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N #X_XXX_i#]   Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2001Supp.)AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheChancery & Court VacatedandRemanded       JoeC.Loser,Jr.,Sp.J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichJaniceM.Holder,J.,and  JamesL._Weatherford_,Sr.J.,joined   RussellD.Hedges,Moore&Hedges,_Tullahoma_,Tennessee,fortheappellant,_Hershel_ԀWillardHill b"! EdwardA._Hadley_,Gideon&_Wiseman_,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheappellees,WilsonSporting :$# GoodsCompanyandKemperInsuranceCompany &%v $    MEMORANDUMOPINION  &N"&   X_XXX_  PursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.506241(a)(2),theemployeeorclaimant#X_XXX_ #X_XXX_,_Hershel_ԀHill, (&$( initiatedthiscivilactionforreconsiderationofapreviousawardofpermanentpartialdisability )%) benefitsforinjuriessufferedinaworkrelatedaccidentonApril23,1997.Afterahearing,thetrial *%* courtdisallowedreconsiderationbecause(1)thepreviousawardwaslessthantwoandonehalf +&+ timesthehighestimpairmentratingand(2)theclaimanthadnotbeendischargedbytheemployer. ,', Theclaimanthasappealed. r-(- _ԇ  #X_XXX_ #AppellateX_XXX_Ԁreviewisdenovoupontherecordofthetrialcourt,accompaniedbyapresumption  ofcorrectnessofthefindingsoffact,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.#X_XXX_W#Tenn.  CodeAnn.506225(e)(2)(2001Supp.).X_XXX_Ԁ#X_XXX_#X_XXX_Conclusionsoflawaresubjecttodenovoreviewon  appealwithoutanypresumptionofcorrectness.#X_XXX_#Nuttv.ChampionIntern.Corp.,980S.W.2d365, t 367(Tenn.1998)X_XXX_.Issuesofstatutoryconstructionaresolelyquestionsoflaw.#X_XXX_#6  6  Bryantv.Genco ` Stamping&Mfg.Co.,33S.W.3d761,765(Tenn.2000).ԀX_XXX_Workerscompensationlawsmustbe L  construedsoastoensurethatinjuredemployeesarejustlyandappropriatelyreimbursedfor 8  debilitatinginjuriessufferedinthecourseofservicetotheemployer.#X_XXX_i#Storyv.LegionIns.Co.,3 $ t S.W.3d450,454(Tenn.1999).X_XXX_  `   Mr.Hillworkedfortheemployer,WilsonSportingGoods,formorethanthirtyyearsuntil  8  hisretirementin1999.OnApril23,1997,hehadacollisionwithanelectriccartatwork.The $  resultingbackinjurywasinitiallytreatedbyDr.RichardA.BagbyandDr.RobertM.Dimick.Both   physiciansassignedazeropermanentimpairmentratingfortheclaimantsinjury.Athirdphysician,   Dr.RichardFishbein,evaluatedtheclaimantandassignedapermanentimpairmentratingoffive   percenttothewholeperson.     OnMay5,1997,theclaimantreturnedtohisjobatWilsonatawageequaltoorgreaterthan \ hiswagebeforetheinjury.Accordingly,byTenn.CodeAnn.506241(a),hispotentialpermanent H disabilityawardwaslimitedtotwoandonehalftimeshismedicalimpairmentrating.OnOctober 4 23,1998,thetrialcourtawardedbenefitsbasedon7.5percentpermanentpartialdisabilitytothe  p bodyasawhole,oroneandonehalftimestheimpairmentratingassignedbyDr.Fishbein.  \   Intheyearthatfollowed,theclaimantcontinuedtoworkatWilsonwhilesufferingfromback 4 pain.HislastdayatworkwasOctober26,1999,afterwhichhetooksickleave.OnOctober27,   1999,hevisitedDr.PaulMcCombs,whoinformedMr.Hillthatsurgerywasnotanoptionforhis   backcondition.WiththeassistanceofDr.McCombs,theclaimantobtainedsocialsecuritydisability  benefits.HealsoretiredfromWilsonunderitsdisabilityplan.    Atthetrialofthiscause,theclaimanttestifiedthatthepaininhisbackworsenedinthetime l followingthefirsthearing,butthenatureofthepaindidnotchange.Thetrialcourtdeclinedthe X  invitationtoreconsiderMr.Hillsclaimbasedontwoindependentandunrelatedgrounds.First,the D! courtheldthatreconsiderationwasappropriateonlywheretheinitialawardwascappedbythetwo 0"  andonehalfmultiplierlimit.Second,thecourtheldthatanemployeemustbeterminatedinorder #l! tobeeligibleforreconsiderationoftheinitialaward.Thus,thetrialcourtconcluded,becausethe $X" initialawardwaslessthantwoandonehalftimesDr.Fishbeinsratingandtheclaimanthadnot $D # beenterminated,Mr.Hillsapplicationforreconsiderationwasrejectedasamatteroflaw. %0!$   AccordingtoTennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection506241(a)(1), S '#&   #X_XXX_#SX_XXX_  8  8`   [f]orinjuriesarisingonorafterAugust1,1992,incaseswherean 6*%( injuredemployeeiseligibletoreceiveanypermanentpartial "+r&) disabilitybenefits,pursuantto#X_XXSX_!#SX_XXX_#X_XXSX_(##SX_XXX_506207(3)(A)(i)and(F),andthe ,^'* preinjuryemployerreturnstheemployeetoemploymentatawage  equaltoorgreaterthanthewagetheemployeewasreceivingatthe  timeofinjury,themaximumpermanentpartialdisabilityawardthat  theemployeemayreceiveistwoandonehalf(21/2)timesthe t medicalimpairmentrating....`` x` x  "  Inaddition,thestatutesaysthat [i]nmakingdeterminations,thecourtshallconsiderallpertinent  . factors,includinglayandexperttestimony,employee'sage,education,skillsandtraining,localjob   opportunities,andcapacitytoworkattypesofemploymentavailableinclaimant'sdisabled   condition.Tenn.CodeAnn.506241(a)(1). S#X_XXSX_o##6X_XXX_    #X_XXX_w'#X_XXX_g'  Iftheinjuredworkerthereafterloseshisorherpreinjuryemployment,thecourtmay,upon z  properapplicationmadewithinoneyearoftheemployeeslossofemployment,andifsuchlossof f  employmentiswithin400weeksofthedaytheemployeereturnedtowork,enlargetheawardtoa R  maximumofsixtimessuchimpairmentrating,allowingtheemployercreditforpermanentpartial >  disabilitybenefitsalreadypaidfortheinjury.#X_XXX_'#X_XXX_(Tenn.CodeAnn.506241(a)(2).Apetitionto *z enlargeapreviousawardisproperwhentheinjuredworkerattemptstoreturntoworkbutthe f originalworkrelateddisabilitylaterrenderstheinjuredworkerunemployablewiththepreinjury R employer.Brewerv.LincolnBrassWorks,991S.W.2d226,228(Tenn.1999).Thepurposeof > Tenn.CodeAnn.241istopromoteuniformityinworkerscompensationawards.Id. *   Iftheofferofreemploymentbytheemployerisnotreasonableinlightoftheinjured  workersdisabilitytoperformtheofferedemployment,theofferofreemploymentisnotmeaningful  andtheinjuredworkermayreceivedisabilityuptosixtimesthemedicalimpairment.Nelsonv.  WalMartStores,Inc.,8S.W.3d625,630(Tenn.1999).Ontheotherhand,anemployeewillbe v limitedtodisabilitybenefitsofnotmorethantwoandonehalftimesthemedicalimpairmentifhis b refusaltoreturntoofferedworkisunreasonable.Newtonv.ScottHealthCareCenter,914S.W.2d N 884,886(Tenn.1995). :   TennesseeCodeAnnotatedsections506241(a)(1)and506241(a)(2)donotstatethata  b trialcourtmustawardthemaximumoftwoandonehalftimesthemedicalimpairmentratingasa  N prerequisiteforreconsideration.Nonetheless,tx*#X_XXX_E*#X_XXX_heappellantinfersfromthestatutethatanawardis !: notsubjecttoreconsiderationunlessitwasstatutorilycapped.However,thisinterpretation "&  overlooksanimportantruleconcerningconstructionofworkerscompensationstatutes.The #! WorkersCompensationActexpresslyrequiresthatitbegivenequitableconstructionanddeclares $" itselftobearemedialAct.Tenn.CodeAnn.506116.Itmust,therefore,beinterpretedina % # mannerdesignedtoprotectworkersandtheirfamiliesfromtheeconomicdevastationthatcanfollow &!$ onthejobinjuries.Nancev.StateInd.,Inc.,33S.W.3d222(Tenn.2000).0#X_XXX_ 1#X_XXX_ r'"%   Furthermore,anawardunderTennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection506241(a)(1)isbasedon J)$' thepremisethatthedisabledworkerwillbereturnedtoworkbythepreinjuryemployeratthesame 6*%( orgreaterwage.Obviouslysuchanawarddoesnottakeintoaccountthepossibilitythatthedisabled "+r&) workermaybeunabletoreturntoworkasintended.Iftheemployeesinjuriespreventhim_from ,^'* successfullyreturningtowork-4#X_XXX_`4#X_XXX_,thenhisclaimdeservesreconsiderationbecausethepreviousaward  6#X_XXX_6#X_XXX_doesnotaccountforthedecreasedprospectsinlocaljobopportunitiesafterafailedreturntowork.  Reconsiderationisappropriateundersuchcircumstances,whetherornotthestatutorycapwas  appliedtotheoriginalaward,inorder#X_XXX_7#X_XXX_z7Ԁtoensurethatinjuredworkersreceivefullconsiderationof t theirclaims.#X_XXX_9#X_XXX_79Wethereforeholdthatreconsiderationisavailableunder241(a)(2)iftheinitialaward ` didnotexceedthetwoandonehalftimesthemedicalimpairmentratingcap,aslongasthe L  applicationistimelyandgroundedonanunsuccessfulreturntoworkduetotheemployeesinjuries.#X_XXX_9#X_XXX_9 8    Theemployeralsoarguedsuccessfullyinthetrialcourtthattheemployeeshouldnotbe  ` entitledtoretireandtherebyunilaterallyentitlehimselftoanincreasedaward.Weagreethatthe  L  statutewasnotintendedtoallowreconsiderationforeveryinjuredemployeewhoisreturnedtowork  8  andsubsequentlyretires.However,wearenotpreparedtodeclarethatretirementabsolutely $  precludesreconsideration.Theappropriatenessofallowingreconsiderationmustbeevaluatedunder;#X_XXX_z;#X_XXX_   thefactsandcircumstancesofeachcase,applyingthestandardsofreasonablenessestablishedby   Newtonanditsprogeny.#X_XXX_[>#WX_XXX_Forexample,anawardcouldbereconsideredifretirementisduetothe   employeesinabilitytoperformtheworkbecauseofinjuryorifitisduetotheemployersrefusal   toaccommodaterestrictions.#X_XXWX_G?#X_XXX_(> p   Forthesereasons,thejudgmentofthetrialcourt,dismissingtheclaim,isvacatedandthe H causeremandedforconsiderationundertheabovestandardsand,ifappropriate,reconsiderationof 4 theclaimantspermanentdisability.Costsaretaxedtotheappellee.  p m%   `     h     ___________________________________      `     h     JOEC.LOSER,JR.   #X_XXX_@#@    XX_  @@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL  #X_X C#  XX__HERSHEL_ԀWILLARDHILLv.WILSONSPORTINGGOODSCO.,etal.#X_X rD#  " @@ ChanceryCourtforFranklinCounty  " @@No.16,436   @@*AV) ` dE<` A   No.M200102820_WC_ԄR3CVFiledDecember9,2002 }  AV) ` dE<T` A U        XX_#X_X F#F  JUDGMENT  XX_#X_X dG# (x    XX_#X_X G# XX_#X_X H#dX_XXX_  ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferraltothe P SpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanelsMemorandumOpinionsettingforth < itsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference. (   Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthattheMemorandumOpinionofthePanelshouldbe  acceptedandapproved;and    Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanelsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawareadopted t andaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. `   Costswillbepaidbytheappellee,WilsonSportingGoodsCompany,etal,forwhich 8 executionmayissueifnecessary. $ t   ITISSOORDERED. !L!    `     h     PER_CURIAM_ % %   #X_XXdX_LH#