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N    E        ' 01N   z?U1NU@_____________b 0 B  0 D3S D- 0K ASQ 0 0D AHP LaserJet 8000 Series PS0 uy+ (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman RegularHE*9p9 C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xU\  `&Times New RomanLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5a1a2a3a4a5a6a8<%% :Body Text In X      X a10C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt(I Z6Times New Roman Regular(9 Z(Times New Roman - -(|G2F$ !.8HDd d 8         0  X*X d(|3$ !.8HDd d 8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3$ !.8HDd d 8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8Zd d8     _ BD 86dXXdd 8   C BD@@7 7 @@7 7  C C# BD C#  INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL  ATJACKSON $ June30,2000Session 6  %  %ERONNIEWAYNE_INMAN_Ԁv.%  %EMERSONELECTRICCO. XX BD   Z  %  %ԀDirectAppealfromthe%  ChanceryCourt(Humboldt)%<forGibson%  %~ԀCounty  Z No.%  %H3814# XXX X1#ԀGeorgeR.Ellis,Chancellor# BDX X# XX BD  F @@*AV) ` dE<` A    XXX XNo.%  % W199902245_WC_ԄR3CV!Mailed# XXX X## BDX XG# XX BDԀApril4,2001;FiledAugust20,_2001_   # BDX X# XX BDAV) ` dE<` A         XXX XThisworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkersCompensation  AppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3)for t hearingandreportingoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Thetrialcourtfoundtheplaintiff ` sustainedatwentyfivepercentpermanentpartialdisabilitytothebodyasawhole.Thedefendant L disputesthefinding.Weaffirmthejudgmentofthetrialcourt.# XXX X## BDX XI# XX BD 8    Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(1999)AppealasofRight;Judgmentofthe XXX XChanceryCourt ` Affirmed.%  %D # XXX X ## BDX XY # XX BD  L     # BD X # XX. BDDonR.Ash,Sp.J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichJaniceM.Holder,J.,andJohnK. $ Byers,Sp.J.,joined.   XXX XP.AllenPhillipsandJenniferK.Craig,Jackson,Tennessee,fortheappellant,EmersonElectricCo.# XXX X ## BDX X # XX BD   XXX XJohnC._Nowell_,Jr.,Trenton,Tennessee,fortheappellee,RonnieWayne_Inman_.# XXX X ## BDX X # XX BD p     MEMORANDUMOPINION # BDX X # XX BD H"!   # BDX Xl# XX BD@' History   $p#    XXX XPlaintiff,RonnieWayne_Inman_,filedaComplaintforworkerscompensationbenefitson %H!% April25,1997.ThetrialwasheardonAugust17,1999.Attheconclusionoftheproofthetrial &4"& courtawardedplaintiff25%permanentpartialdisabilitytothebodyasawhole.Defendant, ' #' EmersonElectricCo.,appealsthedecisionofthetrialcourt.Forthereasonsdiscussedbelow,we ( $( affirm.# XXX X7## BDX X# XX BD )$)   *%* @  ( XXX X   Facts # XXX X## BDX X# XX BDԈ     XXX XOnoraroundMay18,1996,plaintiffwasstruckontheback,buttocksandrightarmbyhot  aluminum,whichshotfromamachineatdefendantsplant.Theplaintiffwastakentothe t emergencyroomatHumboldtGeneralHospital.Hiswoundsweredressedandtreatedandhewas ` senthomewithoralmedication.Theplaintiffreturnedtoworkthenextday,butwasunabletowork. L  Laterintheweek,plaintiffwastransferredtoacoolerpartoftheplant.Athisnewjobtheplaintiff 8  hadnotroublekeepingupwithhisproductionquota.Moreover,otherthandoctorappointments, $ t theplaintiffdidnotmissworkbeforethetrial.  `   Dr.William_Hickerson_,aplasticsurgeon,firstexaminedtheplaintiffonFebruary4,1997  8  forscartissueonhisback.Attheexamination,theplaintiffcomplainedofoccasionalshootingpain $  intheareaofthescartissue.Dr._Hickerson_Ԁdiagnosedscartissueandrecommendedare   moisturizingagent.Uponreexamination,_Inman_Ԁwasfoundtohavelittlechangetohiscondition.   Dr._Hickerson_ԀopinedthescartissuewasnotsuchthatitwouldberatedundertheAMAGuidelines.   Hedidnotplaceanyrestrictionsbaseduponthescarringoftheskin.     Next,Dr._Hickerson_ԀrecommendedthatDr.Cobb,anorthopedicsurgeon,examinethe \ plaintiff.Dr.Cobbnotedthattheproblemsmightbe_musculoskeletal_Ԁinnature.Healsofoundthe H plaintiffhadmoretendernesswithdeeperpalpationandtherecouldbeamildlumbarstrain.Dr. 4 Cobbopinedtherewasnosignofpermanentimpairmentfromanorthopedicstandpointandthere  p werenorestrictionsfromanorthopedicstandpoint.  \   Next,Dr._Goshorn_,aplasticsurgeon,examinedtheplaintiff.Dr._Goshorn_sopinionwas 4 presentedtothetrialcourtthroughalettermarkedasanexhibittoDr._Schnapp_sdeposition.Dr.   _Goshorn_Ԁopinedthattheplaintiffhadchronicpainsecondarytoadeepthermalinjury.Hefurther   statedthattheplaintiffhadnofunctionalimpairmenttothearea,althoughhehadimpairment  secondarytopain.    Next,Dr._Schnapp_,aphysicianwhospecializesinpainmanagement,examinedtheplaintiff. l Uponhisexaminationplaintiffdescribedanachingandthrobbingpain,whichwassensitive, X  particularlywhenhewashotandperspired.Dr._Schnapp_Ԁopinedthatasignificantportionofthe D! plaintiffspainwasmechanicalpainrelatedtobones,joints,andligaments.Further,hedidnot 0"  believethattheplaintiffshouldbefollowinganyrestrictionsduetotheburninjuryandthathis #l! primarypainwasdeeperandunrelatedtotheburn. $X"   Finally,Dr._DeMere_Ԁexaminedtheplaintiffanddiagnosedhealedscarsofarmsandback. %0!$ Dr._DeMere_Ԁwasunabletofindanyotherinjuryapartfromtheskindamage.Heopineda10% &"% permanentpartialimpairmentratingtothebodyasawhole.However,hestatedthattheAMA '#& Guidelineswerenotparticularlyhelpfulinarrivingattheimpairmentrating.# XXX X## BDX X# XX BD (#'   )$(    @99#  XXX XMedicalHistory # XXX X##Ԉ   XXX X  Atthetrialtheplaintifftestifiedthathisinjurieswereverypainfulandthathestillsuffered  pain.Theplaintiffstatedthatheworkedbetterincoolerplaces.Hefurtherstatedthat,shouldhe t losehisjobwiththedefendant,itwouldbeverydifficultforhimtoacceptjobsthatinvolvedheat. `   Next,theplaintiffsbrothertestifiedthathelivedwiththeplaintiffinanapartment.He 8  testifiedthatthefirstmonthaftertheaccidenttheplaintiffhaddifficultysleepingthroughthenight. $ t Healsotestifiedthatovertimetheplaintiffappearedtogetbetterandcomplainedofpainless  ` frequently.  L    Atthetimeofthetrialtheplaintiffwas46yearsofage.PlaintiffpossessedaGEDandhis $  workhistoryincludedlayingtileandworkinginfactories.Hehadbeenemployedwiththedefendant   since1994.Thetrialcourtheldthattheplaintiffhada25%permanentpartialdisabilitytothebody   asawhole,andlifetimefuturemedicalbenefitspursuanttothestatute.# XXX X##     @))%  XXX XDiscussion # XXX XL)#Ԉ p  XXX X  Ourreviewisdenovoupontherecordaccompaniedbyapresumptionofcorrectnessunless H thepreponderanceoftheevidenceindicatesotherwise.TennesseeCodeAnnotated506225(e) 4 (2)(1997Supp.).Allofthemedicaltestimonyinthiscausewaspresentedeitherbydepositionor  p bystipulatedmedicalrecords.Noneofthedoctorstestifiedincourt,andthusthetrialjudgehadno  \ opportunitytoobservethedemeanorofthesewitnesseswhiletestifying. H   Thus,astothisevidence,wereviewitwithoutapresumptionofcorrectnessuponthetheory   thatwehavethesameopportunitytoconsiderthisevidence,whichthetrialcourtenjoyed,andas   wereviewtherecorddenovo,weapplyapresumptionofcorrectnessonlywithregardtotestimony  ofwitnesseswhotestifiedinperson._Krick_Ԁv.Cityof_Lawrenceburg_,945S.W.2d709,712(Tenn.  1997).Inthisappeal,thedefendantcontendsthatthetrialcourterredinfindingthattheplaintiffhad  sustainedapermanentpartialdisabilityasaresultofhisworkrelatedinjury. l   Intheinstantcase,fourdoctorsgaveanimpairmentratingofzeroandnorestrictions.Dr. D! McCarthy_DeMere_Ԁsawtheplaintiffonthreevisitsaswellasanexamination.Inthiscaseandvery 0"  similartothecaseofBatesv.CooperIndustries,etal.,22TAM175(Tenn.1997),thetrialcourt #l! chosetoaccepttheopinionofonephysicianandrejectedthetestimonyofthreeorfourothers. $X" Obviouslyinaworkerscompensationcase,thetrialjudgehasdiscretiontodeterminewhichexpert $D # medicaltestimonytoacceptwhensuchevidenceconflicts.RelyinguponDr._DeMere_srating,the %0!$ trialcourtfoundanimpairmentratingof25%tothebodyasawhole.Amedicaloranatomical &"% impairmentratingisnotalwaysindispensabletoatrialcourt'sfindingofapermanentvocational '#& impairment;anatomicalimpairmentisdistinctfromtheultimateissueofvocationaldisability;and (#' amedicalexpert'scharacterizationofaconditionas"chronic"andtheplacementofpermanent )$( medicalrestrictionsissufficienttoprovepermanency.Walkerv.SaturnCorp.,986S.W.2d204,207 |*%) (Tenn.1998),citingHillv.RoyalIns.Co.,937S.W.2d873,876(Tenn.1996).Moreover,trial h+&* courtsarenotboundtoacceptphysicians'opinionsregardingtheextentofaclaimant'sdisability,but  shouldconsideralltheevidence,bothexpertandlaytestimony,todecidetheextentofanemployee's  disability.Walkerv.SaturnCorp.,986S.W.2dat208.    Wefindthetestimonyoftheplaintiff,hisdoctorandhisfamilymembersissufficientto ` supportthetrialcourtsfindingof25%permanentpartialimpairmenttothebodyasawhole.First, L  thereisnoquestionthattheinjurytotheplaintiffwasveryserious.Aftertheaccidenttheplaintiff 8  founditdifficulttocompletehisoldjob.Infact,hewasonlyabletoworkforsustainedperiodsin $ t coolplaces.  `   Finally,wherethetrialjudgehasseenandheardthewitnesses,especiallyifissuesof  8  credibilityandweighttobegivenoraltestimonyareinvolved,considerabledeferencemustbe $  accordedtothosecircumstancesonreview._Kellerman_Ԁv.FoodLion,Inc.,929S.W.2d333(Tenn.   1996).Inaddition,thispanelisnotatlibertytosubstituteitsownopinionastotheextentofan   injuredworker'spermanentdisabilityforthatofthetrialcourt.SeeCollinsv._Howmet_ԀCorp.,970   S.W.2d941(Tenn.1998).Theevidenceinthiscasesupportsthetrialcourtsfindingof25%   impairmenttothebodyasawhole.Therefore,thetrialcourtsholdingisaffirmed.Costsaretaxed p tothedefendantEmersonElectricCo.# XXX X)# \    `     h     ___________________________________  \    `     h     DONR.ASH,SPECIALJUDGE H      BDX X  @ # XX BD=# CX XINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @%ATJACKSON & # XX C=#  BDX X  RONNIEWAYNE_INMAN_Ԁv.EMERSONELECTRICCOMPANY# XX BD>#  8 >@* @*AV) ` dE< ` A߈  $ @ No.W199902245SCWCMCVFiledAugust20,2001   AV) ` dE< ` A     @( ORDER    !XXX X   ` ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponmotionforreviewpursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn. R  506225(e)(5)(B),theentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferraltotheSpecialWorkers' > CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel'sMemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffact *z andconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference; f    ` Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenand R shouldbedeniedand >    ` Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaware * adoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt.       ` CostsonappealaretaxedtoEmersonElectricCompany.     ` ITISSOORDEREDthis20thdayofAugust,2001.     `     h   PERCURIAM b Holder,J.Notparticipating. N # XXX!X@#