ÿWPCÊ ÇOFÄ8e¤­æ/+E2¥£(ÅÂx›@ùߥø¥÷éˆåE(`Ü‚˜ß»$+”þ¶ºŸÛgä®}#¸eYå·"Ç›úVEWh ‘ ¬}5©¬ ;¸YÍ&¨5ëëD¬Î•jrJPÇ8nÊ[“`ñó’1à|$ëLûxøÝÜc”ÐÉë_àÖ¢*b­Ç]¬ûÞÜY1Œg0ÄoËrßT‚œ#:#5µ Íùíiºä‰éÑÌÞÏMlŽ sO"RsïC '»¯/(Ô®7øý©6 ;g5ëÚ0è!ïñµQŽÑŽ~\/Å<‰² Ëe㥩4ü"ÔýÛ“…|~õ‹\Zë0óŒë¿C–zÕšLw0p" ^/ÆÙá:ap¥ÑJ"Ñ“~ªßëL5~†Jy¤u ²Óï!‘Sx}¶GÓ ÙI³†ìëÁÄ‚Á8gÆ™¼²>ÅÙ7 ù»éñ_ Jêï\ѹÕot ˱^G¼Í»´ÜúƒÈÇädvð¤Öükš#t™ÌÄ[¬,±cƒÉa4r%~1>L©xvgòðª™Ð¤q×%](åŠB¤ŸÖÂrŒ=qÖ=|î¹^Î.ðòNI¸òJ–öT%ñ `‰ eb %\U@b 0ˆ¢UN*^ xw„4ˆ zœÒ è ÷ mù  Æ ÆÞ Ƥ Æj #Á0 NñUNóNAEC zEÒ¿¿ ‘‘‘‘‘ — Ÿ § ¯ ···········b¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿ 0ëÇÇÇÇ B ²² 0¤Ï D3s D-¦ 0KÓÓ ASÆq 0¤7 0DÛ A«»(ÖÃ9 Z‹(Times New Roman (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularª‘+s ‰Q‡+P    ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5˜HP LaserJet 8000 Series PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0(ÆúI Z‹6Times New Roman Regular˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptH45678- ù-(|G2µ¨$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€d»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€Xr4X»»Ô d(|3…ë$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€d»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3…ë$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€d»»d d 8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€´»»d dÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼Sq»»»ÔÑ8€u”XXdê»»d 8ÑÓ  ÓÔ‡îOÐSqÔà@@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÐ Ö& Ðà@@ƒƒìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼Sq»îîOÐî#ÔÐ üL ÐSeptember€26,€2001€SessionÐ "r ÐÔ‡X-X»¼SqÔÌò òÔ#†¼Sq»XX-#ÔMARTHA€I.€JOHNSONòòóó€v.€KNOX€CO.€BOARD€OF€Ô_ÔEDUCÔ_Ô.,€òòet€alóó.Ô‡X-X»¼SqÔó óÐ  p ÐÌà@@¼¼ìàò ò€Direct€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Knox€CountyÐ  p Ðà@@ôôìàNo.€99„141825„2€€€€€€Daryl€R.€Ô_ÔFanslerÔ_Ô,€ChancellorÐ  \ ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<Ï` AßÐ Ð  ÐÌNo.€E2000„02513„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Mailed€„November€9,€2001Ð Ë  ÐFiled€:€December€17,€2001Ð ·  ÐÔ#†¼Sq»XX-Ã#ÔÔ‡X-X»¼SqÔÌÌßA€V) °°` dE<z` AßÐ {Ë Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ‡X-XXX-ÔThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€AppealsÐ vÆ ÐPanel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€forÐ b² Ðhearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€The€trialÐ Nž Ðcourt€found€the€plaintiff€is€totally€and€permanently€disabled€and€further€found€the€Knox€CountyÐ :Š ÐBoard€of€Education€liable€for€60€percent€of€the€award€and€the€Second€Injury€Fund€liable€for€40Ð &v Ðpercent.€€We€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.Ð b ÐÔ#†X-XXX-Š#ÔÔ#†¼Sq»XX-÷#ÔÔ‡X-X»¼SqÔÌÓ~ÓÌò òÓ  ÓTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)€(1999)€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€CourtÐ Ö& Ðis€Affirmedó óÐ Â ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÓ  ÓJohn€K.€Byers,€Sr.€J.Ô#†¼Sq»àX-}#ÔÔ‡X-X.¼SqÔóó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòE.€Riley€Anderson,€J.,óó€andÐ šê ÐòòRoger€E.€Thayer,€Sp.€J.óó,€joined.Ð † Ö ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant€Second€Injury€Fund.Ð ^"®! ÐÌà0  àà ° àStephen€E.€Yeager,€Knoxville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellees€Knox€County€Board€of€Education€and€Ð 6$†# ÐTennessee€School€Boards€Association.Ð"%r $(#(# ÐÌThomas€S.€Scott,€Jr.,€Knoxville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee€Martha€I.€Johnson.Ð ú&J"& ÐÌÓ_ ÓÓ  Óò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óÔ#†¼Sq»XX-£ #ÔÔ‡X-X»¼SqÔÐ Ò("$( ÐÌÓ  ÓÔ#†¼Sq»XX-R #ÔÔ€X-X»¼SqÔà  àÔ‡X-XXX-ÔReview€of€the€findings€of€fact€made€by€the€trial€court€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€the€record€of€the€trialÐ ª*ú%* Ðcourt,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€findings,€unless€the€preponderanceÐ –+æ&+ Ðof€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€òòTenn.€Code€Ann.€ððóó€50„6„225(e)(2);€òòStone€v.€City€of€Ô_ÔMcMinnvilleÔ_Ô,€óó896Ð ‚,Ò', ÐS.W.2d€548,€550€(Tenn.€1995).€€Questions€of€law€are€reviewed€òòde€novoóó€without€a€presumption€ofÐ n-¾(-ý ÐÔ_Ôcorrectness.€€òòPeace€v.€Easy€Trucking€Co.óó,€38€S.W.3d€526€(Tenn.€2001).€Ô#†X-XXX-á #ÔÔ‡X-XXX-ÔÐ ° ÐÔ#†X-XXX-#ÔÌà@  (ìàò òFactsó óˆÐ ˆØ ÐÌà  àThe€plaintiff€was€39€years€of€age€at€the€time€of€trial.€€She€did€not€complete€high€school€andÐ `° Ðdid€not€pass€the€GED€exam.€€She€completed€nursing€training€and€took€courses€in€business€technologyÐ L œ Ðthrough€the€Tennessee€Technology€Center.€€She€is€not€married€and€has€one€child.Ð 8 ˆ Ðà  àÌà  àThe€plaintiff€had€various€medical€conditions€prior€to€the€injuryð!ðsustained€in€1998ð!ðat€issueÐ  ` Ðin€this€case,€including€dyslexia,€epilepsy€(which€she€had€from€birth),€a€back€sprain€sustained€in€1990Ð ü L  Ðwhile€working€as€a€nurse's€assistant,€and€a€prior€back€injury€suffered€while€working€for€the€defendantÐ è 8  ÐSchool€Board€in€1993,€and€a€stroke„like€episode€in€1996€caused€by€toxic€levels€of€Dilantin€in€herÐ Ô$  Ðsystem.€€In€addition,€the€plaintiff€suffers€from€choreoathetosis€or€truncal€ataxia,€a€condition€thatÐ À  Ðcauses€her€to€have€involuntary€movements.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àWhen€the€plaintiff€first€went€to€work€for€the€defendant€School€Board€in€December€of€1991,Ð „Ô  Ðshe€listed€the€previous€back€injury€that€she€sustained€while€working€for€a€nursing€home.€€She€alsoÐ pÀ Ðdescribed€her€epileptic€condition.€€The€plaintiff€did,€however,€in€her€application€state€that€sheÐ \¬ Ðsuffered€no€disability€resulting€from€the€injury€at€the€nursing€home€or€from€the€epilepsy€and€that€sheÐ H˜ Ðcould€perform€her€duties€as€a€custodian.Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àAs€a€result€of€the€1993€injury,€the€plaintiff€received€temporary€total€benefits€and€medicalÐ  \ Ðpayments.€€She€returned€to€work€but€did€not€claim€any€permanent€disability€benefits€from€this€injury.Ð øH ÐÌà  àIn€1995€or€1996,€the€plaintiff€suffered€a€toxic€episode€from€a€build„up€of€Dilantin€in€herÐ Ð  Ðsystem.€€The€effect€on€the€plaintiff€was€similar€to€a€stroke.€€As€a€result€of€this€episode,€the€plaintiffÐ ¼  Ðlost€control€over€her€left€side,€experienced€a€lack€of€feeling€in€her€feet,€and€her€left€arm€becameÐ ¨ø Ðdrawn€up.€€The€plaintiff€was€hospitalized€for€this€and€was€treated€for€a€considerable€time.€€AfterÐ ”ä Ðsome€recovery€from€the€episode,€the€plaintiff€wished€to€return€to€work.€€Her€doctor€released€her€toÐ €Ð Ðreturn€to€work,€but€placed€restrictions€in€her€written€release.€€When€the€plaintiff€presented€her€writtenÐ l¼ Ðmedical€release€to€William€Anderson,€III,€the€person€who€reviewed€medical€reports,€he€told€theÐ X ¨ Ðplaintiff€she€could€not€return€to€work€with€the€restrictions.Ð D!” ÐÌà  àThe€plaintiff€then€persuaded€her€doctor€to€remove€the€restrictions€and€she€returned€to€Mr.Ð #l! ÐAnderson,€who€allowed€her€to€return€to€work.€€Mr.€Anderson€testified€"if€the€doctor€sends€a€slip€andÐ $X" Ðsays€no€restrictions,€then€I€have€to€let€them€back€to€work."€€Mr.€Anderson€testified€he€knew€theÐ ô$D # Ðplaintiff€was€not€able€to€do€her€work€before€the€injury€of€1998,€which€is€the€subject€of€this€case.€Ð à%0!$ ÐWhen€asked€if€she€was€unable€to€do€the€job€prior€to€the€1998€injury€he€responded,€"no€doubt€aboutÐ Ì&"% Ðit."€€Mr.€Anderson€testified€"the€only€reason€I€kind€of€buried€my€head€to€it€[the€disabilities€of€theÐ ¸'#& Ðplaintiff]€was€she€had€been€a€good€employee."€€He€went€on€to€explain€she€needed€to€work€and€othersÐ ¤(ô#' Ðhelped€her.Ð )à$( ÐÌà  àAll€parties€agree€the€School€Board€had€a€written€policy€of€not€allowing€anyone€with€medicalÐ h+¸&* Ðrestrictions€to€be€hired€initially€by€the€School€Board€or€to€be€retained€after€being€injured€whileÐ ° Ðalready€employed€by€the€Board.€€Mr.€Anderson€was,€in€effect,€the€gatekeeper€for€implementing€thisÐ œì Ðpolicy.€€It€was€his€duty€to€inform€an€employee€they€could€not€return€to€work€after€an€injury.€€He€couldÐ ˆØ Ðnot,€however,€fire€an€employee€who€was€not€able€to€perform€his€or€her€work.ò òÐ tÄ Ðó óÌà@))%ìàò òDiscussionó óˆÐ L œ ÐÌà  àAll€the€parties€agree€the€plaintiff€was€60€percent€disabled€as€a€result€of€the€compensableÐ $ t Ðinjury€of€June€9,€1998,€and€that€she€was€40€percent€disabled€because€of€her€previous€injuries€andÐ  ` Ðmedical€problems.€€The€only€issue€is€whether€the€School€Board€is€able€to€call€upon€the€Second€InjuryÐ ü L  ÐFund€for€payment€of€the€40€percent€disability€as€a€result€of€the€plaintiff's€previous€injuries.Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àThe€purpose€of€the€Second€Injury€Fund€is€to€encourage€employers€to€hire€handicappedÐ À  Ðpersons€or€retain€them€after€discovering€the€employee€has€a€physical€disability.€€òòSee€Brown€v.€JohnÐ ¬ü  ÐMartin€Constr.€Co.óó,€642€S.W.2d€145€(Tenn.€1982).€€The€trial€judge€found,€all€parties€agree€and€theÐ ˜è  Ðfacts€show€that€this€case€falls€under€the€provisions€of€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€section€50„6„Ð „Ô  Ð208(a)(1).€€An€essential€requirement€for€liability€on€the€part€of€the€Fund€under€this€section€is€that€theÐ pÀ Ðemployer€must€have€had€actual€knowledge€of€the€pre„existing€condition.€€The€answer€here€turns€onÐ \¬ Ðwhether€the€knowledge€Mr.€Anderson€had€of€the€plaintiff's€condition€prior€to€the€1998€injuryÐ H˜ Ðconstitutes€knowledge€of€the€School€Board.€€We€think€it€does.€€€Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àFurther,€we€find€the€fact€that€Mr.€Anderson€knew€of€the€disabilities€is€sufficient€to€allow€theÐ  \ ÐSchool€Board€to€claim€contribution€from€the€Second€Injury€Fund.€Ð øH ÐÌà  àThere€is€no€evidence€that€the€plaintiff€attempted€to€conceal€her€previous€injuries.€€SheÐ Ð  Ðinitially€returned€a€medical€report€to€the€supervisor€which€showed€she€had€limitations.€€TheÐ ¼  Ðsupervisor€advised€her€she€could€not€return€to€work€with€written€restrictions.€€The€plaintiff€thenÐ ¨ø Ðpersuaded€her€physician€to€give€her€another€report€without€fixing€restrictions,€and€the€supervisor€thenÐ ”ä Ðallowed€the€plaintiff€to€return€to€work.Ð €Ð ÐÌà  àClearly€the€supervisor€knew€the€plaintiff€was€unable€to€perform€her€job€when€she€returnedÐ X ¨ Ðwith€the€restriction„free€medical€report.€€The€record€shows€he€knew€the€plaintiff€was€unable€toÐ D!” Ðperform€the€job€she€was€assigned.€€He€testified€he€allowed€the€plaintiff€to€return€to€work€because€theÐ 0"€  Ðplaintiff€was€a€good€employee€and€needed€the€work€and€that€other€employees€helped€her€to€performÐ #l! Ðher€duties.€€The€supervisor€took€the€position€at€trial€that€if€the€restrictions€were€not€in€writing€he€hadÐ $X" Ðto€allow€the€person€to€return€to€work.€€The€supervisor,€in€his€"gatekeeper"€role€on€whether€a€personÐ ô$D # Ðcould€be€employed€who€had€been€previously€injured€or€who€could€be€retained€after€injury€while€inÐ à%0!$ Ðthe€employment€of€the€defendant,€had€no€authority€to€discharge€a€person€who€could€not€do€the€job.€Ð Ì&"% ÐAccording€to€him,€only€the€superintendent€of€schools€could€do€this.€€Ð ¸'#& ÐÌà  àWe€hold€that€knowledge€of€a€supervisor,€who€has€been€given€authority€by€the€Board€toÐ )à$( Ðdetermine€whether€a€previously€injured€or€disabled€person€or€employee€can€be€employed€by€theÐ |*Ì%) ÐBoard€or€retained€to€work€after€an€injury,€is€knowledge€to€the€Board€within€the€meaning€of€theÐ h+¸&* ÐSecond€Injury€Act,€and€that€the€Board€may€invoke€the€benefits€of€the€Second€Injury€Fund€in€this€case.Ð ° ÐÌà  àThe€plaintiff€shall€receive€benefits€until€she€reaches€age€65€in€accordance€with€the€judgmentÐ ˆØ Ðentered€by€the€trial€court,€with€the€Board€to€pay€60€percent€and€the€Second€Injury€Fund€to€pay€40Ð tÄ Ðpercent€of€the€award.Ð `° ÐÌà  àThe€cost€of€this€appeal€is€taxed€to€the€Second€Injury€Fund.Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð è 8  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àJOHN€K.€BYERS,€SENIOR€JUDGEÐ  Ô$  ÐÔ‡¼Sq»XX-Ôà@7 7 ìàÔ#†X-X»¼Sq·1#ÔÔ‡¼Sq»XX-ÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@° ° ìàAT€KNOXVILLE,€TENNESSEE€Ô#†X-X»¼Sq 2#ԈР ÐÌÌÌò òÔ‡¼Sq»XX-ÔÓ  Ó€MARTHA€I.€JOHNSON€€€V.€€KNOX€CO.€BOARD€OF€EDUCATION,€Ô#†X-X»¼SqÊ2#ÔET€AL.Ô‡¼Sq»XX-ÔÐ ˜ è ÐKnox€County€Chancery€CourtÔ#†X-X»¼SqT3#Ôó óÐ ¬ ü ÐÓé2Óà@##"ìàò òÔ% ‡ ÔÔ%†4ÔÔ% ‡ ÔÔ%† 4ÔÔ% ‡! ÔÔ%†!>4ÔÔ% ‡" ÔÔ%†"\4ÔNo.€€99„141825„2ßA€V) °°` d€÷E<p ` A߈Ð À  ÐÌà@^ ^ ìàNo.€Ô% ‡# ÔE2000„02513„WC„R3„CV€„€Filed:€December€17,€€2001Ô%†#ø4ԈР˜ è  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<o` AßÐ pÀ  Ðó óÌà@±±&ìàò òJUDGMENTó óˆÐ k»  ÐÌòòóó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€This€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€of€referralÐ C“  Ðto€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel's€memorandum€Opinion€settingÐ / Ðforth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ð k Ðà  àà ` àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€memorandum€Opinion€of€the€PanelÐ W Ðshould€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÐ óC Ðà  àà ` àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€facts€and€conclusions€of€law€areÐ ß/ Ðadopted€and€affirmed€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€Judgment€of€the€Court.Ð Ë Ðà  àà ` àCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€defendant€appellant,€Second€Injury€Fund€€for€whichÐ · Ðexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.€Ð £ó ÐÌ12/17/01€€Ð {Ë ÐÔ% € ÔÌà  àà ` àÌ