ÿWPC0 „R’©W½Ë…Ó}³ 2C…K 4%gî<ÅÑçÒ‡¾r3Ò (Ñÿ3’_Ùx•¯@é6WœMåM‡à‘gщŒÃI·B„«ê3÷ajnáS L ÿàH"…"H »GÈáÄ[„¹Þ®‘|ôEÞ?lRc Í”÷šbÜêRas¾/}„q2dŠNC¬îÅ>6¢·*ÂÆ+0ÅCp Wáñõ~}tÝBŠ…Q”ŠÛE’–go†"Ûq+Dl`ªÙä“Õçº!"¯Ç©[8”íšXD™®ÕAϤšÆŠðJŸ+?ÆzMh ™_ˆ…ÏÂÕrð–ëËNU.xµª -•÷jŸ¨µµºõ-¦¸ 6k³" ±;—Ñ© ïñî¬xý¼èk¢;i;¿@%[ÚõH4»‹4+tÁ¼Æ3VÖà ¤fá}¿½ÆG¦(¡•<ÊuÖzg(¨Mr¿ïzÃ38mØoÔta™²Àâµé» Ô„6à©jl0jZÔ»úrâ§~E‰åðÝ4+Ø„,êµÛ‡×/‰ÝÔ`N¢fÎÜýÖÚ’yHµ„’Þ] åt Vî†c.‚³€NßB¸·‚9¾²uQäù:#¨4‡÷a½ÍÜ! UTË$cËn‰'}6…õoÊP*U :L %†rŒWþ 0UUBâ"$ F nV 0rY Ë Ë Ë U:Î  U: ÆEÆ ÆÑÆ—w@]4 AQ±Æ 0DÈ 0D  0DPP D/” Bà Bà D3ý<þ6X9`("Courier NewTTô'    0 .    MÝ ƒÏ~)ÝÔ€X–ãXôôÔÔ€X–ãXXX–ãÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ4°ÒÓ  ÓÓ9%ÿÿ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤ü!°œX9ÓÔ  ÔÔ@  ÔÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚÔA  ÔÐ ° ÐÓ  ÓÓ<(ÿÿ 4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤ü!ÿÿŒ ŠX<Ó(e2Ï~$©©Ý ƒ í‰!ÝÔ€X–ãXôôÔÔ€X–ãXXX–ãÔÓ  ÓÝ  Ýô\  `*Times New RomanTT Ñ ° ÑÑ „ Ñ3|x"«<þ6X9`("Courier NewTTôôdþ6X@ÉDQô@<þ6X9`("Courier NewTTXXxþ6X@ÉDQX@ô\  `*Times New RomanTT¼¼^ô\  PŽ6Q¼P(Jí‰$¡¡Ô€X–ãXôôÔÔ€X–ãXXX–ãÔÓ  Ó ùÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€ôV? ôôôÔÔ€wÇ  ôôV?ÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XÇl X wÇÔÐ  ÐÌOctober€26,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,kû¤AZ‹"Arial Regular ùÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€ôV? ôôôÔÔ€wÇ  ôôV?ÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XÇl X wÇÔÐ  ÐÌOctober€26,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,kû¤AZ‹"Arial RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 DEEE E!"DLL%(!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ !ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ !ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ í‰!ÝÔ€X–ãXôôÔÔ€X–ãXXX–ãÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑTR[  AØ'3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÒ4°ÒÖ€ÿÿÖÑ  ÑÓ  ÓÓ<(ÿÿ ` Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤ü!°œX<ÓÔ€¼›ê¼XX–ãÔÔ€¼`«¼¼¼›êÔÔ  Ôññßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@Eȱ` 8ttxP°ð  rßññIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐÑ€ÑÓ<%ÿÿ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤ü!ÿÿ` Œ ŠX<ÓÌSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÌAT€NASHVILLEÌ(June€29,€1998€Session)ÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ<(ÿÿ 4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤ü!ÿÿŒ ŠX<ÓINGRAM€BOOK€COMPANYà ì àà D à)à œ àRUTHERFORD€CIRCUITÐ ŒÜ  Ðà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D à)Ìà Œ àPlaintiff„Appellant,à ì àà D àà œ à)Ð ¸  Ðà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D à)à œ àHon.€Robert€E.€Corlew,€III,Ð Î  Ðv.à Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D à)à œ àJudgeÐ ä4 Ðà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D à)ÌSTACEY€FITZGERALDà ì àà D àà œ à)Ð ` Ðà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D à)à œ àNo.€01S01„9712„CV„00268Ð &v Ðà Œ àDefendant„Appelleeà ì àà D à)à œ àÐ <Œ ÐÌÌÌÌÌòòFor€Appellantóó:à < àà ” àà ì àà D àà œ àòòFor€Appelleeóó:Ð À ÐÌDavid€B.€Burrowà < àà ” àà ì àà D àà œ àHerbert€M.€SchalteggerÐ ì < ÐBrewer,€Krause€&€Brooksà ì àà D àà œ àThomas,€Henderson€&€PateÐ "R ÐNashville,€Tennesseeà ” àà ì àà D àà œ àMurfreesboro,€TennesseeÐ #h ÐÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ9%ÿÿ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤ü!ÿÿ4‹X9ÓòòMEMORANDUM€OPINIONÐ œ)ì$" ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌMembers€of€Panelóó:Ð 61†,) ÐFrank€F.€Drowota,€III,€Associate€Justice,€Supreme€CourtÌWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeÌJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÌÌÌÌññÑÑÑ ° ÑÑ „ ÑÑ  ÑññÌññÑÑѰ°ÑÑ„°ÑÑ  ÑññÐ ü:L62 ÐÑÑѰ°ÑÑ„°ÑÑ  ÑññÑÑѰ°ÑÑ„°ÑÑ  ÑññÓ  ÓÓ<(ÿÿ 4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤ü!ÿÿŒ ŠX<ÓAFFIRMEDà < àà ” àà ì àà D àà œ àà ô àà L àà ¤ àLoser,Ð ° ÐJudgeÌÌÓ  ÓÓ9%ÿÿ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤ü!ÿÿ4‹X9ÓòòMEMORANDUM€OPINIONóóÐ òB ÐÌÓ  ÓÓ<(ÿÿ 4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤ü!ÿÿŒ ŠX<Óà Œ àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€SpecialÏWorkers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordanceÏwith€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€ofÏfindings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€In€this€appeal,€the€employer,ÏIngram€Book€Company,€contends€the€evidence€preponderates€against€theÏtrial€court's€findings€that€(1)€the€employee's€injury€was€one€arising€out€ofÏand€in€the€course€of€employment,€(2)€the€award€is€not€barred€by€the€lastÏinjury€rule€and€(3)€€the€claimant€retains€a€twelve€percent€€vocationalÏdisability€award.€€As€discussed€below,€the€panel€has€concluded€theÏjudgment€should€be€affirmed.ÌÌà Œ àTwenty„eight„year„old€Stacey€Fitzgerald€was€hired€as€an€executiveÏsecretary€by€Ingram€Book€Company€€in€September€of€1994.€€Between€lateÏFebruary€and€mid€March,€she€told€her€supervisor,€Terry€Cook,€she€wasÏexperiencing€right€arm€pain€and€requested€an€ergonomic€keyboard.ÌÌà Œ àIn€early€June,€1995,€a€non„work€related€back€injury€caused€Ms.ÏFitzgerald€to€take€a€temporary€leave€of€absence.€€Upon€her€return€to€workÏin€late€August,€she€requested€a€part„time€position€to€aid€her€recovery.ÌÌà Œ àDue€to€continued€pain€in€her€right€arm,€Ingram€Book€Company€sentÏMs.€Fitzgerald€to€the€Baptist€Occupational€Medicine€facility€on€or€aboutÏOctober€23,€1995.€€There,€she€was€treated€with€anti„inflammatory€medicine,Ïa€wrist€splint,€and€an€elbow€band.ÌÌà Œ àIn€November,€1995,€Ms.€Fitzgerald€missed€several€days€of€work€dueÏto€strep€throat,€a€death€in€the€family,€and€hospitalization€for€pneumonia.€ÏIngram€Book€Company€terminated€her€employment€during€her€hospitalÏstay.ÌÌà Œ àFollowing€her€termination,€Ms.€Fitzgerald€was€referred€to€Dr.€ArthurÏCushman,€whom€she€saw€twice.€€He€concluded€Ms.€Fitzgerald€had€a€zeroÏpercent€anatomical€impairment€rating€and€assigned€no€permanentÏrestrictions.ÌÌà Œ àIngram€Book€Company€then€arranged€for€her€to€receive€treatmentÏfrom€Dr.€William€Jekot.€€On€January€17,€1996,€Dr.€Jekot€diagnosed€Ms.ÏFitzgerald€as€having€mild€cubital€tunnel€syndrome€and€tendinitis€of€theÏright€elbow.ÌÌà Œ àDuring€March€of€1996,€€Ms.€Fitzgerald€obtained€employment€withÏthe€òòDaily€News€Journalóó€running€a€newspaper€route.€€However,€she€quitÐ ¤6ô1. Ðthree€months€later€claiming€her€preexisting€condition€caused€problems€inÏexecuting€her€duties.ÌÐ æ9651 Ðà Œ àOn€May€21,€1997,€€Dr.€Jekot€requested€a€reevaluation€visit€with€Ms.ÏFitzgerald€to€prepare€for€his€deposition.€€Dr.€Jekot€diagnosed€chronicÏtendinitis€and€mild€cubital€tunnel€syndrome.€€He€assigned€a€five€percentÏimpairment€rating€to€her€right€upper€extremity.ÌÌà Œ àOn€May€30,€1996,€Dr.€Richard€Fishbein€evaluated€Ms.€Fitzgerald€andÏdiagnosed€a€problem€similar€to€Dr.€Jekot.€€He€rendered€a€ten€percentÏimpairment€to€the€right€upper€extremity€and€opined€that€his€diagnosis€wasÏconsistent€with€Ms.€Fitzgerald's€prior€work€injury.ÌÌà Œ àIn€July€of€1996,€Ms.€Fitzgerald€obtained€employment€working€part„¼time€as€a€free„lance€proofreader€for€Thomas€Nelson€Publishing.€€This€jobÏrequired€no€repetitive€motion€and€placed€no€stress€on€her€elbow.€€BecauseÏthe€free„lance€work€began€to€taper,€Ms.€Fitzgerald€sought€and€gainedÏemployment€with€Kinko's€copy€center.€€Her€primary€duties€were€workingÏat€the€touch€screen€register€and€taking€orders.€€Ms.€Fitzgerald€noted€that€theÏsupervisors€at€Kinko's€made€accommodations€for€her€condition,€as€needed.ÌÌà Œ àOn€July€29,€1997,€Ingram€Book€Company's€independent€medicalÏevaluator,€Dr.€Ensalada,€reviewed€the€findings€of€the€prior€doctors.€ÏWithout€actually€examining€Ms.€Fitzgerald,€he€concluded€she€suffered€fromÏneither€cubital€tunnel€syndrome€nor€ulnar€neuropathy.€€He€opined€the€elbowÏinjury€could€not€be€causally€connected€to€her€employment€at€Ingram€BookÏCompany.ÌÌà Œ àThe€trial€judge€found€that€the€evidence€established€that€the€€plaintiff€Ïsuffered€a€compensable€injury€during€the€course€and€scope€of€herÏemployment€at€Ingram€Book€Company€and€that€the€claimant€would€retainÏa€twelve€percent€vocational€disability€to€the€arm.€€Appellate€€review€is€deÏnovo€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€ofÏcorrectness€of€the€findings€of€fact,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidenceÏis€otherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„225(e)(2).€€ÌÌà Œ àUnless€admitted€by€the€employer,€the€employee€has€the€burden€ofÏproving,€among€other€things,€that€he€suffered€an€injury€by€accident€arisingÏout€of€and€in€the€course€of€employment.€€òòOster,€a€Div.€of€Sunbeam€Corp.€Ð ²*&# Ðv.€Yatesóó,€845€S.W.2d€215€(Tenn.€1992).€€In€the€present€case,€the€employerÐ È+'$ Ðcontends€the€employee's€injury€did€not€arise€in€the€course€of€herÏemployment€with€Ingram€Book€Company€because€she€never€missed€workÏas€a€result€of€her€gradual€injury.€€€We€are€not€so€persuaded.ÌÌà Œ àAn€injury€arises€out€of€and€is€in€the€scope€of€employment€if€it€has€aÏrational€connection€to€the€work€and€occurs€while€the€employee€is€engagedÏin€the€duties€of€her€employment.€€òòOrman€v.€Williams€Sonoma,€Inc.óó,€803Ð b3².+ ÐS.W.2d€672,€676€(Tenn.€1991).€€Cubital€tunnel€syndrome€is€a€gradual€injuryÏcommon€to€the€type€of€work€in€which€this€plaintiff€was€engaged.€€The€trialÏjudge€may€base€an€award€on€medical€testimony€that€a€given€incident€"couldÏbe"€the€cause€of€an€injury€if€the€lay€testimony€supports€such€inference.€€òòPÐ º7 3/ Ð&€L€Const.€Co.,€Inc.€v.€Lankfordóó,€559€S.W.2d€793,€794€(Tenn.€1977).€€TheÐ Ð8 40 Ðlay€proof€before€us€is€without€equivocation€on€the€issue€of€causation.€€Ms.Ð æ9651 ÐFitzgerald€complained€to€her€supervisor€of€pain€in€her€right€arm€andÏrequested€an€ergonomic€keyboard€eight€to€nine€months€prior€to€herÏdismissal.€€Her€pain€continued€and€her€employer,€Ingram€Book€Company,Ïprovided€medical€care.€€This€care€continued€even€after€Ms.€Fitzgerald€wasÏno€longer€employed€by€the€defendant.€€With€the€sole€exception€of€Dr.ÏEnsalada,€who€never€actually€saw€Ms.€Fitzgerald,€each€medical€providerÏfelt€that€Ms.€Fitzgerald's€permanent€injury,€at€the€very€least,€€"could€be"€Ïconsistent€with€her€work€at€Ingram€Book€Company.€€Dr.€Fishbein€evenÏdrew€a€direct€line€of€causation€to€Ms.€Fitzgerald's€prior€work€injury.€ÏTherefore,€the€proof€is€sufficient€to€establish€the€required€causal€connectionÏbetween€her€work€at€Ingram€Book€Company€and€her€cubital€tunnelÏsyndrome.Ìà Œ àÌà Œ àIngram€Book€Company€further€argued€that€Ms.€Fitzgerald's€claimÏagainst€them€was€barred€by€the€last€injurious€work€rule€because€theÏclaimant€never€missed€a€day€of€work€as€a€result€of€her€injury.€€The€last€dayÏworked€doctrine€was€made€into€an€explicit€rule€to€assist€injured€workersÏwho€suffered€gradual€injuries€survive€the€statute€of€limitations.€€òòSee€LawsonÐ &v Ðv.€Lear€Seating€Corp.óó,€944€S.W.2d€340€(Tenn.€1997).€€This€rule€is€not€to€beÐ <Œ Ðapplied€to€questions€of€causation.€€To€do€so€would€enact€a€precedent€whichÏwould€make€any€worker€injured€by€repetitive€stress€ineligible€forÏcompensation€unless€they€miss€work.€€This€is€inconsistent€with€the€natureÏof€the€Tennessee€Workers'€Compensation€Act.€€Each€day€Ms.€FitzgeraldÏworked€for€Ingram€Book€Company€contributed€to€her€injury.€€For€theÏreasons€discussed,€we€hold€that€the€last€day€worked€rule€has€no€applicationÏto€the€case€at€bar€and€cannot€be€used€to€undermine€the€medical€and€layÏevidence€which€supports€a€causal€connection€between€Ms.€Fitzgerald'sÏinjury€and€her€work€for€Ingram€Book€Company.ÌÌà Œ àIngram€Book€Company€finally€asserts€that€the€evidence€at€trial€doesÏnot€support€the€trial€court's€award€of€a€twelve€percent€vocational€disabilityÏarising€from€Ms.€Fitzgerald's€permanent€injury.€€In€determining€vocationalÏdisability,€the€trial€court€considers€many€pertinent€factors,€including€age,Ïjob€skills,€education,€training,€duration€of€disability,€job€opportunities,€andÏanatomical€impairment.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„241(a)(2).€€Workers'Ïcompensation€is€designed€so€that€a€compensatory€award€is€substituted€forÏa€loss€in€earning€capacity.€€òòSee€Corcoran€v.€Foster€Auto€GMC,€Inc.óó,€746Ð È+'$ ÐS.W.2d€452€(Tenn.€€1988).€€The€likelihood€is€small€that€Ms.€Fitzgerald€willÏearn€as€much€income€from€a€non„secretarial€job€as€she€would€from€herÏprevious€positions.€€Further,€a€medical€expert's€rating€of€an€anatomicalÏdisability,€while€one€of€the€relevant€factors,€does€not€restrict€the€estimate€ofÏthe€vocational€disability.€€òòId.óó€at€459.€€The€medical€proof€shows€that€Ms.Ð 61†,) ÐFitzgerald€suffers€from€a€permanent€impairment€rating€of€five€to€ten€percentÏto€her€upper€extremity.€€Therefore,€we€hold€that€the€evidence€fails€toÏpreponderate€against€the€trial€court's€disability€award€of€twelve€percent€toÏthe€arm,€even€in€light€of€Ms.€Fitzgerald's€return€to€work.ÌÌà Œ àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€of€appeal€are€taxedÏto€Ingram€Book€Company,€plaintiff„appellant.ÌÐ æ9651 ЇÌà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D à_______________________Ìà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌ_______________________________ÌFrank€F.€Drowota,€III,€Associate€JusticeÌÌÌ_______________________________ÌWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeÌà Œ àÌÌà Œ àÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÔ€XÈíX¼¼`«ÔÔ€X–ãXXXÈíÔÐ  ”ä ÐÒ4ÒÒ£°ÒòòÔ‡»é»XX–ãÔÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ' AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑñ!ñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@EÙ±` 8ttxP°ð  rßñ!ññ"ññ!ñßt€ )>.*jxêýìþ` `€€@E¿°` 8ttxP÷°ð tßñ!ññ"ññ"ññ"ñà@  àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÌñ"ñßt€ )>.*jxýS` `€€@Eïÿ` 8ttxP'¬ð S tßñ"ñÌà@ÖÖ)àAT€NASHVILLEˆÌÌÌÌINGRAM€BOOK€COMPANYà ì à}à D àRUTHERFORD€CIRCUITÐ ˜ è Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à}à D àNo.€€Below€36921€€€€Ð ” ä Ðà 4 àPlaintiff/Appellantà ì àññññà D àà D à}ññññññññ€ññññññ}ññÐ  à Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à}à D àHon.€€ROBERT€E.€CORLEW,€IIIÐ Œ Ü  Ðvs.à Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àññññà ì àññññà ì à}à D àChancellorÐ ˆØ  Ðà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à}Ìà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à}à D àNo.€01S01„9712„CV„00268Ð €Ð  ÐSTACE€FITZGERALD€€€ññññà ì àà D à€€€€€€ññññññ€ññ€€€€}Ìà 4 àà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì à}Ìà 4 àDefendant/Appelleeñ ñà ì àñ ñà ì à}à D àAFFIRMEDà L àÐ tÄ ÐÌà@JJ(àJUDGMENT€ORDERˆÌÌÌÓ€Óà 4 àà Œ àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entireÏrecord,€including€the€order€of€referral€to€the€SpecialÏWorkers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel'sÏMemorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€factÏand€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€hereinÏby€reference.Ìà 4 àà Œ àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€theÏMemorandum€Opinion€of€the€Panel€should€be€accepted€andÏapproved;€andÌà 4 àà Œ àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel'sÏfindings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€are€adopted€andÏaffirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€theÏjudgment€of€the€Court.ÌÓ šXÿÿ4‹XÓà ` àà ¸ àCosts€will€be€paid€by€Plaintiff/Appellant€andÏSurety,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÓ€Óà ` àà ¸ àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€onÔ"*USú ú, úUSú ú, ú*Ô€October€26,€1998.ÌÌà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àPER€CURIAMÌóóÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÔ#†X–ãX»»é[2#Ô