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B    0¤) D3Í D- 0K-- ASxÆË 0¤‘ 0D5 A«y»§j')L (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular@Oü( œ3|x ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 5e,,,,0 Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 Ñ ° јC:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt- ù-(|G2ry$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€ »»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€XX X»»Ô d(|3¿e$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€ »»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3¿e$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€ »»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ »»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼ »»»ÔÑ8€X XXdì»»d8ÑÓ  ÓÑ€OaÑà@@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÐ Â Ðà@@ƒƒìàAT€€NASHVILLEÐ Ô$ ÐÔ‡XX X»¼ ÔÌò òÔ#†¼ »XXX ¾#ÔTERESA€€M.€Ô_ÔMcCARLEYÔ_Ô€JOHNSON€òòóó€v.€MAURY€REGIONAL€HOSPITAL,Ð Ò" Ðòòet€alóó.Ô‡XX X»¼ Ôó óÐ æ 6 ÐÌà@@¼¼ìàò ò€Direct€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Maury€CountyÐ æ 6 Ðà@@ôôìàNo.€98„237€€€€€€Jim€T.€Hamilton,€JudgeÐ Ò " ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<•` AßÐ –æ  ÐÌNo.€M1999„00291„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Mailed€„€May€24,€2000Ð ‘á  ÐÔ#†¼ »XXX ƒ#ÔÔ‡XX X»¼ ÔFiled€„€September€6,€2000Ð }Í  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<T` AßÐ U¥ Ðó óÓ  Ó€The€employer,€Maury€County€Regional€Hospital€contends€the€trial€judge€erred€€in€concluding€theÐ d´ Ðemployee's€back€injury€arose€out€of€and€occurred€in€the€course€of€€employment€and€that€the€awardÐ P  Ðof€permanent€partial€disability€benefits€is€excessive.Ð <Œ ÐÓÓÌò òTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)€(1999)€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€CourtÐ d ÐAffirmedó óÐ P ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÓ  Óloser,€sp.€j.Ô#†¼ »àXX \#ÔÔ‡XX X.¼ Ôóó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòbirch,€j.,óó€and€òòÔ_ÔkurtzÔ_Ô,€sp.€j.óó,€joined.Ð Ø( ÐÌJeffrey€Ô_ÔZagerÔ_Ô,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Maury€County€Regional€Hospital.Ð ° ÐÌGary€R.€Ô_ÔGoberÔ_Ô,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€Teresa€M.€Ô_ÔMcCarleyÔ_Ô€Johnson.Ð ˆØ ÐÌÓöÓÓ  Óò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óÔ#†¼ »XXX 2#ÔÔ‡XX X»¼ ÔÐ `° ÐÌÓ  ÓÓ  Óà  àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workers'€CompensationÐ 8!ˆ  ÐAppeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€forÐ $"t! Ðhearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€As€discussedÐ #`" Ðbelow,€the€panel€has€concluded€the€judgment€should€be€affirmed.Ð ü#L# ÐÓ· ÓÔ#†¼ »XXX v #ÔÔ‡XX X»¼ ÔÌÌÓ  Óà  àThe€employee€or€claimant,€Johnson,€filed€this€civil€action€on€April€20,€1998€to€recoverÐ À&"& Ðbenefits€for€injuries€which€she€alleged€resulted€from€an€injury€by€accident€arising€out€of€and€in€theÐ ¬'ü"' Ðcourse€of€her€employment€by€the€employer.€€By€its€answer,€the€employer€denied€the€occurrence€ofÐ ˜(è#( Ða€compensable€work€related€injury.€€Following€a€trial,€the€trial€judge€found€that€the€claimant€sufferedÐ „)Ô$) Ða€ruptured€disc€arising€out€of€and€in€the€course€of€employment€and€awarded,€among€other€things,Ð p*À%* Ðpermanent€partial€disability€benefits€based€on€fifty„four€percent€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€As€discussedÐ \+¬&+ Ðbelow,€this€tribunal€has€concluded€the€judgment€should€be€affirmed.Ð H,˜', ÐÓÏ ÓÐ 4-„(-ý ÐÔ_ÔÓ  Óà  àAppellate€review€is€de€novo€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumptionÐ ° Ðof€correctness€of€the€findings€of€fact,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.Ð œì ÐCode€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(2).€€This€standard€requires€the€panel€to€examine€in€depth€a€trial€courtððsÐ ˆØ Ðfactual€findings€and€conclusions.€€We€are€not€bound€by€the€trial€courtððs€factual€findings,€but€mustÐ tÄ Ðinstead€conduct€an€independent€examination€to€determine€where€the€preponderance€of€the€evidenceÐ `° Ðlies.€€òòGalloway€v.€Memphis€Drum€Serv.óó,€822€S.W.2d€584€(Tenn.€1991).€€However,€where€the€trialÐ L œ Ðjudge€has€seen€and€heard€the€witnesses,€especially€if€issues€of€credibility€and€weight€to€be€given€oralÐ 8 ˆ Ðtestimony€are€involved,€considerable€deference€must€be€accorded€those€circumstances€on€review.€Ð $ t ÐòòTownsend€v.€Stateóó,€826€S.W.2d€434,€437€(Tenn.€1992).Ð  ` ÐÌÓ>ÓÓ  Óà  àThe€claimant€was€employed€by€the€hospital€as€a€surgical€nurse,€a€position€which€required€herÐ è 8  Ðto€lift€heavy€instrument€trays€and€to€position€patients€on€operating€room€beds€to€be€transported€to€andÐ Ô$  Ðfrom€surgery.€€In€1995,€while€performing€her€said€duties,€she€was€knocked€to€the€floor€by€a€largeÐ À  Ðmale€patient€who€had€just€awakened€from€surgery.€€Although€she€suffered€a€ruptured€disc€requiringÐ ¬ü  Ðsurgery,€she€did€not€make€a€claim€for€workersðð€compensation€benefits.€€Her€treating€physician,€Dr.Ð ˜è  ÐFrederick€Wade,€permitted€her€to€return€to€work€with€restrictions.€€She€continued€to€have€intermittentÐ „Ô  Ðback€pain,€for€which€she€took€prescribed€medication.Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àOn€September€6,€1997,€the€claimant€was€called€to€the€pediatric€floor€of€the€hospital€toÐ H˜ Ðtransport€a€teenaged€male€patient.€€As€she€reached€across€the€patient€to€slide€him€onto€the€gurney,Ð 4„ Ðshe€felt€a€sudden€and€severe€pain€in€her€lower€back.€€A€few€days€later,€Dr.€Wade€took€her€off€workÐ  p Ðand€ordered€complete€rest,€physical€therapy€and€strong€medication.€€She€returned€to€work€briefly€onÐ  \ ÐSeptember€€15,€1997€but,€after€a€discussion€with€her€immediate€supervisor,€resigned.€€Thereafter,€sheÐ øH Ðworked€briefly€at€the€Columbia€Outpatient€Surgery€Center.€€Ð ä4 ÐÌà  àIn€March€of€1998,€Dr.€Wade€diagnosed€another€herniated€disc,€which€he€surgically€repairedÐ ¼  Ðin€June€of€1998.€€As€a€result,€she€is€permanently€restricted€from€lifting,€standing€or€sitting€for€moreÐ ¨ø Ðthan€eight€hours€per€day€or€lifting€more€than€fifteen€to€twenty€pounds€occasionally.Ð ”ä ÐÌà  àAn€injury€arises€out€of€and€in€the€course€of€employment€if€it€has€a€rational€causal€connectionÐ l¼ Ðto€the€work€and€occurs€while€the€employee€is€engaged€in€the€duties€of€her€employment.€€òòHall€v.Ð X ¨ ÐAuburntown€Indus.,€Inc.óó,€684€S.W.2d€614,€617€(Tenn.€1985).€€In€most€cases,€causation€must€beÐ D!” Ðestablished€by€expert€medical€testimony.€€Dr.€Wade€testified€that€the€injury€could€have€been€causallyÐ 0"€  Ðrelated€to€the€lifting€episode€of€September€6,€1997.€€The€lay€testimony,€accredited€by€the€trial€judge,Ð #l! Ðsupports€that€€medical€possibility.€€Ð $X" ÐÌà  àIn€a€workersðð€compensation€case,€a€trial€judge€may€properly€predicate€an€award€on€medicalÐ à%0!$ Ðtestimony€to€the€effect€that€a€given€incident€could€be€the€cause€of€a€claimantððs€injury€when,€fromÐ Ì&"% Ðother€evidence,€it€may€reasonably€be€inferred€that€the€incident€was€in€fact€the€cause€of€the€injury.€Ð ¸'#& ÐòòLong€v.€Tri„Con€Indus.,€Ltd.óó,€996€S.W.2d€173,€177€(Tenn.€1999).€€Absolute€certainty€on€the€part€ofÐ ¤(ô#' Ða€medical€expert€is€not€necessary€to€support€a€workersðð€compensation€award,€for€expert€opinion€mustÐ )à$( Ðalways€be€more€or€less€uncertain€and€speculative.€€òòReeser€v.€Yellow€Freight€Systems,€Inc.óó,€938Ð |*Ì%) ÐS.W.2d€690€(Tenn.€Ô_Ô1997).Ð h+¸&* ÐÑOaÑâ âѰ°Ñâ âÑ  ÑÓtÓÌÓ  Óà  àThe€employer€contends€the€claimantððs€injury€gradually€occurred€and€that€the€successiveÐ œì Ðemployer€is€therefore€liable.€€As€already€noted,€however,€the€question€before€this€tribunal€is€whetherÐ ˆØ Ðthe€evidence€preponderates€against€the€trial€courtððs€finding€that€the€injury€resulted€from€theÐ tÄ Ðoccurrence€which€is€the€subject€of€this€litigation.€€We€are€persuaded€that€it€does€not.€€The€first€issueÐ `° Ðis€resolved€in€favor€of€the€employee.Ð L œ ÐÌà  àDr.€Wade€estimated€the€claimantððs€permanent€whole€person€medical€impairment€to€be€nineÐ $ t Ðpercent,€from€appropriate€guidelines.€€The€employer€next€contends€the€trial€courtððs€award€isÐ  ` Ðexcessive€and,€particularly,€that€the€award€should€be€limited€to€two€and€one„half€times€the€medicalÐ ü L  Ðimpairment€rating.Ð è 8  ÐÌà  àIn€cases€where€an€injured€worker€is€entitled€to€permanent€partial€disability€benefits€to€theÐ À  Ðbody€as€a€whole€and€the€pre„injury€employer€returns€the€employee€to€employment€at€a€wage€equalÐ ¬ü  Ðto€or€greater€than€the€wage€the€employee€was€receiving€at€the€time€of€the€injury,€the€maximumÐ ˜è  Ðpermanent€partial€disability€award€that€the€employee€may€receive€is€two€and€one„half€times€theÐ „Ô  Ðmedical€impairment€rating.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„241(a)(1).€€In€this€case,€the€employee€returnedÐ pÀ Ðto€work€for€less€than€a€day€and€with€restrictions€that€prohibited€her€from€working€in€the€job€that€wasÐ \¬ Ðavailable€to€her.€€Where€an€employerððs€offer€to€return€to€work€is€not€reasonable€in€light€of€theÐ H˜ Ðemployeeððs€physical€disability€to€perform€the€offered€employment,€then€the€offer€of€employment€isÐ 4„ Ðnot€meaningful€and€the€injured€employee€may€receive€up€to€six€times€the€medical€impairment.€€OnÐ  p Ðthe€other€hand,€an€employee€will€be€limited€to€disability€benefits€of€not€more€than€two€and€one„halfÐ  \ Ðtimes€the€medical€impairment€if€her€refusal€to€return€to€offered€work€is€unreasonable.€€òòNewton€v.Ð øH ÐScott€Health€Care€Centeróó,€914€S.W.2d€884€(Tenn.€1995).€€The€evidence€fails€to€preponderate€againstÐ ä4 Ðthe€finding€that€there€was€not€a€meaningful€offer€to€return€to€work.Ð Ð  ÐÌà  àIn€determining€the€extent€of€a€workerððs€vocational€disability,€the€courts€are€to€consider€allÐ ¨ø Ðpertinent€factors,€including€lay€and€expert€testimony,€the€employeeððs€age,€education,€skills€andÐ ”ä Ðtraining,€local€job€opportunities€for€the€disabled€and€capacity€to€work€at€types€of€employment€in€theÐ €Ð Ðclaimantððs€disabled€condition,€as€well€as€medical€impairment.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„241(a)(1).€Ð l¼ ÐAt€the€time€of€the€trial,€the€claimant€was€42€years€old.€€She€received€her€nursing€degree€in€1993.€€TheÐ X ¨ Ðtrial€judge€found€from€the€evidence€that€she€had€applied€without€success€for€nursing€work€within€herÐ D!” Ðlimitations€and€was€at€a€substantial€disadvantage€in€competing€for€a€job€in€Middle€Tennessee;€andÐ 0"€  Ðhe€accredited€her€own€testimony€that€her€pain€from€the€injury€prevents€her€from€performing€theÐ #l! Ðduties€required€in€most€nursing€jobs€or€others€for€which€she€is€otherwise€qualified.€€We€cannot€sayÐ $X" Ðthe€evidence€preponderates€against€those€findings€or€the€trial€courtððs€award.Ð ô$D # ÐÌà  àThe€judgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€Maury€CountyÐ Ì&"% ÐRegional€Hospital.òòóó€Ð ¸'#& ÐÓ½ ÓÌÌÌòòóóÔ#†¼ »XXX ® #ÔÔ€XX X»¼ ÔÐ  h+¸&* ÐÔ‡¼ »XXX ÔÑ  ÑÑ  Ñà@™ ™ ìàÔ#†XX X»¼ 30#ÔÔ‡îôîXXX ÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEˆÐ Ö& ÐÔ#†XX XîîôŸ0#ÔÔ‡¼ »XXX ÔÔ#†XX X»¼ L1#ÔÌò òÔ‡¼ »XXX ÔÓ  ÓTERESA€M.€Ô_ÔMCCARLEYÔ_Ô€JOHNSON€òòóóv.€MAURY€REGIONAL€HOSPITAL,Ð è8 Ðòòet€alóó.Ô#†XX X»¼ ’1#Ôó óÐ üL ÐÓ±1ÓÌà@ìì*ìàò òˆÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<ç ` A߈Ð è 8 ÐÌà@ô ô ìàNo.€M1999„00291„SC„WCM„CV€„€Filed€„€September€6,€2000ˆÐ ã 3  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<º` AßÐ »  Ðó óÌÔ‡¼ »XXX ÔÔ#†XX X»¼ ¿3#Ôà@±±&ìàò òJUDGMENTÔ‡¼ »XXX ÔÔ#†XX X»¼ 4#Ôó óˆÐ ¶  ÐÌòòóóÔ‡¼ »XXX ÔÔ#†XX X»¼ €4#ÔÌÔ‡¼ »XXX ÔÔ#†XX X»¼ Ã4#Ôà  àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€motion€for€review€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ð zÊ  Ððð50-6-225(e)(5)(B)€of€Maury€Regional€Hospital€and€The€Reciprocal€Group,€the€entire€record,Ð f¶ Ðincluding€the€order€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€theÐ R¢ ÐPanel's€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€areÐ >Ž Ðincorporated€herein€by€reference;Ð *z ÐÌà  àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€for€review€is€not€well€taken€andÐ R Ðshould€be€denied;€and€Ð î> ÐÌà  àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€areÐ Æ Ðadopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€of€the€Court.Ð ² ÐÌà  àCosts€will€be€paid€by€Maury€Regional€Hospital€and€The€Reciprocal€Group,€for€whichÐ ŠÚ Ðexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ð vÆ ÐÌà  àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED.Ô‡¼ »XXX ÔÔ#†XX X»¼ Q9#ÔÐ N ž ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àà p àPER€Ô_ÔCURIAMÔ_ÔÐ þ#N# ÐÌÌÌBIRCH,€J.,€NOT€PARTICIPATING