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ÔÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ 8 ÒÖ€'ÖÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÑ  ÑÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÔ&  ÔÔ€¼ÔÔ€ÔÞ ÞÌIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÙ€ÙßR€+,)A1-j|` Å `€€@ÿRßà àà àà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌAT€KNOXVILLEÌ(May€6,€1998€Session)ÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓBRODERICK€KELSEY,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€HAMILTON€CHANCERYÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€€€€€€€€€€)€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellee,€€€€€€€€Ô€ôÔ€Ô€¼Ô€)€€€€€Hon.€Howell€Peoples,Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€)€€€€€Chancellor.Ìv.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€XÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€ôÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€€€Ô€ôÔ€òò€óóÔ€¼Ô€€€)€€€€€No.€03S01„9710„CH„00121ÌKRAFT€FOOD€SERVICES,€INC.€and€€)ÌTRAVELERS€INDEMNITY€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€Ô€Ô€¼Ô€)ÌCOMPANY€OF€ILLINOIS,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€Ô€Ô€¼Ô)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Defendants„Appellants.€Ô€XÔ€Ô€¼Ô)ÌÌÌÌÌòòFor€Appellantsóó:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òòFor€Appelleeóó:ÌÌRobert€J.€Uhorchuk€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€John€D.€McMahanÌThomas€E.€LeQuire€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€G.€Brent€BurksÌSpicer,€Flynn€&€Rudstrom€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€McMahan€&ÏAssociatesÌChattanooga,€Tennessee€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Chattanooga,€TennesseeòòÌóóÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓòòM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÌÌÌÌÌòòMembers€of€Panelóó:ÌÔ'  ÔÌCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€Special€Justice,€Supreme€CourtÌJohn€K.€Byers,€Senior€JudgeÌJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓÌÓ  ÓAFFIRMED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Loser,ÏJudgeÓ {ÀÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓòòMEMORANDUM€OPINIONóóÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓÓš™Óà àà àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€theÏSpecial€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€inÏaccordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€andÏreporting€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€The€appellants€contendÏthe€trial€court's€award€of€benefits€based€on€six€times€the€medical€impairmentÏrating€is€excessive.€€The€appellee€contends€the€award€is€inadequate€becauseÏthe€chancellor€erred€in€"finding€three€of€the€four€factors€listed€under€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€section€50„6„242€were€not€proven€by€clear€and€convincingÏevidence"€and€that€the€award€of€benefits€based€on€forty„two€percent€to€theÏbody€as€a€whole€is€inadequate.€€The€appellee€also€contends€the€chancellorÏerred€in€failing€to€award€its€vocational€expert's€fee€as€discretionary€costs.€ÏAs€discussed€below,€the€panel€has€concluded€the€judgment€should€beÏaffirmed.Ìà àà àAt€the€time€of€the€trial,€the€claimant,€Kelsey€was€thirty„fiveÏyears€old€and€a€high€school€graduate.€€Following€high€school€graduation,€heÏserved€three€years€in€the€United€States€Army,€where€he€worked€as€aÏwarehouseman€and€equipment€operator.€€He€has€worked€as€a€truck€driver.€ÍHe€worked€for€the€employer,€Kraft€Food€Services,€for€about€two€years€untilÏJune€27,€1995,€when€he€suffered€a€compensable€back€injury€while€lifting€aÏcase€of€potatoes.€€He€has€not€worked€since.Ìà àà àThe€treating€physician,€Dr.€Seiters,€diagnosed€a€protruding€orÏbulging€disc,€provided€conservative€care€and€estimated€his€permanentÏmedical€impairment€at€seven€percent€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€The€doctorÏfurther€opined€the€claimant€reached€maximum€medical€improvement€onÏNovember€15,€1995€and€could€return€to€light€work.€€The€treating€physicianÏand€another€doctor€who€had€first€examined€the€claimant€were€of€the€opinionÏthat€the€claimant€could€be€exaggerating€his€symptoms.Ìà àà àAt€the€trial,€the€claimant€gave€conflicting€testimony€concerningÏhis€ability€to€read.€€On€direct€examination,€he€testified€that€he€could€notÏread.€€On€cross€examination,€he€testified€that€he€spent€his€time€reading.€€HeÏestimated€his€own€vocational€disability€at€one€hundred€percent.Ìà àà àA€vocational€expert€testified€the€claimant€was€able€to€read€at€aÏfourth€to€sixth€grade€level€and€write€at€less€than€an€eighth€grade€level.€€TheÏexpert€assessed€his€vocational€impairment€at€eighty„five€to€ninety€percent.ÌÓ` Ó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€The€chancellor€found€the€claimant€had€a€high€school€diploma,€wasÏless€than€fifty„five€years€old€and€had€reasonable€employment€opportunitiesÏavailable€locally.€€He€awarded€permanent€partial€disability€benefits€based€onÏforty„two€percent€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€Appellate€review€is€de€novo€uponÏthe€record€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctnessÏof€the€findings€of€fact,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€isÏotherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„225(e)(2).€€Where€the€trial€judgeÍhas€seen€and€heard€the€witnesses,€especially€if€issues€of€credibility€andÏweight€to€be€given€oral€testimony€are€involved,€considerable€deference€mustÏbe€accorded€those€circumstances€on€review.€€òòKrick€v.€City€ofÏLawrenceburgóó,€945€S.W.2d€€709€(Tenn.€1997).€€In€this€case,€the€claimantÏand€his€vocational€expert,€as€well€as€all€the€lay€witnesses,€testified€in€person.ÌÓ ` ŒXÓà àà àWhere€an€injured€worker€is€entitled€to€receive€permanentÏpartial€disability€benefits€to€the€body€as€a€whole,€and€the€pre„injuryÏemployer€does€not€return€the€employee€to€employment€at€a€wage€equal€to€orÏgreater€than€the€wage€the€employee€was€receiving€at€the€time€of€the€injury,Ïthe€maximum€permanent€partial€disability€award€that€the€employee€mayÏreceive€is€six€times€the€medical€impairment€rating€determined€pursuant€toÏthe€above€guidelines.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„241(b).Ó ŸÓÌÓ ¸žÓà àà àNotwithstanding€the€above€limitation,€a€court€may€awardÏpermanent€partial€disability€benefits,€not€to€exceed€four€hundred€weeks,€inÏappropriate€cases€where€permanent€medical€impairment€is€found€and€theÏemployee€is€entitled€to€receive€the€maximum€award€of€two€and€one„half€orÏsix€times€the€medical€impairment.€€In€such€cases,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€sectionÏ50„6„242€requires€the€trial€judge€to€make€a€specific€documented€finding,Ïsupported€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence,€that€on€the€date€the€employeeÏreached€maximum€medical€improvement,€at€least€three€of€the€following€fourÏcircumstances€existed:ÌÓÓà0 àà àà à(1)€€The€employee€lacked€a€high€school€diploma€orÏgeneral€equivalency€diploma€or€could€not€read€or€write€on€a€gradeÏeight€level;Ìà0 àà àà à(2)€€€€The€employee€was€age€fifty„five€or€older;Ìà0 àà àà à(3)€€The€employee€had€no€reasonably€transferable€jobÏskills€from€prior€vocational€background€and€training;€andÌà0 àà àà à(4)€€The€employee€had€no€reasonable€employmentÏopportunities€available€locally€considering€the€employee's€permanentÏmedical€condition.Ó >`ÓÌÓ€Óà àà àIt€is€the€trial€court,€not€the€appellate€tribunal,€which€must€makeÏthe€required€findings€before€exercising€the€discretion€to€award€disabilityÏbenefits€greater€than€six€times€the€medical€impairment€rating.€€In€this€case,Ïthe€trial€judge€expressly€said€he€was€unable€to€make€the€necessary€findingsÏfrom€the€proof.Ó {ÀÓÌà àà àThe€trial€court's€award€will€not€ordinarily€be€disturbed€unlessÏthe€appellate€tribunal€finds€an€abuse€of€that€discretion€or€that€the€evidenceÏpreponderates€against€the€findings€of€the€trial€court.€€This€panel€finds€noÏabuse€of€discretion.€€Moreover,€the€evidence€fails€to€preponderate€againstÏthe€chancellor's€findings.Ìà àà àBy€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€54.04(2),€reasonable€and€necessary€courtÏreporter€expenses€for€depositions€or€trials,€reasonable€and€necessary€expertÏwitness€fees€for€depositions€or€trials,€and€guardian€ad€litem€fees€areÏrecoverable€as€discretionary€costs.€€òòSee,€generallyóó,€òòMarshall€C.€Miles€v.ÏVoss€Health€Care€Ctr.óó,€96€€S.W.2d€€773€(Tenn.€1995).€€Under€theÏcircumstances€of€this€case,€we€find€no€error€in€disallowing€recovery€of€theÏvocational€expert's€fee€as€a€discretionary€cost.Ó  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÓÓÌÌ_____________________________Ó ÓÓ  Ó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ïà àJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓCONCUR:ÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà à_______________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€Special€JusticeÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà à_____________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àJohn€K.€Byers,€Senior€Judgeà àà àà àÓ` çÈ„XÓÒ  ÒÒ 8 ÒÑ€/ÑÇßJ€+0;+'b|` Å `€@ÿJ߀€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€IN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEE€€€€€€€€€€€€à àà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÏAT€KNOXVILLEÌÌÌÌà àÌBRODERICK€KELSEY,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€HAMILTON€CHANCERYà àÌÌ€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff/Appellee€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€No.€96„1079€à àÌÌvs.à àà àÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Hon.€HowellÏPeoples,à àà àà àChancellorà àà à€€ÌKRAFT€FOOD€SERVICES,€INC.,€and€à àÌTRAVELERS€INDEMNITYà àà àà àÌCOMPANY€OF€ILLINOIS,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€No.€03S01„9710„CH„00232à àà àà àÌà àà àà àà àà àà àÌ€€€€€€€€€€Defendants/Appellants,à àà àà àÌà àà àà àà àà àà àÌà àà àà à€€€€€€Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÏJUDGMENT€ORDERà àÌà àÌÌ€€€€ÓfæÓÓ ø ÓÓ` Ü…X ì–XÓ€€€€€€€This€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€includingÏthe€order€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Panel,€andÏthe€Panelððs€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ìà àà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€MemorandumÏOpinion€of€the€Panel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌà àà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€theÏPanel€is€made€the€Judgment€of€the€Court.€€à àà àÌà à€€€€€Costs€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€defendants/appellants,€Kraft€FoodÏServices,€Inc.€and€Travelers€Indemnity€Company€Of€Illinois€and€DavidÏC.€Nagle,€€surety€€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌ07/13/98Ì€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÙ€Ù<<€Conversion€error€>>à àÌÌà àà àÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àÌÌÌÌà àÇÇ