermanentdisabilitybenefits.#XGX XXz*-#ԀGlobeCo.v.Hughes,223Tenn.37,442S.W.2d253(1969). C   Xz XXXGAninjuryiscompensable,eventhoughtheclaimantmayhavebeensufferingfromaserious e preexistingconditionordisability,ifaworkconnectedaccidentcanbefairlysaidtobea N contributingcauseofsuchinjury.Anemployertakesanemployeeastheemployeeis,withall  7 defectsanddiseases,andassumestheriskofhavingaweakenedconditionaggravatedbyaninjury !   whichmightnotaffectanormalperson.#XGX XXzo/#ԀExpressPersonnelServices,Inc.v.Belcher,86S.W.3d " ! 498,500(Tenn.2002). #"   WhileDr.Thurmantestifiedthatthefirstinjurywastheonewhichcausedtheclaimants t% $ preexistingbackconditiontobecomesymptomatic,healsotestifiedunequivocallythattheclaimant ]&!% sufferedthreeseparateinjuries,eachofwhichworsenedherpreexistingcondition.Moreover,it F'"& isundisputedthattheclaimantwasnotdisabledfromworkinguntilaftertheinjuryofJune19,2001. /(#' Accordingly,wefindthatJune19,2001isthedatefromwhichpermanenttotaldisabilitybenefits )h$( mustbemeasured.Theemployeranditsinsurancecarrieronthatdate,CommerceandIndustry *Q%) InsuranceCompany,areliableforpermanenttotaldisabilitybenefits. *:&*  +#'+   ThejudgmentofthetrialcourtismodifiedaccordinglyandthecauseremandedtotheCircuit  CourtforHumphreysCounty.Asmodified,thejudgmentisaffirmed.CostsaretaxedtoCommerce  andIndustryInsuranceCompany.     `     h     ___________________________________ =     `     h     JOEC.LOSER,_JR.  & v Xz XXXGį  XXz@ INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @gg$ATNASHVILLE#Xz X į7#?@  XXzԈ #    HELENLOUISEHENSONv. V FACTORY&STEELTRANSPORTATION,INC.,etal.   g 8 #Xz X ?@j8#@*AV) ` dE<! ` A߈ " r   No.M200202761SCWCMCVFiledDecember15,2003  k  9AV) ` dE<` A ?   @& JUDGMENT  8  į  XXz#Xz X į:#  ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponamotionforreviewfiledbyCommerce&Industry E  InsuranceCompany,pursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(5)(B).Theentirerecord,including . theorderofreferraltotheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanels  MemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawareincorporated  hereinbyreference.    Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenandshould k beDENIED;and T   Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanelsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawareadopted &v andaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. _   CostswillbeassessedtoCommerce&IndustryInsuranceCompany,forwhichexecution 1 mayissueifnecessary.     `     h     PER_CURIAM_  Holder,J.,notparticipating. n!  NFXOAXFO#FXA@#N#XXF?# #XGX XXz7#