WPCf (V`F&n߅8x͢ЋN+Wb},Og2"bQ#̺SǭW\yS"Wշ5kkJ¤nw~%wT$<'j(vR/14HSNZ D PF9|)& vRϐBw^*>@xJ-Sg)5$<5躩sI'nғWQă:'͘}2Fĉ߶r?9UU4}XJv3pY =0ϑF|x-a%s8=ܳlE#79YLwNat 㕮 Gl()Ñ}m2?x߸XLe]%Irv̩eƓQH9̧f䇹Cej}ƽK &5eް`iԄQ> &7/b#\ %% N+ 0- U,N ^  w z  4_ s  m  a 'N z7E  UN                      bYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY 0aaaa B LL 0i D5  D-B 0Koo AS  0 0Dw A\\IB01S08T\knoxclerk4,,,,0(`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regularo=1  C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptp)/:i+003|xULevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt(I Z6Times New Roman Regular- -(|G2F$ !.8dd8         0  XQaX d(|3~$ !.8dd8     VVVV)!dxdx)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3~$ !.8dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8dd8     _8@IXXdd8  \@@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL & @@ATKNOXVILLE L February18,2004Session#\# "r X@IX #XX@I#CHARLENEJONESv.EAGLEBENDMANUFACTURING,INC.X@IX  4  @@ DirectAppealfromtheCircuitCourtforAndersonCounty 4  @@No.A1LA0190JamesB.Scott,Judge  p FiledSeptember13,2004 H  @@*AV) ` dE<` A 4  ̀No.E200300944_WC_ԄR3CVMailedApril19,2004 /  #XX@I#X@IXAV) ` dE<` A       ThisworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkersCompensation  AppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3)for  hearingandreportingtotheSupremeCourtitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.The v employerassertsthatthetrialcourtsjudgmentof55percentdisabilitytotheemployeesrightarm b wasexcessive,andthetrialcourtsconclusionofpermanencyand20percentdisabilitytothe N employeesleftarmwaserrorbaseduponthepreponderanceoftheevidence.Theemployee : contendsthisisafrivolousappeal.Weconcludethepreponderanceoftheevidencesupportsthetrial &v courtsjudgmentandthatitwasnotafrivolousappeal.#XX@I#X@IX b W   Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(1999)AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheCircuitCourt : AffirmedandRemanded  &     H.David_Cate_,Sp.J.,#X@I#X@IX.deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichWilliamM.Barker,J.,and  RogerE.Thayer,Sp.J.,joined.   ArthurG.Seymour,Jr.,andRobertL.Kahn,Knoxville,Tennessee,fortheappellant,EagleBend r"! Manufacturing,Inc. ^#" AprilCarroll_Meldrum_,Clinton,Tennessee,fortheappellee,CharleneJones. 6% $    MEMORANDUMOPINION #XX@I\ #X@IX '^"& #XX@I #X@IX I.FactualBackground  (6$(     CharleneJones,theemployee,wasbornDecember9,1947.Shegraduatedfromhighschool. *&* Shereadsatatwelfthgradelevelanddoesmathataninthgradelevel.Heremploymentcareerspans +&+ approximatelytwentyfiveyearsandconsistsofsewingandautomobilepartsassemblywork.#XX@I #X@IX ,',  -(- _  TheemployeebeganworkingforEagleBendManufacturing,Inc.,inApril1990,and  continuedinthatemploymentfortwelveyears.Whileemployed,theemployeeoperatedsmall  punchpressesandspotweldersinconnectionwithautomobilepartsassemblywork.Theworkwas  veryhighlyrepetitive,andrequiredhertoliftassemblypartsweighinganywherefromouncesto t poundsandcontainersfilledwithpartsweighingtwentytotwentyfivepounds.Thelargestparts ` shedealtwithwerecarbumpersweighingthirtyfivepounds. L    Theemployeebeganhavingproblemswithherupperextremitiesinthefirstweeksof2001 $ t andreportedthemtoheremployer.ShewasinitiallytreatedbyDr.RossandlaterreferredtoDr.  ` RandallRobbins,anorthopedicsurgeon.  L    TheemployeefirstsawDr.RobbinsonMay9,2001,complainingofseveralmonthsofneck, $  shoulder,elbowandhandpain.Dr.Robbinsdiagnosiswasoverusetendinitiswithlateral   epicondylitisandcervicalpain.OnMay17,2001,Dr.Robbinsreferredtheemployeefor   electrodiagnosticevaluationofpossiblecarpeltunnelsyndromeversuscervicalradiculopathy.The   testrevealedminimaltomildbilateralcarpaltunnelsyndrome.     OnAugust15,2001,theemployeecomplainedtoDr.Robbinsofaninjurytoherleftupper \ extremitywithsymptomssimilartothosesheexperiencedonherright.Dr.Robbinsdiagnosiswas H bilateralshoulder,elbowtendinitisandrightcarpaltunnelsyndrome. 4   Dr.RobbinsperformedcarpaltunnelsurgeryontheemployeesrighthandonAugust26,  \ 2001.ShewasreturnedtoworkonNovember5,2001,withnorestrictions. H   TheemployeehadafunctionalcapacityevaluationonDecember5,2001.Theevaluation   indicatedtheemployeesphysicaldemandclassificationwassedentaryandsheshouldavoidhigh   repetitionworkwithherrighthand.    OnDecember12,2001,Dr.Robbinsfeltshehadreachedmaximummedicalimprovement  andgaveherapermanentimpairmentratingof5percenttotherightupperextremitybasedonAMA l Guidelines(5thEd.).Healsoadoptedaspermanentallrestrictionsplacedonthefunctionalcapacity X  evaluation. D!   AfterithadbeenbroughttoDr.Robbinsattentionthattheemployeewasdoing3,400parts #l! perday,hewrotealetterdatedJanuary23,2002,whichstatedinpart: $X" 8  8`   Basedonthepatientsbilateralupperextremitytendinitis,andthe %0!$ factthatshedidquitewelldoing1,700partsperday,itiswithina &"% reasonabledegreeofmedicalcertainty,andinmymedicalopinion, '#& thatthepatientshouldobtaintherestrictionofhandlingbetween (#' 1,500and1,700partsperdayasalongtermpermanentrestrictionin )$( regardstobothherrightandleftupperextremity.|*%)` x` x  h+&*   TheemployeewasterminatedbytheemployerinMay2002.    ShecontinuedtoseeDr.Robbins,andhisimpressionsonSeptember11,2002,werechronic  tendonapathybilateralupperextremitiesandnegativeEMGforleftcarpeltunnel. t   Dr.RodneyCaldwell,avocationalconsultant,consideringtherestrictionsofthefunctional L  capacityevaluation,opinedthattheemployeewas98percentvocationallydisabled. 8    Whiletheemployeeindicatedawillingnesstogobacktoworkfortheemployer,shestillhas  ` swellingandnumbness,whichmakesitdifficulttodohouseworkanddriveanautomobile.  L    II.StandardofReview  $     Theexistenceandextentofapermanentvocationaldisabilityarequestionsoffactfor   determinationbythetrialcourtandarerevieweddenovo,accompaniedbyapresumptionof   correctness,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise. Walkerv.SaturnCorp. ,986   S.W.2d204,207(Tenn.1998); WhirlpoolCorp.v.Nakhoneinh ,69S.W.3d164,170(Tenn.2002)  ; p Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2)(Supp.2003). \    `     h      p       III.Discussion  4 #  Inassessingthedegreeofanemployeesvocationaldisability,thecourtshallconsiderall  \ pertinentfactors,includinglayandexperttestimony,employeesage,education,skillsandtraining, H localjobopportunities,andcapacitytoworkattypesofemploymentavailableinclaimantsdisabled 4 condition.Tenn.CodeAnn.506241(b); Walkerv.SaturnCorp. ,986S.W.2d204,208(Tenn.   1998); WhirlpoolCorp.v.Nakhoneinh ,69S.W.3d164,170(Tenn.2002).     Theemployercontendstheawardbasedonavocationaldisabilityof55percenttotheright  armshouldbereducedandthe20percenttotheleftarmshouldbezero,becausetheemployeesaid  shecouldpresentlydothesameworkwhichshehadpreviouslyperformedandbecausetheinjury l totheleftarmisnotpermanentsinceDr.Robbinsdidnotassessanymedicalimpairment. X    Whenthetestimonyoftheemployeeisexamineditisnotedthatherwillingnessandability 0"  togobacktoworkisconditional.Hertestimonyinthisregardisquoted: #l! 8  8`   Q.0 ` x` xAndyoucandotheworkatEagleBend,cantyou.$D # x x 8  8`    ` x` x 8  8`   A.0 ` x` xWithhelp,thelineleading,andthroughmedicationand &"% vacationtime,Iwouldcontinuetodoquality,qualityworkfor '#& EagleBend.IloveEagleBend.(#' x x 8  8`    ` x` x 8  8`   Q.0 ` x` xJustlikeyouweredoingpriortoMay2002?|*%) x x 8  8`   _h+&*` x` x 8  8`   A.0 ` x` xYes.IwillbeagoodworkerforEagleBendonceagain. x x   Concerningthelackofmedicalimpairmenttothearm,Dr.Robbinslastimpressionwas  chronictendonapathybilateralupperextremities,whichhehadreferredtoasbilateralupper t extremitytendinitis.Anditwasthisimpressionthatresultedinthelongtermpermanentrestriction ` relatingtobotharmsofreducingthenumberofpartsperdayfrom3,400to1,5001,700. L    Thiscaseisdifferentthanthecaseof _Terrell_Ԁv.SterlingPlumbingGroup_Kinkead_ԀDivision , $ t 2003WL22794490(Tenn.WorkersComp.Panel)citedbytheemployer.Inthe _Terrell_ casethe  ` courtdidnotfindtherestrictiontobepermanentasinthecaseatBar.  L    Relativetotheemployeesclaimthatthisappealisfrivolous,theemployeesfeelings, $  althoughconditional,aboutgoingbacktoworkandthelackofamedicalimpairmenttotheleftarm   takesthisappealoutofthefrivolouscategory.      `     h      p     Basedontheentirerecordinthiscause,weconcludethatthepreponderanceoftheevidence   supportsanawardof55percentdisabilitytotherightarmand20percentdisabilitytotheleftarm, p anddenyanyrelieffortheclaimoffrivolousappeal. \    IV.Conclusion  4 }2  Weaffirmthetrialcourtsjudgmentof55percentpermanentpartialdisabilitytotheright  \ armand20percentpermanentpartialdisabilitytotheleftarm,andremandtothetrialcourtforsuch H furtherproceedingsasmaybenecessary.Costsoftheappealaretaxedtotheemployer,EagleBend 4 Manufacturing,Inc.,withexecutionawarded,ifnecessary.      `     h     ___________________________________     `     h     H.DAVID_CATE_,SPECIALJUDGE  l __XX@I   @ #X@IX5#\XX@IINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @WW$ATKNOXVILLE#X@IX\E6#XX@IԈ & @February18,2004Session L #X@IX6# XX@I  CHARLENEJONESv.EAGLEBENDMANUFACTURING,INC.#X@IXy7#  J 7@  CircuitCourtforAndersonCounty  J @ss$No.A1LA0190  6    `     h FiledSeptember13,2004    @*AV) ` dE<` A߈   @No.E200300944SCWCMCV   AV) ` dE<|` A }   XX@I#X@IX:#@& JUDGMENT XX@I#X@IXx:#Ԉ x  XX@I#X@IX:#XX@IA #X X A;#  ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponthemotionforreviewfiledbyEagleBendManufacturing, < Inc.pursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.50-6-225(e)(5)(B),theentirerecord,includingtheorderof (x referraltotheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanelsMemorandum d Opinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw. P   ItappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenandisthereforedenied. ( ThePanelsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedbyreference,areadopted  andaffirmed.ThedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt.    CostsareassessedtoEagleBendManufacturing,Inc.,forwhichexecutionmayissueif  necessary. t #X@IX XX9;#XX@I#X@IXO?#BARKER,J.,NOTPARTICIPATING_