WPC0 jq*!. mrP g+GY'G2H8P)LFOF&l LnBRQ:D֘Gq#H==eLn>5@):7-Qv[Tw@D[L`OkI!6LiV;V)r4{ IP"a);,(U; e3رPyw"v6֭8PRXI Au?xգ4\t_<;PQn潣-޸c ]A9@6vn@"K)Q {ۙ#IϷs7y^c;UWPd0bϿ6ES.𯯤:mAtc*3YB`4I@{Fɸ{]z}șK&i1 }u=*5Nii7V$c&E3ՖzW&fDFQq,SHb#\ % ^ # 0/ UTN w 4 z  i x mz UN   k 1N 0DU*@?EN zUNb%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 0---- B  05 D3 D-  0K99 AS 0 0DA AHP LJ 4000/4050 PCL 5e,,,,0- (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular- 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(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5  R$      1  XX  _Ԁ XXMrs.Hudgenssufferedapreviousinjurytoherrightarmwhileworkingfor_TennPlasco_Ԁforwhichshe  receiveda10%upperextremityimpairmentratingforlossofstrengthtoherrightside.Thisinjuryisnotanissueinthe  presentcase.#XX #(#$  0  (9 Z(Times New Roman  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(9 Z 6Times New Roman Regular- -(|G2$ !.8Mdd8         0  XX d(|3$ !.8Mdd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3$ !.8Mdd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8[udd8     _[u8XXdd8  [T[u @  @  @  @ @@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL & @@ATNASHVILLE#[u[T# L July2002Session "r XX[u #[uXX<#SHERRYLYNN_HUDGENS_v.ROYAL&_SUNALLIANCE_ԀINSURANCE  p COMPANY,etal.XX[u  4  @@ DirectAppealfromtheCriminalCourtforMaconCounty 4  @@No.0142_J.O._ԀBond,Judge  p  @@*AV) ` dE<` A 4  No.M200102984_WC_ԄR3CVMailedNovember14,2002 /  #[uXX&#XX[uFiledDecember16,2002  AV) ` dE<` A       #[uXX#XX[uXXXXThisworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkersCompensation  AppealsPanelinaccordancewithTennesseeCodeAnnotated506225(e)(3)forhearingand  reportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Theemployerappeals v thejudgmentofthetrialcourtawardingtheemployee45%permanentpartialdisabilitytoherleft b arm.Theemployee,whowasdiagnosedwith_DeQuervain_sSyndromecausedbyrepetitiveuseof N herhandswhileworkingfortheemployer,#XXXX#XXXX#[uXX#XX[uԀhadsustaineda2%anatomicalimpairmenttotheupper : extremityandhadpermanentrestrictionsontheuseofherlefthand.Theemployercontendsthe &v trialcourterredby1)grantinganexcessiveaward;and2)findingthattheinjurywastothearm b ratherthanthehand.Weholdthattheevidencedoesnotpreponderateagainstthetrialcourts N findings.Accordingly,thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmed. : #XXXX##[uXX7 #XX[u   Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(1999)AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheCriminalCourt   Affirmed.  !      JamesL._Weatherford_,Sr.J.#[uXɦ #XX.[u,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichJaniceM.Holder, r#" J.,andJoeC.Loser,Jr.,_Sp.J._,joined. ^$# JohnW._Barringer_,Jr.,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheappellants,Royal&_Sunalliance_ԀInsuranceand 6&!% _TennPlasco_,Inc. "'r"& FrankD.FarrarandWilliamJosephButler,Lafayette,Tennessee,fortheappellee,SherryLynn (J$( _Hudgens_. )6%)    MEMORANDUMOPINION #[uXX #XX[u +'+   #[uXX#XX[uXXXX  Mrs.SherryLynn#XXXX]#XXXXԀ_Hudgens_,theemployee/appellee,#XXXXɼ#XXXXԀwas42yearsoldatthetimeoftrial,has -(- atwelfthgradeeducation,andhasnospecialskillsortraining.Allofthejobsshehasheldinthepast  involvedsometypeofmanuallabor.#XXXX>#XXXXShehasworkedasadishwasher,hotelmaid,custodianand  schoolbusdriver.Shehasalsoworkedinfactoriesandfastfoodrestaurants,andonfarmsbaling  hay.#XXXXn#XXXX t Ѐ  From1999until2001,#XXXXz#XXXXԀMrs._Hudgens_Ԁworkedinthefinishingdepartmentfor_TennPlasco_, L  Inc.,theemployer/appellant,whereshe#XXXX#XXXXԀunpackedboxesofpartsandloadedthesepartsontoan 8  assemblyline. $ t   OnJanuary5,2001,#XXXX#XXXXԀMrs._Hudgens_Ԁfeltburningandpaininherforearmandwristareawhile  L  workingat_TennPlasco_.ShewasreferredtoDr.PaulAbbeywhogaveherawrist_immobilizer_Ԁto  8  reducethepain.#XXXX#XXXXPriortoheremploymentwith_TennPlasco_,Mrs._Hudgens_Ԁhadneverexperienced $  orcomplainedofpainorcomplicationswithherleftwrist,hand,orarm._ #  1      _#XXXXK#XXXXԀ   Ѐ     Stillexperiencingpain,Mrs._Hudgens_ԀsoughtadditionaltreatmentfromDr.RobertP.   _Landsberg_,aboardcertifiedorthopedicsurgeon.OnJuly18,2001,Dr._Landsberg_Ԁconductedan   evaluationofherleftarmandalsoreviewedherpriormedicalrecords.Dr._Landsberg_Ԁdiagnosed p Mrs._Hudgens_Ԁwith _DeQuervain_ssyndromewhichisconstrictive_tenosynovitis_Ԁinthefirstdorsal \ extensorcompartmentontheleft.Hefoundtheanatomicalproblemtobeabovethewrist,butthat H itaffectedtheuseofherthumbandwrist. 4   Dr._Landsberg_Ԁassigneda2%permanentpartialimpairmentratingtotheleftupperextremity  \ baseduponthelatesteditionoftheAMAGuides.OnFebruary21,2001,#XXXX#XXXXԀMrs._Hudgens_Ԁwasreleased H toreturntoworkwithpermanentrestrictionsofnorepetitivegrippingorsqueezingwiththeleft 4 hand.ShewaslaidoffonFebruary24,2001,andhasnotbeencalledbacktoworkat_TennPlasco_.     Mrs._Hudgens_Ԁtestifiedthatshecannotreturntoanyofherpreviousjobsbecauseofherinjury  andpermanentrestrictions.Sheappliedforeightorninejobswithinthreeweekspriortotrial,but  hadnotbeencontactedbyanyemployer.AccordingtoMrs._Hudgens_, WheneverIuse[myleft l arm]alot,Ihaveswellingthatcomesupinthearmareadownintothewristandthumb.Shecan X  onlyperformmoderatephysicalactivitieswithherleftarmfor15to20minutesbeforethepainand D! swellingbegins. 0"    Mrs._Hudgens_Ԁtestifiedthatbeforeherinjuryshecouldfeedheranimals,mowthelawn, $X" cook,clean,andperformotherhouseholdchores.#XXXXɵ#XXXXԀShenowusespaperplatesandcupsbecauseshe $D # isunabletoliftherceramicplatesandglassware. %0!$   ThetrialcourtfoundthatMrs._Hudgens_Ԁhadsustaineda45%permanentpartialdisabilityto '#& herleftarm.  @& ANALYSIS     Reviewofthefindingsoffactmadebythetrialcourtisdenovoupontherecordofthetrial ` court,accompaniedbyapresumptionofthecorrectnessofthefinding,unlessthepreponderanceof L  theevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2).Theapplicationofthisstandard 8  requiresthisCourttoweighinmoredepththefactualfindingsandconclusionsofthetrialcourtsin $ t workerscompensationcases.SeeCorcoranv.FosterAuto_GMC_,Inc.,746S.W.2d452,456(Tenn.  ` 1988).#XXXX"#XXXX  L  #XXXXN'#  XXXX  Whenatrialcourthasseenandheardwitnesses,especiallywhereissuesofcredibilityand $  weightoforaltestimonyareinvolved,considerabledeferencemustbeaccordedthetrialcourts   factualfindings.Jonesv.SterlingLastCorp.,962S.W.2d469,471(Tenn.1998).   Ѐ#XXXXɱ'#     Whenthemedicaltestimonyispresentedbydeposition,asitwasinthiscase,thisCourtis   abletomakeitsownindependentassessmentofthemedicalprooftodeterminewherethe p preponderanceoftheevidencelies.Cooperv.InsuranceCo.ofNorthAmerica,884S.W.2d446, \ 451(Tenn.1994). XXXX H    I.Whethertheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrialcourtsfindingthatthe  p plaintiffsimpairmentwastothearmratherthanthehand  \ Ѐ  #XXX X*#XXXXԀ#XXXX,#XXXX H   TheonlymedicalproofsubmittedinthiscasewasthedepositionofDr._Landsberg_.Dr. 8 _Landsberg_ԀfoundthatMrs._Hudgens_Ԁsufferedfrom_DeQuervain_ssyndromecausedbyherrepetitive $ workactivities.UsingMrs._Hudgens_descriptionofherpain,thetestsconductedonher,andthe  FifthEditionoftheAMAGuides,#XXXXa,#XXXXԀDr._Landsberg_Ԁassigneda2%anatomicalimpairmentratingtoher  leftupperextremityandassignedpermanentrestrictionsofnorepetitivegrippingorsqueezingwith  thelefthand#XXXX.#XXXX.#XXXX#0#XXXX    WhenaskedtheanatomicallocationofMrs._Hudgens_injury,Dr._Landsberg_Ԁtestifiedthat \   theanatomicalproblemisatabovethewrist,justabovethewrist.Hefurtherstatedthatin H! orthopedictermsthewristisnotpartofthehand,butpartoftheupperextremityorforearm.On 4"  crossexamination,Dr._Landsberg_Ԁclarifiedhistestimonybystatingthat thepainisinthedistal  #p! portionoftheforearmbutitaffectsuseofthehand.  $\"   #XXXXg0# XXXX  Mrs.Hudgensalsotestifiedastothelocationofherinjury.Shestatedthattherewaspain, %4!$ burning,andswellinginherarmandwristarea.Shefurtherindicatedthatwhenevershemovesor & "% bendsherhand,armandwristinfrequentactivity,thereisswellingthat comesupinthearmarea ' #& downintothewristandthumb.Theclaimantsownassessmentofherphysicalconditionand (#' resultingdisabilitiesiscompetenttestimonyandcannotbedisregarded.TomStillTransferCo.v. )$( Way,482S.W.2d775,777(Tenn.1972).#XXXXx3#XXXX *%)  l+&*   Dr._Landsberg_ԀbasedhisratinginpartonMrs._Hudgens_descriptionofhersymptoms.The  trialcourt,whowasinthebestpositiontojudgewitnesscredibility,foundMrs._Hudgens_Ԁtobea   credibleandbelievablewitness.#XXXXM6#XXXX  #XXXX68#XXXX  AfterreviewingthemedicalproofandgivingdeferencetothetrialcourtsfindingastoMrs. ` _Hudgens_credibility,wefindthattheevidencesupportsthefindingofthetrialcourtthatshehad L  sustainedaworkrelatedinjurytoherleftarmasopposedtoaninjurytothehand. 8   #XXXXɍ8# XXXX  II.Whethertheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrialcourtsawardof45%  ` permanentpartialdisabilitytotheleftarm  L   #XXX XZ:#XXXX  8    Wenextaddressthetrialcourtsfindingof45%permanentpartialdisabilitytotheleftarm. $    _TennPlasco_Ԁcontendsthatthetrialcourtsawardof45%isexcessivebecauseitisover22times   higherthanMrs._Hudgens_anatomicalimpairmentrating.     Anatomicaldisabilityratingsarebutonefactortoconsiderindeterminingvocational   disability,theultimateissueinallworkerscompensationcases.Ormanv.Williams_Sonoma_,Inc., p 803S.W.2d672,67778(Tenn.1991).Thetestiswhethertherehasbeenadecreaseinthe \ employeesabilitytoearnwagesinanylineofworkavailabletotheemployee.#XXXXT;#XXXXԀCorcoran,746 H S.W.2dat459. 4   Theextentofvocationaldisabilityisaquestionoffacttobedeterminedfromallthe  \ evidence,includingbothlayandexperttestimony.#XXXX#?#XXXXHensonv._Lawrenceburg_,851S.W.2d809,812 H (Tenn.1993).#XXXXn@#XXXX 4 #XXXX$A#XXXXԀ#XXXXɁA#XXXX     Inassessingtheextentofanemployeesvocationaldisability,thetrialcourtmayconsider   theemployeesage,education,skillsandtraining,localjobopportunities,anatomicalimpairment  ratings,andthecapacitytoworkatthetypesofemploymentavailableinherdisabledcondition.  Walkerv.SaturnCorp.,986S.W.2d204,208(Tenn.1998)#XXXXA#XXXX.  #XXXXC#XXXX  Mrs._Hudgens_Ԁhasparticipatedinhandintensivemanuallaborforthemajorityofherwork X  life.Shehasatwelfthgradeeducationandnospecialskillsortraining.Shetestifiedthatshecould D! notreturntoanyofherformerjobswhichallrequirerepetitivegrippingorsqueezingofthehands 0"  whichisprohibitedbyhermedicalrestrictions.#XXXX/D#XXXXԀ#XXXX>F#XXXX #l!   #XXXXɂF#XXXXAfterherinjury,sheisnotabletoperformanymoderatephysicalactivityformorethan15 $D # to20minuteswithoutpainandswellinginherlefthand.Shehasproblemsperforminghousehold %0!$ activities.#XXXXF#XXXXԀ#XXXXH#XXXXԀ_Further,_ԀMrs._Hudgens_Ԁhasbeenforcedtochangefromusingherglasswareandplatesto &"% _styrofoam_Ԁcupsandpaperplatesbecauseshecannotlifttheheavierarticleswithoutpain. '#&   Aftercarefulreviewoftherecord#XXXX]H#XXXX,wefindthatthetrialcourtproperlyweighedallofthe )$( relevantfactorsindeterminingthatMrs._Hudgens_Ԁhasa45%permanentpartialdisabilitytotheleft |*%) arm.#XXXX J#XXXXԀTheevidencedoesnotpreponderateagainstthefindingofthetrialcourt. h+&*    `     h      p @FF% CONCLUSION     Thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmed.Costsofappealaretaxedtotheappellants, t _TennPlasco_,Inc.andRoyal&_Sunalliance_ԀInsuranceCompany. `    `     h      p    `     h     ___________________________________ p    `     h     JAMESL._WEATHERFORD_,_SR.J._#XXXX9K#  \ [uXX  @@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL  #XX[u>O# [uXXSHERRYLYNN_HUDGENS_v.ROYAL&_SUNALLIANCE_ԀINSURANCE " COMPANY,etal.#XX[uP#   6 @@ _Crimianl_ԀCourtforMaconCounty  6 @@No.0142  " @@*AV) ` dE<` A   No.M200102984_WC_ԄR3CVFiledDecember16,2002   AV) ` dE<h` A i       [uXX#XX[uR#R  JUDGMENT [uXX#XX[ujS# <   [uXX#XX[uS#[uXX#XX[uT#XXXX  ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferraltothe d SpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanelsMemorandumOpinionsettingforth P itsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference. <   Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthattheMemorandumOpinionofthePanelshouldbe  acceptedandapproved;and    Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanelsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawareadopted  andaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. t   Costswillbepaidbytheappellants,_TennPlasco_,Inc.andRoyal&_Sunalliance_ԀInsurance L  Company,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. 8!    ITISSOORDERED. #`"    `     h     PERCURIAM &"&   #XXXXRT#